right? Good morning everyone. We will now call it a todos if you handle all right, good morning everyone. We will now call this as those Alright, let's make sure we get the feedback turned off. Good. All right. All right. Great morning, everyone. We will now call to order our formal session for Tuesday, February the 13th. Mr. Clerk please call the roll.
Councilmember Scott Benson.
Councilmember afraid or hot out there. Councilmember Leticia Johnson present councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero.
Councilmember Mary waters.
Councilmember Angela Whitfield Callaway.
customer call me on the second. Council President Pro Tem James Tate. Also President Mary Sheffield president.
Madam President, you
have a quorum present. All right, and we did receive a memorandum from councilmember Gerhardt indicating that he will not be present today. So his absence is excused surplus. So Nope. Madam
President. Thank you.
All right. Thank you. We will now go into our invocation. For this morning we have pastor Dr. Andre Armstead, from perfecting triumph church joining us virtually
reven Armstead Are you with us good morning.
Madam President, I no longer see him Oh, he he needs to accept the promotion
I am here can you hear me now?
Yep. Hey, good to see you. Well, praise
the Lord. Good to be here. You ready?
Yes, we are. Good morning.
Let's pray. Father, in the name of the Lord Jesus. We thank you for this day that you bless us to enjoy. We thank You, Lord, for this opportunity to be used with you now Father, I pray for the Detroit City Council and all that make up the aggregation and make decisions in the city in the areas around and even in the region Bob I pray now that you would order their steps today in your word, let non iniquity have the men over them. I pray Father, that You would give them the wisdom of the age the tongue of the Learn, Father as they make decisions as they go forth on behalf of the City Father, I ask that you would cause the work to be done in justice and an equity father in righteousness. Bob, I pray that the Spirit of a chord in Unity would rest upon this aggregation. I pray Father that there will be no bickering and no fighting that is beyond the ability to accomplish all that you blessed him to accomplish. Now Father in the name of the Lord Jesus if there be any demonic plan and any systematic plan of the evil one that will try to work against the success of this meeting contestant or sale it we bind it now we lose a chord we lose growth. We pray now God that they would have a meaningful meeting a beneficial meeting, and that this council will move the city into the place that you've called it to be. We know the word of the Lord declares that if the Lord build the city, they that labor won't labor in vain and so far I pray that you would be in the midst of them give them understanding give them to work together unity in the bonds of peace. We call it done in the name that is above every name. Give them success today, let tremendous amounts of work be accomplished. Let the victory that you desire to have in the city come forth because of the aid of this guy people now God bless them I pray in the name that is above every name, the name of Jesus, it is so in every glad hearts in Amen. Amen. And amen. Amen.
All right, thank you so much. Pastor Armstead, we appreciate you and if you want to hang on virtually feel free to do so. If you have to jump off we also understand but thank you. God bless you. God bless you as well, sir. All right, if the clerk will note we've also been joined by councilmember young and we will continue the Journal of the session of Tuesday January 30 will be approved there being no reconsiderations or unfinished business. We will proceed to the budget Finance and Audit Committee for the budget, Finance and Audit standing committee,
Madam President, we actually don't have any referrals for the budget. I do apologize.
Okay. Are the internal operations standing committee Madam President, line
item 6.2 on today's agenda is actually a duplicate of line item 16.8 thing on today's agenda therefore, we can remove line item 6.29 Um, 16 point 18 is actually on for a vote.
All right. Is there a motion to remove 6.2 Hearing no objections that action will be taken in will refer the three port reports yes to the internal operations standing committee for Neighborhood and Community Services standing committee for reports from various city departments before reports will be referred to Neighborhood and Community Services standing committee for the Planning and Economic Development standing
committee 11 reports from various city departments.
B 11 reports will be referred to the Planning and Economic Development standing committee or the public health and safety standing committee.
Eight reports from various city departments.
The eight reports will be referred to the public health and safety standing committee. We will now move to the voting action matters under other matters. There are no items Madam President, under communications from the mayor and other governmental officials. And agencies there no artist Madam President. All right. Thank you. We will call for our general public comment and everyone will have two minutes for public comment. Miss Van Yetta Mayberry you will go first followed by Betty Lyons followed by Ronald Foster.
Good morning everyone. My name is Vanessa Mae Mayberry. Thank you for joining me, I'm I'm asked to. I'm standing here on behalf of the Marlins King Memorial Park this on 12th Street. I would like to know how can we get it refurbished, get the name put on on the park itself and get restored as well as I would like to know How do I go about getting the African American flag to be flown over the city of Detroit for Juneteenth day. Because it couldn't I was late on trying to get it done for the entire month of Black History Month. So that you know I know that the other flags are being flown at that particular time. I would like to see if we can get those that done. And as well as I'm standing here also to ask, How can we get that Martin Luther King statue that is on the riverfront turned around facing United States instead of pointing over into Canada? That's well, I guess small. And that's what I'm standing here before you to ask for those things. All
right. Thank you. Thank you for coming down. And I'm glad you raised the MLK Park because that is something that our office actually had worked with the planning department in GSD to acquire parcels that they did not even know was transferred over to the housing commission. And so anyway after work that was done with our office, they are now looking to revitalize that particular park right now. They're in the process of planning how that will look so we can make sure that you are part of those conversations. So if you want to Karen here for my team, get your information and we can loop you in about what the plans are for the MLK Park. But good news is that they are looking to invest some funds in that particular area for that park. Okay, and then we can work with you on some of the other things that you mentioned as well to see if there's any way we can support you.
Thank you. Thank you so much. Okay, thank
you have a blessed day as well. Yeah. And if the clerk would know potentate has joined us as well. So Nope. All right. All right ahead.
Again, I asked, Who is this Nikhil Patel that was appointed by Dugan to the position of City of Detroit treasurer, no listing of education credentials experience or reference. Is he a puppet to be used to pimp out the retirement fund? Or is he have the details from India who worships 1000s of idols is Patel's allegiance to the retirees or to Mayor Dugan Dugan uses his slide trickery to present promises he does not plan to keep by ending his life with no information is available, nothing is finalized. Do do gooders denial to return overpaid property taxes to the Detroit residents smacks of the same mentality of the plantation slave owner. That refuses to pay reparations to the black slave, Detroit beware of this style of fights, he's still looting the store. Keep a close eye on that retirement fund and the general fund. In my opinion, this spirit of emelec is an evil to be reckoned with.
All right, thank you. Thank you for your public comment.
President.
Yes, Mr. Councilman Robinson,
I just like to say it's no problem disagreeing with anybody or a person but to denigrate somebody's religion. It should be off rounds and hopefully we can have these conversations without demeaning anybody's religion. Thank you.
Thank you member Benson. Ronald foster
the morning through the Chair. Just want to say a few days I don't necessarily support individuals I support progress and policies and influences in that matter. So anywhere that progress goes, support, like 6.2 or youth Task Force 6.3 human sex trafficking. I think, though, we use words very loosely. We have these tasks for us and we don't really get to real root issues of what's going on. We have to have people that represent the city represent our policies here. We live on a border so our federal policies and immigration matters here. We have a large district here that they have well been known to do pressed in the city for a long time based upon immigration policies. So we have to ask this city to take a stand on these things. Hold anybody that want to represent us accountable, to know what's going on, and to raise our issues at the appropriate levels. We have to do better than just protecting all of our citizens. I appreciate every day everything that you all are doing. And, more importantly, continue to just advocate for our veterans. I appreciate everything that you guys are doing for our veterans and working towards and just overall just we have to just do better and making sure that we put people in place that is going to represent every citizen and our city, every avenue. A lot of the issues that have been ignored for decades and decades, cannot continue to go on. Our TV shows where the oppression does regardless of race, religion or anything else. We have to do better and being a complete one city and one Detroit. Thank you. All
right, thank you. And then we're also going to cut off our general public comment. Woburn Crawley, followed by Renita more followed by Charles miles
guard said Mr. Rue Mary chef Hill, James J. Dot Benson. Now notice that it's only seven members here today a couple of missing so four yes votes would allow me to speak before City Council for session presented information for my investigation. See, early 2021. A little girl five year old girl asked me to help her with her mother James Taylor. You know who I'm talking about Nene. Are you gonna call her mother twice talking about me? Well, I told you I was wondering to Cody's before the city council is the matter of Dennis Winfrey and Avery Walker in precincts here in a city where you got we registered voters after they move out the city of Detroit. We registered to vote in elections here in the city of Detroit. We also got the matter of the O IDs off is believing that the 2001 revised Municipal Finance Act is not applied to the city of Detroit. I'd be caught. Now. I'm bringing this forth, because y'all will not take that tag off that little girl's mother James Z. Tate Jr, the third or whatever. If y'all don't take the tag of needies Mother, I will shake this whole city down to his foundation. I mean that and I'm well able and capable of doing it. My investigative skills around Detroit City are legendary. I'm one of the CO this and I say that only because somebody called this and the history of the city of Detroit over the last four decades have told me so my face and conversation and I am who I am
thank you it's Charles. Oh, we need more. Okay, followed by Charles miles.
Hello, how you doing morning? Okay, like like I said, I would wash at the house every two to 85 Three my drive. I have my own refrigerator stove. When I put my stuff in storage. I did not take that because he had my system there. So now that I'm moving to a new home, I'm going to need help trying to get rid of the refrigerator and the stove.
Okay, well we'll be here to support however we can miss more and so I know our team is here will will continue to work with you. And more time go right ahead.
Okay, and as well after the move is supposed to be here Thursday to move my stuff in.
So, thank you.
I'm glad you are moving into a new place. And however we can help with anything additional will be here to assist you. All right, thank you. Is Charles still here? No. Okay, so we'll go now to virtual public comment.
Good morning, Madam President. There were 29 Hands raised before you would cut off public comment. The first caller is phone number ending in 106.
All right, good morning. Caller 106.
Good morning. City council president Marisha Phil and city council members. My name is Sharon Gooding and I'm a member of warriors on wheels. And my comment is concerning the use of Ebola roll for those who are experiencing mental health crisis. I think that is wrong. These individuals are experiencing a crisis mental health crisis but they're not animals and should not be treated as such. I think that the money should be better used to train those in the social services community to basically disarm those with going through a mental health crisis with words just like those who are basically threatening to commit suicide. Well, they are disarmed with reason. And I think that should be used to with those who are going through a mental health crisis. Also, there's a second point quickly, that understand that these bola rolls have spikes in them. They have barbed wire that presents another issue with these individuals because there may be a dual diagnosis they may be hemophiliacs. They may have STDs. And I think this should be eliminated from the city council and consideration. Again, because these are our citizens. They are human beings, and they are not animals. Thank you.
Okay, thank you.
The next caller is phone number ending in 711.
The morning caller 711.
Good morning, good morning to you. As well as all of the residents and taxpayers in a lot of city Detroit. My name is Malik sharp. Every report that the Detroit Auditor General has, has performed for the last 10 years has uncovered malfeasance and incompetence and tomfoolery in those city departments that were audited. Some examples are the Detroit building authority. The Detroit land bank, the Detroit Public Library, the audit of the arbor funds as it relates to the Detroit home repair program. And more and more recently, the Civil Rights inclusion and opportunity department. The City of Detroit needs a forensic audit on the Office of the Chief Financial Officer the Detroit demolition department and last but not least, on the mayor's office and again, I brought this up several times I'm gonna bring it up again no city in the United States of America has ever taken voter approved I'm gonna detection obligation bond funds and use that money to set up an entire city department and pay for its day to day operations as well as the city employees salaries vacation time and health insurance. Using unlimited tax obligation bonds. I asked Duggan about it to his face a couple of months ago. And he tried to deflect the question he wouldn't answer the question. If any of y'all know any city have it in the city of Detroit and they dig in it doesn't administration did as us unlimited tax, no obligation bond funds to set up a whole department like Duggan did what did Detroit demolition department. I'd like to hear about it.
Thank you, Mr. Shelton.
The next caller is arrest me who knows real estate.
All right. Good morning.
Good morning Council President and council members. We know Munoz is has been notorious. He needs to be put in jail. He needs to pay back all the all of the flight tickets that he that he's being charged with like like we homeowners are being charged when you guys are giving him preferential treatment. He's a criminal. The way he treats people and he's a slumlord. So I hope you do that. Also know on that trash tax. We got the survey, and it was filled with problems. First they asked us do we want to have a pickup every week. Then they said do you want to have pickup every week and we won't charge you. Then they said, Well, if we do it, could you take a charge of $10? Of course we all said no because we've been overtaxed $600 million and illegally foreclosed homes and we still being overtaxed. Why are we getting charged with property taxes? Those of us who have already been overtaxed, why am I paying property taxes now I've already been overtaxed. $16,000 We want you to fix this problem with our taxes stop asking us for more money but anything we shouldn't have to pay for another doggone thing in the city, that people who have been overtaxed as a matter of fact, we need to eliminate the property taxes in this city because I also want to ditto what Mr. Shelton said please audit the mayor's office. Something funny is going on as always being Dana Nestle refuses to charge him and no to the Democrats because they're not helping us they give people like Mr. Dugan have free rein to loot us and break the law and he never faces any charges. you investigate Dana Nestle and then you drop the charges and drop the investigation after two years like make a day. Thank you.
