All right good. Morning, everyone. Great morning to you all. Thank you so much for being here the formal session of Tuesday February the seventh 2023 will now come to order. And Mr. Clark if you can, please call the roll on this card. Please call the row costume of this
personally do her though. Present. cast member Justin present. Yeah, cast me Miss Santiago Romero. Councilmember waters.
Customer Lichfield Callaway,
customer yonder second, yeah. Council President fortune Tate.
And council president Sheffield present.
You have a quorum president, vice president.
All right. Thank you there being a quorum. We are now in session and we'll go straight to our invocation for this morning. We have pastor de Myron Hayes joining us in person. Good morning to you.
Thank you, everyone who's responsible for not being here. Let me pray for us.
Heavenly Father, we
give thanks and praise for all of your mighty works. You are righteous. You roll with justice, goodness and mercy. And we thank you for bringing us together this morning. We thank you for being the God who has given us a life and even now sustains every single breath that comes out of our lungs. We thank you for Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Savior of the world. We thank you that because of his death on the cross and resurrection from the dead, we can be forgiven and made new we thank you for the promise that in Christ, you will make all things new and that includes this great city that we live in. We thank you for this city. We thank you for its elected officials, its businesses, its institutions, its schools, families and the individuals that make this city so special. Lord, I pray this morning for every single council member may they know that in your wisdom and power you have given them a weighty responsibility, but they always know that they are servants of you give them everything they need to accomplish the role that has been placed upon them. Pray that you would bless them with Grace strength and wisdom from you and stay deliberate the various items on their agenda today. May every decision that they make today be righteous in your sight for the benefit of the citizens of Detroit, and for the glory of your name. We pray all these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Thank you so much, Pastor Haynes, it feel free to stick around if you can, if not, we do understand if you can just state the name of your church as well too. And where you're located.
Redeemer Presbyterian Church we meet in the Old St. Leo's off a Green River in 15.
Okay, great. Thank you so much. Thank you for blessing us this morning. We appreciate you and if the clerk would note we've also been joined by member waters. And we're going to now turn the floor over to my colleague councilmember at large number one, member Yang for a presentation. Thank you,
Madam President. Appreciate that. Good morning. Everyone. I have a Detroit City Council testimonial resolution for Mr. Mark Chester
is here.
Come on it.
Self Contained
breathing apparatus technician retired on February 10 2023. After 38 years of dedicated service as a member of the Detroit Fire Department. The dragon slayers. The Honorable Coleman am the second Detroit city council made large number one honors the devoted service to the people in Detroit, Michigan for 38 years of this great hero a man of courage. Whereas Mark Shuster has so gallantly dedicated 38 years of service to the city of Detroit. The citizens of Detroit and the men and women of the Detroit Fire Department as a self contained breathing apparatus technician. And whereas Mark Shuster is a lifelong Detroiter. He was educated in Detroit Public Schools and graduated from Osborne High School on the east side of Detroit. And whereas Mark Shuster began his career, working for the City of Detroit's Department of Transportation as a mechanic in 1984. He discovered that his true passion for service could be realized with the Detroit Fire Department apparatus division, which he saw valiantly joined in 1985. And whereas Mark Shuster, while at the D F. D apparatus division attended multiple responsibilities around the shop. That included EMS mechanic, foreman of EMS repair and maintenance, machine shop stock room, and his final current position as an SCBA self contained breathing apparatus technician. And whereas, Mark Shuster during his 38 years of his imperative work with the Detroit Fire Department apparatus division, kept his family close to his hearts. He will be spending his time post retirement with his loving wife of 43 years. Jerry Shuster. They will attend church, play guitar, canoe the streams at the world renowned bill out explore the Upper Peninsula in their RV and traveled to every destination they desire while making time to regularly volunteer with Miss Chester's preschool. And whereas, Mark Shuster during retirement aspires to finally race is 1971 Dodge demon 340 force B, which he and his brother had passionately built since 1998 down a half a mile drag strip. The car has been a labor of love and good time spent with the family. He looks forward to gathering around the car from time to time reminiscing of precious memories of the past and dreams for the future. Now therefore be resolved. The Honorable Coleman a young the second Council Member at Large number one along with the entire with all the honorable members of the Detroit City Council celebrate the retirement of Mark Shuster from the Detroit fire departments apparatus division, your steadfast dedication to service our ability to serve our beloved city was unwavering and courageous. The City of Detroit salutes your steadfastness, excellence and perseverance. We honor you. And thank you for your unfailing service above and beyond the call of duty to the people of the city. of Detroit us truly represent Detroit's bravest thank you sir I present this Detroit City Council testimony resolution to mark Shuster everybody let's get around applause my shots everybody. Sir, would you like to say anything?
I just would like to say it's an honor to be here. But it's not me. It's, it's him in 92. I got a kidney affected my kidneys and I went on dialysis and got my sister's kidney. Thank you, Lord. I'm still alive. And kicking. But I sure appreciate this. And thank you again.
Thank you, Madam President, like Obama to my colleagues by the same
remarks. A couple
of hands. Yeah. Yep. Member Benson, followed by member Callaway.
I just want to give our thanks for your years of service to where the city of Detroit is a first responder running towards danger versus running away from and making sure that your your brothers and sisters are safe with their equipment. Thank you very much.
You're welcome, member Callaway and thank you for your years of service and enjoy your retirement. And may the Lord continue to watch over you and your wife and all that you do and all during your travels. God bless you.
We're hoping the same thing. Thank you. Amen.
Thank you. Thank you so much member Yang for the recognition and as mentioned, we appreciate you for your service to the city of Detroit and we wish you all the best thank you all right. God bless you. And remember young he would like to do a photo. Yes. Okay. We'll come in the middle here. And do a photo.
So you know I never know that we can take these down before. This definitely helps.
Yep, all right, everybody right here. 321 Yep, well, Mike and bring it down just a smidge. They
are perfect three to watch Perfect.
Thank you that's a day she
didn't know she got here. When a couple of the coming off.
12 I play
Hi again. Thanks for I got recognition.
Thank you again, Councilmember young for that recognition. And we are going to proceed with our agenda if you are joining us virtually and would like to make a public comment please raise your hand at this time. As we will be cutting off public comment very shortly. If you are here with us in person. If you have not received a card please raise your hand now. And we will make sure that our team gets you a public comment card
the session excuse me the journal this session of Tuesday January the 24th will be approved. There being no reconsiderations or unfinished business. We will proceed to the budget Finance and Audit standing committee for the budget Finance and Audit standing committee reports from
various city departments.
Those three reports will be referred to the budget Finance and Audit standing committee for the internal operation standing committees 12 reports
from various city departments
as well reports will be referred to the internal operations standing committee for the Neighborhood and Community Services standing committee.
One report from the Office of contracting and procurement.
The one report will be referred to the Neighborhood and Community Services standing committee for the Planning and Economic Development standing committee
for reports from various city departments.
Before reports will be referred to the Planning and Economic Development Standards Committee for the public health and safety standing committee
reports from various city departments.
The three reports will be referred to the public health and safety standing committee. We will now move to the voting action matters under other matters. There are no items Madam President, under communications from the mayor and other governmental officials in agencies. There are no items, Madam President. All right. We will not fall for public comments. And how many calls do we have our residents? All right, so we have about 26 people joining us virtually so we will allow everyone a minute and a half for public comment. Yes Pro Tem
present before we go into public comment. I wanted to address the audience and let them know for those who are here for the testimony a resolution that I announced erroneously that's going to take place today the presentation for now the late great Dr. Charles Innes. It will not be taking place today but it will take place next Tuesday. So if you're here for that presentation and show support to the family, that will not take place today. But it will take place on a Tuesday and I apologize for any inconvenience. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you proto. Alright, I'm going to also cut off our public comment as well. We will start with those who have joined us in person, Eric Griffey, the floor is yours.
Thank you. Thank you. I just want to add to Don't Don't take my appearance for granted. I've done some great work in the town recently. What the main focus was what was going on, I was going to Texas they called me accountable David, in Texas, come on against the cartel and defeat them. Hands down with the drug epidemic in Detroit. I did that single Andrew by myself in Texas. Also
without else have you
thought I can work with I think my
Mary waters I believe
she used me as a public example to use my my gifts and talents. to better meet the children of a city Detroit as well. Obviously, you might not admit that but she did. Also see the she did, but I did some great work for the city and I just wanted to be compensated. I would like to be acknowledged as well as a given a small token for the gift that I placed a place in my hands that a God given gifts are received and given back to this time. I'm not planning on keeping you all along but that's what I've done. You know saying recently, and I'm pretty much uh you know, I pretty much done it. Exactly. My son was murdered recently. Unfortunately, he was 13. I can also say something, also say something against the powers of Ukraine. With you got to deal with Ukraine. Excuse me. Thank you against Russia. So I've gone on as well. So thank you.
Thank you so much. Mr. Griffey, hold on one second. Remember younger right here.
Thank you for sharing your story. That's powerful. Well, you said you want to be acknowledged what do you mean exactly? I think nowadays will be like a tribute or not a tribute
to no question that I'm not going to get some sort of acknowledgement like okay, I'll take that. I'll take my words. Very seriously right now. Okay.
I'll give you call it as you
know, I'm not looking for knowing what I'm looking for is some compensation for the work I've done. Okay.
You deserve. Thank you for what you've done.
Thank you for joining us, sir. We appreciate you and continue all the work that you're doing. All right. We appreciate you for coming down. Okay, well, thank you. Joyce Jennings. Jamar Thomas will follow behind. Joyce. Good morning, Madam President
and honorable body.
Last week when I had the pleasure to come before Council, it was my first time being before you since 2019. Some of you may know I've had the privilege for the past three years of being in Arizona with Henry Reed, who served as our president of the Michigan Coalition of Black Farmers. And during that time that we were away, I had the privilege of being mentored by him in support of being able to champion and carry on the work of the Michigan Coalition of Black Farmers. Last week, when I came before you I spoke about the $15 wage that is being talked about in the city of Detroit when it comes to giving people opportunities to connect with employment. One of the benefits that the US Department of Agriculture offers after the Veterans Affairs, the USDA has the second largest budget that provides opportunities for employment training and opportunities to do business and in support of being able to take Michigan forward. I would really like for us to as a city and as a state look at opportunities to connect our people with opportunities with the USDA. Everything that we do comes from agriculture, and there are many benefits that we can use to help take our city and state to a greater level of prosperity. Blessings to
miss Joyce. Mr. Thomas morning.
The morning pleasure to be here. Today I sit in front of the distinguished body as the president of the City Council for the city of Highland Park. It is my joy to be here. I've only been in my role for 30 days, but I wanted to make sure that I came to this body to introduce myself. On behalf of our mayor, the Honorable Glenda MacDonald I want to extend greetings, salutations and good tidings. Our city is open. We are a part of the city of Detroit. In fact, you could not be any more than to be in the city of Highland Park. We are a part of and I am a lifelong deep boy. I'm a graduate of Bates Academy, Martin Luther King High School, and Wayne State University from undergraduate and chemistry and masters in dispute resolution. I am here today to ask you to look in our direction. Sadly, the story that I'm telling you is one of abuse and neglect. We have all seen those people that woman and her children who show up with the bruises in the scars. That is Highland Park. It is a burden for us all for us to be ignored. I encourage each of the distinguished members here to view our city council meetings we had one last night and it was a thing of chaos. There are forces at work that are trying to keep us from making the progress that we need to make to improve our city and we cannot do that alone. Once again, our village is on fire. And what I'm here to find out today is do you see us?
Are you there for us.
Thank you so much, President Thomas, thank you for coming down and joining us and I would love to chat with you offline a little bit more about how we can all support you and your efforts in the City Council's efforts in Highland Park. So we'll make sure we get your contact information and see how we can support one another more.
Those two gentlemen already had it. Okay, great. Great.
Thank you so much. Looking forward to it.
Great. All right.
Mr. Over with Mr. Crowley, excuse me.
We'll get straight to it. The City of Detroit is embroiled in a biggest municipal bond fraud case in the history of the United States of America and it's been kept for the citizens of Detroit. Detroit is way over the illegal debt limit. We can issue no more bonds, and it's been over a billion dollars worth of bonds illegally issued without notice or referendum and a city council knows it. Three members on his council have signed off and approved those bonds. Scott Besant James Tate, President Sheffield the other six council members have no knowledge of this or I don't believe but David Whittaker who's sitting here to my left knows about it, because he offered up a report LPD report of total nonsense. Now costing you want to take any more advice from this gentleman right here on Earth. Cody, who has been over the budget for 30 years they should have known that there was no $10 billion of state assessed equivalent, or number that was created out of thin air by moving the decimal point three places. When a millet computation costs for the whole village, not a fraction of the millage has been fraction airy fraud perpetrated against all the citizens here in the city of Detroit y'all know about it, Malik Shelton and remote Jackson me coming down here telling y'all the truth. And y'all I've been ignoring it. Now. Today. It needs to stop you I need to address it. Y'all need to use your subpoena power called a CFO and a mayor down here to explain how they came up with this incredible number.
Thank you. Thank you so much, Mr. Crowley. I just want to make sure for the record that that actually is a line item I think and budget Finance and Audit Committee. I did request an official report so that we can have a response and so that is public and all of my colleagues, excuse me, excuse me, that is actually we responded to a complaint that was given to this body and we received a report from LPD. And all of us as council members can react based on that information. And so member Gerhart No, this is in your committee for discussion this week.
Thank you, Madam President. And so tomorrow we will be having discussion relative to the LTG all bonds. One is a resolution again, as mentioned by council president that she submitted are not a resolution pardon me but a memo for report on that we will go over that tomorrow as well and have a specific discussion on that LPD will be present as well as our law department will be present. As well, to discuss this this issue. And so that will happen tomorrow at 1pm and the budget Finance and Audit subcommittee. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you member Doha. And if the clerk would note we've been joined by Member Santiago Ramiro Good morning.
All right. AB Yomi
Oh, good morning. I'm an organizer for the moratorium now coalition. Our offices are located at 59/22 Avenue. We're here once again to reiterate our demand for an end to evictions in the city of Detroit. We're facing an epidemic epidemic housing crisis here in the city. According to the University of Michigan Research Center on Poverty and housing. Some 61,000 tenants are facing the potential of being evicted here in the city of Detroit during 2023. We are demanding that the city council take emergency action to halt these evictions and also not to approve any additional tax incentives, tax breaks or other forms of abatement to billionaires who are not investing anything and the poor conditions under which people are living in here in the city of Detroit. There have been press reports. In recent weeks. There's some $800 million in tax incentives are being requested by the same interests who have historically underdeveloped the people here in the city of Detroit. So we asked him for the City Council here in the city of Detroit to represent the people of this city, where a majority African American municipality, yet at the same time per capita with a porous municipality of any other city in the United States. So we need to represent those who constitute the majority here in the city, to end evictions to stop foreclosures. And also to stop the subsidization of the most wealthiest people in the state of Michigan.
Thank you again.
Sanders, Hi,
my name is Tanisha Sanders, how are you? I'm representing Detroit action all the citizens of Detroit Well, you guys, I'm back to making those $60 a day and not a $60 a day 50 or so more saying they're facing eviction out of each district. It doesn't make sense why these babies are suffering. I don't know why it can't be an emergency moratorium that they don't get evicted. And they need resources they get evicted right now, and there's no resources that's available to help them to get into adequate housing. Like what are we really doing here is to the point now people are starting to purchase mobile homes what's really going on? Like, I'm so upset, I just can't explain it because how can babies even get education or how could people further their working experience and they worried about where they sleep in? What's going on? The evictions are serious? I mean, like, I mean, courts are open from 8am to 8pm right now. Now, what are we going to really do? I really need you guys to come up with some kind of solution because listen, this isn't all our backdoors all our backyards. Come on now. These babies are suffering the seniors are suffering everyone is suffering. What is the body of the city council gonna do? We need you guys to really figure this out. So and we need fully funding. We need a rotating budget because there's been 30,000 cases before even COVID came about and now we have 61,000 still basically eviction. Come on, y'all make it make sense to me. I just need to make it make sense because I'm meeting people and they got blankets and pillows in their cars. I'm having problems with that. I'm really having a mental breakdown. I need you guys to help me out and Saturday. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you so much. And I just want to mention again, you know, one of the things that we have done and I know all of us work differently with our throughout our districts as it relates to providing relief and helping individuals stay in their home. I know member Benson and member waters and several other members actually door knock trying to prevent evictions from taking place and keeping people in their homes. But we pass right to counsel, which provides free legal counsel for low income families during the eviction process and we are all fighting extremely hard to fully fund that particular program. We have a contract before us today with the United Community Housing Coalition to actually get that program up and running. And so we are looking at solutions as it relates to a moratorium on evictions, that is something that I'm assuming will come from the state where the county council can support a resolution urging or advocating for that but that is not something that council can just unit either union out or excuse me unilaterally do and so we are working on it. I know that all of us are committed to finding ways to reduce the evictions throughout our city. And if you have any other ideas from a policy standpoint, please let us know but we are all very very much focused on this issue. So thank you
and I will make appointments with you guys with our ideas. Please, please
do so. I'd love to meet with you guys. All right, thank you, Miss Brown.
