Detroit City Council Formal Session part 2 (missed 1 hour)

6:56PM Oct 22, 2024

Speakers:

Keywords:

waiver requests

ARPA funding

reconsideration motion

affordable housing

request to speak

petition process

equitable development

investment fund

rule change

public comment

committee referrals

consent agenda

internal operations

public health

meeting adjourned

In Progress, 16.4 16.5 and 16.6

that is correct. Mr. President, all right, there's

request for waivers on those items. Colleagues, any objection, seeing none, waivers shall be attached. Moving along, we've already dealt with line item 20 point 43 we will move on.

Mr. President.

Member. Santiago Romero,

thank you. Before wrapping up the agenda, I would like to go back to 18.1 for discussion and consider reconsideration for this vote. 18.1 if I'm reading correctly, is a $9 million ARPA contract to support folks to find affordable housing. If that is the case, I would like to reconsider and would like to vote no. This is a lot of ARPA funding, and we've had a few other contracts that are ARPA funded as well to help help people find affordable housing, and I know that we're building that right now. So all this to say, if I would like to reconsider my vote for 18.1 Mr. President,

colleagues, there's a motion for reconsideration for line item 18.1 any objection, seeing none. We shall reconsider. Line item 18.1, is on trying to find it. Oh, that's mine, and I can't move Vice Chair, durhall, you can please move line Sorry,

pardon me.

No, no worries. If you can, please move line item 18.1 as it is now up for reconsideration, sir, thank you, Mr.

President, Move for approval for line item 18.1

there's a motion to approve line item 18.1 Are there any objections?

Objection? Member, Santiago Romero,

any further? Clerk shall no one objection, no. Mr. President. All right, with one objection and action shall that that motion has been approved. Thank you. All right, the Texas down, we'll move to request to speak before City Council

discussion. No

member young.

I have a for me. Oh, oh, no, wait, this is a walk off

for Pearl. Yeah, that's what I wanted to walk on. Though there's a request to speak before Council. Madam Clerk, there'll be line item 21.1

council member. Durha, a resolution nine item 20 point 21.1 member. Durha,

thank you, Mr. President, move for discussion on this one, I know, generally we have been talking about the petitions to appear in front of Council, what that process looks like. So I wanted to open it up for discussion with other members as well.

Has any discussion online? Adam 21.1 and there's been, as member durha indicated, discussion about how we operate, the how we receive and execute these requests to speak before Council. Any any further dialog and discussion. Member Johnson, Thank

you, Mister Chair. So the gentleman spoke during public comment. He is a member of the equitable development task force, although this particular request that he wants to present before Council is not coming out of the task force. He is a University of Michigan PhD candidate working on his PhD in economics, and this is an investment fund idea that he wants to present before Council for consideration and support.

I don't I know that I have not received it myself and seen it personally, and similar to a lot of the advocacy items that come before us, there's a request to come and speak before there's conversation communication with the members, so that we can better understand and have better questions to ask, if you will, when they come before us, I know that I am, though I'm not against them coming to speak. Would love to have some information in advance of a presentation before the body that's just me personally member. Durham,

sorry. Thank you, Mr. President, and I agree with you and concur with you not to say that this would not be an excellent presentation, or I have a problem with it. Would like a little bit more specificity. And so, you know, we have not necessarily been provided a document of what is to be presented, and often times very careful relative to these particular petitions, to know what the nature of the concern is of the petitioner and or the intent of their presentation. And so I would like to make a motion, if there are no further discussion, to postpone this item, at least for one week. If we can to get more specificity for this particular item,

there's a motion to postpone line item 21.1, for one week with discussion member Johnson,

Mr. President, actually my question was relative to discussion around the item, just in general, through you to anyone who can answer, do we know what is requested of the individual when they put forth the request to present to council. Are they asked to provide details for us so that we have that when we make the decision? I

don't think there is any requirements in terms of documents. The requirement is just to make the request, and I believe that it's up to us to make that determination at that point if we are going to honor that request or dispose of it, or as member duerha indicated, postpone to allow us to receive that information. Mr. Whitaker, Good afternoon, sir. Mr. President

Pro Tem, I would suggest in this instance that you ask LPD to draft a communication to the petitioner requesting the information that you seek in advance of the the request to honor his his time to come Before you. We could put questions in that and seek the information that you like in a communication to him, and you can have that before you vote Okay.