The next caller is Camillia L.
Good morning.
main concern is the proposed initiative for the solar panel and or Trinity paper area. I am very interested in it. And at this point. I want to know where do we go from here and what is the time for knowing that this will be taken care of if we are selected as one of the area's and that way we can prepare for whatever it is that we would need to do going forward. And that's pretty much my you know my question there just so that I can see it as something that's very well needed in the area. As well as serving the city of Detroit as well. Thank you.
All right. Thank you. Thank you so much for calling in and that initiative is really being driven from the mayor's office. So I would encourage you to reach out to your district manager for your particular district as I know that they have been really doing the engagement in collecting support for that particular initiative. So just reach out to either your council member who can possibly direct you to your district manager so that you can voice your input regarding that particular initiative. Thank you for calling in. Our next caller please.
next caller is calling him the
morning Cunningham.
The morning Cunningham.
Good morning, Madam President. Good morning City Council 31344491143134449114313. Fo fo fo 911. Fo that number was made so you can remember it. Also on Facebook. You can look me up at retro active fairness again on Facebook retro active fairness as two words retro active fairness and good morning again Detroit Department of Transportation's have two important meetings this Thursday. They're having DDOT reimagined and next Tuesday they have in the LAC meeting. Everyone under the sound of my voice. Have a pen and paper handy please please please have a pen and paper handy. Go to Facebook and put in these words Detroit Department of Transportation, the links and the flyers are on that page. The flyers that I was given by DDOT did not have a time on so they're replacing them today. And I'll be picking them up if anybody wants some flyers for the DDOT reimagined presentation this Thursday. Please contact me at 313-444-9114 and also go to Facebook, Facebook and go to short department transportation and get the particulars so you can join in on the good meetings that they have. Also want to thank the honorable Councilwoman Johnson, I know she can't speak or go back and forth but maybe she could spend a couple of seconds just talking about her experience again. Joining us on the coaches. She was just so humble and so friendly to the people. Not opening not so Diddy. That's a perfect it was perfect. It was a great great gathering. So at any rate, everyone try to ride the buses after 6pm or on the weekends when they're at their worst. If not just ask questions when you get on the coaches. Thank you so much and happy Valentine's ladies everybody.
All right. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Cunningham.
The next caller is Cynthia banks.
All right, Miss banks. Good morning.
Good morning. The attire of city council body. I'm calling in regards to district one Trinity Pickford solar panel farm initiative project. I would like to state and be heard that I myself and as a witness to eight other homeowners, which makes up the majority in attendance at our last community meeting. My Open vote are in favor of welcoming the solar panel farm initiative in our neighborhood and relocating as necessary within the city of Detroit. The reason being is that this will make a use of the mass of vacant land that is comprised of trees and often tall grass in the summer. It eliminates illegal dumping, reduce crime and blight. It also assists with eroding control in our area that we glare. On behalf of district one Trinity pick for community I myself, and as witness to eight other homeowners, as mentioned beforehand agree that renewable energy is resourceful is less costly and it will allow the city of Detroit to utilize additional funds for city services that will benefit its residents and the city as a whole. I appreciate City Council allowing me to be heard and bear witness on behalf of my fellow neighbors today.
Right Thank you so much in again for those who are calling in regarding the Solar Initiative that is not currently before Council. However, we are listening to you and I appreciate you all calling in to voice your concerns, but nothing currently is before us at this time, and again would still encourage you all to reach out to your district managers as they are gathering input in support before that initiative does come before City Council for any type of approval. But thank you for calling in. And our next caller please.
The next caller is Galaxy Tab A Good morning. Good morning.
I want the listeners to know that I went to a meeting last night and won Michigan and represent State Representative Donovan area and they were talking about water. So portability playing. Detroit is not the only one that has problems. But it's the whole state of Michigan or whether I would be able to encourage people to go to different council meetings. I didn't see the Detroit to compare what's going on in the city of Detroit. So it was very interesting. Representative Donovan was having his baby yesterday. Jack personaI and Gary Brown didn't show up. At the meeting. Stephanie Chang represented Stephanie Chang was there and like I said I have a video already which I like to video where I go second, make sure that I understand and I can go back and listen to him. So people that's listening, go to other meetings and other cities to see what's compared to our city. And I don't agree with the money being raised for our garbage. I mean, there are people that's coming in our city that don't live in Detroit. I have been into the trash picked up the addresses that's why that's why I know where it comes from, because they have addresses from Hamtramck and out of Detroit period. Not in Detroit, Michigan City of Detroit. So I do not want to pay for that because I do not put other stuff out there outside mattresses or whatever. And I'm sure other people do that either. So let's not raise our garbage fees is already enough. And then if you don't pay that they want to put it on to your house and I don't live in my garbage and I bought my house I bought my house, not the garbage. So anyway, thanks for listening. Appreciate it.
All right. We appreciate you. Thank you.
The next caller is Leo Brown.
The morning Leo Brown.
Hey, good morning, Madam President. How you doing? Good. Yeah, I was actually calling about the Solar Initiative. I know you you kind of mentioned that it wasn't up on a ballot yet. But after I actually live within one of the footprints. And out of all the proposed applications. You know, I was looking over obviously everyone has not a blight and to try to offset but I truly feel our area and MANOVA district three is probably the most is the lowest risk, highest reward in my opinion. And then it also, you know, was showing an example of what not to do with the solar park that they did on the west side with DTE years ago on Greenfield and 96. So that's what I was initially calling about. But I overheard about the projectiles that the non lethal options for like, you know, like mentally challenged residents, and I'm I'm surely against that too. I feel like that was very inhumane, you know, even for that to be proposed. You know, I feel like that money could be allocated for like, training on how to deal with, you know, de escalation, you know, and then also, I remember the redistricting I was commenting on that as well. I think it's obvious and you we want people that are from here. You're not representing those who are here stealing, you know, so but that was about it. That was about it, and appreciate your time.
All right. We appreciate you as well. Thank you for calling in.
The next caller is meow or meow MEA. Yes,
I'm also calling about the seller initiative. I know I didn't hear the council person say that this is essentially where the decisions will be made. But there's like a contest thing in the gritstone farms area from residents that are within the gravestone farm footprint, but not in the actual area where the solar panels will be coming. So our blog club is Hollywood to Charleston to rent wood to what we're so it's the exact area where the seller is proposed to come to and I do just want to mention that nothing has worked in this area in decades, individual investors have not been able to make a difference. Developers have not shown any interest in a large scale for improving that area. Amazon is a billion dollar company. They are right around the corner and they have not invested in that area and it's just blocks away. And I reached out to them. They have a few Greenville Nashville area where they put grants around their properties and they're not bringing us to Detroit. They have said that unequivocally November 2023. I applied for the duplex repair grant that was out. They denied they said that this not in a hood qualified census tract. So we're not even eligible for a lot of the grants that come through HRD gives out $13 million every year to developers no one is coming to this area. With these funds. We have blight, drugs, prostitution, and the solar will be the solution for this area. And there's no reason we wouldn't want to move forward with grid style farms being a part of the solar community will help those who are going to stay in the area not everybody wants to sail those who stay will get some of the benefits. Those who leave that area will intensify somewhere else in Detroit. So it will be an overall solution where we have not been able to get anything successfully done over decades in that area. And we do have like one of the largest footprints as far as the nightmare to propose, so we shouldn't be party.
Thank you. Thank you for calling in and Mr. Washington. I know you're listening in it would be helpful if you could possibly after public comment, just provide a quick update one where we are with the Solar Initiative. When that will be coming before Council and just where we are with it. I know I have not heard much about it since the initial preliminary things that came before us before our last recess. So seeing that we do have a lot of callers calling in about it. Just a brief update would be helpful after public comment. Okay, our next caller.
next caller is Michael snipes. Yeah.
Good morning.
Good morning. Hi.
I'm calling about also about the solar program. I'm a homeowner and a resident of the Trinity paid for community and I just want to also voice my opinion and I'm all for this conversation topic today. But it wasn't definitely voiced my opinion.
Okay, all right. Thank you.
The next caller is William M. Davis.
Mnemonic. How can I be heard?
Yes, you can. Good morning.
Okay. I will have to start off by saying I don't 22.9 Dr. Gloria house I think she'd be an excellent addition to the reparation Task Force. I think she probably should have been one of the first ones made for that originally. As those relates to human trafficking, the safety trade. People do not realize but we have a major problem with human trafficking. In especially as relates to black and brown people. It seems like the administration does not really care if it's black or brown. People. They go out the way up as a white girl or what have you. And you know, it's not just sex. It's not just labor but it's organs. You know, we have we have a major problem in the city. That's like say under the weather, you know, like say people don't like to talk about it. Also, as relates to something I've been talking about for three years. I'm a precinct delegate for precinct portent. The people in my precinct should not have to go three miles to SAS on whether to vote. You know, a lot of the people in my area. Elderly a lot of the people may not have cars so other people might have some type of disability. You know, I think by making people who liked to vote in person, go over three miles when they were used to be able to go like less than a half mile to vote at McKenzie is horrible. You know, I've been complaining about this for three years. If this continues before the end of the year, I think I might have to ask outside help to come in and investigate the election commission, what's going on? People should not have to go, you know, miles away to vote, you know, you should be able to vote somewhere within a mile. People that want to walk to the polls should be able to walk to the polls. You know, it makes me think that perhaps there's some corruption going on here. This is like people don't want other people to vote. Thank you, Davis.
The next caller is Karen Winston
Clifton Good morning. Hello. Yes. Good morning.
Yeah. Good morning. I'd like to speak on a couple of things. First of all, I'd like to talk about rules, you know, administrative procedures. When we bring when you guys bring programs to us, you don't bring them with any rules. So we don't know what to expect. We have no reference. We only have word of mouth and word of mouth is you know, it's worth the paper it's written on. It's not written on paper. It's not worth anything. Now, relative to the solar I want to know how what first of all what public buildings, the mayor keeps talking about feeding public buildings, what public buildings are in that area? First of all, I want to know if he's talking downtown then how are we going to get these wires how are we going to get the power from eight mile to downtown? We have to go underground because you can't put any more wires overhead. This is why every time storms people have outages and they suffer so long. So you know we want to make sure before we go deep into this that there's more thought behind just putting up solar you know, we're gonna we want to know once we put the solar up how are these wires gonna make it to the destination that's going to be very, very important. So you know, I just want to add that little bit in there. Now also there's a lot of upkeep that goes along with solar, you know, the groundskeeping and to make sure you're not flooding out there and and other things like that. So, but I'm particularly interested in the rules because I can't go anywhere and find the rules. You know, you guys come out and tell us something like oh look for the procedures there. So we can't come back after the fact and try to you know, put the cart behind the horse. We got to have that. You know the horse in front the horse has to leave, we can come back later and try to figure out what we're gonna do now. So I think that's very, very poor planning. Other thing, all these demolitions, who's paying for the water, you're hosing these things down, you know who's paying for that water and who's making sure that those are the lead and
right, thank you. Next caller is Janae Fraser.
The morning Jeanette Fraser.
Good morning.
Yes. Good morning. Can you all hear me?
Yes, we can. Yes.
Good morning. I was calling in support of the solar fields. I do understand this is not the topic today. But I did want to share my support for this. I believe the solar fields were deterred people who are currently currently dumping on illegal on vacant parcels illegally, and it will enhance the community's aesthetics, and it will reduce the electricity costs in Detroit.
Thank you for your time.
All right. Thank you.
The next caller is Renard Maciejewski.
The morning Renard miszewski Good morning
the morning Renard.
All right. All right. Can we come back to Renard please?
Okay. Um the next caller is Casey.
Morning, Casey.
Morning, may I be heard?
Yes, you can.
Thank you so much. Good morning. This is Casey Peller, I'm the Policy Manager at Detroit disability power and a resident of District Four. I'm calling in again this morning to voice support for a future of house community benefits agreement that is fair to Detroit residents and includes at least 3.5 million for the Housing Trust Fund to build more affordable and accessible housing across the city. The second reason I'm calling this morning is to follow up on the bowler apps contract that's backup for a vote today. I really hope that our council members received our additional points on our concerns around the bolawrap last week and had ample time to consider them. And I would request that in addition to considering those if you do have any seed of doubt or any additional questions, please do take the time to do the additional research talk to more people and see what the data is saying and what the data is not saying or where there isn't data for those who may not know bolawrap is a remote restraint device that fires a Kevlar rope with hooks on the ends around suspects who are supposedly not moving have at least three foot radius on either side of them for it to deploy properly. And at least 20 Or excuse me 10 to 25 feet away from the person deploying the device. We have found from our research that there's only been one pilot that reported its data out that pilot was in Los Angeles, and over the six month pilot period that 200 devices were in the hands of over 1100 LAPD officers in the field. They were used nine times during that period and worked once successfully. And mind you that's 200 wraps and this is for an order of I believe it was stated 20 So please consider, please take our concerns to heart and please say no to the polar apps contract. Thank you for your time.