Good morning Council. My name is Tara Brown, and I support the comments of Avi AMI and Tanisha Sanders. I'm with Detroit eviction defense and I am a newly elected board member to the Detroit continuum of care. And I respectfully ask this council when city departments make recommendations not to fund these nonprofit organizations. Could you please back them up and not go above them and give them funding anyway, if someone from the COC or department here right under you all is telling you that some of these organizations don't need to be funded. You all should not be funding them and given them my tax. dollars. That's the first thing I wanted to discuss. The other thing I wanted to discuss is on Jake or I'm sorry on December 5 or sixth I sent you all an email asking that you resend the Spirit of Detroit award for gas I'm units and Reverend paid Fowler, you know right now gas time yose is suing Jorge Flores and he took it a step further or let me say it appears he took it a step further and had somebody crashed into the back of his car and accused him of a sexual assault. It's all available online. It's public information. Something needs to be done about that again. Our organization contacted you or allegedly contacted Coleman Young specifically don't go and when they told him they gassed him your nose was corrupt. He went ahead and gave him or recommended that he get a Spirit of Detroit award that needs to be rescinded. I don't know how they do things in Argentina. But that's not how we do things here in Detroit. So yeah, that needs to be addressed. Fay Fowler is the poverty pimp. She exploits black people and takes advantage of the poor and you all gave her a Spirit of Detroit award as well after after you were told she was problematic. Thank you very much. Awesome rest in peace to carry a wood.
Thank you. Thank you. Enjoy. I'm sorry, Jim, do ya.
Oh, thank you. Thank you, Madam President Council. My name is Jim Dwyer. I live in district one and I'm with the Detroit right to counsel coalition. I just want to there's a there's people have talked about in the 36 district court that poor residents who are facing eviction have full legal representation. They do not. The cases right now are adjudicated, and lawyers for like Lake Shore Lake legal and others who are representing indigent. People that are facing eviction are not representing them fully. What they do and I found this out from some of the attorneys from Lakeshore legal is that they don't have the resources right now to fully represent people. So what happens is that people are told to in a breakout room at 36th District Court they're told to, well, gee, you should just pay your rent, or move. That's happening all the time. There just isn't enough. There is no funding for full representation. And right now, it's been the poverty Susan's at University of Michigan said around 80% of the people facing in Detroit residents facing evictions are eligible for full representation. According to their the ordinance, and right now they're impacted Detroit residents are 68,000 impacted Detroit residents who are projected to face eviction and 2023. I know we've all been working on this. And we're all still available to the Detroit right to counsel coalition is available. And we know we have to get this done. Thank you very much. Thank
you. Mr. Shane. Good afternoon.
Good morning honorable Council and residents of Detroit who may be marching online. I'm a member of the moratorium now coalition and I support the calls that have been made by previous speakers for a moratorium on evictions. But I want to bring up something else. That's the quality of the homes that our residents live in, in particular the rental properties. Lead Poisoning has been in the news last week or two because the land bank is selling houses to residents without abating the lead poisoning but in addition to that, landlords are not abating the lead poisoning in their properties. In particular, Munoz Realty has been sued in court and lost. What did they do they failed to inspect for and abate lead lead lead hazards before renting the property to the family. I'm reading this from the brief filed by Lake Shore illegal. The housing laws required that Munoz test for lead hazards and remediate active lead hazards before renting the property. What the city of Detroit did was give Munoz a Spirit of Detroit award at least two of them in the last year. Is this the Spirit of Detroit lead poisoning of our children, a four year old and a Munoz property almost had to go to the emergency room. The lead poisoning got so bad in this lawsuit. They also point out and this is the things we're being sued for because we pointed this out. There was failure to inspect for and abate active lead hazards which I address failed to repair the plumbing failure to repair the heat and failure to repair the water leaks. We say to the city of Detroit which side are you on? Thank you
John loss I'm sorry before you go Mr. carmaker I apologize. Go ahead. Mr. Karmic, followed by John luff.
My name is Bob karmic and use. These are some serious issues here. With all these people coming up into so much to help these people to keep coming and coming and coming. Sad leadership. That's where it all starts. If your leader ain't right, everybody is saying right. That's where we're at with this. Mayor is supposed to protect and make people safe children, families, daughters, uncles, brothers, grandfathers. He's not doing that. Situation is you hear these stories with hear? What do you mean that was what the environmental fell into the river? It went to every neighborhood down river and southwest Detroit and Detroit. You have something from revered dock in front of you today be voted on? You don't need to be voted on needs to be investigated. They can't have a confidential agreement. Listen, I subpoena Mayor Duggan. I go into court Friday to depose him to get his text messages emails, and is everything he got just like they did Kwame Kirkpatrick I'm gonna get the information. I'm gonna put this man in jail for everything he's doing to harm the people Detroit. All he's doing is stealing from Detroit and abusing Detroit. We need don't pass revere doc put it as a line item asked for investigations. Both parties were supposed to put $8 million dollars in this property. I sent you all this information. You have knowledge now. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Back to you knows in the blighted property tickets, we did receive a report back in November. Regarding the status of his properties. I know that I think six of the 13 were not in compliance and he has until one year to play or to pay or comply with the various blight violations that were given. So if we can line item this in to public health and safety member, Santiago Romero, yes. Thank you, Madam President. We did ask for a list of all Munoz properties to get a status update regarding where they are in compliance. And the response was a little disappointing, to be honest, so very happy to make this amendment into public health and safety. Just want everybody to know that we are looking into this. But I think that we should have a further public discussion around accountability for Munoz and really, frankly, administration holding them accountable to actually following through and having their properties be in compliance. So Madam President, I asked that we make this a one of them in our public health and safety standing committee. Thank you. Thank you for allowing that. So we will add this any further discussion? All right. We will add this to the public health and safety standing committee. Thank you
critical so No,
all right, John Lof. To turn this on.
I've been going to these meetings over the years, and it's disgusting to see what's happened. You say you want to do something? I'll tell you how to do it. Stop villages, ripoff of district Detroit it's turning into a desert.
I pinned to the
meetings that are happening down there. And the people that you've appointed don't really know what's going on. Here's a deal right here. Henry St. Ilitch had this deal. When he built the casino, I mean, at the casino the arena and it's never been finished. He tried to tear it down. I've been in the building and talk to people there. If you want to do something tell the alleged to finish what he promised to do what he said. He promised to give 50,000 tickets to kids of low income families to the baseball game. Forget it, because nobody enforces the deals. And here's another one of his Grand Circus Park and it's never been finished. This is 2005 and the city put a million dollars into this deal and nothing so if you want to do something, make illage do what he's already signed up to do. He cheated. He didn't even pay the Joe Louis Arena bills and he cheated them out of bankruptcy. So you got to stop this and you are the only ones that have the power to do that. So it isn't well come out of the sky somewhere. It's your job to stand up for the people of the city and put tell Ilitch to get a life and start obeying the IRS rule deals that he's made. Thank you so much, Mr. Law
down at the district Detroit meetings that take place every single Tuesday at six o'clock. Nothing has come before us quite yet. I know that there was a hearing yesterday from for the transformational Brownfield. Those discussions are still taking place they are set to vote on that tomorrow. And again every single Tuesday at 6pm. For the next I think four or five weeks. They will continue the CBO process and then things will come before City Council after that.
Well done years ago.
Thank you. We appreciate you and looking forward to hear from you. Mr. Johnson, Christopher Johnson.
Good morning. I am Christopher Johnson. I'm here to just introduce myself to this honorable body. It is a pleasure to be here. Before you I am the new district and constituent service director for Senator Mallory McMorrow, she sends her greetings to this entire body. And I just want to say you on most of you know me, I love Detroit. Detroit is my city. I'm not going nowhere. So anything I can do to assist that's why I do what I do. I'm also the president of Bagley Community Council, so I have a vested interest into the city. I appreciate the work that you all do. I thank you and if anyone needs to reach me, most of you have my number. But I can just briefly tell you I have few seconds. My Senator Mark McMorrow, she's the chair of the economics and Community Development vice chair of oversight member of appropriations committee member of the Appropriations Subcommittee. For the me DC and Leo, elections and ethics, Joint Committee on administrative rules and joint capital outlay. So again, if there's anything that you all need, give us a call.
All right, we'll do thank you so much. Mr. Johnson. Madam Chair Yes, member? Callaway. Yes,
he has. Can we go back to his time? I think he had maybe 17 seconds. Can you share your contact information again for state senator McMorris office? Certainly. You have 17 minutes 17 seconds left 76
Let me go quickly. Okay, so you can reach well, you can reach me at area code 313-806-5096. My email is C Johnson at Senate see Johnson senate.michigan.gov and Michigan is spelt out.
Thank you so much. We appreciate you. Thank you. Maya, Maya enough.
Good morning. I'm a tenant and here in solidarity with Tara and Tunisia and a lot of other housing groups here. First, I just wanted to bring up that I guess it was my understanding that city council did have power over a more emergency ordinances for health and safety. So unless I'm misunderstanding that, I would ask that the city council please use that power to stop evictions that lack representation. I don't understand how that couldn't be, you know, an emergency for public health and safety. And then secondly, I appreciate y'all looking into Munoz and I just wanted to speak on that for a moment as a resident of Southwest as well. You know, we're organizations are tallying up 10s and 10s of 1000s of unpaid blight tickets by Munoz. And there have been complaints for a long time. So the question is, why did it take so much organizing by activists getting sued getting harassed, to bring that to attention what what's missing in the system that it wasn't already clear, you know, how many blight tickets weren't being paid by this man? And then he's getting superior Spirit of Detroit awards? Because he's not the only one. You know, it's a systemic issue. And what can the City Council do to when people are repeat violators like this over time? Take the properties and give them to the people you know, get make them free public housing, if you're consistently putting people in terrible conditions, you're not paying your blade tickets, you're exploiting people, especially black and brown people in the city. How are you still, you know allowed to operate and how are you still allowed to profit off those people's pain? So I would ask the City Council to take a look at how we can not just respond to Munoz, because activists are literally risking their lives to speak up about it. But how can we address the other people that people haven't spoken up about yet or they're speaking up about as well?
All of our in person, public comment and we will now turn it over to those who have quality and virtually.
Good morning Madam President. We have 27 callers who raise their hand before you cut off public comment the first caller is call in user one.
Morning Can you hear me?
Yes, we can. Good morning.
Good morning, Madam President. It's a wonderful joy to speak with you. Please have your staff or let me know when we can speak sometime this week. As I was looking forward to it last week, and that didn't happen. I'd also like for you to answer. When is counsel going to make a line item to make sure that 36 District Court is aware when properties do not have certificate of compliance. They're not supposed to be evicting. And I'd like to know when can you get back with me on that? And finally, I'd like to know what funds are going to be given to those that live in Detroit is interested in cosmetology or barbering? That's never provided as a grant. that like for you to answer that on your Public Safety Committee. When there's a line item going to be brought up for Metro lift, still leaving people stranded? When you tell them you need a van. They send a sedan and if you're not physically able to get into Sudan you're just left stranded. Can you tell me what's going to be done about that?
Yes, Miss Miss. Yes. Thank you so much for calling in and I will be sure to personally follow back up with you this week so we can have our our talks that we have and address those outstanding issues and then get with the chair of the committee to see about line item item in the issue regarding the 36 District Court. Thank you for calling in.
The next caller is Heather McNeely.
Good morning, everyone. I just want to say I'm here in support of moratorium now, to our brown and everyone else who spoke about the housing issues. We demand you know, low, low, low income quality housing, housing that isn't unsafe for the tenants who are living in it and every time they call and ask about getting something fixed. They either don't get a response or face retaliation, like evictions. We have, you know, people currently being sued for defamation for speaking out against these landlords. These landlords who are you know, not providing housing and also have, you know, $80,000 plus in in flight tickets. I would also like to support the statements about, you know, why is it taking all of these people, all of these activists to bring this in front of the city? And you know, that it wasn't that it wasn't ever mentioned before? Or what you know, that you you all weren't made aware of that. You know, what is happening that that can just continue and these people like Munoz are receiving Spirit of Detroit awards. I support the statements for his Spirit of Detroit awards to be revoked, and also for the properties that are not under certificate of compliance, to be given to the people to be taken from these people.
Thank you so much. Our next caller please.
The next caller is net
and et
net the floor is yours.
Nets are you there? That
would put them in the back of the end of the queue and go to the next caller please. Okay.
The next caller would be Ruth Johnson seat at
Johnson see Dad, thank you for joining us. The floor is yours.
Good morning.
This is Ruth Johnson. I serve as a public policy director for community development advocates of Detroit. I asked that this city of Detroit meet and and do what is legally required and when which they have a profound opportunity to address the eviction crisis facing the city and Detroiters fully fund and fully and equitably implement the right to counsel ordinance. We asked $12 million for this year right to counsel and 26 million for fiscal year 2324. As far as implementation publicly open and promote the office of addiction defense with a phone number and promote it both digitally and non digitally. develop guidelines and the application process in consultation with those impacted and those that this council have worked very closely with on this eviction crisis and the ordinance. You will positively impact 70 Detroit households per week. I think the council members who have been very diligent and passing resolutions, but the time is now for the entire city of Detroit to benefit the entire city of Detroit to fully implement and fully fund the right to counsel ordinance. Thank you. Thank you.
Next caller please.
The next caller is stop illegal rental and tiny home evictions.
College stop illegal rental and tiny home evictions. The floor is yours you have a minute 30
Thank you. It's nice to hear it. I'm mad supporting moratorium now. And it stopped the illegal evictions. Also, the former head of the DMC Mr. Mike duck and who sent back 6200 COVID vaccines at the start of the pandemic. The Biden ministration was set scrambling to try to mitigate the harmful effects he did cause the hepatitis A emergency epidemic in Detroit when he did those massive shut off water shut offs. Then, as he as a matter of fact, he put everybody in danger people who visited Detroit, people who live in Detroit, and at that point, we had the COVID that came in the FDA pandemic and it caused more problems and more sickness and more deaths. We are calling on no more water shut offs. Stop the illegal evictions of tiny homes. These are illegal. We need to put Munoz in prison and we need to put faith Fowler in prison. She's a slumlord. And he is a slum lawyer as well and what we want is you to stop funding these billionaires little projects they elegist have a billions of dollars.
Thank you so much. next caller please.
The next caller is Yvonne Jones.
Joining us now the floor.
Good morning. Can I be heard?
Yes, you can. Okay. The how the housing crisis in Detroit needs to be addressed now. We need to address the lack of low income housing availability. We need to address the high rate of evictions. evictions are have surged to a pre pandemic level. A proposal was presented to this council before the end of the year recess to place a moratorium on eviction showing you the power you have in the present city charter to do this. Council has not acted on this. We do need to act on that. There's no safeguards in Detroit to protect tenants from predatory lenders. We need to enforce an ordinance that stops predatory lenders from retaliating against people who speak out Detroit not enforcing the certificate of compliance is a problem. We can end a lot of these problems with these predatory landlords by just enforcing the certificate of compliance. We need to find the right to counsel fully funded.
We need to address
our people.
The policies changes now since the pandemic tell us that evictions.
Alright, thank you
the next caller is Raul Gonzalez.
Can you hear me?
Yes we
can. Good morning.
Okay, good morning. My name is Raul Gonzalez. I have rented when when you're salty trade years ago. The time that I have problems I had quality repair number and they have attended without any problems. They even once come to fix my foreignness desert winter set of degrees funny. Oh my god, I have to give Bernardo the technician a cup of hot coffee because they are freezing outside. And oh Bonarda. He's a nice guy. In addition, they have a staff to deal with their complaints in English and in Spanish because it's good for me for these Spanish because sometimes my English is not very good. And it's not the first time that I've read the property and a half a bad experience before right now. I don't know what's going on. But I have really appreciated them and yours real deep work. I pay my rent on time. That's why I appreciate it. When do find someone that made the jump that you paid. That's what he said.
Thank you. Thank you sir.
The next caller is net en et
the morning. Can you hear me?
Yes. Good morning.
Good morning. Your honorable body. My name is Lynette Bowens, I live in district seven. I am calling regarding the demolition at 8100 School crap. That didn't the demolition department send us out a flyer regarding lead dust and the like. But my concern is nothing was on the Preventing of rodents invading our house. This building has been vacant and abandoned for over 20 something years and I'm sure there are rodents that live there. I'm asking this on a robot it to make 8100 School craft a line item to make sure that the residents and my community are being protected from things that could happen from dimly lit demoing such a old building I know that we I've watched the project over at the AMC. I'm asking for the same thing for those residents. We do appreciate these structures being demo, but we cannot accept our homes and our yards being invaded by rodents. So that is my request from this anaerobic body to address and make a line item for 8100 Schoolcraft demolition for the protection of our residents. Thank you.
Thank you so much. And if Clark would note to line item Emily's 8100 Schoolcraft for public health and safety
clerk was Oh no. Thank you.
Our next caller please.
next caller is Renard Matuszewski.
I can warn it couldn't be hurt.
Yes, you can. Good morning.
Good morning, Madam President and members of council. I'm speaking specifically. My name is Renard miszewski. I'm a member of the trade people's platform transit justice team and organizer and I would like to speak to line item 19.23, about the scorecard for the new paratransit arrangement. Now, I don't want to talk about a typo but I do notice that it still says train staff even though we're not in a contract with them, but I think they put that as the transmit group. Besides that, I'm interested to know from DDOT what are the current what is the current condition of the paratransit service as well since it's been switched over to DITA and wondering when there would be an address to this council about that from DDOT. Also, in terms of the D that we imagined that's the process where they're re envisioning the entire system. We want to ensure that no neighborhood is left behind during this process. We look forward to report that all those be director all those who will be presented to this body as well and we support and we support the study for the low income fair program. Also. I wanted to speak as a resident of the city of Detroit in support a line item for the AMC project public health and safety within that committee as well to discuss the concerns but that project related to rodents deconstruction and environmental issues as well that can be placed on a line item for public health and safety.
Thank you so much.
The next caller is Tonya Myers Phillips.