Member Johnson, the floor remains yours.

Thank you, Mr. President, I was only asking just more. In general, it looks like the information, the detailed information, was sent to my team, and we can certainly share it with the body, so that everyone has the drill down information on what's going to be presented.

But I will say I do like what mister Whitaker indicated. Having that go, have the document come to LPD, allow them to do some analysis. We should not slow down things terribly, but then allow the individual to come forward, because I would love to be have better informed questions to ask, if there are any necessary. Mister Whitaker, and then we're going to, oh, I'm sorry. Member Johnson, I know you still, you still have the floor. Thank

you, Mister President, so that's my point, if we can just have something where the petitioners are aware of what they should present to the body as we entertain these requests, I think it would be good to create something, to develop something so that they know beforehand, and then we don't have to have this back and forth dialog every time we get a petition request. Thank you, Mr. President.

And with that, would that, Mr. Whitaker, would that be a rules change, or would that be,

I've had my hand up, okay, well, yeah,

so it would require rule change. It

would require rule change, but it's it would be kind of difficult, because you're asking for a generic you have no idea what the petitioner might seek. So our questions, I'm trying to think how you could formulate a document, a form that would allow you to be informed on what the petitioner might want to speak on in a generic way. I mean, certainly we could, we could do it, do it a general one, but I think the type of information that you're seeking for this particular one would have to be something more specific. And certainly if he's, I haven't seen his petition, but if, if the petition came in with information, certainly we could start there. Yeah, but

I think Mr. Whitaker, as as member Johnson was indicating, this is broad across the board. So I think there, and Madam Chair, I'm definitely going to come to you afterwards, there should be what it sounds like, at least, a request for any data, information, presentation or slides that you would like to provide the council in advance of the potential presentation, I think more generic along those lines, without trying to pinpoint exactly what they're doing, but just letting the petition to know that that's what's expected, to allow us to have a better understanding of what we're going to be happy in terms of their request. I hear you, Mr. Wood, we would

be happy to create such a form. Okay? Thank

you, Madam Chair, yeah,

thank you. Thank you being the chair of the Rules Committee. I know that doesn't exist in the rules and our rules today, that would be something we should consider. My office always extends an invitation to my colleagues to present, send recommend, forward recommendations, and this is a prime example of the type of recommendations that we're searching for and in need of, and so I highly recommend that my colleague Johnson send that question, because that would be a rule change, and one that I absolutely welcome, because we've been here before. I don't think we should have to have, since it's not required in the rules folks who want to appear before us to give them, you know, for them to have to answer all these questions and jump through all the hoops even before they appear before us, is there right? If we granted for them to appear before us without, you know, providing all the information they want to present or not? So, until the rules are changed, I think we should just, you know, consider granting him his request without having him jump through, you know, too many hoops. Hoops, in my opinion, it's not in the rules. It's not required. I know it has to go in a memorandum form to you to even, you know, ask some generic questions. But I think it's too many hoops for us to be requiring when they're not in the rules yet. But to my colleague again, Council Member Johnson, I hope that we can, you know, work on your suggestions, because it's long overdue, because we've been here before. I think this is our third conversation. We had someone who wanted to appear before the council regarding 375, that never happened. That was Mr. I think Phillips, Laney Phillips or something, that was almost two two years ago. He never had an opportunity, because we wanted all the questions. And then we had another young lady, I think her name started with an L just two weeks ago. She was not granted her request to appear before this council. So what does it take for someone to appear before this council when they're following the rules as written by putting it in writing. And I think I don't know before, maybe a while ago, I think mister Malik Shelton and someone else had an opportunity to appear before the council. I don't know if they provided all their information and remain remote Ramon Jackson, but I think we are asking our residents to do something that's not required. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Chair. Thank

you. If I'm not mistaken, we did have Mr. Phillips in ped. We did give him an opportunity to speak before the body. But I also believe that we kind of started down a role where we have been requiring folks to provide us with information before and just think that it's a fair thing to continue that practice, though it's not in the requirements. Yeah, that has been the will of the body up to this point. So I would be more comfortable with continuing that that route that we have have gone down thus far. But thank you, Mr. Chair.