Okay, thank you.
The next caller is Betty a Varner.
Good morning Miss Varner.
Good morning Madam President. Good morning to all within the sound of my voice. I'm Daddy a burn the president of the soda Elsweyr black Association, again here advocating for my neighborhood and community asking the council to please support I think a corridor project when it gets to the council. Please support our deeba community park that we're creating. We're a 501 C three. We're asking for donations at this time we're trying to we're going to purchase some playground equipment. It is extremely expensive. So we're reaching out and asking for help. Also asking for additional monies and this budget to be allocated for seniors and people with disabilities to make their home handicap accessible. So that we can continue to stay in our homes and be at peace and safe. I'm also Madam President. I've been on a list for home repair. I called in to your office. I want to know if you please can let me know if that list is still active. Or it's just now the renewed Detroit this I am in need of a ramp. I am concerned about being confined to my home. Every time I go out. It's a question mark. If I'm going to be able to make it back up the stairs to get in my home. It is extremely difficult. So please, if you can let me know if that list is still activated. I've been on that waiting list for at least three years. And at one point I told that I was getting close to when I could be you know, get the help that I need. Thank you for this time. I appreciate the work that the council was doing. God bless all of you.
Thank you so much was Varner and we can work with you and Mr. Hall's office to get a status of where you are in application process and to get clarity on what lists you're on if you're on the traditional senior emergency home repair, waiting list or the Renew Detroit so we will reach out to you at work. Remember daraz office to to help you out. All right. Thank you Miss Varner.
The next caller is Miko a Williams.
The morning Miko Williams Hi Good. Morning.
councilmembers Miko Williams I'm a taxpayer citizen and resident of district five and I've lived in the city of Detroit all my life. I really want to beg the council to please please work harder and do whatever you can to solve many of the issues that are forthcoming to you. The first recommendation I want to make is Miss Gloria, a nip house. Miss Gloria house, she was my teacher. She was the best historian that I know of that taught us our history and our culture. And I am happy that she will be recommended for the task force of reparations. I am still calling for the resignation and removal of Keith Williams the chair. His leadership is terrible. It is not conducive the last meeting, people were calling me telling me how horrible it was from Mr. Keith and even if you got a parliamentarian and the project manager to keep the business in hand, under keeps leadership it is going to continue to fail. And I don't want to see negative or however but in the best force of moving Detroit forward Mr. Williams have to go I want to speak about the water leaders coming together for southeastern Michigan to for the Senate bills, please support this. This is very important vote to the Great Lakes Regional Authority meeting and demand that those Senate bills that they support the Senate bills and are in favor of it. Also, I want to say that, you know, council it's it's so important that you were duly elected to serve your residents and to make the business happen. The redistricting was rushed. It was not thought out well and it wasn't consist on all of the city and then when this comes back, it's going to end up another brouhaha. Scott Benson should be not in business he should not even have the gavel. Thank you.
Next caller is Candace Jones. Jones.
Good morning Candice Jones.
Right, can we come back to Kansas Jones, please?
Okay, next caller is phone number ending in 124.
Caller 124 Good morning.
Yes, good morning man be heard. Yes, you can. Well, I shared concerns about the bowler rep contract. I'm hoping that you've done your due diligence. I mean, if this is something new it just feels like Detroit is experiment city. Also regarding the solar farms everybody, be careful because the hailstorm hit a solar farm somewhere in the Midwest, Kansas or something and turned it into a toxic mess. Another concern I have is why the city's hiring premier staffing solutions for the elections. I went to a training during the frigid weather the people didn't show up to train us didn't listen, I was cancelled. And now I'm being told that the elections are full but it doesn't make sense if they're having premier election or Premier staffing solutions. We should be hearing Detroiters first also regarding the board of zoning appeals that we have some problems are there don't seem to be maintaining complete records of their hearing. And so all the ladies on the internal operations committee this needs to be looked into because I've alerted the law department to this problem, but it's not getting fixed. And so it's not okay to you know, it's basically a due process violation for people. If all the materials they submitted were I don't know what happened. To them wherever they were they even considered so if we're gonna have equitable development, we got to make sure that the board has everything and is studying everything. It's a big task. I get it, but it's it should be done. Right. And there's just lots of money going into these outside law firms. are just like, really, it's in the garbage shouldn't be done through the city. There's no reason why that can't be a city job and employ people here. It just makes no sense to me about that. If the charter says we should be hiring Detroiters, so let's do it. We can do that. And if we do that.
All right. Thank you, Miss Warwick.
The next caller is Marguerite Maddox. And Scarlett
All right. Good morning. With Maddox.
Morning. Good morning.
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Thank you. Thank you, Miss Madox.
The next caller is Lisa Franklin.
All right, Miss Franklin. Good morning.
Yes. Good morning. President Sheffield and Detroit City Council. Hope all is well. I'm calling in today. To ask that you please vote no. On the ball rat. This device handheld device with an eight foot coil with barbed wire ending is supposed to be for individuals who are going through a mental health crisis and the police are called to the scene. We believe that that money that funding for that device can be used in other areas for training for increasing the crisis team or even possibly onboarding an end professional who is skilled in that area in California when they use it and the company even reports that the device is not supposed to be used on children or on pregnant women. Who determines that at the same is it isn't it isn't wait. A hook can determine that. That's a very dangerous device to use. So we're asking you to vote no on the bolawrap we want to see more funding into the Housing Trust Fund and any programs and services that will improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and our seniors. We support. Thank you so much and I yield the rest of my time
the next caller is Amara Hyman.
was fine and good morning.
Good morning Council. Several things this morning. First on the future of health I think this item 811. Again, the expansion of Henry Ford Hospital and research is a wonderful thing but the $287 million that will be going to Gore Tom Gore's for housing just isn't right, instead of the 100 and the 132 units of affordable studio and one bedroom apartments. The Council could actually issue bonds of that amount of money $287 million and actually Bill 765 units of two three and four bedroom public housing at the rate of $400,000 each. That makes so much more sense. Why are we looking to developers to provide us with affordable housing on issue 21.2 I do support Councilperson waters resolution for Congress to reallocate funding from military operations to fund social programs to benefit our communities. I think that's makes all the sense in the world. Item 22.9 I do support Council persons Santiago Romero's memorandum to appoint Dr. Gloria house to the reparations Task Force. She is a stellar person for that position. And on item 24 point 12 I support Council persons resolution to create a department of Detroit Veterans Affairs. I think that's very important. Also, I support the youth Task Force, especially if that means that we're going to begin to look at those things that we can do in this city that would uplift, encourage and expose our youth. Again, thank you for this time you guys have a great day. Thank you.
All right, thank you as well.
The next caller is we matter. Bernie,
good morning and through the chair.
May I be hurt as you can.
I'm calling in support of Mr. Shelton, who is calling for an audit and for you all to investigate the mayor for what he's doing to the Ag he's he's punishing her for the reports that she's creating or producing that showing the malfeasance and you all should be in tune to what the the AG is reporting. We have lots of corruption that's going on through this administration 24.2 to 24. That eight is sidewalk millions of dollars and sidewalks and giving them extensions. We spent our surplus money which would have created a spring bringing a garbage pickup back in house I am against paying any more money for garbage pickup. Especially when it comes out of you expecting me to pay more money when you're giving away surplus money for sidewalks and now you're asking for extensions on the sidewalks and I wonder if are they being penalized for for these extensions? Are we getting any money back 20 one.to reallocate military funds Well Miss waters, you can reallocate our poor funds that you all are wasting on demolitions and support what we need in our own infrastructure and not support someone else's infrastructure. Aid daddy love and future health. That's a misnomer. You all have not spoken any words about health the only thing you're talking about is making Henry Ford Hospital a realtor giving them money to create property and some of the questions that are asked my Miss Calloway and her and her questions about this whole future health thing like them giving leasing land to piss to the piston so they don't have to pay any taxes. This is This is unheard of. Please, Les, redo, I rethink this future. Hell Thank you. Thank you.
Next caller is phone number ending in 337.
All right, good morning.
May I be heard?
Yes, you can.
Good morning. This is Pat Bosch, a resident of district three. I'm calling in particular to item number 16.12. It has to do with councilmember Leticia Johnson, supporting a resolution that was related to James Reverend memo of February 6 With regard to charging you fees for the board of zoning appeals. In particular, Mr. Rip Brown has asked that there now be a $500 fee attached to community appeals. This is not part of the democratic process and as we know what he cites Michigan State Supreme Court as the reason for now charging for community appeals we all know that this never was a problem until we got legalized marijuana and heavy investors coming to the city. So please do not vote on this because the community appeals process needs to stay as it is. It's best especially given our back that our block clubs and our nonprofit groups do not have money available as big investors do. Also. Even though it's not on the agenda, I support the fact that the childcare ordinance should be subject to board of zoning appeals land use zoning hearings as opposed to giving open operations Thank you.
The next caller is phone number ending in 167.
Morning caller 167.
Good morning everyone. My name is Vanessa peak and I'm a resident of district three. I think Miss PAC boss really spoke to why I am calling today in regards to the agenda items 16 point 12 I am very disappointed to see that there was discussion by council a woman Johnson in regards to the thought of just increasing BCA appeal fees. We nonprofits and residents in District Three as this bar said we've been having a lot of hearings because our area has been looked upon as the place for companies to come and settle to have marijuana dispensaries. And as she pointed out, you know we're struggling nonprofits are struggling residents who are struggling. I don't I don't see the need to make any adjustments at this time. And so I'm going to ask the council to deny that request. It we as residents, our voices should be heard as it relates to our quality of life. And I see this being put as a line item as an objective by everyone to to dismiss us as as human beings to dismiss us as lessons to dismiss us as individuals who are concerned about our quality of life and the reality at the end of the day when I go downtown Midtown Corktown and other areas of Detroit will justify. I see like and we residents are coming before BCA because of the things that the city wants to put in our community. And I still say what is it about us where you see us and when you see me as a black woman, you see a strip club you see a marijuana dispensary. You know, we wouldn't have to go to the fall appeals. If you would look upon us as individuals that are deserving of the same quality of life.
All right, thank you Miss Vanessa. P. Councilmember Johnson.
Thank you, Madam President. I just want to clarify that line item 16 Point twill was presented to the council by the board of zoning appeals. It is not a request of mine. And I have asked for Director Ray Brown to be present when we get to that line item. Thank you Madam President.
Thank you member Johnson. Our next caller, please.
The next caller is Renard munch on ski.
Right. Good morning Renard. Have you heard? Yes, you can.
Sorry about that last time. Good morning, Madam President and members of council and my name is Renee Trotsky. I am a District Six president and awesome organizer with the Detroit people's platform. I want to speak in accordance and also in support of our allies at warriors on wheels and other concerned individuals that spoke against the proposal to fund these dollar wraps. What I find disturbing is that we already have these and we don't know if they've been tested on people and how the police have been using them. Because certain is that you can have all these lassos whips and chains and everything else that they think they can subdue people that are going to Metro incidents. You don't know what that person's mental makeup is. You're lassoing someone you're confining someone, some people have absolute fear and will freak out over that. And that could generate a heart attack another lawsuit border BPD department another person whose life was unconstitutionally taken. There is no such thing as non legal police equipment. The actual term is less than legal. So whoever said Manrico that's a marketing term. This is a company that's trying to sell their product like any other company, like a gas station. But except what they do is at a minimum to the council members who are already going to pass this their minds already made up or the Bible said a heart is the heart is hardened. And I'm going to pass this anyway. Which leads me to my second point. I'm extremely concerned about the proposal starting in June or July, where DPD please are going to be deployed on to do that process. Here's why that's an issue. We already we already have the Transit Police, they're understaffed. They have a relationship with the bus riding community and they're especially trained to deal with people or deal with situations where there are mental health crises. I'm concerned that someone could fall victim to BPD on the buffet please consider
Alright, thank you for now
and be the last caller who had raised their hand before you had cut off public comment is Candace Jones.
Morning Miss Jones. Hello, how
are you? So I'm calling to ask you about that. You don't get to be sponsored you never do. I'm calling to ask you about the free housing and free bills in the pre rent the ones earlier was thinking about about filling you thank you. Yeah. Did you ever find out what the membership program is? Did you ever find no How did you try to live free? Every Detroiter can have stopped reveals. DHS is the way that pays their food bill for and Detroit works then Jumpstart is the way that they get educated and give for free because I would love to join those programs. Being a long time born and raised here in Detroit, and I don't get anything free. I don't have to go earn any work forward. That's it. I'm glad you're all here my time.
All right. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Jones. And that was our last caller. So we will now conclude our public comment for this morning and proceed to our agenda for today.