Good morning members of this honorable body. My name is Tonya Meyers Phillips and I'm with the Detroit Rights Council coalition. I'm calling and directing my comments specifically towards the inaction and undue delay of the administration in fully funding and equitably implement the Detroit Rights Council ordinance. The administration's actions are at the root of many of the problems that people are crying out for help about today. I think this council for its stand and passing ordinance and continuing to take oversight and making sure this is executed in the way Detroiters deserve. I'm pleased to see uch C's contract before you today. However, I continue to make clear on behalf of the Coalition and as many people are saying that the effort put forth so far by the administration is not good enough. Even the $6 million that was initially promised that's been reduced to a little under $5 million over two years is not enough to provide full legal representation and community outreach to 1000s of Detroiters that continue to face eviction. We want a right we don't want a lottery system, underfunded grant program. That's not good enough. In October, we heard cries for one more month, one more month. And now we're approaching March before the doors even open. Thank you for your support and ask that you continue to stand and fight
for the rights.
Thank you so much. Tony Meyers Phillips.
The next caller is William M. Davis.
Good morning. Can I be heard
as you can Good morning.
Well, I like to start off by saying I enjoy part of what the mayor was saying. And his his meeting. I'm also like to say I'm gonna support a moratorium now. I would also like to say that apparently the mayor was a little confused. I needed some rest because Detroit bankruptcy did not start in 2015. It started in 2013. I know for a fact because we know my pension was cut in March of 2014. My cost of living was retroactively took and you know that cut from 2013 We lost our health care. We lost our medica we lost all sorts of stuff. I've been to countless funerals over the last 10 years. You know you have to do a study to see how many people have died because of the city not doing what it could and should do. The City of Detroit has gotten countless waivers. I know for a fact I was an elected official. And many of you should also know the city of Detroit has asked for and gotten a number of waivers, but they have not asked for one single waiver to help the general fund retirees. You know the impact they've got a waiver some way was to help the ditch Detroit Police Department, but they need to be doing more. Yeah, at the very least it would be good if I was just restore our cost of living effective June 30 of this year. You know since it was cut, you know July it was cut June 30. Retroactive back to normal.
Thank you so much, Commissioner Williams.
The next caller is d to victimize Detroit retiree.
Hello. Good morning. Good morning. Um,
I will do things I just need about another minute and a half. But I want to know about apparently we don't have any inspectors. Because if we had inspectors we wouldn't have all these issues. I know for a fact that at the height of the demolitions they they be in council or Gary Brown somebody they decided that we weren't going to do any more inspections we just sell a house as is there's no inspections. And then there's no insect door to go and see if these properties are how we gonna sit here. And then you want to take these people to court. You won't help them with attorneys. I mean, this was this was cyclic. Madness was what it is Jama knees. So this is this is unbelievable. These people there's no control. You don't have any there's no everybody's just random. You know, it's it's like an octopus. Nobody knows where we going where we've been. And you got all these back. You need city workers you go and check in behind these it's just unbelievable. This counts. Now we're going to spend more money on a job that we did already because we found a basement, in the basement. I mean, who's going around making sure the job has been done. This is not acceptable. Sorry.
Thank you so much.
The next caller is Ruby Riley.
Money City Council. I am calling. Again.
I didn't show up to date because I have something to do. But I have been talking about once we fat to seven for let's see 17 years because it had been 1818 years this year. I inquired about the property. They never told me nothing about it with first belonged to the city. Then it was turned over in 2005 was the city's and it was turned over to land bank and 2014 I inquired on I'm gonna find my paperwork I have it and I've been talking about their property and I had wanted to purchase it and everything and no no information. No Mr. Buyer on it. And he had mentioned it from the beginning was they was going to demo it. And so they say if I take it off the demo this is going to cost me $2,000 I have been cutting grass I've been cutting them pushes the weeds l nine yards for 17 years. Now all of a sudden, yeah, they put it on auction but why should I had to pay for auction house when I've been taking care of the house. Nobody's paying me for what I've done. And now they have a company over there that's playing a bid on it. They don't toss it on the back. Well, it used to be a place where you can barbecue affinity or whatever. And then they got people over there where they boarded it up with my dog and told me his favorite house. Why could I get that property and now they already are getting ready to do a roof and stuff like that. I should have that property
period so I'm just not pleased with what's going on.
Miss Riley and we will continue to work with you on your issues. Thank you for calling in.
The next caller is Cindy Dora. All right.
I just want to urge people that come tonight to cast auditorium and at 530. They got free food that I didn't know about but it's there. And then the meaning goes about six to 830 and it's all about these tax breaks they want to give billionaires that I've been taking our money for years. But people need to get out and I don't think these solutions my question of affordable housing. What's the AMI actually for Detroit and when they talk about 50% 30% of average median rent or income for Detroit versus the suburbs, that's not going to work. So I don't even think this whole thing about affordable housing. Those contracts I've seen were always 35 years after that everything will be gentrified, completely would be all market rate. To me. We need Co Op housing and housing. Like we had before that they tore down public housing. It's owned by the public, not by private developers. And I think that maybe if you want to give tax breaks, they've got to also be willing to help fund the public housing. And that's wouldn't be a better long term solution and I think we need to know more about what's going on with the radiation that went into the room.
Thank you, Miss Daraa
the next caller is Ariel Flores.
Yeah, hello. Hi. How you doing?
Great. How are you?
Good. Oh, I just wanted to say I've been I know I've been a tenant with homeowners Realty for for about three years and a half now. And I don't know who these people are there what who they are, but if any of those people there's are tenants but I never have any issues with them. I pay my rent on time. I pay my water on time. I don't allow the government give me any support because I work myself. So these people there that will let you know if they have jobs or what they do and because I believe that they want everything for free. And that's what's happening. You know, so that's why the speaking part about this company, I believe because they don't want to pay the rent, but I never have any issues with them. I know them. They work for the community. They work with the community a lot, and I'm very pleased with their work. So I would like to say these people you know showing up there and not what didn't go to work so they can pay the rent. That's all I can say. Thank you.
Great, thank you
the next caller is Ryan's on Pardo. Hi, good morning.
I'm calling about line item 19 point 19 related to a change order that's that's being requested by a demolition contractor for property for 550 Michigan Avenue. I think the city is potentially being overcharged here by the contractor. City council already approved that the $1,500 for demolishing this building back in November. The contractor is now requesting additional funds because they discovered a basement during the demolition. I'm representing the property owner. We had been attempting to demolish the building ourselves after the demolition order was issued and had received a bid from a licensed Detroit contractor for $30,000. So less than half of what the total price would be for this. That included the work in the in the basement and the building was a very basic structure with four walls and a basement slab so very obvious that there was a basement in there. So I'm requesting that you vote no on this change order or at least table the issue so I can provide additional documentation to Councilmember Santiago Romero. Because I think the city is potentially getting charged extra funds for something that should have been included in the base bid for this contract. Thank you.
Thank you can you repeat the line item again, please? 19
point 1919 4550. Michigan out.
Thank you so much. Thanks. All right our next caller please.
The next caller is Cunningham.
I have no technical difficulty. But I just want to say thank you madam president for treating everybody with respect and being be stern. So I'm on Facebook force of 30. It's kind of him on Facebook force subservience coming here. And the hotline number 31344443134449114. I'm asking you at home. You you. You listening. Get on the bus after 6pm and on the weekends, your own review. Talk to the people next to you on the coaches. If you have teachers want you to do it. Powers That Be people they don't want to do it somehow. But I'm asking you to do your own survey and board the coaches at the 6pm weekly and on the weekends. Especially and talk to people don't be shy. So in the as in the name of Jesus, I want you to pray chant whatever you do put my name in the atmosphere brother Cunningham and my mother shirt Reliance disabled registered nurse and with these last 17 minutes I'm gonna pray in the Holy Spirit. I want to drink a lot of water for the next couple of days and do that as I ask because I'm praying for the city and I thank you is Chanda Rama sundog Giulietta masina mashanda Masan Sundaram, Marcia and Jeremiah.
Thank you Mr. Cunningham.
The next caller is Thomas among. Yes,
good morning Council members. My name is Tom M and I am here to speak on behalf of item 19.21. It's the petition of NP Detroit commerce center LLC. And P Detroit commerce center is my client. I'm an attorney representing that entity who submitted the application to vacate the planet roads within this development. The purpose of my public comment this morning is to thank the Council for their consideration and also if this item passes today to request a waiver of reconsideration, so that this important project can continue moving forward, and my client can complete financing and in an expeditious manner so that that would be my request. And I thank you all. Right, thank you, sir.
The next caller is Steven Handschuh.
Are you able to hear me?
Yes, we can. Good morning.
Can you hear me?
Yes, we can hear you clearly.
Thank you. I am a resident of the Hamel ho apartments in downtown Detroit and I want to support those who have spoken about tenants rights. The developers, the corporation that owns my property is trying to move half of us to other properties that they are currently building. This is an absolute outrage. 31 families will be affected and we will need your help on that in the future. My main reason for calling big surprise is paratransit. We want to ask you to keep your eyes on the target. The target is the new contract. We want to ask you to call director Oglesby to your meetings. Regularly, to see that we do not go backwards that we keep those advances that we made in the contract that is currently being used. Many things that we were told you were told could not happen are present in this contract. We want the contract to include the new contract to include that consumers of the service will be involved in it Thank you, sir.
The next caller is phone number ending in 534.
Yes,
good morning. Can you hear me?
Yes, we can't. Good morning. Yes.
First of all, I'd like to thank President Sheffield and her work for the right to counsel. It also seems to me that the health director should be able to issue an order because putting people out in this kind of weather would not be good for people's health. There was some there was a woman and her two children who died in the cold of hypothermia and Oakland County. Let's not make that happen. Pastor Hines said mayor says your decisions be righteous for the citizens. And so I too would like to point to item 7.3 A settlement in the Revere dock situation. For those of you who don't know the Manhattan Project they were building the atomic bomb in Detroit on the Detroit River. Part of it collapsed into the river. By the time we figured out that this had happened. It's possible contaminated soil went through the pipes. And so please slow this down. The people deserve a full investigation. There should be a full federal investigation and also item 7.14 and a half million dollars to admit think Brossart. What hourly rate is David think getting and what are those cases for? Is he getting the same hourly rate?
Thank you Miss Warwick.
Madam president she still has I'm not sure what happened. Okay, it looks like she did not she is not muted. Okay.
All right. Let's go to our next caller. And if she comes back, I think she had about 30 seconds left for public comment. So we'll come back to Ms. Warwick.
Okay. The next caller is phone number ending in 711.
Good morning Detroit City Council as well as the residents and taxpayers of the city of Detroit. My name is Malik Shelton, in response to the LPD report coming out of the IOP division concerning the notices for the limited tax and obligation bonds. The Michigan Transportation fund bond requires a notice there's no doubt about it. You could take out Japan's according to the borrowing from motor vehicle highway fund fund act 175 of 1952 which references at 5151 which the Michigan Transportation fund is under. Any bonds issued under this Act are subject to the requirements of the revised Municipal Finance Act 141 point 21 01214 1.18 21 within those statutes, it
is the law that requires
that a notice be issue and this is of course, as I said before, is reference to act 51 which the Michigan Transportation fund gets his authority from so I don't care what anybody is saying unless they can show me a law where this has been amended, and I have to expand
Thank you, Mr. Shelton.
next caller is phone number ending in 301.
Okay, can you hear me? Yes, we can.
Hi, my name is Richard clay. And I would like to speak today to urge our city council members, reminding you that trans div is trying to sneak back into the paratransit process of Detroit after being kicked out for utterly poor performance. That should not happen. We urge the city council to make sure that it happens in fact, as Mr. Handschuh said earlier, we are urging city council to insert itself into the contracting process. To be sure, and to make sure that on behalf of the people that things aren't going to be negotiated properly. We urge you to please closely monitor if not get right into the contracting process to make sure that the next contracts that are given out are fair and they do not involve trans debit or any subsidiaries. I also urge you council members today to get to please make sure that the libraries are kept safe and independent. And we'll fund it and finally we cannot wait in this city for the National George Floyd justice and policing act. We need to have a porter Burke's justice and policing act here with local comprehensive police reforms to protect people from the rash of police brutality. Thank you.
All right, thank you.
The next caller is Kevin J
arias.
Hello, can you hear me?
Yes we can. Good morning.
Thank you for the time on our consoles.
My name is Gary carriers. I've been renting for with linear Realty for more than two years. And I can say that I have no any issue within everything that I eat when I make a complaint. Everything is fixed. Everything is done and I want to thank you publicly in this moment because I am so grateful with the support and the services with when you really I really appreciate their support and help with my family for these two Jews. Thank you very much.
All right, thank you.
The next caller is Evan.
Good morning Evan.
Alright, if we can come right back to Evan See,
I didn't I didn't have public comment. I'm sorry if I raise my hand I didn't mean so.
Okay, the next caller is Jesus Hernandez. Hey, Soos Hernandez.
Good morning, Kieran.
Yes, we can. Good morning.
Good morning. I would say I would like to say good morning to all the council members. I live in District Six. I've been living here basically for my whole life. And this is my second meeting that I've attended. And something that I've realized is a lot of people have this you know, and I don't want to insult anybody but the victimized mindset. You know, all these people talking about, you know, landlords, tenants, I'm a tenant myself. If they care about us so much. Why can't they provide housing you know, that's up to code with the city, and that's low income. I've heard a few things about Windows Realty. They're a good company. I like I said, I live in District Six. So I see you know, everything that they do for the community and helping everybody out, you know, as far as providing housing. So I just wanted to say thank you so much, guys.
Thank you.
The next caller is Matthew Davis.
Can you just make sure your microphone is unmuted?
Can you hear me? Yes, we can. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. My name is Matthew Davis. I live in district seven on automatic Street. And I like to say that we got a lot of blind over here because residents over here don't clean up their streets. So I have to be nice and go help them. But I wonder what can we do about it?
Are you finished with your comment? You still have some time left?
Yes. Yeah.
All right. Thank you for calling in one second. Remember door Hall would like to respond.
Alright, thank you for calling in Mr. Davis. If you would like to contact our office please call us at 313-224-2151. Again, that number is 313-224-2151. We will be happy to assist you. I know we participated in and actually hosted cleanups throughout district seven and so we'd love to be able to provide some assistance with you and connect you also with city departments. And again, that number is 313-224-2151. Thank you Madam President. Thank you member Doha.
The next caller is Amara Hyman.
Good morning
I have a question about question actually from a week or so ago when Russ bland brought up the issue of monies being stolen by a city employee from the Detroit Public Library. So I wanted to know what the state of that investigation was, as well as Will there be a a return of the outstanding monies back to the library. I understand there several $100,000 that were not recovered. By the library that should go back and then also to support one of the council members who suggested that in the interim until we can actually get an exemption from the light library from the tax captures that there'll be a $3 million donation to the library system by the DDA.
Also on contracts. I remember hearing
a council member being told that extra points were given to contractors who made this who lived in the city of Detroit. My question is, when I look at some of those contractors, a great many of them. They may have a Detroit address, but they're often in other cities far away from Detroit and in fact, some of them are in other states. Now, are they given points because they have
All right, thank you so much.
And the last caller who raised their hand before you cut off public comment, Miss Warwick has 30 seconds left
all right, Miss Warwick.
Yes, hello.
Can you hear me? Yes, we
can. Yeah, I'm
sorry. My internet dropped so I just want to reiterate the importance of please don't vote for this confidentiality agreement about the Revere DAC. We need a full federal investigation to figure out what contamination there may be because of this. Please, please, please a vote for this would not be righteous and not a good look during Black History Month. Also, what what is that Frank breasts are getting all this money for it's like the same amount for the right to counsel. And are the eviction attorneys getting the same
Alright, I think that's your time is work. And do we have any additional public comment?
Madam President, that was the last public comment. All right.
Thank you. And thank you to those who have taken the time to come down and join us virtually for public comment that will conclude our public comment for this morning. And we will proceed to our agenda. Under standing committee reports for the budget Finance and Audit standing committee from the Office of contracting and procurement.
Madam President, there is one contract up for vote today for the budget Finance and Audit Senate Committee. It is contract number 6000098841 2%. City funding amendment number four, to provide an extension of time and an increase of funds to continue the provision of pension and actuarial services contract is Sharon Inc. total contract amount. $550,000. And this contract is for the Office of the Chief Financial Officer. Councilmember Hall a resolution line item 16.1.
Councilmember Doha
Thank you madam president Move for approval of line item six. 13.1.
motion has been made. Are there any objections? Hearing Hearing no objections, the one resolution will be approved from the legislative policy division.
Council member Dr. Hall for resolutions nine and 16.2 to 16.5.
Member Doha.
Thank you, Madam President and move forward discussion for line item 16.2 to 16.5. All right, discussion. Thank you, Madam President. I just wanted to afford the opportunity. These next four resolutions as folks know we are entering into our budget season. And so these next four resolutions are procedural in nature, relating to our committee of the hall holding budget meeting to hear the mayor's proposal also to change the start time of our standing committee meetings and limit meeting time to an hour during 2023 to 2024. During our budget hearings, and to set a date and time of the public hearing for the 2023 2024 budget and to institute the budget calendar scheduling policy for the 2023 2024 budget deliberations. If I may, Madam President, Mr. Quarterly would like to chime in if that's fine. I would like to turn it over to him and he can go a little bit more in depth, as well as give a couple of days out for the public. Thank you.
Thank you Chairman Doha. Mr. Corley.
Good morning, Madam President. City cast are so excited my glasses fell off.
Castle Madurai did a wonderful job, nothing really to add. We really encourage the citizens to participate in a budget process. This is the most important process in my mind for the city. Council and its citizens. So really urged citizens to to watch the budget hearings and to chime in when they can.