I don't agree with that. I'm thinking we probably need to have a discussion relative to changes or amendments or revisions or additions to the rules. That's where we start as an honorable body, because we've been doing something doesn't make it right. I mean, we've set a precedence, we doesn't make it right. And so this is why we have rules. And so we want to amend those rules. I think we should. And I'd like to take up my colleague to member Johnson, I like to work with you with LPD to make sure that what you're asking for is a part of the rules. It's just a quick amendment to the rules as they stand. But for us to continue to do something because we've been doing it doesn't make it right. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair, but you do recall that these are not quick amendments. They have to go through public hearing process, so it takes some some time, and if you would like to set the meeting, we can definitely move forward on it. We can definitely move forward on it. Look forward to it. Member der Hall, thank you,

Mr. President. I did want to clarify too, just for the record, we did hear from Mr. Malik Shelton, as well as Mr. Ramon Jackson, the budget Finance and Audit standing committee as well. So had the opportunity to hear from them, but I did not want to neglect to mention that the clerk, when they push these forward, they also identify some information in the document that who, what, where, when and why. And I pulled up this document that we have, and this petitioner, the why is, is that he'll be approaching federal agencies for funding for this program and pilot and would like to partner with the city of Detroit to bring said federal funding and pilot programs to Detroit. And so that is like the synopsis of that, again, that doesn't necessarily go into a level of specificity and what their intent is, but I would be looking forward to some of those changes as well, and don't want it to be stated that we don't want to hear members of the public, because certainly folks, all of us who sit down here through two to three hours of public comment, we know that's not the case, but we want to make sure that they are heard correctly, and there is a uniform process For that to happen, and so I be in support of that as well. Thank you, Mr. President

member Callaway, yeah, thank

you. And I'll repeat what I said earlier. I am aware that Malik Shelton and Ramon Jackson did have their opportunity to speak. I did say that, so no further clarification was needed on the point that I made earlier. Thank you, Mister Chair.

Member duh. Thank you.

I'm going to call a question, but Through you, Mister President, to member Kelly, I wasn't sent away insinuating that you said that I'm very specific, and would have directed that comment directly towards you. However, I'm stating for folks who have currently said that we have not heard them, and that has come from Mr. Malik Shelton at times, as well as Mr. Jackson at times. So wanted to clarify that for the public, thank you, Mr. President, and I move to call the question.

Thank you. There's a motion to call the question for line item 21.1, any objections that action shall be taken for just for clarification, though I believe that it was, there was a suggestion by Mr. Whitaker, and wanted to know if that was something that was being considered by this particular body. Just got to move forward. Okay, okay. Thumbs up. Thank you, our colleagues. Is there a motion for line item 21.1 it was already moved. It's already moved. All right,

bring it back in one week. There's

a motion to postpone line item 21.1 for one week. Are there any objections? Yes, one objection, noting the one objection that action shall be taken. We shall bring back line item 21.1, in one week. Alright, for the President's, President's Report. Before we go forward. I know we have some walk ons. Let's talk about those walk ons, colleagues, what we got? Hit your mic, please.

My bad answer.

No one said it. You want me to remember young

I just reading this walk on for referrals to request to extend the obsolete property rehabilitation exemption certificate on behalf of the hotel St Regis holders LLC in the area of 37 01 West brand Boulevard, Detroit, Michigan, in accordance to public at 146 2000 related petition number 365,

that's a walk on for referral to committee member Doha with discussion. Member duh,

thank you, Mr. Chair. So through you to member young, are we walking on the actual the the actual Oprah or the the actual obsolete property certificate exemption, is that where we're trying to push towards committee. And the reason why I asked because I know generally member of the committee makes that request, so just wanted to be just make sure we're doing it right.