I understand standing committee reports for the budget Finance and Audit standing committee from the office of the city clerk City Planning Commission. Councilmember
young or resolution line item 15.1.
Councilmember young
Thank you, Madam President Move to approve line item 15.1.
motion has been made for approval and this is for a NEC certificate application for 2150 Begley neighborhood enterprise zone. Are there any objections? Hearing no objections. That one resolution will be approved. In before we continue, Mr. Washington. I wanted to go back to the solar farms you said there's a representative that is one that can briefly just give an update
about that. Yes, ma'am. Good morning, Madam Chair and Council. We do have sustainability director Jack O'Connell. So to online okay.
We can Please promote him please.
Good afternoon, counsel. May I be heard?
Yes, you can. Good afternoon. To provide a brief update. We had a lot of callers calling today regarding the Solar Initiative. And I just thought it would be helpful to give just a brief update on where we are as far as the overall program. Are you still soliciting feedback? Are residents still able to vote at this point? And when do you offer see that the program will come before council for any type of action?
Yeah, so a quick update from mine. We have our request for proposals that will be closing for the solar program on the 15th. And we're also still doing community engagement with all the different neighborhoods and collecting signatures from people all across the city for who's supporting and those will. We'll be doing that through the 15th as well. From there we're going to evaluate all the sites and the proposals and we'll be able to provide an update to council in a few weeks. No contracts or official actions will be brought to city council until after the budget is complete in April. But we are going to continue with our community outreach in the coming months and make sure that we get this plan in front of as many people as possible and continue to answer questions about this project.
Okay, thank you and for those who are still trying to voice their concerns or whether it be for support or against it, they should reach out to their district manager or to you directly Do you have a number or an email for those who are you know, may feel left out. I know we did receive some comments from some residents that stated that they were not engaged in the process. So if you could just speak to how those organizations or neighborhood groups could reach out to make sure that they are included in the discussion and feel that their voices are being heard.
I think working with the district managers is a good first step. We'll continue to do the outreach ourselves with knocking on doors but reaching out to district managers and I can will be where we've been working continuously with the Department of neighborhoods on the outreach and an engagement with the community. So working with the district managers, it's a good first step to voice the opinion along with signing off on for support, signing off on the petitions that we have.
Okay, and then lastly, just the petitions can be they can get those through the district manager as well. Yes. Okay. Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you for that brief update.
Of course. Thank you.
All right. Thank you. All right. We will go back now to our agenda in we will move to the internal operations standing committee from the Office of contracting and procurement.
Madam President, there are six contracts up for vote today from the internal operations standing committee. First up we have contract number 6003990, a one, one 2%. City funding amendment number one, to provide an extension of time and an increase of funds for HR background checks. Contract is quick acquisition, LLC DBA, Quick Search, total contract amount $53,690. And this contract is for human resources. The next contract is contract number 60060031 2%. ARPA funding to right infrastructure equipment replacement at Linden data center contract is Limbach company LLC total contract amount $1,155,000. And this contract is for do it. The next contract is contract number 6005565. A one one 2% Risk Management funding amendment number one, to provide increased funds and extension of time for legal services for the city of Detroit in connection with tax appeals for marathon Detroit refinery and MGM contracts crosshead consulting and legal services total contract amount $400,000 And this contract is for the law department. The next contract is contract number 6005952. Once you present city funding to write legal services contract is Rosinski ethics law PLLC total contract amount $50,000. And this contract is for the law department. The next contract is contract number 60059621 2%. Grant funding to buy pre arraignment, legal services for indigent and injured indention indigent excuse me, people cancelled as misdemeanor and felony defenders PC or Patrick Mt. $750,000. And this contract is for the law department. Last contract is contract number 60059631 2% grant funding to provide post arraignment legal services for indigent people contract this misdemeanor and felony defendants PC photographic amount $1,244,925 And this contract is for the law department. Councilmember Johnson six resolutions, line items 16.1 through 16.6 Noting the line item 16.1 16.3 and 16.4. were reported out of committee without recommendation.
All right. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Councilmember Johnson.
Thank you, Madam President Move for approval on line item 16.1. Through 16.6.
All right, motion has been made any discussion discussion, Madam Chair? Yes. Councilmember Callaway,
Madam Chair, I do believe are requested that these be brought back during the Standing Committee meeting. Or 16.1. This is a 22,000 $890,000 contract for HR company in Dallas, Texas. And the reason why I'm I'm asking us to vote this down at least I'm voting against it is because the HR department is notorious for bringing us contracts at the very last minute I say the 11th hour not giving us any time to to deliberate. And I believe we need to put our foot down with some of these department heads because for them to bring it to us on the date that it expires. It forces us to make an emergency type of decision. And I just don't think that's a good course of business. And I have asked them to not do it. They still continue to do what they apologize, very apologetic, but the behavior hasn't changed the way that they do business in the HR department has not changed and this is evidence of that. We're talking about $22,000 through June. The 2020 24 When the original contract was two years at $53,000. So they're asking for an extension of six months for $22,000 when the original contract was for two years at $53,000. So Madam Chair, I will be a note on this particular contract. line item 16.1.
All right. Thank you member Callaway.
Is there any other discussion on these line items that were moved? Or approval?
And Madam Chair, that was 16.1 Also, line item 16.4 Madam Chair is a $50,000 contract for a law firm in Allen Park. I continue to have discussions with Corporation Counsel mallet regarding some of these law. Some of these contracts going to minority law firms and also women law firms. We don't seem to be making enough enrolls into that area. We continue to go outside of the city now this one is very troubling for me because we're using city funding, or $50,000. Again for law firm in Allen Park. We need to look at the Wolverine Bar Association, hundreds and hundreds of licensed attorneys. We look need to look at the black women's Lawyers Association of Miss Michigan, hundreds of black women, women of color who are practicing law wanting a contract like this. And if we don't make a decision, we don't put our foot down where we're going to continue to get the suburb. I don't have a problem with suburban law firms. But we have reputable qualified experienced lawyers in our city. So I will be a No madam chair on line item 16.4. Thank you.
Thank you so much member Callaway and I wholeheartedly support the effort to get more minority and women owned law firms to do business with the city of Detroit from my understanding from this particular contract though we were using this law agency because they hadn't done work on a previous case with this particular so that I think work has already started and so that is why it was a sole source to continue to work for this particular case from my understanding and I'm just reading through the notes here and then also that the money will be allocated but only used as needed. So, again, I do support what you're stating. I just wanted to state why I was the supporting this particular contract based on the information that I did receive. All right, is there any other questions, comments concerns? Councilmember Johnson has moved these for approval? Are there any objections?
Objection? Madam Chair, member Callaway, thank you if you could show me as a note on line item 16.1 and 16.4 for the reasons I stated, thank you. Okay.
Are there any other objections? Remember waters, Milan 16.1. Okay, the clerk would No, no, no. All right, hearing no further objections, the six resolutions will be approved. From the law department.
Councilmember Johnson five resolutions 16.7 From 16 point 11.
Councilmember Johnson
Thank you, Madam President Move for approval online out of 16.7 through 16 point 11. These are various requests for legal representation and indemnification and settlements. All
right. Are there any objections? Objection? Councilmember young lion Oh, 16.8.
The clerk would No, no, no.
Any other objections? All right, hearing none, the five resolutions will be approved. From the board of zoning Appeals
Council Member Johnson and resolution line item 16. Point 12.
Councilmember Johnson
Thank you, Madam President. Move for discussion.
All right, discussion. And I know you mentioned director Ray Braun is oh, he's here in person. Do you want to come in join us and this is regarding the fee schedule for the board of zoning appeals to make sure your microphone is on director. You haven't touched the microphone.
I should know that. Well, I'm I'm not on this side. Good morning.
Good morning. So if you could just give us an update on what's being proposed. With the fee schedule for the BCA. Good
morning board members James Webb brown board of zoning appeals director. I submitted a memo on February 6, requesting that to fees be placed on the fee schedule that were somehow left off. These are not what let me see. The first one. The hardship is something that we've been doing. And I'm not sure how it got left off. So we need to get that replaced. The community appeal is one that when the court mandated that community appeals could be heard by any individual standing had to be a part of that appeal so that the person had to show standing in order to do the appeal. The May issue with the community appeals is we do just as much work on those cases as we do on any other case. my recommendation is only that a recommendation. The Council makes the final decision. My only request is that we at least cover the mailing or those community appeals. we just our budget is to the point where we function to do the things that we do. We have so many community.
We lacking in our budget. So we just asked that a fee be assessed, which you think is fair. And I'm asking that the mailing be covered. And that depends on how many people are in that 300 foot radius
that would be mailed mailed to. Okay, we're on discussion now. Thank
you remember Benson? Member Johnson. Thank you, madam president through you to direct a rebrand. Can you talk a little bit more about community appeals and the standing that you're seeing
happening within the court system? So previously, before medical marijuana community appeals were brought before the board by simply filling out an application and we would hear the appeal. During medical marijuana, there was so many appeals happening, that it became problematic and that, you know, we just couldn't afford to keep allowing those appeals to be made without some type of due process. So the court intervened and indicated that any citizen or group can bring an appeal that has a issue with a BC Planning and Development decision. They also indicated that an individual needed to show standing to bring that appeal. In other words, they need to show that x development is going to bring harm to that individual. And they There are eight questions that they have to answer in order to show that standing and all eight of those questions have to be in the affirmative. That that is the court's ruling on how we should follow approval. For the hearing, once they pass the hearing the net pass the approval of the NIC and go to the hearing if they are not confirmed, then there is no hearing. So they have to be confirmed before the hearing is hurt.
Member Johnson Thank you and director Ron Brown, have you provided those eight items that
show standing? I did not bring that but I can provide that. That's that's approval. Part of the approval criteria. I said indicate an approval criteria is needed. For all of our cases. It's different criteria, but all of the cases require approval criteria, which
is in the zoning ordinance.
Thank you. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you in director brown how many community petitions or appeals Did you say roughly you receive
last year? Oh, last year we had eight or nine. Previously, we only had we were only doing one or two a year before medical marijuana okay. Now what we're getting our community appeals against development. Community appeals against somebody doing something in their neighborhood to their house. There's a lot of not in my backyard. efforts going on. Usually, it's a BC denial that triggers them coming to the BBA BCA does not make any decisions. We only appeal the decisions by planning and development
or building safety and how does the fee for hardship play into this is there a way for a community organization or resume
can not afford the appeal so that that is not related to your hardship? Let me let me be very clear with that if I purchase a property and then go to BC to pull up permit, and I say I want to do a barbershop and the only thing that I can do on that land is say, a store or something but not a barber shop. And the buildings the safety cannot approve me doing that because it's not allowed. If you purchase property without knowing what you can do on that property before you purchase it, and you come in to pull a permit and they tell you no, that's the hardships. That's not community. That's people really not doing their homework on the front end. And we encourage that council members all the time. Please look into their property before you buy it. If someone's selling it to you for $1
There's a reason. Gotcha. And then right, gotcha. And then lastly, I know you said currently the your budget
is covering the Melling etc. Everything we do average case is about $1,500 to $200. For staff time, and the board of zoning and our hearings. So whether it's a community appeal, or hardship, or a regular case, that same amount of time
goes into that case, okay? No, I was just trying to figure out a way to not have the $500 listed amount for community budget, we can do our budget season and maybe allocate additional funding to help in that process as well to lower the amount that the actual resident will have to pay or community group for
that particular appeal. I would suggest that anywhere from 75 to $100. will cover the nearly 7575 to $100 would cover the mailing and I would I would check with my staff to get exact numbers. But mailing depends, again, depending on how many people it is. We do the standard mailing through the city. We also do registered mails to the applicants that's a little bit more but we registered mail receipt so we ensure that the applicant
is getting the information. Okay, so the $500 in covers.
I thought that was for the mele. Well it's mailing happy there's a lot that goes on. We the we even though we provide the board with laptops, they still want paper copies, you know, so our copying is expensive. We do a lot, a lot of copy and I'm I'm one for paper reduction. But we like paper.
So it's hard to reduce it. Okay. All right. Thank you, Director rib Ron.