Thank you. Thank you and Mr. Corley, roughly, how many hearings will City Council have for each department
roughly this year, about 45? The same as last year? All right. So
about 45 hearings from various city departments. And when would that schedule be posted for the public to view?
Only about a couple of weeks madam president because we need to reach out to the various agencies to set their times for the budget hearings. It takes about a couple of weeks,
but that will be available online for whether it is to be able to do and I just want to also mention that the Committee of a whole is set for Friday, March the third at 10am. We will be in the auditorium for that so the general public can come for the mayor's presentation on Friday, March the third at 10am. In the auditor, auditorium, number door anything additional?
No, thank you, Madam President. I just want to echo the comments. I'm glad you're excited. Mr. Connolly's is your time to shine as always during the budget season, but to reiterate some points that Mr. Corley has made I know many members may be doing the same as well reaching out to the residents and our community to find out what their ideas are or what they would like to see in our budget. And so again, we encourage participation as well. This is all coming together for our next budget 2324 And so look forward to those deliberations. And with that, Madam President, that concludes my comments and would like to move line item 16.2 through 16.5 for approval
or any other discussion.
Hearing none motion has been made. For approval and Hearing no objections before resolutions will be approved for the internal operation standing committee from the Office of contracting and procurements.
Madam President, there are two contracts up for vote today from the internal operation standing committee. First up we have contract number 60005541 2%. City funding amendment number 13 to provide an increase of funds only for legal representation to the city of Detroit and then pending litigation involving claims against the city for ongoing cases. Contractors think brozik PLLC total contract amount $4,570,000. And this contract is for the law department. The next contract is contract number 6004918 100%. ARPA funding right to counsel to provide legal counsel to qualified low income occupants in residential eviction cases in the 36 district court and then housing related administrative proceedings contract is united. Community Housing Coalition, total contract amount $4,967,512. And this contract is for the law department as well. Councilmember Johnson two resolutions, land 17.1 and 17.2 knowning. That line item 17.1 was postponed from last week's formal session.
Thank you, Councilmember. Johnson.
Thank you, Madam President. Move forward discussion on line item 17.1.
All right, discussion.
Thank you. I understand that there were some outstanding questions that were posed to the law department. Just want to make sure those questions have been addressed.
Any additional questions from colleagues for 17.1?
Madam Chair, yeah, I'm not satisfied with the answers that I've received. I've not received, you know, adequate answers from the law department. I still don't know the hourly rate. This is almost a million dollar contract the 13th amendment for the same law firm that we just can't seem to get away from. There are so many other law firms that deserve to have this type of contract and we keep going back to Fink razack. With the Detroit location, but on his website is Bloomfield Hills. So I'm hoping that we can not vote on this today because I still have not gotten my questions answered. What's the hourly rate? And what are the cases? And why are we awarding this almost a million dollar contract just openly? We don't have any information on it. And this is his 13th contract it says 13th amendment, but amendments really represent contracts. So I don't know what the will of the body is, but I will hope that we can continue to hold this because I've not received my answers, Madam Chair.
Thank you remember Callaway Thank you member Johnson. are you opposed to bringing this back? Am I short the law department if you guys have anything additional to respond to member Galloway's questions
Good morning or good morning still Graham Anderson all through the chair. We have not addressed the hourly rate question. I believe we did go through the list of cases that were the previous ones that were litigated the current outstanding cases and the anticipated future ones. But other than that, we still we can get you an hourly rate. I know we also broke down the fee schedule, as well. But if there are additional questions if we could get them posted in writing and I would be thrilled to get those responses to the to the city council. Madam Chair.
Yes, member Callaway.
I moved to postpone this vote until I get the answers to my questions.
Okay. Motion has been made to postpone line item 17.1. Any objections? Hearing none, that motion is approved to bring this back in one week.
Ben president
yes, member Johnson.
Thank you, Madam President. So to Attorney Anderson just want to ask if you can share the responses with myself as well and possibly with my colleagues, just to make sure that we get the questions answered and can move this forward.
Yes, absolutely. The chair. Absolutely. It was my understanding I sent to all of city council have responses last weekend or last week probably think Wednesday or Thursday. But if there was some mistake didn't go through for whatever reason. I'll be happy to re forward that comprehensive email. Thank you. Thank you, President.
Yes, member calculus.
Thank you, Madam Chair. If anybody is here through the chair from the law department, I just want to know when we're going to start rotating these types of cases. This is the 13th amendment for 13th amendment for this one law firm. And now you're just close to $5 million
with one law firm.
So I really and I don't know if you can answer that or not, sir. But I would like to see these contracts go into rotations with the minority law firms in the city. And I'm gonna keep saying it. We don't have any black law. I think we do one with Lewis Monday, but this is the majority African American city but we can't seem to see find any African American lawyers to do this body of work. We keep going back to Brett Zack think Well, we made him a millionaire. He keeps getting these contracts. And I just don't know why we continue to give this one law firm these types of contracts not sharing the contracts. With other law firms. And I'll continue to say that.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. I see. Corporation Counsel has joined us want to
Madam President, thank you very much. And to this honorable body and member Callaway. We've heard you loud and clear. We are working diligently to meet the intention that you described. I think we all share that intention and the desire that you have for more for more diverse legal representation.
The the the
urging the urgent tone that you set with us I believe, and like I said, we've not missed it at all. We are entering into lots of conversations around this work as I indicated the last time that we were together a couple of weeks ago to be sure that was similar to particularly your idea that training we provided that would allow two things to occur. One for us to bring in house more of this work, which I think is something that the law department continues to endeavor to do. We will be we are hiring in the next couple of weeks. Some really, really excellent litigators who have done work similar to this who we will attach to David Fink's effort, and again, I would just say to this body this, that part of the reason that we have leans so heavily on the David Fink firm, has been the excellence of the outcome that has been produced. That is not to say that there are lawyers out there who could do similar work. These are all important cases. Remember Callaway is I'm sure you would agree. The census case particularly is extremely consequential for the people the city of Detroit. We will get for you the hourly rate. You can take my word for it that we are working as we speak to increase the diversity of the representation and to create the circumstance where David's firm in fact, takes the laboring or to educate people in the excellence work that he has done. So that the diverse work product that this council is looking for can be reached, be produced. So we are moving in that direction. I am positive that we're going to be able to produce the kind of results that you're looking for. And it's not because there's a lack of commitment or earnestness. Believe me,
Madam Chair, thank you, Mr. mallet. I do think it's a lack of willingness. On behalf on behalf of the administration to hire black law firms, this is a black city and for us to always go with the same firm, Caucasian firm over and over again. It's just not fair to the citizens of the city of Detroit. And we have the Wolverine Bar Association, you're aware of it. We have the black women's Lawyers Association, you're aware of them and for us to say what we're saying, in essence, if that we can't find any qualified African American attorneys, and I totally, totally disagree with that because they're here. They want work, but we seem to continue to give the work to think and I'm going to continue to say this at the table calmly as I can and I'm going to continue to fight for black attorneys in this black city. Thank you Madam Chair.
Thank you member Calloway member waters.
Thank you, Madam President. I'm
this amount of Do you have
any idea of how many minorities slash black attorneys that are located in this city who are qualified to do this type of work? Who've indicated that they are qualified to do this type of work?
So member waters who would I would here's what I would say and this goes directly to one of the points raised by member Callaway inside the majority firms like butzel long we had a meeting with last week. They're managing directors of black woman inside Miller Canfield a mild law firm there are a number of black partners both male and female. That's true a Dickinson right. That's true or Clark hill that's true. A Dykema Gossett what we have to do and again, I think remember Callaway is hit the head hit the nail directly on the head. We have got to be more energetic about reaching out. We've got to involve these lawyers who have the institutional support to do the kind of work that's being done now. There are also occasions member waters where for instance, we come before this body and we make recommendations as to whether or not we shouldn't in fact provide representation and indemnification for police officers. One of my colleagues pointed out that if we come in with a recommendation not to provide representation, then don't we create for ourselves a conflict of interest if we continue while the arbitration process is going on. That's an important point only because what it does is create an opportunity for small black firms to do that work. It's not particularly complicated, and they can start relatively soon. And we actually then could show a direction and indicate our intention. So there are a number of things member waters that we can do better, and I just want to assure the body that we're looking at all of them and moving in that direction,
then President Um, is there a requirement that they that the firms register with the city as a vendor so that we know that they exist that the reg register you know, to provide services I mean, how do we know that they exist? I mean, I'd like to know who they are. And if in fact they exist, how do you find out if they exist?
So the into,
we don't do an RFP? situation remember waters as you know, the law department these these matters come up, sometimes situationally, and therefore we have to react with some degree of immediacy, the outreach and all those kinds of things normally takes place on an informal basis. We have any number of black lawyers in the law department who are involved in the various specialty bars across the city and then the state. So we don't have a registration process. We've got an informal list, but we don't have a formal
list. And so finally, Madam Chair, if that's okay. And President I guess you see, I I don't know of any black law. Firms other than loosen Monday. So what I'm trying to get to is, who are they in this city? Where are they? And because if that is the case, then perhaps we need to compile a list so that we know what it is that they have to offer. And maybe that's that's what we were really missing. You know, compiling such a list. I don't know who they are not been around for a minute. But I only know of one Black Law Firm. Many of the black attorneys that are familiar with work for other law firms, but those law firms are not black. So what do we do about it? How do we compile such a list that will say okay, there's a black or minority law firm here in this city. And perhaps we can use them for their services. That's, that's where I am. I'm just I don't know who they are. And shame on me because I don't know. And maybe they need to help us to make sure that we know who they are. So thank you, Madam President.
Members, through the chair member waters the the give us a chance to answer that question because the answering your question will help us as well. And we'll come back to this honorable body with with something akin to a list I think that the idea that we would identify firms again, as suggested by member waters capable of doing this work, I will say this, if I missed it, ah, shame on me, but I don't know of a black law firm that has the institutional aspirations, the same as Lewis and Monday. And so, you know, let me do the investigation that you just described and come back and share with you the results.
Okay. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you, member waters. Member Callaway. Yeah.
Thank you. And thank you member waters. Those were some of my questions as well, but we've had a member waters myself and member Johnson. Almost a year ago, we had hosted a minority business summit. And I'm hoping that perhaps we can sit down with you Mr. mallet and maybe host a minority lawyers summit or law firm Summit, where we can invite them out and do a meet and greet and talk about the kind of work not confidentially the kind of work that we need lawyers to to help us with some of the cases and I think that might be a way to attract minority lawyers to maybe reach out to you Mr. mallet, because to continue to do work with Frank and brass active we're cutting out other law firms. They're never going to be an expert in the field if we're not giving them an opportunity and most lawyers starting out, they get that one opportunity. And then they kind of lean toward that field. And they become the experts in it for us to deny which I think we're doing minority lawyers from the same opportunity that we've given Mr. Fink David Fink to me is abominable. In this majority, African American city. So I'm hoping we will do better and I believe under your leadership, Mr. mallet, we'll get there. But I'd like to work with you perhaps, and hosting a minority lawyers Summit. And just to see who's out there who is interested in getting business with the city. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member Santiago Amuro. Thank you, Madam President. Real briefly, thank you to my colleagues member Callaway member waters, for the advocacy and more minority legal representation. Just also want to emphasize the need for representation and for legal services from companies from businesses from entities that also work closely with their immigrant refugee population. I don't recall which law firm it is that we worked with, but I know is it's one of those larger firms that does not have, I believe the experience to work with the immigrant and refugee population. So to add to our list, the Southwest Detroit immigrant and refugee center is an incredible law firm that works very closely with immigrants in Metro Detroit, so really want to encourage you to look into them and to provide them the opportunity to work together with their immigrant refugees in the city. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President. Madam Chair. Thank you Member Santiago and Mira. Yes, member callala.
To my colleagues, thank you Madam Chair to my colleague, to my left. Santiago Romero. We just I think awarded a contract to Clark Hill to provide scholarships for immigrants. And we went back and forth and committee, internal operations. And I didn't know about that firm in southwest Detroit, and they should have perhaps been involved in that particular contract, but we continue to do business with the same two or three law firms overlooking or not looking to the law firm in your district. So I'm hoping that moving forward, we'll look at that law firm because they certainly should be involved because Clark Hill and Frank Razzaq and are not the only game in town. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. All right. Thank you to my colleagues for that discussion. We will be awaiting the responses from the law department. Yes, ma'am.
And through the Chair, just briefly, the email I sent answering a variety of questions on this topic was sent Wednesday at 402. So for whatever reason, someone did not get that please alert me I want to make sure we have fluid open communication. Thank you.
Thank you so much. Alright, so we postponed 17.1 that we'll come back and one week 17.2 Since you're here Corporation, Council, you don't mind just providing a very high level overview of what this contract will actually do. And a timeline for when residents will actually be able to receive legal counsel under this particular ordinance and contract.
So Madam President really, really, really I want to say again, thank you to this body for their work and then particularly you for your advocacy on this issue. RTC is is coming along this is the day that I know that many many people in the community have been waiting for. We have the executive director APR faith shaker in place we have the program mate, manager dial, Dylan Adrian in place. UC HC is an entity very familiar to this body. They have been a longtime trusted partner in the city of Detroit. The process is is as once this once this body approves that contract. They then in a very truncated manner will go out and solicit bids from other entities interested in doing the landlord tenant work. Pursuant to the right to counsel program, we think that we we know that this process we can we can have RTC lawyers in place by March one. The suggestions madam president that you made about having a public facing office having a phone number. We are working on that now. We have pulled together a meeting with housing relocation services under Donald wrench here but staffed by Chelsea Neblett and David Bowser. We want to centralize the call center operation so there is one number people who are experiencing a housing emergency based on a physical circumstance or an eviction could have one number, we would then be able to do the intake, we would then be able to get them an appointment with the service provider that they need depending on the circumstance that they are in. We think that we can have that particular added feature before this body will come up madam president during the budget. We have spent the available dollars in RTC now on the lawyers per se. So, but the enhancement of the program that you describe the conversations that you've had with the administration about further expansion. We intend to be in regular communication with this body about what that plan will look like but the initial delivery of service March one, the input the the implementation of a public facing capability along with the phone number at some point very soon this year in coordination with HR D further expansion, I think of the legal representation opportunities, Madam President, will be based on conversations that I know this body is going to have with the administration. There is one other thing that I do think that's an interesting possibility, and we hope to come back to this body and the mayor as well. If we can shape a circumstance with this current delivery system that we're getting ready to put in place that will allow us to have the court assist in greater enforcement of the ordinances that this body has passed. I think we might be able to really thrust forward the entire legislative desire for improvement that this particular program is designed to represent. I'm being a little bit cryptic, Madam President. Because it's all of the details have not been worked out. The lawyers who might do the work actually have not agreed yet to do it. But there's some real possibilities in terms of having in one place and effective program. That would result in compliance with city Detroit ordinances as it relates to conditions of the homes within which persons are living, as well as providing support for those persons who are facing eviction. So I think that, quite frankly, as I indicated March one is when we would be able to officially press the start button. But as you know, the ordinance requires and we are anxious to provide regular updates to this body as to what we're doing and how it's going. So through that process, and through the budget process much, much more. All right.
All right. Thank you. And I appreciate working with you all to get this here before us today. Just want to mention that this particular contract will serve as roughly 2500 people per year is that correct? per year, understanding that that is still not reaching the need, which is roughly around 27,000 cases that are filed annually. And so we have the data we have the numbers, we do know that there is a need for more funding, and we'll continue to work with my colleagues in the administration to properly fund right to counsel. So thank you, Corporation Counsel for being here. And if there's no further questions on this particular line item, Madam Johnson, Chairwoman Johnson
Thank you, Madam President Move for approval on line item 17.2.
All right motion has been made for approval. Are there any objections?
Hearing none,
the one resolution will be approved.
Madam President. Yes, request a waiver.
waiver has been requested. Are there any objections? Objection we can note member Callaway for 17.2. Okay. The Carco please note,
triple Soto
hearing no further objections that resolution is approved. I'm sorry, that was a waiver request. You objected the waiver? Yes. Okay. So there was no waiver.
Thank you. From the law department.
Councilmember Johnson six resolutions Latins, 17.3 to 17.8.
Councilmember Johnson.
Thank you, Madam President. Move for discussion on line item 17.3.
discussion.
Thank you. I believe Member Santiago. Romero had some questions or concerns regarding the line item.
Councilmember, thanks. Thanks, madam president. Thank you. Thank you, Chairwoman Johnson. Yes. This again is regarding the settlements on the matter, revered dock. And I do believe there was discussion about this during iOS. But I would ask if the administration has anybody here from the B seat or not sure if the law department can give us updates regarding what the agreement is what the settlement looks like for the public. This was a very big issue. We've had some callers calling in today regarding this. And instead of holding it back for another week, I do want some clarity around what has been done. Where do we stand right now? And I do want the public to know that I have reached out to be seed to continue discussion around enforcement's and accountability for for companies that are along the river.