No, this is what I get for being nosy. This is not my walk off. I just want to let people know that it was here on the table. The table. So I don't know whose walk on this is,

remember, is going to walk in

them? Oh, okay, so Mister

President,

Madam Clerk,

this walk on is for the Planning and Economic Development standing committee. However, it was originally came through the mayor's office to walk on regarding an extension for a certificate. So through you, through council member durha, on behalf of the clerk office, we have a walk on request to extend an obsolete property to be referred to the Planning and Economic Development standing committee.

Remember, deer Hall.

Thank you, President, Mr. President, I request that this item be walked on to new business.

Thank you. There's a motion to walk on the line item, or the walk on item to a new business for is that for referral, correct to welcome for referral, correct correct motion to walk on that item for referral to committee any objections, seeing none that action shall be taken. But our last walk on colleagues, can we get a motion to also request LPD to request the information from the petitioner in line item 21.1, to provide an analysis in advance of the individual coming before us. So

moved, Mr. President,

all right, there's a motion on the floor. Colleagues, any objection? Objection member Callaway one objection that being said, that action shall be taken. Thank you. Moving for the budget Finance and Audit standing committee a report

from the law department.

The one report will be referred to the budget Audit and Finance. Standing budget audit and budget Finance and Audit. Standing Committee for the internal operations, standing committee, six reports

from various city departments.

The six reports will be referred to the internal operations. Standing Committee for the Neighborhood and Community Services. Standing Committee,

two reports from various city departments, clerk, the

two reports will be referred to the neighborhood and community services, standing committee for the Planning and Economic Development, standing

committee, 14 reports from various city departments.

14 reports will be referred to the Planning and Economic Development standing committee for the public health and safety. Standing Committee, 11

reports from various city departments.

The 11 reports will be referred to the public health and safety Standing Committee under consent agenda,

Mr. President, before you continue to the consent agenda, I just want to note that we have received word that the referrals for the internal operations standing committee that was referred earlier line item 7.1, through 7.5, should actually be referred to the public health and safety standing committee.

All right, I don't want to have to go all the way back up and then zoom all the way down again. What were those items? Yes, yeah,

I didn't

look at the referrals. So what, Madam Clerk, can you run off the five just so everybody can hear

the five ones for line item, 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 and 7.5 they are all contracts that provide an extension of time services to reduce violent crime in the city of Detroit through community violence intervention tactics. So originally, they were referred to the internal operations Standing Committee, and we were told that they should be referred to public health and safety. All right, sounds like

a simple one there. Alex, is there a motion to refer line items 7.1 through 7.5 to public health and safety standing committee, so moved, seeing no objections that action shall be taken. All right. Madam Clerk, the consent agenda.

There are no items, Mr. President,

is there a motion to suspend member reports? Mr. Chair, there is a motion to suspend memory reports, seeing no objections that action shall be taken. Mr. Washington, yes,

my apologies. I hate to interrupt to ask this, but for items 10 point 16 and 10 point 17, I believe those should actually be in ped those were referred to PHS. Those are the Renew Detroit contracts

trying to find it on the agenda. Scrolling, scrolling, scrolling, you said, line items, 10 point 16 and 10 point 17. Sir, Yes, sir. All right. Is there a motion to move line items, 10 point 16 and 10 point 17 to Planning and Economic Development standing committee, so will Mr. Chair seeing no objections that action shall be taken. Thank you. Thank you. Under adoption with committee reference.

There are no items Mister President, under communications from the clerk, a report on approval of proceedings by the mayor, report

shall be received and placed on place, on file under testimonial resolution and special privileges. Council

member durha, three resolutions, line items, 32.13

32.3 Thank you, Mayor. You. Ma'am member Hall, thank you, Mr. President, Move for approval as a motion to approve line items, 31.1 through 30. Excuse me, 32.1 through 32.3 any objections, seeing none those actions shall be taken

under testimonial resolution and special

privilege. Council member young, a resolution, line item 32.4

member young, line item 32.4 sir, 2.4 Yes, sir.

Thank you. Mr. President, moved to approve line item 32.4

as a motion to approve line item 32.4 Any objection colleagues. Seeing none, that action shall be taken. There being no further business to come before this body. There no objections. This meeting shall now stand adjourned. This meeting is adjourned.