Councilmember Benson. Thank you, Director. Ron, thank you for coming out today. This is a
significant
this is a I mean, according to community as soon as we can issue that would agree as well. Having a fee for a community appeal can be seen as an exclusionary obstacles so people cannot use it. But having no fee also can lend itself to abuse of the system, which it sounds like that with no fee. I anybody all the time can come in. And if $1,500 per appeal for staff time, it can be very expensive. And as the President said there could be options here where we look to utilize other funding sources to subsidize your operations but for me, I like to see something more than a $500. Maybe this will cover maybe it won't I'm also I question if $100 is going to cover the cost of a mailing. I mean, at 68 cents per stamp these days. That doesn't go very far. It's 175. mailings. If you're on a denser areas of the city, I can't imagine that 175 mailings would handle everybody within a 300 foot radius of a potential property. So I'd like to see something I mean, if you're going to make the appeal, I believe you should have some skin in the game, but I also think it should defeat should not be overwhelming Where are you excluding community residents who may not have those type of financial resources, but habit legitimate concern that needs to be taken to be seen, especially when you have to fight someone who could be well resource without having the thought process or just the compassion to support the basic community Quality of Life Options that they're developing, bringing better detriment to those quality life options. So I'm hoping to see a deeper dive into something like this, but also just don't want to see an abuse of the system where people are just bringing in appeals, just because I just because NIMBY, not in my backyard, but I mean, it's allowed but by zoning ordinance, it's not a significant detriment. So there needs to be some balance here. And I think there are other options financially to support but we'll need to see the actual costs and how many are being being brought to us. What's the actual cost of community
appeals? Do we know it all of our cases, whether it's a community appeal, or any of the cases, takes the same amount of time, same amount of staff time the same DCA? $1,500 plus cost councilman, I can review all of the community appeals cases, look at the mailing and do an average to give you that that exact close to that cost. That 300 foot radius depends on the neighborhood parts of the east side, that's five or six homes. Some parts of the west side that could be 25 homes. So it just depends on the neighborhood. We're proud of the city, but I can look at the community appeals going back right before medical marijuana, look at those cases and average out the cost
for the mailing. I will just suggest this look at the past year. Look at your 2023 What did it cost you to run the community appeals process? What was that
cost to your department? So that's a reduction of resources that you have for other people who are paying for those services. But I still believe the community appeals should be paid for that should be subsidized somewhere else. Maybe that's a subsidy that comes out of the mayor's office. Maybe it's a subsidy come to the law departments office. But somehow those services have to be paid for now I'm not suggesting that they come out of your office, unless we as a body are prepared to put in more resources into your budget annually to cover those costs. But those costs have to be absorbed somewhere. So I want to know what those costs are. And I like to be very specific so not a $15 Plus, I'll give you this one cost 1750. This one was 2007 50. Let's be very specific on what that cost report a year. And let's look to but provide a budget to your department to cover those costs. Thank you. Thank you for events and so I agree with customer events and I'm not sure director O'Brien if we postpone this for a week, would that give you enough time to kind of do a deeper dive and get those numbers so that we can get better? That's not a problem. Okay. Could I ask you to consider the hardship fee because as already, we are hearing hardships and if it's not on the B? I can't hear that case. And that would obviously cause other issues that people will become a new saying BCA is not doing their job. So that that hardship again, was one that was previously on schedule. I like to have it replaced and my records indicate back in 2010 when Mr. Miller was the director, they were called use variances back then. They were $2,000. So and 2024 terms, it's it's it's a savings from what it was
back in 2010.
All right, thank you Director O'Brien. So I would need to look at the I'm trying to pull up the resolution to see if there is a way to separate the two I'm not sure if that can be done here. I see Mr. Whitaker's coming up now.
And present Yes. We don't have the resolution hardcopy the resolution either but I think we did them jointly because they were it was a joint request. And I will suggest bringing this back at the end. That was a break out the hardship. Okay, and bring a resolution that solely addresses
the hardship. Okay, perfect. Sounds good. Thank you, Director. Thank you. So scratching,
yet remember, Benson. Is there a sense of urgency. It has to happen today couldn't
wait for both items next week. Again, hardships are cases that are coming in and we're hearing them we would hear them now but I'm not processing them because we they're not on the schedule up
in trouble. So my question was, can this wait a week and we wait on both of them? Is there a sense of urgency that we need to vote
on one today versus
both next week? On the hardships?
Yes. Okay. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Thank you. All right, Councilmember Johnson, if there's a motion to bring 16 point 12 to the end of the agenda motion. All right, Hearing no objections. We will postpone this to the end of the agenda.
From the office of the city clerk. Councilmember Johnson a resolution nine
out of 16 point 13.
Council member Johnson.
Motion to approve. All right. motion has been made for approval. This is for a charitable gaming license
Are there any objections? Hearing none, the one resolution will be approved
from the Human Resources classification division. Councilmember Johnson a resolution Lanham
16 point 14.
Councilmember Johnson Thank you Madam President. Motion to approve line item 16 point 14. This is a request to amend the 2023 2024 official compensation schedule for the civilian oversight analysts for the board of
police commissioners. All right. Are there any objections to 16 point 14? Hearing no objections, the one resolution will be approved
from the request to speak before city council, Councilmember Johnson two resolutions 9am 16 point 15 and
16 point 16.
Councilmember Johnson Thank you, Madam President Move for
approval with discussion. Okay,
discussion. Madam President, I'm not sure who can speak to this. I think there are some confusion as to where this discussion will take place. If this is approved, and so I just like to get clarification as to whether or not this would be before the Committee of the Whole or if this will go to one of the committees as it did when we had a previous resident speak before Council
All right. We're gonna have someone from LAPD come speak to
Director Whitaker Are you able to speak on the petitions before Council? I recall last time I think we took a full vote whether or not we wanted to take up the petition and then it was then referred to the appropriate committee that handles that particular item. But Director Whittaker if you just want to speak on the two petition
requests that are before us. Yes, there have been some discussion in the past as to how to handle this and it was sent to the Rules Committee to develop a specific rule but you haven't acted on that rule. So you're still operating under the former rules. And you have to take a vote today to determine whether or not you want to hear it before your your standing committee or hear it here or deny it altogether.
I get their way under like three different actions.
If I may just just add in the current rule, it says I'm also the chair of the standing committee, so therefore, it could theoretically be referred to a standing committee correctly under the current rules. But then that standing committee would decide what to do with it or if the body today would want to hold it in front of formal then the body could choose that also, it truly is
up to the chair. But it might have been a little bit garbled for me.
So we need to take up whether or not one we want to hear before council as a whole or Central Committee. Yeah, or denied or denied altogether and then to the clerk's office. Did you receive any additional documents? I haven't received any like supporting documents or anything for any of the petitions
or just the petition itself. So we just received the petition itself and the resolution that we created. It was
created by us okay, I just wanted to make sure there there was nothing any like supporting documents or anything that was submitted as well. Okay. Remember, Benson? Yes.
Thank you for yourself to Mr. Whittaker. Director Whitaker.
Yes, sir, based on the rules of Detroit City Council, is it a right to speak to counsel outside of public comment or is it a privileged privilege based
on these rules or rules? Let me pull up the rule. I believe it says that you're you. I think you're giving them a right to do it. I think it says shell done it.
There is if I may. There is a section in the rules that does allow for the public to request time before City Council outside of general public outside the general public comment is section 22.0. And it has a specific process that has to be followed. But the the important sentences upon approval of the request by the body, comma, the chair of the standing committee or Committee of the Whole shall have the discretion as to when during the meeting shall be the person shall be heard. So as to when is the Open option there and also you always have the option of course, to say no to the request at this point in time.
Agree if that answers your question, I want to make sure that unclear. So my interpretation would be that this is not a right. And this is a privilege. We as City Council are granting a privilege to speak before this body outside of public comment which is a state enacted right Am I correct? There? That's right. Okay. So I just want to make it very clear when I also I want to make this why I'm voting no on these requests. If you behave in a way that is inconsistent with the basic decorum of what we expect at this body, I am in no way believing that you provide any type of privilege to come before this body, outside with the state mandates that I authorized for you to speak to this body in public is very clear. If your behavior is that they would not tolerate from a three year old child. I will not support this. Anyone come before this body to speak to us. If you want that privilege and my vote and support. You need to be able to comport yourself in a way that upholds a basic level of decorum that this body deserves. Thank you.
Thank you member Benson Madam President? Yes, Council Member Santiago Amuro. Thank you, Madam President, for me. And regarding the topic of discussion, My concerns are and I brought this up in the past and I know we don't have the rules revamped yet for this for moments like these, but I think it's incredibly important that we bring someone that has experience, the background, the credentials to be able to speak on whatever subject is being spoken about. My concern is misinformation being spread which would be detrimental to public education and engagements. And that is why I cannot support this today, and really hope that we are able to work on our rules to make sure that we have a better process when these things come up in Council.
Thank you. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you so much, Member Santiago. Amuro. Are any additional comments or questions and I echo both councilmember Benson and Member Santiago and Mira I am concerned with misinformation. I know a lot that has been talked about regarding absentee ballot fraud and etc. None nothing has been proven or submitted to verify to date and even with a particular petition that has been submitted no documentation or anything has been presented. I also agree with the decorum and the disrespect that has taken place here that we have to allow for public comment. But as we Robinson so eloquently stated, We do not have to allow that any additional time. And so that is why I also would not support this particular petition as well. So with that being said, I guess we'll take two difficult one bowl first, which will be whether or not we want to approve these petitions to come before Council will be the first vote and then we will move forward accordingly if there needs to be a second vote. So is there a motion I think member Johnson you move forward discussion or oval? What both public discussion right motion has been made for approval. Are there any objections
to show me as your
councilmember Scott Benson?
All right. Pro Tim president, no online items 16 point 15 and
16.62. includes
any other objections? Objection, Santiago rule 16 point 15 and
16 point 16. Local
so no, and if you can show myself as a note 116 point 15
and 16 point 16. So no, Madam President, that is all
the notes. Those two items do fail. All right, President.
Yes. I just wanna make it very clear. Mr. Crowley is a resident of the third district and he is serviced by my office and we will continue to provide him the most professional service that we can ask and continue to do. But when you ask for a privilege of coming for this body, and your behavior is one that I would not tolerate from a three year old. I will not provide that level
of privilege at this table. Thank you. Thank you, member Benson and just for the record as well, too. We also work with Mr. Crowley, he calls our office I'm sure he may be caused a lot of our offices, but we will continue to do that as well, too. So thank you so much for stating that member Benson
councilmember Young
is there going to be someone else who is a member remember remember I brought this up quickly. For me it my problem is I like to date I like a good slap and tickle like the next man. Sometimes that gets me in trouble. So I don't mind having this discussion. But it just seems to me there's some it's already been discussed. We've already had this discussion in 2020. The way it was proven that we had the most secure election process in the country. And you know, I like debates. I don't mind having the conversation again. So what I want someone their expertise to kind of further confirm what I think everyone here already knows about the election process. If you had any doubt about the election process before I think 2020 solved that. Not just in Michigan but across the country. And so, the reason why it's important I like to date I like the discussion. I want to get this out of the way because I really want to nip this in the bud. I really think this is gonna be more of a venting session and anything else. And I think we should just let this all get out and play out and have expertise here hit people who present the other side so we can get this out. So we can solve this once and for all and not have to deal with it again. Because quite frankly, personally, I just think that this is I'm not saying it is but it's kind of encroaching towards Trumpism and I don't know about everybody else kind of had my fill, quite frankly, of this discussion that we all know it's almost the point we're getting to the point where ASCII you know, it's like people debating is two plus two, four, or his water wet, or his fire shots. I think we've already kind of figured that out. So I think this is just something that's going to further deal with this. So I look forward to this discussion. I look forward to it. Mr. Crowley presented his evidence I hope we have other people who are here, be able to present their evidence. So we could do this once and for all and not deal with this again.
Thank you, Madam President. I am done. Thank you member Yeah.
All right. We will continue now with the agenda
under resolutions. Madam President, I would like first off I would like to know the line m 16. Point 17 was actually voted on last week and it was approved therefore this
item can be removed. All right, is there a motion to remove 16.7 T motional motion? All right, Hearing no objections that action will be taken
under resolutions councilmember Whitfield Callaway, a resolution line item
16 point 18. Member Callaway motion to approve Madam Chair. All right. Hearing no objections the resolution will be approved for the youth and Civic Engagement task force that resolution is approved or the Planning and Economic Development standing committee
from the City Planning Commission. Council President Pro Tem take an introduction of an ordinance line item 17.10
Tim save a president I moved to the ordinance be read by title ordered printed
and laid on the table.
Hearing no objections. That action will be taken from
the City Planning Commission council president pro tem to a resolution setting a public hearing on item 17.2.
Pro Tem say president I move approval of line item 17.24 day
to be determined. Hearing no objections that action will be taken.
From the planning and development department. Council President Pro Tem take three resolutions none I'm 17.3 to 17.50.
Tim
Tate President Move approval in line items 17.3
to 17.5. Please move for discussion really quickly. Okay, discussion pro tem. I know that for 17.5 You may have raised some concerns about having a deed restriction for the property at 7631 Mac and we just kind of looked into this this morning and was hoping that we can possibly postpone this for when we as we're kind of trying to get some more information on the use
of this particular property. And President move to postpone for one
week line item 17 points, please. Okay, Hearing no objections 17.5 will be postponed for one week in the additional items have been moved for approval. Hearing no objections, the two resolutions
will be approved. No president yes. Just want to alert everyone that we will be having the full discussion on the Henry Ford feature of health and PE D this Thursday, we will notice a poll so whoever would like to join us will be able to do so it was like to again publicly thank the Neighborhood and Community Services standing committee, as well as of course the Chair for allowing us to have that marathon meeting we had. We went through a number of the hearings, but we did not go through the genuine and earnest discussion back and forth and we again went through the process but didn't go through the discussion. So again, allowing everyone to be aware that this Thursday we will be going through all of those items during with the Henry Ford Health feature of health project of this Thursday and PE D and again, thank you to Chairman Young as well as the neighborhood community Senate community standings. Community Services standing committee for allowing us to have that marathon meeting from 10am until 4:30pm with a 40 minute break and thank my colleagues as well for your participation.