Through the Chair Graham Anderson, I have a brother council to my left, who cannot answer some of those questions. In addition, we have Beth Gotthelf of who she could be promoted. She saw the contractor attorney as well. All right,
thank you. We will promote her
through the chair. Your Honor. I believe that some questions some I believe some questions were posed by councilmember Santiago Romero and I, they were addressed what the first question was whether this is a public document, the consent judgment Absolutely. It's going to be filed with the court. It's a public record. The second question was about monitoring compliance. And I can tell you that I worked closely with BSC D throughout this whole process. They issued the emergency correction order. We followed through we had engineers working on the matter. We requested, very detailed and comprehensive geotechnical reports. They were provided and to the satisfaction of BC questions were raised and they were addressed. We have a plan, a site plan, that it becomes part of the consent judgment. It shows where all the allowable loading areas are. It accommodates the Great Lakes Water Authority outfall. It's got barricades, it has setbacks, it's got load limits. There's training required. As far as how do we enforce this? Obviously, it was brought to our attention that there's been a violation. We would if necessary, go to court that the consent judgment provides that the court retains jurisdiction to enforce the order. And if that should be necessary, we would ask the court for assistance. And the judge on this matter has been very proactive and helpful about Judge Brian Sullivan. And I'm sure he would make sure that the appropriate relief was entered to make to ensure the safety of the public. A question was asked about the January 6 memo from BC that was supplied, as well as as I mentioned the sitemap we went through a lot of time in negotiations. I just learned today that one of the conditions of the consent judgment was to obtain the permit for this crane pad that was erected. And I've been told that's been approved by BC and again that was a pretty substantial amount of work, a lot of engineering details. I know that and th consulting was retained by the owner and they pulled together all the data from many years of work at this site and provided a comprehensive analysis of what worked and what should be done. And the last thing really, that needs to be done is they have to reconstruct the Army Corps boat slip. The former sell, I don't know tenant or whatever, Detroit bulk storage, they're gone. But they stack the pile of a building material over 50 foot high and that caused a collapse of the ground that's well in excess of the 25 foot limit that is in the consent judgment. The Army Corps and Aegiali have to sign off on the plans. We don't really have jurisdiction over that land is federal property, but BC is confident that the eagle and and the Army Corps will require the best so we we believe this is an excellent resolution is better than the settlement agreement because it's a court order. So it's got teeth. The site is otherwise in excellent condition. It's not being used and we'd like to see it put back to productive use as with the owner I don't know if there's any other questions I can answer.
Thank you for that.
Thank you Member Santiago mural. Any additional questions? Thank you, Madam President. No, not for me right now. I really appreciate that overview. I really just want the public to understand where we stand as well. And I will be reaching out to BC to continue conversations around this issue. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you. And member Johnson.
Thank you, Madam President Move for approval on line item 17.3.
motion has been made for approval. Are there any objections? If you can show me as a No please. Yes, member Callaway,
can you show me as a no Callaway Thank you. Any other
resolution is approved. And you guys can bear with me for a second. I have to say.
From the Office of the Chief Financial Officer Office of Development and grants.
Members, we actually have lands 17.4 through service
and 17 point. All right, member Johnson.
Thank you, Madam President Move for approval. On line item 17.4 through 17.8. These are various lawsuit settlement requests.
motion has been made for approval. Are there any objections? Hearing none, those resolutions will be approved from the Office of the Chief Financial Officer Office of Development in grants.
Councilmember Johnson a resolution line item 17.9.
Council member Johnson. Thank you, Madam President Move for approval. motion has been made for approval and this is for the Detroit Street View enhancement project grant. Are there any objections? Hearing none, that one resolution will be approved for the Planning and Economic Development standing committee from the Office of contracting and procurement.
Madam President, there are six contracts up for vote today from the Planning and Economic Development standing committee. All Contracts are for housing and revitalization. First up we have contract number 6004205. A one one 2%. City funding amendment number one, to provide an extension of time to continue title services for the bridging neighborhoods program. Contract is E Title Agency. original contract amount is 550 $1,000. The next contract is contract number 60048381 2%. Grant funding to provide shelter services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness homelessness. Contract with Detroit rescue mission ministries total contract amount $176,571.39. The next contract is contract numbers 60048401 2% grant funding to buy shelter services to individuals and families families experiencing home listeners contract with Detroit rescue mission ministries total contract amount was $294,223.89. The next contract is contract number 60048521 2%. Grant funding to provide shelter services to individuals and families the families experiencing homelessness less contractors operation get down total contract amount is $100,000. Next contract is contract number 60045. A for 100%. ARPA funding, roof replacement and related construction services for up to 200 residential properties contract has a presidential Inc total contract amount $399,000. That is contract is contract number 60048491 2%. Grant funding to provide case management and financial assistance services to households experiencing home less less or living in a shelter contract is neighborhood legal services Michigan. total contract amount $300,000. Council President Pro Tem Tate six resolutions lamps 18.1 for 18.6.
Thank you Mr. Clerk Pro Tem Tate.
Thank you Madam President Move approval line item 18.1 through 18.6.
motion has been made. Are there any objections?
Hearing none,
the six resolutions will be approved. motion has been made for a waiver for 18.4. Are there any objections? Hearing none, that motion is approved from the Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority.
Council President proximity a resolution line and 18.7
prototype President Move approval line item 18.7 Noting that we have received the response indicating that the affordable units will be located on both floors of the facility.
Thank you, bro, Tim. And just as we move this for approval, I am going to be a no vote just because of the lack of reaching the 20% even though they are going down to a deeper subsidy. I still believe that 20% should be the bare minimum of affordability OS I know that the NAC has mentioned that in a prior project that they support it a lower AMI with a lower amount of affordability. However, this is a separate project. And so I'm not sure if they consulted with the NAC for this particular project, or at least reached out to see if that was the same sentiment for this project as well.
For my understanding that President that they did that this was a request for this particular project to go from because it was initially 20% But they negotiate 2080 was then changed as a result of the communication with the community to tenant 60
So I'm gonna stand firm on this one, because at minimum I just think that you know, 20% is what we should do even though we're going down to 60% We all know that you traders AMI wise, roughly equals about 50 to 60% of the AMI. And so I just want to stand firm on making sure that we're not sending a signal out to developers that if they go to 60% if they can only go down to 20% now affordable housing so I will be a no vote on this one. I'm just going to put that for the record. Any additional comments or concerns for this line item? Yes, Madam Chair.
Yes, so the good news is they will be coming back. Oh, they will. Yeah. So we get definitely another opportunity, quite another opportunity to get them to see things a little bit differently as necessary as we had to with this. The questions that we asked as well. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank
you pro tem. Member Callaway.
Yes, thank you Madam Chair. I'll also be a no vote on this particular line item. And I attended a rally in March last January with at large member waters. We had quite a few of the employees, African American women and men who had who said they have been discriminated against and terminated unlawfully. And I do believe there is a case in civil court. I don't know if it's been settled, but I'm just not comfortable with awarding this developer another tax on another brownfield tax abatement, knowing that this case is in civil court regarding the property at the Godfrey hotel, and I've gone over there a number of times and I hardly ever see any African I think I saw one African American worker over there. And again, we participate in the march and the rally and member Waters was there so I'll be a no vote on this as well. Thank you Madam Chair.
Thank you member Callaway member waters.
Thank you Madam President. And ditto to both of my colleagues. You know we are we are currently a few of us are working very hard to come up with affordable housing. I mean true, true affordable housing. And when you have people who are taking advantage of incentives like this and who are not willing to even meet the 20% guidelines that we are requesting. I mean, I have a really tremendous issue with that. We know what the income level is of residents here in this city. And we can't do anything about the AMI at this at this point from where we sit. We have to do what we can do under our purview here in this city and that is to insist that they at least follow the guidelines that we have to do a minimum of 20% We need more you see the evictions rates that we have. I mean I I've got to tell you, we work so hard every single day trying to figure out how we can better address this issue. And colleagues, we're not going to do it unless we do income based housing. And we've got to insist that people who are coming before us who asking for taxpayer incentives that they do better and taking care of folks that that live here in this city. So I just I just wanted to say that I feel very, very strong about it. My team and I are working extremely hard every day. Meeting with various organizations trying to figure this whole thing. How do we keep people in a place to live? How do we do that? Are we going to run everybody to the suburbs with some sort of voucher. We want to bring people back to the city. So we've got to hold folks accountable. They at least have to do the bare minimum in terms of what's required of them. And we're asking that they do more because we need more. We need the help the people in the city need the help. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you.
Pro Tem, you've already moved this for approval. So motion has been made for approval. Are there any objections to action
and
objective shows? No.
Go ahead. Member waters is a no member Callaway is a no. You can show myself as an eligible objections in general
purpose so no.
Hearing no further objections that resolution will be approved. From the planning and development department,
Council President Bill 23 resolutions 918.8 To 18 point team.
Oh Tim take over approval line items 18.8 through 18 point 10 Please.
motion has been made. These are various property sales. Any objections? Hearing none, the three resolutions will be approved for the public health and safety standing committee from the Office of contracting and procurements.
Madam President, there are 19 contracts up for vote today. From the public health and safety standing committee. First up we have contract number 30514561 2%. Grant funding to buy shelter and quarantine for COVID 19 positive and individuals experiencing home lessness contractors Roberts Riverwalk hotel total contract amount $119,040 And this contract is for the health department. The next contract is contract number 3062803 launch percent city funding to provide an emergency demolition for the following residential properties at five 7.9 Harding and 5754 Harding contract is smallie construction, Inc. total contract amount $27,850. And this contract is for city demolition. The next contract is contract number 30621111 2%. City funding to write an emergency demolition for the residential property at 2097 Lolly contract is SC Environmental Services LLC. total contract amount $19,850. The next contract is contract number 3062172. Wanted to present city funding to provide an emergency demolition for the residential property at 1622 Lamay. Contract is inner city contracting LLC total contract amount $18,600. And this contract is for city demolition. The next contract is contract number 3062174. Wanted to present city funding to write an emergency demolition for the residential property at 13560 St. Alban and 13977 St Albans contract is SC Environmental Services LLC, total contract amount $35,700 And this contract is for city demolition. The next contract is contract number 30622421 2%. City funding to provide an emergency demolition for the residential property at eight eight West Arizona contract is no city contracting LLC total contract amount $24,000 And this contract is for city demolition. The next contract is contract number 30623831 2%. City funding to provide an emergency demolition for the following residential properties. 17151 Joanne 17175 Joanne one and 17215 Joanne contract is inner city contracting LLC total contract amount $42,749 And this contract is for city demolition. The next contract is contract number 3062384 100%. City funding to provide an emergency demolition. For the residential property at 3271. Gladstone contract is SC Environmental Services LLC. total contract amount is $18,194 and this contract is for city demolition. The next contract is contract number 30626 a 512 percent city funding to provide an emergency demolition for the residential property at 3217 Hazelwood contractors inner city contracting LLC, total contract amount $17,499 And this contract is for city demolition. The next contract is contract number 3062694. Why don't you present city funding to provide an emergency demolition for the residential property at 3044. Richton contract is inner city contracting LLC total contract amount $27,890. And this contract is for city demolition. The next contract is contract number 30627211 2%. City funding to provide an emergency demolition for the residential property it's 7117 Chatfield contract is Smalley construction, Inc total contract amount $14,000 And this contract is for city demolition. The next contract contract number 306-727-2212. Present city funding to write an emergency demolition for the residential property at 4785 Plumer contract is smalI construction, Inc total contract amount $14,900. And this contract is for city demolition. The next contract is contract number 6003855. A one 100%. City funding amendment number one to write an increase of funds and an amendment to the scope to include soil sampling, testing and analysis of field material at previous demolition site. Contract is manic and SmithGroup Inc, total contract amount $1,375,000. And this contract is for city demolition. The next contract is contract number 6004744. Once you present solid waste funding to write 300 450 Gallon Trash Containers and 600 lids contract is tank holding court total contract amount $162,300. And this contract is for public works. The next contract is contract number 600491 to 100%. ARPA funding to arrive 50 vehicles for public safety slash Gun Violence Reduction contract is Jefferson Chevrolet company total contract amount $1,142,000 And this contract is for the police department the next contract is contract number 3062360 100%. City funding to provide an emergency demolition for the residential property if 3876 rolls contractors inner city contracting LLC total contract amount $24,250 And this contract is for city demolition. The next contract is contract number 306267 100%. City funding to write an emergency demolition with a residential property at 231 with Golden Gate contractors inner city contracting LLC, total contract amount $19,000 And this contract is for city demolition. The next contract is contract number 6005027 100%. City funding to provide as needed electrical maintenance and repair services for DDOT. Facilities contract is power lighting and Technical Services total contract amount $600,000 And this contract is for transportation. The last contract is contract number 3062724. Why don't you present city funding to rise services to cover backfill for basement discovered during demolition at property for 550 Michigan Avenue. Contract is inner city contracting LLC total contract amount $19,152.10 And this contract is for city demolition councilmember Santiago remail 19 resolutions plan and 19.1 through 19 point 19 Noting that line items 19.2 19 point 11 and 19 point 12 are reported on a committee with recommendation to deny.
Thank you Mr. Clerk, Member Santiago Romero. Thank you Madam President. I motion to approve with discussion. lineitem 19.1 All right discussion. Thank you Madam President. I just want to ensure that council knows that 19.1 is going to be approved without tax clearances. We were told by by the administration that it is okay to do so. But just wanted to make that notes that 19.1 due to the the the COVID emergency. It is being it's a bet it can be approved without these tax clearances. Councilmember just to be clear, is the contractor or the individual here entity not responding to the request to provide the taxes or they have not been clear? They have not provided the tax clearances. In fact, they no longer own the property in which they were providing this work. It sounds like they've moved so it's we haven't been able to even contact them to be able to receive the
tax clearances.
We did hold this back in committee a number of times to ensure that we could move this through without the tax clearances and we were told that that we can that we can Okay. All right. Thank you. Any other discussion on this? Hearing none. Member Santiago removed Miro has moved this for approval. Are there any objections? Hearing none, that one resolution will be approved. I'm so sorry, madam president. I was distracted. I will be a no vote for 19.1 Yeah. Okay, so we need to reconsider. 19.1 Is there a motion to do so? So moved. All right. motion has been made to reconsider. Are there any objections?
Hearing none,
the vote will be reconsidered. And Member Santiago Ramiro thank you I motion to approve when of 19.1 and I will be a no vote. And I will as well thank you for 19.1 was
so No, Madam Chair. Callaway is a no as well. Thank you,
Madam President. Yes, member Johnson. A No.
Take? No. No. 19.1
purpose. Hello? President. Yes.
Got one. Yeah, on the second city council. at large. No.
No, madam president. If there's no more votes that line item fails.
line item 19.1.
Does fail.
Remember Santiago removal. Thank you Madam President. I motion to approve line items not line items 19.2 through 19 point 12. Again, noting that 19.2 19 point 19 and 19 point 12 are all smally construction contracts, although we did receive a letter from the administration noting that all issues with this company have been resolved. We have heard from our colleague member Benson that there is still a pending payment that they have not made to a smaller subcontractor. So I will be a no for 19.2 19 point 11 and 19 point 12 All right. If we can do discussion, discussion, discussion, yeah. Member waters,
no for me as well on 19.2 11 and 12.
Or any other discussion, Madam Chair? Yes.
Councilmember Callaway is a no on 19 two
these are. I thought it was discussion. Before we move for an actual vote. Is there someone from the administration do we have any more from the demolition department I'm also a note when the smaller contracts however, I am a bit concerned at some of the emails that I've been receiving regarding I think there's three outstanding protest related to contractors that are utilizing to 99 workers or contractors. And so I just received one yesterday from DMC and I just want to get a status if possible from the demolition Department, Department and or procurement on an audit that I was informed is taking place now for some of the contractors. So to the ministration is someone on who can speak to that, please?
Yes, Madam Chairman Lake Washington on behalf of the mayor's office. We do have Tim Palazzo online and I believe director Council is joining because
okay
Mr. Washington, I'm not sure the individual that you mentioned, are they from the Office of Procurement outside of director counts?
No, Tim is from the demo department.
We have anyone on from procurement that can speak to the auditing
process.
I believe I have a pattern. I see director stall has her
hand raised. Perfect. Thank you.
And Madam President, Mr. Palazzo has been promoted easily to turn
on this camera. Good afternoon, Council. I would defer to CPOE stall. Okay.
Good morning direct. Good
afternoon director stall.
Good afternoon. Council President.
Good afternoon. So I just wanted to get clarity on and I'm sure you are aware because you are also included in the emails regarding a protests from I think it was DMC was the most recent one. Can you just speak to where we are with that particular protest? And then also from my understanding you your office? You guys were conducting an audit of contractors as relates to certain contractors utilizing 1099 workers and or contractors. So can you speak to where you are with that? That audit process?
Yes, ma'am. Through the so through the president. I'm sorry. Um, there was a protest last the other Friday front of the award for oh, oh, four. That was that was awarded to DMC the protest came from a Damo. I'm saying that they did not know that they could increase their crew capacity awards. are made based on a number of points of evaluation for pre qualified vendors, including how many crews they are pre qualified for, and how many of them are available at the time. And at the time of the bid close. The Adama was approved for three crews, but they had just received three contracts and so they did not have additional crew capacity for an additional award. Therefore, the group of four was awarded to DMC who was the next lowest bidder with capacity. So I'm just making sure that I have all of my documentation in order so that when I respond, the CPO has 10 business days to respond. And I think we're on day seven or so six or seven. And so I'm just making sure that I have all my documentation proper to make that response. So that's where that is. DMC
responded.
There were several issues that were brought up by Gauranga are relating to both how companies can update their crew capacity and I want to clarify for everybody that in the RFQ queue, which is the request for quotes and qualifications that is used to prequalify demolition vendors. It states very clearly that vendors can update their capacity information and it is the sole responsibility of the vendor to update their current capacity. And, ah, so the questions that were brought up by Ganga, there were there were several. And so there was the there's the question about crew capacity, but there is a related yet separate question about what what is the requirement for demolition. And so as as you know, I started with OCP in September, and did not have previous interaction with demolition and we learned from that from a prior protest in the fall. That the the city's wrecking ordinance in Section Eight to 20 prohibits the use of independent contractors in demolition. And, um, and so when that was learned, it was it was determined that law should enforce that. And they have with the company that we believe that there that there was an issue with there is also an audit that has been taking longer than desired partially because the information originally requested you know, many companies did provide that document that we requested, but it was it didn't yield the information that we were looking for. So then we were reaching back out to a different forum to get information about employees. So that we could ensure that all companies are complying with Section Eight to 20 and that has taken longer than expected.