Thank you, ma'am. All right. Thank you Protune.
For the public health and safety standing committee from the Office
of contracting and procurement, Madam President, there are nine contracts up for vote today from the public health and safety standard committee for line items 18.1 to 18.4 all emergency demolition and abatement and alteration contracts from the construction and demolition demolition department that will take us the line item 18.5. Contract Number 60060191 2%. City funding to provide emergency ambulance coverage for the city of Detroit contractors heart EMS medical services PLLC total contract amount $573,342 And this contract is for the fire department. The next contract is contract number 60060201 2%. City funding the riot emergency ambulance coverage for the city of Detroit contract is rapid response Emergency Services LLC total contract amount $586,254.24. And this contract is for the fire department. The next contract is contract number 60060 to 100%. City funding to provide emergency ambulance coverage for the city of Detroit counter to superior air ground ambulance service of Michigan Inc, total contract amount $590,205. And this contract is for the fire department. The next contract is contract number 60057601 2%. City funding to provide Fingerprint Identification System maintenance services contracted ID networks Inc total contract amount $275,863. And this contract is for the police department. The last contract is contract number 3071135 100%. City funding to ride Bono wrap for the police department contracted rap Technologies Inc. total contract amount $32,083.44. And this contract is for the police department as well. Councilmember Santiago male nine resolutions lanolips 18.1 to 18.9. noted the line items 18.8 and 18.9 were postponed from last
week's formal session. All right, thank you Mr. Clerk,
Councilmember Santiago Romero. Thank you Madam President. I will be breaking these contracts up for discussion as needed. I will begin with a motion to approve 18.1 I do believe this contracts. The contractors Smalley came out of committee with the recommendation to deny I may be remembering that wrong, but we usually do some of these out but the recommendation
to the nine motion to approve. All right, a motion has been made for approval for 18.1. Any
sorry, council president pro tem Tate No. Member at Large No. Madam President, that resolution fails. Yes. All right. That resolution fails.
Member Santiago Romero. Thank you, Madam President. motion to postpone 18.2 and 18.3. This has been flagged by a colleague. They are looking at some of the properties that are listed in these contracts
and NASA postponed this for one week.
Okay is there any objection to postponing those two items regarding the
commercial abatement and alteration?
All right, Hearing no objections those two line items will be postponed for one week.
Member Santiago Ramiro Thank you madam
president motion to approve 18.4
Motion has been made for approval for 18.4. Are there any objections? Hearing no objections the one resolution will be approved.
Yes, member Callaway was to waver on line item 18.4. Please.
A waiver has been requested, Hearing no objections that action will be taken.
Remember Santiago Ramiro? Thank you Madam President motion to approve 18.5 through 18.7 These are all the various emergency
ambulance coverage contracts. All right. Are there any objections?
Discussion? Yes, member Callaway, Madam Chair. Um, is there anyone on fire? I have a couple of questions regarding these contracts. I had a few senior citizens to call me last week. They're being charged for ambulance services. I don't know why they are being charged if the city is paying for the services. So if we're paying for these services, are they going to residential properties? How is this contract laid out? I'm not understanding it because they're still charging. They even charged me when I had to have my dad transported. Superior. So when I saw these contracts, it just made me think so are I'm not saying anybody's double dipping. But why are they charging residents for these services if we're paying them for the services, or are the services different? Okay, so I don't know if anybody can
answer that question. Mr. Washington. What do we have
on for these contracts? Yes, Madam Chair. We have Deputy Commissioner Derek Killman online Okay. We will promote him over
all right. Good morning. Good morning Council members.
Deputy could
secondary Commissioner Derek Hillman. All right. Were you able to hear member Galloway's questions you can just speak to the emergency ambulance
contracts that are before Council. Your spam through through the chair it's a good question council member. The current contracts are for standby. And they use the same practice as what the current fire department uses also for billing. So they use the exact same methodology that we use to bill for ambulance services. There's no differences. In that aspect. This is a contract for standby.
Only.
Callaway Okay. Thank you, Madam Chair. So Deputy Chief Hillman, you're saying these half a million dollar contracts, one going to Romulus one going to southville and a third one going to? Let's see here.
Guess that was in
Detroit. A half a million dollar standby contract. How are you drawing down on the contract? How are you? How are they invoicing us for what services
if they're on standby? Yeah, so so as they are, they are dedicated 100% For those times. So each of the companies dedicate a certain number of units and then they're paid by our for those units at a rate for each of those contracts to stay within the city and then that's that's how they're paid for the standby.
Does that make sense?
No, not to me. Okay. So let's take through the chair, we'll take a heart EMS who's the truck contract company, they are contracted for three and a half ambulances basically. So 324 hour ambulances and 112 hour ambulance. So those ambulances are 100% dedicated during the during those times. To the city and they cannot go out to other cities or go anywhere else. We have designated their times to be within the city and operate just as another emergency response vehicle for the department.
Madam Chair, why are these companies that we're paying a half a million dollars to billing an 81 year old for ambulance services? I have we have the bill through the chair to DC Hillman. Why are we why are the same companies that were contracting paying a half a million dollars to each and they're still billing residents
here in the city of Detroit. Yes, yes, ma'am. To the chair. So the cost that they are we that the companies are billing helps to recuperate the cost for those ambulance companies to be here just like we have our ambulances here and we pay our employees for that time that they're here. It does not cover the complete cost of it. So that that way. They knows the companies are running at a basically a net zero profit,
even with a subsidy from the city. Madam Chair, I'm going to ask if my colleagues don't have any questions. I'm going to ask that we postpone the vote on these because I'm not understanding what DC Hillman is saying. I don't know if anyone else is but if we're paying each one of these three companies over a half $1,000,000.05 $100,000 And they're still charging Detroit residents to use their services. What are we paying them for? And then why are they charging senior citizens to use their services? I paid $1,200 for superior and my Madam Chair, I I'm moving to bring this back in a week. Because I'm not understanding his explanation for these contracts when they're still
billing residents. Thank you, Madam Chair. Okay, thank you. I think there was still discussion. potentate.
Thank you, item. Thank you, Madam President. Unless there's no immediate need for this contract to be approved. I support postponement for one week. I guess the question that would potentially help. I remember Callaway and others and myself if there is information to show how often these particular elements have been used. And I don't know if that's been provided to the committee. I don't have it in front of me and I apologize if it has been but Through you, madam president to the gentleman on the line there. Is there Do we have any indication that has been provided on the usage of these particular ambulances how often? What days,
time out timeout? To the charity, would you like me to I can answer that question here.
Currently, the those companies provide about 30% of the responses to the emergency nine one calls for ambulance service within the city.
So I'll need a little bit more than that, just the percentage. So again, if there's no immediate need for this contract to be approved today, then I think it's given a week to allow for that information to be provided to us and a little bit more of a data capture would help. That's just the percentage and not challenging the percentage but as we always say, trust
with verify. That's what we have to do. Thank you pro
tem. Member young Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you so much, sir. Always a pleasure. Why aren't these calls to kind of piggyback off a bit for calories question, why are these fees covered in the contracts? groups with a question more time, sir. Why aren't these fees that they're charging covered in Canada? I understand why they can't do it. I'm out there. Right now, what I'm saying might be out of balance here, but they're a private company. They want to be able to charge fees. They can't be able to meet their bottom line because they're a private company. I get that. I just don't understand why this wasn't already accounted for in the contract. Why would they charge a fee on top of the contract while we just include these costs in the contract?
And I appreciate the question, sir, through the chair. So the contract is solely for the standby of those EMS units. So if they don't receive a single run that day, we still pay for him to be here. Now if they do have just like we do if they have a incident, and they're able to build for that incident. They follow the city procedure and bill for that incident
under our fee structure. Not I understand and I understand what you're saying. And that makes sense. I still just think that if we know there's going to be a situation where they're gonna make these runs, and they're gonna provide these services. I understand having it on standby. I just think that we should do some sort of planning long term to cover those contracts as well. And I think that will be something that will be more of an incentive for that company as well. So we will have to charge these fees. I'm not saying that. I'm not saying that they don't have the right to I just think that we should be able to prevent this from happening from people in terms of you know, we already know that we're dealing with a lot of people who are incomes are low income area, you know, and a lot of people can't afford to have a $500 emergency. So you know, to add these type of costs on top of that for a medical need, if you are in that they have to add I just think he's a little bit wrong. I think he's a little bit nearsighted and if we're going to have these costs anyway, why not just include them in the contract? So we just pay this out right and not have to deal with this issue. I don't know how I feel if I had a family member, God forbid they had to go to the they had to be in the they had to use the E O T. And then I got a fee on top of that, like what's why? So is there any sort of discussion in terms of including in the contract you would think in the future? Or is this just something that we're just gonna continue to do
just because it's the best business practice? So we threw the chair we selected a one year contract with these individuals. So that because we are also looking at standing up more of our EMS units, so that way we can get away from these type
of contracts.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, member young and then Mr. Hillman. It would be great. If you could submit the actual fee structure that they're charging for each company. I'm not sure per response, what they actually charge so that we can get a better sense of the skis fee schedule. And then you also said that currently our EMS charges residents, is that correct? Correct. Now, what is that in? comparison to what these companies are charging? Is
it similar in comparison, or are they it is identical? I'm sorry. It's through the chair. That is identical fee structure. They use our fee structure that
has been approved by Council. Okay, so it's the same similar is the same fee that currently our EMS providers are charging residents currently? That is correct. Okay. Um, if you can still submit that as well as we know, we're going to bring it back for more data, but just the fee structure so I can have a better understanding of what is being charged to our residents. In fact, when EMS is being utilized. All right, so there's a motion to postpone these for one week. Hearing no objections. We will postpone these three contracts for one week. Madam Chair. Thank
you, Mr. Hillman. Yes, thank you, Madam Chair. I don't know if Mr. Corley is available, but we're talking about senior citizens and one of my seniors. Her. They've sent her her bill to collections to accompany that superior uses in Columbus, Ohio. So she doesn't have the money is if Mr. Corley is available. I'd like to know whether or not I know they've done it in Oakland County. Where they've used Arper dollars to erase the medical debts of their residents who experienced medical issues and hospital stays. They're using opera dollars to get rid of all of that. So if Mr. Corley through the chair is available, I'd like to know whether or not we can use our dollars to help the senior citizens who had to use these ambulance services and now are being charged a fee. And the fees are accruing interest and being turned over to a collection agency. So if Mr. Corley is available through the Chair, Madam Chair, I'd like for him to find out whether or not and I can put it in writing if I have to whether or not Arper dollars can be used to clear up the debt of our senior citizens who have used these companies or any other ambulance companies. And a lot of them the ones that I've been speaking to they've been turned over to collections agencies, these seniors live on a fixed income. So
Madam Chair, is that possible? You want to make a motion for him to to respond in writing?
I can assignment. Madam Chair. Thank you. I make a motion to have Mr. Corley looking to investigate whether or not opera dollars can be used to address the debt of anyone who has used these ambulance services Hart superior and rapid response out of Romulus whether or not ARPA dollars can be used to address those. Those
bills. Thank you Madam Chair. Right. A motion has been made for an assignment for LPD. Any objections? All right, Hearing no objections that action will be taken for that for that assignment. All right. Thank you,
Member Santiago Ramiro. Thank you, Madam President. I will move us along now. In Motion for discussion. of 18.8
and 18.9. Okay.
discussion. Thank you, Madam president's 18.8 was brought back. We were told by the board of police commissioners that they were awaiting information from police which they have received. So I feel comfortable moving the subtleness folks have any other questions for 18.8 This is the Fingerprint Identification System
maintenance services.
Alright, is there any other concerns or questions for 18.8? All right, hearing none. motion has been made for
approval. And hearing no.
Motion for approval of 18.8. Okay, Hearing no objection objection for 18.8
If you could please note, that was the No Madam Chair. Yes, Callaway objects
to 18.8. The clerk would no All right.
All right, hearing no further objections 18.8 will be approved.
And 18.9 Thank you, Madam president's 18.9 is the bolawrap contracts do have a few questions for DPB. This is a con a tool that will be used for mental health calls and Brian's I am concerned hearing our most impacted residents have questions and concerns regarding this technology. So I wonder if there's anybody here Iceland he pays skier DC if he can let us know, discussion that's been had with impacted communities if there's been any to ask
to answer any of their questions.