Um,
I know that there was a lot involved. Madam President, I hope that helps answer some of the questions
it does and I just wanted to be on the record that your office is working on an official response to the protests within your 10 days. So it's good to hear and I'll be looking forward to those responses. I know we don't have any property and contracts before us today. But I am concerned with the idea as you mentioned that you that there were several contractors that were in violation of Section eight 220, which VI, which prohibits contractors from having 299 contractors, and so I will feel more comfortable with the audit complete. And do you have a timeframe for when you think that will be done? I know you said you're a little bit behind schedule, but when will you have a full audit of all of the contractors to ensure that they actually have employees, not pay contractors in violation of city ordinance.
So we will work on making sure that we collect the state, quarterly wage report information that will show us the employees to ensure that all current contracts, all companies with current contracts have employees that are involved in the demolition work and I hope to have that completed in the next few weeks. I will I will I do want to make a clarification that we because that audit is not yet complete. We don't have proof. There are you know, allegations and concerns raised about companies employing independent contractors but I have no proof of that yet. Until the audit is completed. For
sure. And I agree with you and that's why I think the audit should be done. And so it's just clear whether or not contractors are abiding by our city ordinance. So with that being said, thank you. I just wanted to be clear on that. Director store. I will be looking forward to that information. Prior to more property and contracts coming forward. I would like to see that audit completed possible before we move forward with it. Yes, member Young.
Thank you, Madam President. If I could ask I just will also like to like to see that information as well. For sure. Body will see that information report as well. I just wanted to ask you miss dog. Good to see you very quickly. Does this audit also talk about the issue of employee misclassification in terms of the taxes that are paid? I mean, I know when I was when the state you know, that was talked about a lot. You'd have people that were employees but they will be treated as independent contractors. So it costs the employees last in terms of filing a 1099 rather than w two. Does this deal with that at all or is that a request I have to make separately?
Um I believe that
through the Chair, I believe that the the issues may be related. However, I'm not sure that my audit will give you informed like specific information on on taxes. I know that in a prior memo from President Sheffield, there was a question about possibility of, you know, questions about income taxes paid or not paid. As a result of the use of 1090 nines and the budgets and laws perspective was whether someone is a 1099 or an employee. They still have to ensure that their packs taxes are paid. So I think that question is, is going to be different than the one that I will be able to answer with with the audit.
Right it's now another taxes are paid is how much it turns. It turns. It turns the profit things damage. I'll send you microplate to talk to you about it further. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. It says to the proper departments taking me at present I'm done. All right.
Thank you. Alright, so the motion has been made for
approval for
line items if you can repeat the line items again Member Santiago Emeril. Yes, and regarding the memo wondering is the memo can the administration can recirculate? There was a memo that was just mentioned if that can be
actually
I'm sorry, there's a lot going on, on my computer on my phone right now. So yes, the line items that are noted as spawning construction line items are 19.2 19 points 11 and 19 point 12. Alright, and you're moving which line items again in total our lines are 19.2 through 19 point 12. I thought it was more than that. I just wanted to make sure I'm breaking them up. Yep. Okay. Thank you. All right, motion has been made for approval and this is 19.2 11 and 12 19.2
to two to 12. Okay,
sorry about that. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. One day motion has been made for approval. Are there any objections to action type we can state which one starting to with member Callaway? Okay,
so these are for 19.2 through what again, Madam Chair? Through 12 only. Okay. Councilmember Callaway is a note on 19.2 19 point 11 and 19 point 12 ever been?
Objection transmitters got Benson
19.2 19 point 11 And it claims circle
so no waters? No 19.2 19 point 11 and 19 point 12 circle so no.
Tape, no online items 19.2 19 point 11 and 19.2 Kirpal. So no.
Sheffield 19.2 by 10 point 1118 point 12
Recall when you're undertaking it large 19.2 19 point 11 and 19 point 12
I am a no votes,
focusing
on some type of Amuro I'm a no vote on 19.2 19 point 11 and 19 point 12. So no.
Member Johnson objection to 19.2 19 point 11 and 19 point 12 circle. So no.
Remember there are high objections in 19.2 11 and 12.
So No, madam president line items 19.2 19 point 11 and 19 point 12 fails.
Thank you those resolutions fail. Member Santiago Romero. Thank you, Madam President. I motion to approve line items 19 point 13 through 19 point 18.
Madam president before we don't believe we mentioned that the other ones passed. So 19.3 through 19 point 10 Pass.
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Clark. Those additional line items 19.3 through 19 point 10. Do pass. Thank you. Member Santiago Amuro. Thank you Madam President and I moved forward to approve 19 point 13 through 19 point 18 motion has been made for approval. Special. All right discussion. Yes, member waters.
Alright. So
this did not say that we're going to bring back 19 point 13 In one week, because I had some questions regarding the soil and I needed people to explain why we're paying this kind of money for soil testing and, and so forth. I needed to better understand soil testing. So we said I thought that we were going to bring it back in one week, because procurement was not available
to us one second, please make sure yes. All right. Was this in committee that you
bring it back? Okay. Yes, I'm not sure why it's out. Of committee. Okay.
All right, Member Santiago room where Mara? Thank you, Madam President. We did hold up one of the contracts. We can double check right now if this is the one that we held back because we did have a discussion around holding this back until we understood Yes, because this is also going back to previous demo sites to do some more soil sampling and to member waters question. We thought all of that was included already in the contracts that we approved. So we just can quickly do you see me Sabatini has joined us with her hand raise. Good afternoon.
Good afternoon, Madam President Loriann Sabatini legislative policy division the contract that was held in iOS was 638 54 for environmental testing and Consulting Inc. It's a different contract.
Yeah, Madam President, she's correct. And that's what I was trying to because we have a number of these contracts. Member waters the one that we're looking at right now is one that we approved when you were out of the out of the office. So the one that we held back is still being held in committee, and this is a separate contract. Okay.
Steel soil sampling? All right. Thank you. You okay, remember water
okay. All right. So members, Santiago and Meryl if you can just mention again, your line items, please. Yes. And I will have one more after I move these forward. The ones I'm moving forward right now are e r 19. Point 13 through 19 point 18. Yes, discussion in number waters.
Yes. Thank you, Madam President. I'd like to have 1930 brought back because I'm still trying to understand this whole sampling and so forth and the real purpose of it. We are spending a lot of money on sampling and it has not been explained as yet. So I think I was a no out of committee. I'm not sure I can't remember exactly so much time. So but can we do that I make a motion, madam president to bring this back and in a wet one week, postpone it.
All right motion has to postpone 19.3 For one week lighting for 13 use may 19 2013. For one week. Are there any objections? Hearing none, that will be brought back in one week
or so no.
All right, Member Santiago mural has already moved the additional line items my team point 14 through 19 point 80. Yes. For Approval discussion and discussion again. President Pro Tem Tate.
Thank you, Madam President. Got questions about line item 19 point 15 as well as nine Excuse me. We went to 19 What was our 18 meeting? Okay, yeah, just in this 119 point. 15 For sure. And these are for police vehicles. And I know the that the police department often is seeking and in need of these particular vehicles. But I recall I was at a demo back in December. One feels like December 14 in the police department showed off equipment that they were looking to purchase in sim before us and some of my colleagues were there as well. That would help prevent some of these tragic situations we've seen with those who are experiencing a mental health crisis as well as as others. They had this one device was almost like that was spider man you know you shoot it out and wrapped around a person's legs and that's if someone is coming out a police officer now you can use that and hopefully be able to detain them that way there was also this this ball that they had that you throw into a scene and the ball would be able to communicate with an individual helps in a potential hostage situation or a barricaded situation. You can hear from your parents where reduces again the chance chances for someone being harmed. I have not seen or heard anything about these particular items coming before us so that we can deliberate and I was excited about the possibility and seeing where where we go in terms of policing as it relates to de escalating and also ensuring the safety of the officers as well as those that they're confronting. I don't feel comfortable about voting on these particular contracts until I get a word and I've asked my staff and we have not received a response where where are we in the process of these potential life saving pieces of equipment? Through you to the administration and prison?
Mr. Washington? Yes, Madam Chair.
We do have DC Mark bliss online as well as Captain Brandon Lewis and Aaron play.
Right Thank you. We will move bells individuals over
Good afternoon. Good afternoon.
Through the Chair in regards to the the equipment that that you're talking about. The first one is bolawrap. The second one is what is called iRobot. And we have started the the procurement process in regards to bolawrap. That paperwork has been submitted. It's being submitted through channels in regards to the the I robot that you throw that one is a the one that was shown is a prototype and we should have something that comes out of that company by first or second quarter this year. So as soon as we get that what we'd like to do is we'd like to test and evaluate it. And then if everything checks out, we will start the procurement process with that.
Thank you man prism there were other items that were also showing they had the VR training, as well again, I got extremely excited about what we saw there because again, it has the ability to to save lives and prevent injury on both sides. What about some of those other tools that and training and technical other items that were showing off? At the demo on December 14?
The chair, the VR training, we're looking to get funding from ARPA in order to buy the VR training. We had been in close discussions with the vendor and we hopefully we got the authorization lead for that. So that should be coming through shortly. In regards to the I know that there was some drones that were that were looked at, for the drones. We have to get training on that because you have to have the FAA license. So we have started that process to get our members trained in order to take first steps for that. And then in the regard for other I know there was a couple other devices that were there. Those we did submit for procurement also so that they should they should be going through channels.
So, again, Madam President, I wasn't asking for any particular individual. I was just asking for the response. Still, through you, Madam President, I guess through procurement, where are we in the process? I can't, it appears from from what we were just told that some of these items are within the process somewhere and I'm just trying to figure out what was it? Well, we have the big demonstration, which again, got everybody excited. And we still have yet to send out an RFP for these items. And we're talking about ARPA dollars ARPA dollars are being utilized for these police vehicles. For you to whoever and answer that question, Madam President, more than likely should be procurement because again, it was indicated that procurement has received the request.
I think as the director star is that director star
yes through the Chair, I will need to do a little bit of research to see where exactly along the procurement process these these requests might be. Sometimes there is a little bit of work to do to revise, refine the scope in order to make sure that it is publishable.
Okay, I mean, when would you be able to provide that information to us directly?
I could provide it later today.
In the meeting. I mean, we're we got votes before us right now. Because we can put it at the end of the agenda. I will request that opportunity director.
Um, okay, I just I just want to note that the Yes, I will work on this right now and see what kind of and get you an update on where these requests are. For other police equipment. And I will note that this contract is, is very important.
I'm sure all of them are and so is the fact that we're trying to save lives and on injury on both hands. All of that's important. Thank you so much.
Thank you, Director.
Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you President Pro Tem member Young.
Thank you, Madam President. I just want to say the bowler wrap. That was the that was the tool that speaker Protune tape was a no excuse. I'm sorry. President progetti was referring to you and I just wanted to say I reached out to Chief white to talk about this issue. So I really appreciate that. And I look forward to talking to you about some of the other things that they were I don't think the I think you talked about the ball. That wasn't what I talked about. Another presentation that I sent, also evolved like the smart helmet also involved, you know, tracking devices as well in terms of being able to track perps who drive away dangerous perps. So there's things that you know, we can do and if you need any help, or my office can help you and assist you and all and trying to find that and more information on these items, please let me know. Thank you.
Thank you remember Santiago Romero. Thank you, Madam President. Through you to DPD just to get a confirmation. Did I hear you say you're going to request all of these additional purchases through ARPA funding?
Through the Chair, no, only the the VR training simulator is going to be requested through.
Okay, thank you. And my last question is I did ask for during our public health and safety committee for an inventory of our vehicles, what they're being used for, for the different units and for a scheduling of replacements. I have not received that information yet. So it was impossible. For us to receive that and if so, when?
Through the Chair, I do have fleet management looking into that because I can give you a rough estimate of the of the current amount of cars right now investigative vehicles that we have, but to go but we have to kind of go back since we don't buy cars every single year. We have to go back and kind of see when we did buy cars and for a lot of our vehicles. What we tried to do is we tried to replace these vehicles within five years but unfortunately, due to funding and to and to you know having vendors being open to take orders we have not been able to do that. Understood.
Thank you and as I mentioned during PHS This is noted to reduce gun violence and just urging the administration DPD all of us to think about preventing gun violence from happening in the first place. And just the amount of work that we need to do to do so. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you. Pro Tem, so you want to move this agenda.
So I would request to move line item 19 point 15 Sounds like the information that Santiago De Niro was seeking is not even available. So I don't know if that's a request. I may have heard a request to bring postpone the vote. If not, then I would ask for us to move this to the end of the agenda to allow director stall to provide us some additional information on the procurement process of those items that were so eloquently articulated by my colleague member Jung.
Motion is on the floor to bring this back towards the end of the agenda. Any objections?
Did you make it No? Here no objection, we will move this to the end of the agenda. Thank you.
Thank you pro tem. Member Santiago Romero. Thank you Madam President. Once again a motion to approve 19 point 13 through 19 point 18 Noting that we will bring back in 19 point 15 At the end of the agenda. I'm so sorry. Member waters did ask to postpone 19 point 13 So it's going to be 19 point 14 through 19 point 18. Noting that we will get back to 19 point 15 At the end of the agenda. motion has been made any objections? Hearing none those resolutions will be approved. And yes. Do you have your hand raised? Yes, I have one more than that. I'm prejudice. 19 point 19 is regarding a few calls that we heard during public comments regarding a backfill for a basement for inner city contracting. I'm going to ask to postpone this for one week.
Any discussion on postponing
All right, hearing none this will come be postponed for one week Hearing no objections 19 point 19.
From the Department of Public Works,
Councilmember Santiago mural three resolutions landlords 19 point 2219 point 22 And only that line items 19 point 20 and 19 point 21 were postponed from last week's formal session.
Thank you Member Santiago Romero. Thank you Madam President. I motion to approve with discussion. 19 point 20 2319 point 22 Right discussion. Thank you Madam President. Last week we did ask DPW and just to confirm whether or not what we have in front of us is the correct amended resolutions. I'm not sure if we have our deputy with us or someone that can let us know what we're voting on is correct. Mr. Washington. Good afternoon.
Good afternoon. We do have Deputy Director dial FEMA online and we've also submitted those correct versions to the clerk's office as well to this body.
Great. I'm going to bring them over. No, that's that's fine. Just wanted to make sure we had the correct resolutions. So I if there's no further discussions or deputy can be off the hook for these line items. And I can just move forward with approving asking to approve 19 point 20 through 19 point 22. Thank you Member Santiago Amuro motion has been made for approval. Chambers 19 point 20 through 19 point 2219 point 2219 point 22 Are there any objections? Hearing none, those three resolutions will be approved.
Madam President requested waiver for 19 point 21
right a waiver has been requested or 19 point 21. Any objections? Hearing none that motion is approved. From the Department of Transportation.
Councilmember Santiago Merrill resolution line on 1923
Awesome Member Santiago Ramiro. Thank you Madam President. I motion to approve with discussion. 19 point 23. All right discussion. Thank you, Madam President. The same question we have here that this is going to be a measure of performance for Transdev you're no longer working with them. Do we have an updated and corrected resolution for this? Right to mr. Washington. Do we have anyone on from DDOT?
Yes, Madam Chair.
We have Melbourne Barclay as well as director Oglesby
online. Please move those individuals over.
And Madam President,
yes, ma'am. I've just been noted that we do have the updated resolution. I'm looking now on my.
All right, Director Oglesby. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. Right. Did you would you like to provide any additional information regarding the resolution before us?
Well, it's corrected and it's accurate, which is appropriate. I'll just put out that the intent of the original was to evaluate the finalists of the RFP. As we move forward and we go to the next steps going through the RFP and then getting the other 70% filled. It would probably be the most accurate to do it from that point, but we are creating the scorecard now. It's just during the emergency process. So the data is there, but it's a little skewed because it's it's based on an emergency situation.
Any additional questions? Yes, member Yeah.
Thank you, Mr. August, we always good to see my man. May he may have the grant. Okay. So let me get this straight. Just for clarity here. This is not evolving transmit, right. That's just a What was it like? A typo?
No, originally, that information was put forward because that was the final, but now that it's moved forward, all this simply does is it makes it right, which basically says that we'll be providing the scorecard from the providers.
Okay, so we'll be providing so we'll be providing a scorecard from the providers, right. That's
correct. It'll be the ones that are current that that are providing the service. It's not about people's or transept.
Right, it was this something that was happening before it, we're just we're just doing this now, or is this something that we're just we're just starting to do now? Because my question is, we started doing that why don't we just started do this now?
Well, it was a request from the people. As we moved forward with the RFP. There was a request for transparency. So there was a request about this prior to what do you tell him right? That's correct. And we brought it forward to city council and we have brought it, we talked to the public and we did presentations on key performance indicators that are very important for everyone to know. Then we were to move forward with the RFP and then right after that, if everything went well, regardless of who was picked three months from that date from January, we would have done a scorecard for everybody to
see. And under state law there. Was there a requirement for dashboards for departments. What was the difference between this and the dashboard?
Well, I'm not I'm not specifically sure which which one you're talking about, but it's basically a dashboard. That gives the information so I'm sure we're fulfilling whatever you're referring to. Yeah, that's
it more or less. Okay.