Sure. Yep. Mr. Washington. We see deputy faces here. Do
you have someone else online as well? Because if we could promote Captain Taya Leonard as well, and looking at James
Domine. All right, we will promote both of those individuals and
I'm deputy if you want to start off Thank you. Good morning, Madam Chair and to this honorable body. I understand there were some outstanding questions. So I hear myself and the team here to answer those. And then if I may, in conclusion, just talk about the value and the resource that this technology is and preservation of life as it relates to interacting with our citizens here and
residents here in the city of Detroit. I think it would be helpful just to give a brief overview of how it will be what it is for those who may have been listening. I think there may be some misconceptions about the technical not technology, but the equipment that will be used. So if you want to just give us a high level overview of what is being used, and there's also mentioned that you all have it currently. So
if you could speak to that as well, too. Yes, ma'am. Madam Chair, so this is a less than lethal piece of equipment that allows us to better serve the residents when we come into contact often with those that are in a mental crisis. There is a a, often a suicidal ideation and thoughts of self harming. We cannot use fatal force to interact or stop someone from harming themselves that would in fact make it worse. With this technology, or with this tool. We are now able to restrain those members are those individuals from self harming short of a firearm or if they have a knife or anything at club or something along that lines that they may want to harm themselves or others. With this restraint, we are now able to deploy from a safe distance in which it would confine their arms it was basically bear hug limb, our training through with this teachers that we deploy this we're aiming the center of the torso or center Max, below the neck above the pelvis that is our primary location if we need to deploy a secondary would be from the fines down to the ankles, which would eliminate anything above the neck, neck head, as well as the genital areas. So those are red zones. Those are areas that we do not deploy this technology. And again, as I indicated, this can stop certainly an officer being hurt but more importantly, or just as important is a resident or here that wants to self harm. We've had instances where we didn't have tools like this that perhaps if we didn't have we had this tool we could have very well had a different outcome but it is essential in our use. We currently have them through our mental health coal response unit where it has been successfully deployed. We've only had to use it once there were no injuries. And we stopped this individual from self harming. When we were called out, what we are looking to do is to expand with the acquisition with this contract before he would give us 20 unit 20 additional units. So instead of this centralized unit, we now put them in each of your districts and each of the precincts and it will be a train only individuals are members of the department that received this training can deploy this. What we are looking to do with this expansion is to give them to patrol supervisors. One does it well in case he's out we might have to add a precinct per shift that for 24/7. Now if we encounter someone in the mental health code response is unavailable. We can now send that train supervisor in there that in the event until we are able to negotiate until we are able to get them the help that they need through our clinicians through our partnership with D winds and others that we have in the event they attempt to self harm and they need to be restrained as an as an option for as a de escalation tool. Before they attempt to harm themselves or others whether it be a family member, whether certainly be an officer, we will deploy the bolawrap and
an event for peaceful resolution. Okay, and then there was a caller who mentioned that this particular tool has bikes in them and that barbed wire endings are around the technology
or the tool. Can you speak to that I'm going to defer if I may to the subject matter experts who have used this Lieutenant dominant Captain Linda Gilbert, if they can speak to that I am unaware but that may be my ignorance, but I would like if
they can speak to this okay.
Morning. Good morning. To the chair. I am Captain Tanya Lynard of the Mental Health Corps Response Task Force seated with Office of workplace and community resiliency. The bolawrap is a restraining device and it does have prongs that are deployed that come out once the device has been deployed. The button has been pushed. It goes out to about three feet it's able to wrap the individual and in the areas that DC has indicated there are prongs that once it's wrapped around the person that are able to a fix to to the person's clothing in order to secure the rat. I also have with me Lieutenant Domine. Who is over our Office of Community, workplace and community resiliency for the Mental Health Task Force. He is actually on the ground and as the officer in charge of our team, he can speak to specifics and get into the details as it relates to the
ball wrapping the actual device.
Right. Good afternoon through the chair, Lieutenant James domine in mental health corresponds to the actual device when it fires out as a seven foot long Kevlar rope net just simply a small cord. There is nothing sharp or depending on that, but the two ends are weighted with short probably about a quarter inch little prongs that are intended to snag into clothing. They can sometimes snag into just the top layer of your skin causes superficial injury at most and doesn't always go into the skin. Usually it gets caught up in clothing. And we've practiced with this. We've had it caught in one of our officers and he was able to take it out put a bandaid on truthfully I've had worse injuries fishing, shaving, it does very minimal injury if
it does get caught in your skin. Alright, thank you. Yeah, just based on my my understanding of it so far it is it in a sense is what I thought people wanted, which was a way to de escalate without harming individuals who are experiencing mental health crisis. And based on some of the callers that I heard today and I'm trying to understand both sides win I think maybe more engagement around this use of technology or tool would have been helpful. Getting in a room and just talking it through and helping people understand how it will be utilized, what it is, etc. can help in a lot of the misconceptions that I've heard to date. And I'm not sure if there's a willingness or commitment from DPD to have that discussion. I know you all did a huge campaign around freeway cameras and all these other things. But I think even simple technology like this, it goes a long way just to explain it and to really walk it through because what happened with Puerto Birx and those something like this to me would have been helpful. And so that's why I support it. You know, I mean, I understand the concerns, but I do think that is a way to de escalate and to save lives for someone who may be experiencing mental health. So did this come before the board of police commissioners just to even allow like some type of public debate
or engagement at all? Through the madam chair in recent since the I guess the submission of this contract or the desire to expand our footprint we have not that I am aware of done any community engagement. I will certainly champion that myself to wrap around. If I may share your same sentiments we this was in response to for us to get better and to be more innovative. And I'm not saying that it's always great to talk to those that we serve, but I wasn't aware of a need. We thought this was welcomed and we responded when asked to do this but I will certainly champion a campaign to do just that. I will say in the event that they do. someone's skin is punctured. We treat this as what we would call a category one use of force and a category one use of force but even when we use less than lethal This is investigated not at the precinct level but by our internal affairs professional standards and there's immediate medical called or EMS response to the scene just to do an assessment to make sure that they are not injured and if they are in any they in any way when we use a category one use of force EMS is is a part of that that we get them immediately medically evaluated. So again, that the conversation to have to educate to talk with the residents and we will certainly do that and going forward. When we even when we think we haven't right we will double down and make sure and just have that conversation but again, this is a tool that we acquired in response from the community asking us to come up with a different option a less than lethal option to hope in efforts to save lives as we deal with this ongoing and increasing mental health app. I'm not sure if we're calling it an epidemic but certainly an issue
that that's going on throughout the country. All right, thank you. And then just two last questions regarding the policy. Is there a policy that is in place
to govern because I haven't seen that? If I may, and I actually Madam Chair actually brought copies through the approval phase. We've so we when we immediately use it as a training order and then it has to be memorialized in the existing policies. So this will be an amendment to policy. So we have the training order, and it's going through the approval with the board of police commissioners. At this point. We'd like to have the actual memorialized in policy in our manual in the very near future. But in the meantime, we have the special order which which is what we trained to on which we are governed by until that happens. So this is the bridge to get us from without this policy. Without this technology, what governs it until it is memorialized in the manual, which would then govern infinitely or
every two years until it's under review. Okay, and we'll get a copy of that and then just lastly comparing this to with a tether, tether, that it no a taser, excuse me a tether the Taser from as far as pain, what
would you what would be the comparison? No, I would say a lot less. tasers come with a with an electrical charge. And the prongs on this are less than that.
Of a taser. They're a lot shorter. Thank you. All right. I
saw a couple of protests. Thank you, Mr. President. Thanks for being here, DC. So now, you know to mountain President's point I've always got to say this. I mean, it was brought back for a reason. And it just I'm surprised that no one reached out to the folks who raise the questions, the concerns from disability community to have that sit down with them to have that conversation, whether it's a phone call or or something. You're saying that the police department didn't receive any communication
from the disability community through the Chair, I can speak that I have not a lot of the community engagement at a higher level out of I will champion I'm saying that I have not had that conversation or that dialogue. I can check with the captain I could defer to her to see if it has but I have not championed that and I am pretty vocal about what it is that we're doing in the agency. So if I can defer to Captain Leonard do but I was speaking for my actions, but I can defer to Captain Leonard
for follow up. I mean, I mean, I support him I'm gonna say this right now off real. But again, I don't think it's a great policy for any department. Once we hear that there's concerns from a segment of our community to just allow it to just go through and let Council deal with it. We're listening to folks we're having a conversation within the same folks call back in this week as well. And even more we have more folks who are concerns. I want to talk a bit about because they raised the issue about children as well as pregnant women. So for those who are not watching, let me excuse me, for those who don't have the ability to have this document in front of us that we have in front of us that outlines the special orders on how this is used. What what's what's the policy surrounding children and women that's known to be pregnant whether it's visibly or information that's been provided by
someone else through the chair, in any case of force there are certain considerations that we have to take and I will use a threshold of fatal force. We, again will assess if there's a child, a teenager, a child that has a knife we we see the issues that are going on in the community with children getting unsecured firearms. That is a split second decision that if this two saves this child's life and perhaps those that are around, it's very likely that we will deploy if there is someone that is pregnant. Again, if we believe that they are getting ready to self harm, and other short of using fatal force it allows so utilizing this technology is very possible. Again it is a case by case it is not a blanket, a blanket action or a blanket reaction as we respond to force and meet force with force quite frankly. Again, case by case but with extreme discretion
with the special populations. So in again in terms of pregnant women visibly pregnant
that there's a possibility that would be used if a pregnant mother or pregnant woman has a knife or is getting ready to threaten so I'm gonna slit my throat. Sorry for the extreme, but those are the situations and encounters that our members are facing. We have to make a decision with this rap. Perhaps deployed an upper torso restrict her from harming herself and unborn child. It is possible that it could be utilized
again a case by case scenario and that's based on what best practice just to make sure I mean, I know we make decisions all the time. And again, don't want to second guess someone at that moment, but we are now beyond that timeframe. We are outside of that timeframe.
What is that based upon? Well, it will be again through the chair it is a a case by case scenario depending on what they're confronted with her again, we receiving information that the family has called us hey, we cannot stop her. We she's continuing to do this. They call us for help. So we believe what the family says. From the information that we get there. If there's an opportunity to interact, speak, and if we see that they're spiraling or leaving further away from baseline, again, we have to make that split second decision but it would not be this isn't to punish or criminalize anyone if I'm, I guess used to punish or torture if in the event that we would deploy this but if we can save this woman and our unborn child's life, and there's an opportunity it is it is possible. I will not say no,
but we can very well use it sir. So we don't believe that it will damage
the child or we're not sure that the information that we will receive, strike that from the training again, we do not want to but it is possible we would do our best to aim in an area as you talked about aiming it above which would be the obviously the bit area where we would see that she's expecting so that would kind of go that center mass are a bit up to restrain from I guess it will be the shoulders to the elbow. But again, it's a case by case and if perhaps that does not work. I mean we do have other tools I would not want to utilize a taser knowing an unborn child knowing if the fetus could withstand what comes with the taser. Again, a case by case scenario councilman, I don't want to tell you we would absolutely do this but or absolutely would not but in good faith that there's an opportunity that we can use this to save this woman's life through our training, it is very likely
and very possible that we could deploy it. So I just wanted to be you know again this put it out in the sunshine so that these are questions that people have we should hit them directly. So you know we watch movies all the time in Spider Man this is almost like a spider man tool. And you'll see folks who are not necessarily going through mental health crises, and it's being used by Spider Man or somebody who's running a wall whatever the quote unquote bad guy. Why is the department's policy that it's only used
for those who are going through mental health crisis? If I may through the chair, so this is, quite frankly, what got our attention and when we looked at this, in finding and solving for the mental health, those that we deal with then that we found that there were other uses to so we can use this in fact, if we are attempting to restrain someone that's combative, that's that's wanting the very violent wanting to fight there are others scenarios that we can utilize this in and we will if the need be, although it has not risen as at this point, it falls with how it's built out in our force continuum, or I'm sorry, our use of force but we can have someone who is being violent and this is an opportunity to restrain but yet does not require the use of fatal force. This is
a tool that we absolutely can use her that's that's what I want to hear more full use of our potentially will be utilized. Thank you.
Thank you, Madam President. Member Callaway followed by member Young. Thank you, madam chair just thinking about the porter Burke's situation and I was just reading the article, just to refresh my own memory and my own recall of the of the facts as they were
in the news.
And what his mother said about him experiencing a mental crisis.
Do we have bolawrap at the time, if I may, through the chair, we did not. And it was after that incident that we look to find some technology that perhaps if another situation similar came up, we could have to have that could certainly will provide a different outcome. And bolawrap has been identified. We've looked to find this technology. One of the reasons why it's a sole source, we could not find anything similar but this was what we found and we were more than willing to train extensively and are prepared to use this. We've had we've deployed at once with the success success case. So we find it very valuable, but to your point, instances like that, that would have been a prime incident
where we would have used this technology. Thank you Madam Chair. Thank you remember Callaway, Councilmember Young.