Thank you, and I do see the updated resolution has been submitted. I just put it up. But just to be clear, the first scorecard will be available. When Mr. Or not Mr. Le director, Oglesby. It's every quarter.
Its quarterly But therein lies the rub. So again, originally when we were going to do this, if they were full RFP process was done. You'd be getting performance information from individuals who you voted in. Now we have 30%, which is people's which we're tracking the scorecard and then we're tracking the scorecard on the group of emergency folks, if you will, and we are utilizing that. But again, that's not a true won't be a true representation of what we really want moving forward. If that makes sense at all.
I guess it does. I'm just making sure I know one of the requests from some of the riders was that we are soliciting feedback from the emergency contracts that we have in place so that we're better prepared as the new contract goes out. And so as long as you are collecting that data now, and something will be issued to city council before For
the entire console, just an overall update of where we are beyond the KPIs. I think it's worth it to kind of sit down and lay out where we are.
All right, great. Looking forward to that. I think it's well overdue for us to get a public update on where we are. So looking forward to that discussion, we will work with you to get that schedule. Any additional questions for Director Oglesby? All right, hearing none, the attached resolution is the updated version. Member Santiago, did you move this for approval? Okay. Motion has been made for approval for 19 point. 23. Are there any objections? Hearing none, that one resolution will be approved
by the President.
Yes, member Doha. Thank you,
Madam President. We could go back before we move on to new business. I neglected to request waivers through line four line items 16.1 through 16.5.
Well, if you could just briefly mentioned what they are as we scroll all the way back up
there. Absolutely. line item 16.1 was a contract to provide an extension and timing increase to continue to provision a pension and actuarial services 16.2 through 16.5 were our budget procedures.
Thank you so much. Thank you motion has been made any objections to a waiver? Hearing none. That motion is approved. All right. We will now move to the new business portion of our agenda from the mayor's office.
Councilmember young are resolution nine and 20.1.
Councilmember Yeah.
Thank you, Madam President. I like to move to approve line item 20.1.
motion has been made and this is the approval of a special event at Hart Plaza on February 11. Any objections? Hearing none, the resolution will be approved from the Office of contracting and procurements.
Madam President, there's one contract up for vote today from the public health and safety standing committee. On today's new business portion of the agenda. It is contract number 30623121 2%. City funding to right 50 Police mountain bikes contractors wheelhouse Detroit LLC, sort of 100 amount $80,643.50 And this contract is for the police department. Councilmember Santiago Romero a resolution law 20.2
Councilmember Santiago Romero. Thank you, Madam President Move for approval of 20.2 motion has been made. All right discussion. President potentate.
Thank you, Madam President. So I don't know and I apologize because I did not have an opportunity to review the committee. But was there any I know it's indicated we got information that there's currently 106 bikes for bicycles in the DPD fleet with 91 of them being purchased in 2018 and 2019. My question is what they indicate department indicated all what they will do in terms of cycling, no pun intended, so I can make out the old bicycles and the new cars now. And if there's any major initiative that we're looking at, pertaining to bicycles, and the PD, outside of how they're being used currently and that's either to the to you man, through you, Madam Chair, Madam President to the chair or through someone from the administration to answer that question.
We'll bring over mr. Washington.
Yes, Madam Chair,
we have Lieutenant Joseph Peck
online you will promote him and while he
ports over I think it's important to explain a bit about the equipment on these bicycles because when you see that, that the dollar amount for bicycles, it makes your eyes pop.
Alright, good afternoon,
everyone. Lieutenant Peck here from Detroit Police.
Fleet Management.
All right, the floor is yours. Were you able to hear potentate
Yes, yes. Yeah, the bikes were it wasn't up to bid the we did pick the lowest cost carrier. We'll help Detroit LLC whereas the ones that were awarded the bid now as far as cycling bikes out, yes, when the bike is worn and it doesn't have a use so much. For our purposes. Yes, we will cycle the bikes out. But we do have a number of bike train members members on the department. The number of bike train members out are higher than the number of bikes that we currently have every year a couple times a year. We do. The Academy does host additional training, which people are put through and at this moment, we don't have any likes to assign them. So and these bikes are used for a number of proactive as well as community related events patrolling residential areas, parks, commercial business and entertainment districts. And these bikes are also used to transport members to and from their post as well as traffic details.
Thank you, Madam President. And my last question is, in terms of again how these bicycles are going to be utilized. Can you specifically talk to us about in the districts because I understand around and I've seen them in the major events in downtown, and I believe that they are definitely needed in that situation and provides a different type of mobility. So not a complaint there, but I don't see I see them very often. And I'll just say in district one for sure. And we have three precincts in the district. I have participated I will say for the record in a bike ride, if you will to bike rides with the police department in terms of patrolling and ongoing use visible use at least of these particular bicycles within the districts within the neighborhoods. I can't say I see that at all. So if you will, so talk to us a little bit about how these bicycles will be utilized. Not just in the Maine, Major Events, that attracts a number of folks but how are they used in the districts?
For the Chair, if I recall correctly, when 2018 of these bikes were first assigned to the neighborhood police officers for such community events. Again, we have consistently members applying to take these these training courses. These numbers come from the the various districts and precincts throughout the city not not just downtown. So there are a number of MPOs or neighborhood police officers that are bike trained and have a bike and utilize their bikes.
Okay, well, reserve. Thank you.
Thank you pro tem. Yes, member Callaway,
thank you Madam Chair. I'm Lieutenant Peck why not? Use Arper dollars. We're using our dollars to possibly buy 50 vehicles. One point I think $2 million. Why are we using city funny to buy 50 bikes and not arpa? Through
the Chair, the these bikes, we're looking at purchasing through 302 funds. It's a form of grant funding. So the we're reaching out to the academy who has access to 302 funds and that's what how we're trying to pay for these bikes.
You said grant because this is city funding, which grant and I'm sorry,
I'm sorry ma'am. 302 funds, it's what they call for training purposes and equipment
purposes. Thank you Madam Chair.
Thank you member Callaway, any additional questions on this line item or comments? Yes member young.
Yeah, thank you. I just wanted to ask, kind of just walk me down really quickly what you guys really do because I because from I know you have a real serious impact in terms of keeping the neighborhood safe. You know, sometimes when people see police officers on bikes, you know, they think like Reno 911 Or they think Paul Blart and I know that's not what this is. This is serious policing here, so got to explain to me what this is. What you guys do and what the impact is you're making in the community here.
Through the Chair, again, a lot of these our bikes are assigned to neighborhood police officers. I think it's important that members in the community are seen our law enforcement officers are seeing and I think that when you're on a bike, you can be more personal and personal with people as opposed to driving in a car with your windows up if it's cold or you know or are tied outside. This gives an impression that we're approachable, that we can drive through the parks that we can attend community events. Whether they're in the districts or in the downtown area.
Ma'am, okay,
thank you so much. I appreciate you. Thank you,
sir. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Yes, member Callaway.
Pro Tim mentioned it earlier. He doesn't see them in his district. I've never seen one in my district. And I have one of the largest districts in the city. I've not seen one in my district and I have bike lanes and I have the widest sidewalks for those bikes to be used on so where are they where are they going to be a sign because I usually see them downtown and midtown but I never see any in the inner city where folks live where a lot of the crimes take place. So is there some type of guarantee something in writing that some of these bikes can be assigned to districts and not all to midtown and downtown? I'd like to see something in writing so I'll know when I'm out in my district. I can expect to see a police officer on a bike
because they're not in district to continue
through the chair I understand your concern and I will definitely reach out to the proper context and the department and and know that your concern is heard and to have them submit something in writing before this. Yes.
Madam Chair, that's not a concern. So I was making a request. I'm asking that out of 50 bikes that a couple of them be assigned to each district. So we have something to look forward to when our citizens can really get excited about seeing more police presence in our neighborhoods. So that's the request of an official request, sir. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Alright, so colleagues, I know it was raised by you as well. Pro Tem. Do you all want to see something in writing prior to approval of this?
I would like to Okay, Madam Chair.
There is a consensus I think we all can agree we would like to see more of that in the inner city within our districts and so hopefully what will not be hindered to bring this back in one week so that we can get something in writing from the police department as to how they plan to utilize these 50 mountain bikes and ensure that they are spread across our districts. So if there's no object will, is there a motion to postpone this for one week or bring this back in one week? So moves? Alright, Hearing no objections. We will bring line item 20.2 Back in one week. Excuse me postponed 20.2 for one week. Thank you, Lieutenant Peck and we will be in touch with you. Thank you. Thank you, the Office of contracting and procurement.
Madam President, there are three contracts up for vote today from the Neighborhood and Community Services standing committee. All Contracts are for general services. First up we have contract number 30631521 2% capital funding to revive one H M e 1871 w converted demo 23. Two by seven squat vehicle contract is Kodiak emergency total contract amount $538,488. The next contract is contract number 60048141 2%. Capital Funding to write reconstruction to the Farwell recreation tennis courts. Contract is WC I contractors Inc. total contract amount $500,000. The last contract is contract number 60049171 2%. Grant funding to provide renovations of restrooms at Palmer Park tennis building, contract with the Angeles diamond construction LLC. total contract amount $247,776. Councilmember young three resolutions law number 20.3 to 20.5.
Councilmember Yang
Thank you Madam President. Can I get was Are they members I move to approve line items 20.3 through 20.5.
All right, any discussion?
Hearing no discussion, motion has been made for approval. And Mr. Clerk if you can show me as a no one 20.5
will say no. Number young
man a president is appropriate. I would hope I could get a waiver online. I don't 20.1
is before we move forward. There was no further objections. All right. Hearing no further objections, those three resolutions will be approved. Noting the one objection for myself on 20.5 member Yun we have a motion for a waiver. Yes.
Thank you, Madam President. Like a waiver online on 20.1. Please.
motion has been made for a waiver any objections? Hearing none, that motion is approved
as a waiver line 20.4
motion has been made for waiver on 20.4.
Hearing no objections.
That action will be taken Madam Chair. Yes, member Callaway
waiver on 20.5
and I'm going to object that member Callaway and it's just regarding some contracting or information around employment of the traders that I'm trying to get.
So Madam Chair, I wish I could know that type of information because that's in my district and maybe we could have postponed this vote and perhaps just bring it back in a week. I was I would I would have wanted to know as well.
Sure that
because if you have information
I don't have any information I'm requesting sound regarding this particular contract or not the facility within your district.
I was talking about the contract. Yeah. Not the facility
yet. Alright, so this did already pass. I'm just going to object a waiver. Yeah. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you. All right. So we will continue with the Department of Public Works.
Councilmember Santiago Romero a resolution line item 20.6.
line item 20.6 Councilmember Santiago Ramiro. Thank you, Madam President Move to approve 20.6 Motion has been made for approval. Any objection? Hearing none, the one resolution will be approved. Madam President. Yes. Thank you. Before moving on to president's reports. I would like to ask for us to walk on member Johnson's resolution regarding still ANSYS that it's in our it's currently in our public health and safety committee. I held it back for one week because I did not have a full picture of whether or not there was any discussion between solely ANSYS and member Johnson at that moment, and until very late last night, there was not. So I would like to walk on her resolution today and would welcome any further discussion as needed. The clerk have a copy of the resolution. Don't you want to walk it on? Is it in committee? It's in committee, so we would have to move it from committee to sorry, Dr.
Powers. Dr. Powers, um,
it's I was just going to say if it's in committee, you need to make a motion to put from committee. Think embedded has been there needs to be a motion to add it to new business.
Oh, okay. Thank you. All right. So then Madam President, I would like to make the motion to pull it from committee. To add it to your business today. motion has been made to pull the resolution from committee and to send it to new business for a vote. Separate all right. Motion timber, to move from the committee. Any objections? Hearing none that motion is approved. Member Santiago renewal motion to send it to new business. So moved. Motion has been made any objections?
Hearing none,
that action will be taken
all right. Do you have a copy?
copy of it. If I can get it. If she reads what it is, I can get it. Pull it from Committee
Member Santiago so we can know what the resolution is. Member Johnson's team is printing the resolution right now. This is one of the 11 point 19 under LPD from our committee from yesterday, so this is line item 11 point my team that's in our committee from yesterday. Remember, Johnson's team was pulling that resolution for everyone now. If this isn't your business now, we do still have 19 point 15 to discuss. That was brought back to the end of the agenda. metrum. Madam President, if you want to discuss that before, back to the rest of the discuss this resolution. Thank you. Thank you so much. All right. So we postponed or we brought back to the end of the agenda 19 point 15
And go back to that line item.
Alright, Director store I see you have joined us regarding 19 point 15 Pro Tim had questions. This is regarding 50 vehicles for gun violence reduction.
Yeah, you're the chair. There were several. There were some questions about where in the process are a number of new technologies that were demoed in December. We have requisitions for two of those the bolawrap remote handcuffs and pepper ball that will be going out to bid this week. If not today. The virtual reality training program is going through the project plan compliance approval process with our ARPA compliance consultants. And regarding the robot that is still a prototype and not able to be procured at this time.
Thank you Director Star president proximity
through you madam president to a director style. Is there any reason why the bolo was it called
bola bola
rap is has been delayed. So So, so long getting through the process? Again, I wouldn't want and the reason I say that again. A lot of people were excited about these tools. And it just feels like we had a big press conference. And there's this huge Delta in between when there these items will actually potentially be deployed. I mean, there's a whole different conversation when we start talking about drones, so I'm not even including them. But all those other pieces of equipment. I was I was hopeful that it would be through the pipeline a lot quicker than it sounds like they're they're moving now to
the through the chair. I understand and I agree. We've had the requisition for nine days and I hope my my goal is for our buyers to be able to get bids out within 48 hours, or at least some action taken within 48 hours of receiving a requisition with a scope. Sometimes the scope needs further refinement to ensure that it is publishable. And so I've let my staff know that they need to go out you know, they need to be perfected and published immediately. They are smaller dollar buys so it can go quicker through the process. Um, I can't speak for the police department but it sounds like we had the holiday break between the demo and you know, in this time, so maybe that added to some of the delay as well.
Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you, I guess member Callaway
I'm just thinking that the purchase of 50 new vehicles is not needed when I drive past the Davidson Jeffrey's yard. That property is filled with police vehicles. I don't know what they're out of commission. I don't know if they're broken down but we need to get a handle on how many vehicles we have with the Detroit Police Department and look at that particular yard because I understand there are over 1031 vehicles within that department could use more I'm not sure. But I'd like to know what the inventory is looking like and the status of all those cars that when I go over there and pump gas. They're sitting there and they've been sitting there for a lot of times for about a year I've taken pictures. I'm like this car was sitting here a year ago when I first started going over there. So what are we doing with those cars if somebody can just give me an update on that yard? And we can use that $1.1 million for domestic violence prevention and counseling, affordable housing, eviction prevention, job training, always can use that and other pressing needs in our community. And 50 Cause how's that? Going to reduce gun violence? I'm not understanding so you know, when this does come up for a vote, I'll be a no vote on it. But I'd like to know what the inventory is precisely and where all of our cars are located. Sometimes I see a car to located in Ferndale, but at any rate, I'd like to know what the inventory is of all of our cars, the ones that are in commission and out of commission, and then the number that are parked on I guess it's the garage the yard at Davidson and Jeffrey's freeway because like I indicated earlier, some that I saw a year ago are still there. And I remember when I first started a year ago the Detroit Police Department had gotten a huge inventory of Ford escapes white
and they were prepping them there.
From what from what I can remember. So thank you Madam Chair. And that's multiple questions. Take them, you know any way you want to, but thank you Madam Chair.
Yeah, did you you would like a response from
like a response from Lieutenant Peck if you can answer or you know, direct or stall. I'm sure. Go right here.
If I'm a real quick police chief is online right now. Under brand and Louis's account if you can be promoted
I was gonna
promote there's two Brandon Lewis's so we'll promote both and see which one is our chief.
All right, good afternoon, Chief white.
Good afternoon.
Right. Thank you for joining us. I'll turn it back over to member Callaway. Do you want to direct the question or were you able to hear any of the discussion?
I was I was actually in another meeting, but I was paying attention in a number of questions that came up. I apologize. I'm on Lieutenant or Captain Lewis's account but I wanted to jump in and answer a number of the questions that came up in particular as it relates to the vehicles and the deployment of vehicles. So as as this council is well aware of 24/7 operation 140 square miles 140 plus square miles puts a lot of wear and tear on the vehicles. We have a comprehensive and I'm up here twice for some reason. I hope that doesn't confuse anybody. We have a very comprehensive deployment strategy with our vehicles. We had a five year plan. As councils aware during the bankruptcy, it was well documented that our vehicles are in deplorable shape. This is part of that strategy. And when you look at the number of miles and breakdowns that we have with the vehicles, this strategy was developed around that oftentimes it takes much more money to keep these cars running than it does to replace them. We've had instances particularly with the 2009 and Palla, and I believe pack if correct me if I'm wrong, the 2004 which we still had in on the street. They were bursting into flames because of some electrical problems that they hit after a certain amount of miles. These vehicles are vehicles that will be deployed to the detective units, the homicide unit, which unfortunately is overtaxed right now, which we're also working to reduce the need for them. But you know, that's a comprehensive long term strategy and being able to get to these neighborhoods and respond to the citizens that need to talk to the police from an investigative capacity is super important. You can't do that in a marked Scout car creates problems for them in their community to see a marked Scout car down the street if they're reporting a crime, particularly as it relates to domestic violence crimes, which is where a number of these vehicles will be going and I believe pet could you remind me the number I didn't get a chance to pull my notes.
I'm sorry, sir. The number for whatnot.
The the GA is
the total amount of gas' we have in the department is 320.
All right, the GA is that we're looking to replace this what's the number? Well, current months I'd have to look at it from the GA is that we're asking for right now. Sir, these jeans 50.
We're asking for fit.
Thank you. Yes. All right. So the 50 G A's are going to backfill the G or I'm sorry, generally assigned vehicles. And what that means is the vehicles that are designated to go into the neighborhoods and talk to citizens at their homes. Those are the vehicles that are occupied by detectives. Detectives drive those vehicles, they deploy those to the field. They go into the neighborhoods, they are unmarked vehicles by design, so that it doesn't cause concern for the community. Those vehicles that we have a large number of those are in deplorable shape. Also, we don't have enough and we can give you a comprehensive breakdown of how they're deployed. But just at a high level, each detective bureau or what you know at detective bureau we know as PD use, which is our precinct detective unit has at least 15 officers or detectives at each precinct. So simple math tells us that if you do one per two detectives, you're going to need between seven to eight cars per precinct. Coupled with the homicide unit, the domestic violence unit, our cyber crimes unit you can see that there's a large number of vehicles that are needed. And then lastly, before I take any questions, I also overheard the requests for the bikes and we wanted to be proactive this year. Get our bikes out and deploy. We have a number of residential neighborhood programs that we're going to be deploying with our bike patrol. We want bikes in our parks, we want bikes in our neighborhoods. I directed that that we spend more time on foot beats more time on bikes in our community more times in our parks. We anticipate our parks being used even more this year. than they were last year. And last year, those numbers were significantly higher than the year prior. We believe that was due to what COVID calls that COVID year we saw some different numbers in the city but we think we're going to be back to pre COVID numbers and with some of the improvements that have happened to the parks over the past year or two, we anticipate having even larger numbers of citizens in our parks. We can't drive a scout car through those parks easily. But we can get through those those lanes much better if we have bikes. We want to we want to get our order in with the our suburban counterparts. So that there's not a backlog as there has been in the past but those bikes so our plan includes neighborhood patrols. Council will note that some communities they haven't seen bikes and that's that's a realistic observation or factual observation. But with this improvement to our deployment, we anticipate that every council member will see bikes in their neighborhoods, bikes in their parks this year. And with that, I'll take any questions.
All right. Thank you, Chief white. Looks like there's no additional questions. Yes, remember young
Thank you, Madam President. Chief white. Good to see you, sir. Thank you for your service. I just wanted to ask you, the using the bikes that also part of the server protect strategy basically to be able to have police officers walking the beat in these neighborhoods.
Yes, so we have a program we started called, serve them protect. And thank you for bringing that up. Councilman. And what that is, is before you can get your permanent assignment, postgraduation from the police academy, you must do time in the community and that will be on a foot beat. That will also be with bikes. Flanking those officers as they walk through our neighborhoods, getting to know our residents before they get their permanent patrol assignment. The new officers love it gives them a chance to get to know the community before they're in a scout car and just responding to runs. has been met with significantly positive reviews from people in our community as well as our officers. And we're looking forward to expanding it this year. So that will also be part of that program.
Has there been any reductions in crime rate, or any metrics or anything that you can attach to that program so far? It's still in the preliminary stages.
Yeah, it's kind of hard to associate crime reduction to individual programs. I mean, we look at the overall reduction. I mean, obviously, you know, we close out last year with 105 Less non fatal shootings in a year prior. We had some success and our criminal sexual conduct category. We had some success in our aggravated assault category. To assign one program to that I don't think would would be appropriate. I think it's everything. It's a layered approach that we use. It's our ceasefire. It's, it's our community engagement. We still didn't see the numbers that we'd like to see in two really important areas. One is homicides. You know, we still have way too many homicides in our city and we didn't see the reductions last year that we wanted to see there. Our goal was 10% reduction. We didn't hit it. Even though we we surpass that with our non fatal shootings, you would think that there would be a correlation between non fatal shootings and homicides saying that a non fatal shooting is essentially a fatal homicide, but we did not see that. But we're going to be doing some things this year to hopefully reach that goal. The other thing that we're really focused on is auto theft we are in fact, the meeting that I walked out of was an auto death meeting, which I'll be returning to after this. The numbers are just startling. And that's for a number of reasons. So being in the community, getting in those neighborhoods going up and down those streets, it's going to be helpful to reduce that Aleph number. And as this council knows, that's auto theft and impacts community, the community in a number of different ways. One, taking that car out of that household, creates a hardship for families being able to go to work, go to the doctor pick up their medication, it drives our insurance costs. So we've got to be a little bit more focused a lot more focused on doing everything we can to reduce auto theft in the city. And I've been directing the team to do that. And we're hopeful that these programs coupled with a few more that we have coming will be helpful to that end.
Thank you and chief. We did postponed for one week the 50 mountain bikes and I hear you stating that you would like to move forward with getting the contractor in place and securing those bikes. I do feel a lot more confident. Or comfortable I should say, hear from you directly that they will be utilized within the neighborhoods and at our parks. And so what a one week postponement, interfere with your timeline or are you advocating that we possibly move forward today with this particular contract?
To the train, I would absolutely like for council to reconsider that and move forward today. I don't want us to be behind because there are a lot of my counterparts are deploying the same type of strategy around the state. And there's only a few vendors that we can use for these police bikes because they're not typical bikes are actually police bikes. They have to weigh a certain amount. They actually have lights and sirens on if you can believe that. So I would want us to be in line. I think I'm prepared to answer any questions that council may have to alleviate any concerns that you may have with regards to the order, but I think it's a good use. We are good stewards of these dollars. We are not being irresponsible. We have looked at how our deployment is going to work. We want our officers in our neighborhoods and we think our community deserves to have multi layers of policing and not just officers and a scout car. We need to engage our community at a higher level. When the officers are on bikes, they're more approachable, more accessible to our community. And we think that this is a good program.
Thank you, Chief. I see one additional question Member Santiago Romero. Thank you, Madam President. And Hello, chief. Sorry to keep you from your last your next meeting. But just real briefly. My question is regarding the vehicles that we're discussing in this line item. There was a presentation last year about vehicles being retrofitted to respond to non violent mental health calls. Will these vehicles be utilized for those at all? Or where are we with those vehicles have to we already have them? Just get a one a little bit of a better picture, please.
Okay, so these vehicles, they're the ones that we're talking about today. General assign vehicles, which literally means that they're generally assigned, they're not designed. They're designed to be assigned by detectives, or I'm sorry they're designed for Detective assignment, domestic violence, homicide, and those non uniform divisions of the department and the purpose of that is so that they can neatly sit in a neighborhood. So let's say someone calls and says I'm a victim of domestic violence. Well, it will be counterintuitive the Cinemark Scout car so the officer comes and takes the investigation. But now there needs to be follow up investigation done with a detective so that we can assist that member that citizen and getting the services that they need. If the officer needs to go back. We don't want to send a mark Scout card to that scene, because it just would not be beneficial to that type of circumstance. So we send this usually black sometimes burgundy vehicle that doesn't stick out as a police car where that we can either go pick up the citizen, take them to the station or take them for other services or just sit with them and talk to them about assisting them in a variety of different ways. Same thing with homicide, same thing with other types of crimes that are not in need of a emergency police vehicle at the time follow up investigations and things such as that. The vehicles that you're speaking of is a response unit and that is I believe, ma'am, you're speaking of the escapes me the CIT car. Yes. Okay, so the CIT car, there are 12 of those and we're looking to expand those down the road. And that was in response to centralizing our mental health care response. As counsel was well aware, we had a number of different crisis that happened early on last year as well as the end of last year. And this was in direct response to that to centralize that unit to equip that unit with the latest technology looking at best practices around the country. We identified a few things that we could add to that vehicle one being Believe it or not a light system that was less intimidating to those who are mental health crisis and this is something that we looked at from a best practice, study those lights on that vehicle that vehicle is equipped with additional lights. It's got to traditional red and green lights that we're all accustomed to, but it also has a secondary set of lights which are green, and those have been shown to be less intimidating to those who are in crisis creates an environment where they can connect with that mental health co responder and not be intimidated by the interaction. Now we're not guaranteeing that we won't have circumstances that occur where that that that situation is viewed as confrontational. But looking at best practice, we thought it's a great opportunity to add this piece of equipment to our vehicles to lessen it and if you've got less than one encounter, then you're winning, right? I mean, you want a lesson as many as you can. But if you have one less critical incident that results in a tragic situation, that should be the goal. So that's why we deployed that. That vehicle also has a number of different pieces of equipment that is different from a traditional Scout car. One of the things that it has is the CIT logo on it. It also doesn't have the screen system where allows a mental health co responder to sit in that Scout car with the police officers without a barrier between them and give that Mental Health Core response, therapeutic treatment, or assessment, I should say no treatment to that person who is in mental crisis. So we had to upfit a number of vehicles. And we did that now we've got a longer term strategy. That Council will be seeing that involves, you know, significantly more dollars and more vehicles. But what we've done now is we move the vehicles that we had into that that mental health care response unit and we upfitted them you know at a very low cost with some of the equipment that we need it we're doing proof of concept will be there'll be providing me with a report as to the outcome of what we've rolled out and then I'll be making a comprehensive ask informed by what we've learned from the proof of concept that we've got rolling now to this council for a larger, more comprehensive deployment in the future. Thank you, Chief.
Thank you, Madam President. All right. Yes,
thank you, Mr. President. Very quickly. He stayed on sir. Good. Again, asked about the issues of you know, we had the big press conference and more than that we had the meeting prior to the press conference, if you will, about a CIT and how we how the city is going to approach this issue of mental health, those who are going through mental health crisis so I appreciate the tandem of the two not just equipment but also the strategy and the partnership. around how we approach it. As I've mentioned, I was excited about it, everyone I talked to, I mean, to the moon really trying to the fact that we were getting ahead of a potential situation that you know, unfortunately, police departments encounter on a regular basis. Right now, it sounds like only one piece of those equipments that were showing off to us is just about to get into the pipeline. When do you anticipate more of those tools and I'm hearing from you know, hurt from the director, but us being the leader of the department that will be using these tools. I'm sure you want them much quicker than what we're hearing what can be done, in your opinion from this body to get those items before this body to review them whether we approve them or not, but at least having the opportunity to give the police department a better opportunity to help save lives and also reduce injury to those who they encounters with police officers.
So, sir, let me clarify a couple of things. So when we rolled out our mental health care response, those vehicles those I think it's 12 Is it 12 vehicles. Those 12 Those are deployed citywide and and so the way that we obviously taught precinct 12 Mental Health Corps Response vehicles in a centralized model. So if hypothetically if the second precinct is not having any any issue, but but the Fourth Precinct is having twice as many issues, we're easily able to fly that vehicle from the second precinct to the Fourth Precinct. All these reports are good. Certainly those officers are focused, they're highly trained and that equipment that was shown off to you is in fact, in that vehicle. So we have some tools in that vehicle that are very different than the tools that we have another vehicles we were able to do that, as I indicated with donations through the Public Safety Foundation at very low cost and the vehicles are already in our inventory. So we just outfitted those vehicles. We are doing a proof of concept. We have written policy around some of the tools that we will be deploying and mental health care response. That policy is complete. We are now looking at the proof of concept as you're aware we've been we've been live with this program now for about 30 days. In the next 90 days or 60 more days, we will bring to this council the results of of the interaction with those who are in crisis, a comprehensive strategy around what we've done. And the additional tubes that are needed. What we didn't want to do is come before Council too soon. With with with really a dream sequence right if this then that we wanted to say with this, this is what we're able to do. And in the proof of that is what we've been able to do over the past 90 days. Now if council would like me to expedite that a bit and make it 60 days I'd be open to doing that. But the direction that I gave the team was let's look at this for 90 days. Because we're gonna be asking for cars we're going to be asking for up fitting of equipment. We're actually going to be visiting other cities that have a similar model. We've got some trips planned very soon. And when all that's done, let's take them a complete package that is thoughtfully presented and informed by experience so that we can move forward and not act too hastily or too reactive to the things that we have been dealing with because as counsel was indicated, we're not the only ones around the country that dealing with this. In fact, the incident and Planning Act recently was just absolutely horrible with the mother and our two children that unfortunately lost their lives due to mom being a mental crisis and thank God one baby was able to walk away from that and get some help at home but it was too late for parents for a mom. And so we're seeing this not just in Detroit but all over the country. So we want to make sure that we're looking at what are the best processes and policies around the country and we have a lot of those already. We've got everything from white paper studies from colleges, we've got director, or Tricia Stein, I call it director Stein, because he was my director for a while, who was focused from the mayor's office on mental health. And so we've got a lot of support. And and, you know, we just want to make sure we do our due diligence before I come running over there asking us to buy a large number or large pieces of equipment. i What the direction has been and I'll be quiet here in a sec. I just want to make sure I hit this point. Direction has been we're not going to chase shiny objects we're going to we're going to chase solutions. And so let's take our time and bring a realistic solution to counsel. So when it's approved, they can look back and in a year and celebrate the success and not see us pivoting to the next shiny object. And so that's why we kind of slow the process.
Thank you, Chief and I appreciate the deliberate nature upon which you approach these items. Just know that when we have a press conference, you know and we're showing off these tools, the mind goes to automatically wondering when these items are going to be coming before us for approval. Yes, sir. So just please keep that in mind as you start rolling things out. The next thing that we want to know as counselors, when is it coming our way so we can deliberate
on Thank
you. All right, if I can leave you with one more councilman, because I know you're gonna ask me about or call me about it. The Annex is moving forward. The Annex is moving forward at number eight. Met with them. The team yesterday. And we are very happy to give you a date here pretty soon where you'll be able to cut a ribbon. Thank you, sir. already.
We have a moment of pipeline I pray response in advance. Thank you. All right.
Thank you. Thank you so much, chi for joining us in providing a lot of great information for us. We're going to continue now with our line items. 19 point 15 is regarding the 50 police vehicles. Motion. Is there a motion to move this for approval? Motion? All right motion has been made. Any objection? Hearing none, that resolution will be approved. And colleagues if there is no objection there's no objection really quick. line item 20.2. Is the purchase of the vehicles for excuse me the bikes for the police department. I feel comfortable hearing directly from our chief that they will be utilized within our respective districts and also city parks. We still are going to request Lieutenant pay for something you're writing as well. But if there's no objection colleagues if we could reconsider, we didn't vote on as we postponed it for one week. Okay. If there's no objection or if there's a motion to proceed with this particular contract motion. All right, motion has been made. To move for to reconsider. Okay. motion for reconsideration. Are there any objections? Hearing none, that motion is approved in member young if you can move that or member Santiago removal for approval. So moves. All right. motion has been made for approval. Are there any objections?
Hearing none,
that resolution is approved. All right. And there's a waiver request for 19 point 15.
Any objections?
Hearing none, that motion is approved. waiver has been requested for 20.2 and this is the mountain bikes any objection to a waiver? All right, hearing none, that motion is approved. All right. I think we now have the resolution.
Madam President, we do have a copy of the resolution. I believe all council members may have a copy as well. The resolution is on air quality issues stemming from Atlantis.
We've already walked out on to new business. Yes.
suffers. I do have one question. Do I know that Councilmember Santiago Romero did move it to new business. However it is in the name of councilmember Johnson. So do we want to leave it in the name of Johnson or councilmember Johnson a resolution in this air on air quality issues stemming from Sun Lantis
councilmember Johnson
Thank you Madam President. Move for discussion. Discussion. would just like to take a moment to read the resolution. I know we have for as long as I've been here. Her comments coming from community as relates to the odors stemming from the MEK engine plant and just want to read through it. Whereas the mission of the Detroit City Council was to promote the economic, cultural and physical welfare of Detroit residents and citizens through charter mandated legislative functions and whereas in February of 2019, still Lantis announced his plan to invest $1.6 billion to expand and upgrade the mech engine, the mack Avenue engine complex located at 4000 St. Jean in the city of Detroit, and whereas in 2019 So Atlanta's received tax incentives from the state of Michigan and the city of Detroit valued at up to $160 million. And whereas in August and September of 2019, the Department of Environmental Great Lakes and energy Eagle investigated FCA is Detroit assembly complex, complex Mac after nearby residents complained of nuisance nuisance odors emitting from the Detroit assembly complex on three separate visits to the area in August and September of 2019. Illegal investigators found that there were moderate to strong paint solvent odors observed emitting from the facility and impacting nearby neighborhoods. And whereas on September 20 2019, eagles issued a violation notice to sue Lantis after determining that the odor from the Detroit assembly complex was at a three or four out of a five point odor scale. A level three or four odor is in violation of the net Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act 1994 pa 451 As amended because it creates an unreasonable interference with the comfort and enjoyment of life for nearby residents. Whereas since 2019, many Detroit residents especially on the east side concentrated in Council District Four have experienced severe adverse impacts on their quality of life and health due to the repeated air quality violations by still antas. Residents of the nearby neighborhoods near the Detroit assembly complex have complained of headaches, migraines, burning eyes, persistent coughing, tightness of the chest, and many other symptoms as a result of the persistent odor. Residents have also expressed that they are fearful to spend time outside of their homes and to let their children play outside. And we're as Eagle continue to issue in our EPA violation notices related to the odors emitting from the Detroit assembly complex through May of 2022. According to the Civil Rights inclusion and opportunity department Salanter is is currently in breach of their community benefits agreement due to their violation of the state and local environmental laws and regulations. Ultimately, in December of 2022, Eagle and stone Lantus entered into a settlement agreement which requires the Lantis to pay roughly $284,000 in fines and program funding as a result of