Thank you so much, Madam President. Thank you so much. DCAA it's always good to see you, sir. But don't you receive training for these types of things. And with this type of equipment? You took three or four instances that counsel present both to so eliquid brought about pregnant
women about people with disabilities like through the chair, yes, that is a part of
the training. Okay, it and I also just want to ask you kind of go through the alternatives here. What are we what alternatives are you usually using without this type of technology? Is it is it is it is it usually going with tasers is it going with you know, are you using your baton usually or are using lethal force
usually, in these cases? So through the chair, so prior to the incident that Councilmember Callaway mentioned, we had for those that carried it our PR 24 which would have been the baton, we would have also had our taser. Outside of that. We were left with a firearm since that incident, and again, from an outcry from the community and a push to be better. We've identified three different less than lethal resources that we have one is a pepper ball, of which It's pepper spray, that instead of being in the close proximity to deploy, we can now through a launcher, use that at a greater distance to have that impact to hopefully have them change the decision whether it's to in efforts to de escalate we also have phone launchers that if we need to deploy if someone has a knife or an incident or an item to their neck that we can utilize to deploy as well to hopefully as a stunning or a distraction tool to again get their attention or de escalate or allow us to move in an effort to again, safely remove them from that situation or get them from that violent object or weapon or ultimately get them the services that they need. And now the bolawrap So we have these three posts that incident but before that we had a taser and
we had our firearm. Would you say that the bolo wrap is the most non lethal or the most non damaging tool in
your arsenal through the
Captain Leonard if I may, sir. These tools where as DC has indicated were on boarded as a less than lethal Tool Option that officers can be equipped with, when in fact verbal de escalation is not successful. And we have to elevate to a another form of of restraint and device or use of force in order to restrain a person to prevent them from harming themselves or to de escalate the situation safely. The ball wrap is considered restraining whereas our pepper boff in our foam launchers are are considered less than a different type of less than lethal two options because they have projectiles that actually project out versus the bolawrap being a restraint device that would actually restrain a person's movement. But there's a difference between I mean pepper ball going in somebody's eyes and Ebola wrapped restraining somebody I mean, is it they're just I mean on a pain level, I'm assuming so there's a difference. It turns out this would be less painful than a pepper ball, I'm assuming. So through the Chair, I guess the as best as I can put it, this is the least the least of the less lethal tools that I had. Yes, sir. Okay, thank you. Thank you very much. I'm done. Thank you so much. Remember Yeah, number Santiago Romero. Thank you, Madam presidents. Through you to whoever can answer this question. Can you remind us again, how many bola reps we currently have? Or to capital letter? Yes. I'll defer to Lieutenant domine who was actually on the ground and actually has the the number of devices we actually have and how it was equipped and how we take it out every day. Oh, yes. We currently have 13 Mobile reps that are equipped just members of our mental health coal Response Team. We give one to each unit, not to each officer but each car carries one bolawrap as well as each supervisor as one on them when they're out in the field. Through the Chair. Thank you. And to DC Hays, you mentioned that this expansion would then allow for two wraps at each precinct. Thank you through through the chair. So there would be we would have at least two train members. We would still have one unit at each precinct and then we would have a reserved in case one breaks or something along that line. So we're looking at the 12 we are looking to acquire an additional 20 units are 12 precincts, that would be 12 And then that would be eight and some sort of reserved capacity. Okay, thank you madam president asked a lot of the questions that I had as well. My final thoughts, suggestions and because when do you one final question. The question that I have is regarding lawsuits. Are we concerned at all with any lawsuits if anyone is hurt or damaged have we gone through that consideration and
what it would mean for the city? If I may, when when we speak about lawsuits? I quite frankly when we use force. It is it's some it's never pretty. But in the efforts of saving someone's life and a lawsuit as opposed to someone who received a a scrape or was puncture with the bowler at versus someone who we were put into a decision where fatal force was was was deployed to different conversations. So as we relate to weighing risk, this is safer gives us an option for not only our officers, but certainly as equally as those that that may be called who we need to deliver get them to service as well as families that may be in close proximity those that may be standing by in the event we have to go to fatal force or use something else. So when we talk about risk, this certainly minimizes our risks. Being mindful of what comes with the other tools that we would be resort to using without
this equipment through the Chair. Thank you, DC. I appreciate that. My final thoughts and suggestions are not necessarily a campaign, quite frankly, I think what we need are partnerships so agreed that there should have been a call a meeting with the term disability power warriors on wheels. More folks that are funded experts in in in in who they service and the needs that they have. I think it will be a lot helpful for all of us to be able to do our jobs to address the concerns that people have in the beginning. It also does sound like DC correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like we are currently in the middle of updating policies and training for this
for this equipment, through through the chair policy. And it's just a matter of the transition of how it's memorialized in our manual but we have the policy so it's just Scriveners or as it relates to just it being inserted instead of a standalone special order is then inserted in the policy. We are going through that I'm sorry, inserted into the manual, but we have a policy it's there. Obviously if there are others that we can train to we are always training, constantly assessing what it is that we are doing our tactics and if there's an opportunity to get better, we certainly will embrace that. But at this point we have the most up to date training as it relates to this bolawrap system. And again, we are just transitioning from the special order and going through the process of having it memorialized in our guiding set of principles and as it relates to tactics and how we operate
as an agency and that's our manual. Okay,
thank you for the chance that may through the chair. If I may do this. Yes, sir. The chair ma'am. I apologize. I'm Captain Leonard again. I had my hand up earlier. I don't think that you have so I wanted to if we if, if possible to circle back to reaching out to our beloved community that suffer from disabilities. We currently have as a as a practice ongoing we have a partnership as you know or may not know with Detroit when integrated health network. We constantly trained within our academy through our student police officers, as well as our in service training with our members and our first line supervision to ensure that everyone has Mental Health First Aid training everyone has training as a relates to crisis intervention team, how to engage those that may be suffering from disabilities, so that we stay up to date on that and have the most training that we can have to be able to engage and successfully if we are in fact engaging someone that is in crisis that we have. We need to be able to successfully engage them and hopefully de escalate that situation without it turning into something of a use of force. To the point that was raised as a relates, I believe, DC Hayes asked and I received any information I had not. But I along with Deputy Chief Hayes can assure you that we will reach out to those communities that didn't reach out to you. In the past. We have attended sessions with councilmember Hall, the chairs that he chairs, and we have gone out in the community and actually attended sessions and actually talked with our community. We continue to do that. We're very diligent about doing that. I apologize if we have not if we miss those groups that did call in we will ensure that we do reach out because it is important and it is necessary for everyone to be aware of what our efforts are with the Detroit Police Department and all that we're trying to do in efforts to be able to successfully get people connected to services and the resources that they need
if they are in crisis.
Thank you through the Chair. Thank you. My last comment would be that I really care about process and my biggest concern is that lack of meetings relationships with impacted communities. I have asked to be a part of the discussions the tables that are conducting these plans on how it is that we address these issues. Quite frankly, I think I can be of support. I can flag these things prior to coming to council I can support with weak meeting with organizations as the only social worker on council with extensive organizing relationships and experience it for me. It seems like there's a missed opportunity here to to make this as good as it can be. So I will be a no and just continue to encourage DPD to work together with me as the chair of PHS and my team to make sure that we are working together with residents to address any of the concerns and to educate them on how this is going to help you and your work. We can do that. But process matters to me deeply and I want to be able to ensure that residents are not fearful that they have the information that they need and that DPD is doing best practices. That's the best training and policies I will support
our residents. Thank you Madam Chair. Thank you so much. Members, Santiago Amuro and Abria. I
do kind of want to bring this to a close.
Yep. obreon According to the Journal of Applied Research and intellectual disabilities, their specific specific training that goes with the bolo wrap
Are you including that into your repertoire? Thank you through the chair and captain did you want to speak to that but it is an all inclusive training as far as how we respond to special populations and how we would again once it's deployed what the next steps would be. So it is a thorough training
that comes with that, sir. Yes, it was the chair yesterday. Okay, thank you so much. All right. If there are no additional questions or concerns Oh, I'm
sorry. That was I didn't waters Thank you, Madam President. And perhaps I missed this. And I stepped out for a moment. But is there any data that shows where
that results in death?
Captain Leonard, if I may before I defer to capital and I will share with you that we have deployed this one time and then in our specific in house data. The one deployment has resulted in been resolved peacefully, and we've had no issue so there was no death and the one time that DPD has utilized this, and for any historical information, I was referred to the captain and perhaps
you can add light to that.
All right, Captain Lynard. Yes, thank you through the chair. We again, we have only deployed Once, there was no injury sustained in the deployment. In addition, we reached out to the company, the ball wrap company, they have and they gave us some statistics that we can share. Lieutenant Dominic can go into a little detail today and the use reported from them. There has been a no one that has been fatally wounded from the use of the bolawrap it has about a 90% percentage rate of non injury
and its deployment. Thank you remember why thank you. Thank you member waters.
Motion to approve,
Madam President.
All right. There is a motion for approval for 18.9.
Are there any objections?
Objection? All right, the clerk would note. So no, hearing no other objections. line item 18.9 will be approved and thankfully DC Hayes thank you to DPD who attended online as well. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President city council from the chief financial officer Office
of Development in grants. Councilmember Santiago, two resolutions number 18 point 10 and
18 point 11
Councilmember Santiago Ramiro
motion to approve these are all various grants. Hearing no objections,
the two resolutions will be approved. Madam President, yes request a waiver for
18 point 11. a waiver has been requested, Hearing no objections that action will be taken
from the Department of Public Works city engineering division. Councilmember Santiago Romero a resolution line item 18
point 12. Councilmember Santiago Romero motion to approve. Hearing no objections.
18 point 12 will be approved.
Under the resolution request the waiver Madam President waiver has been requested for 18 point 12 Hearing no objections that action will be taken
under resolutions so remember to a resolution line
item 18 point 13
proximity President move approval of line item 18 point 13.
motion has been made for approval. Are there any objections discussion? Madam Chair. All right discussion. Councilmember
Callaway, Madam Chair. I'm excited about Detroit becoming a B city affiliate USA affiliate. And hopefully this hasn't just strictly BS no balls no goats. No chickens no roosters. Hopefully it's just BS. I'm really concerned because I know in the news, we have a bull maybe more than one bull running around in the city. So hopefully it's
just bees. Thank you Madam Chair. Thank you, member member Callaway member
Pro Tem. Thank you Madam President. Yes, so this I am working on sponsoring an ordinance that would allow for chickens, bees and the oil allotment of up to eight chickens and or ducks as well as up to two beehives. That's not what this is what this is the resolution affirming our support of essentially bees in the city of Detroit being a part of the tapestry around the country that recognized the importance of bees and the echo system but be on the lookout I will be pushing that forward that ordinance. So love your support.
I would love to have an informed conversation. That well I can go ahead and stay for the record. Now. I will not be supporting bulls sculpts chickens roosters or ducks.
Thank you Madam Chair. Thank you pro tem. Okay, thank you.
Councilmember young, does that include cows and goats too? All of the above, sir.
Okay. All right. Well, we're looking forward to that come in pro tem. I know you've been working on it. And so looking for it. Yep. Oh, don't know. I just know that you're sponsoring it. So I had mentioned that you had been working on the ordinance. So we're looking forward to those discussions. All right, motion has been made for approval for 18 point 13 Hearing no objections. The resolution will be approved. We will now move to the new business portion of the agenda from
the Office of contracting and procurement. Madam President, there's one contract up for vote today from the Neighborhood and Community Services Standing Committee. It is contract number 60040 to nine, a 100%. ARPA funding amendment number one to run an extension of time for light duty vehicles, leases, contracts by Maxie Ford Inc, total contract amount $1,840,896. And this contract is for general services. Councilmember young a resolution plan on 19.1
That's a member Yeah, thank you, man for as it moved to
approve line on 19.1. Hearing no objections. Objection, Councilmember Scott Benson. Okay.
Any other objections?
Right, hearing no further objections. The one resolution will be approved.
From the Office of the Chief Financial Office, Office of Development and grants. Councilmember Santiago remail a resolution Lana
19.2
Councilmember Santiago Ramiro,
motion to approve. motion has been made. Are there any objections for the
rent? Hearing none, the one resolution will be approved
by the Department of Public Works Administration division councilmember Santiago Romero resolution
nine 19.3.
Councilmember Santiago renew
motion to approve.
motion has been made for approval. Are there any objections? Hearing none,
b1 resolution will be actually request a waiver, madam president for 19.2 and then 2.3.
Any objections to a waiver? Hearing none, that action will be taken.
Councilmember Young. Thank you, Madam President. Requested waiver for line item
19.1. Right a waiver has been requested. Are there any objections for 19.1?
There is an objection so that motion does fail.
Under resolutions, Councilmember Santiago mail a resolution line item 19.4.
That's a member of Santiago Romero. Thank you, Madam President. This should be in the name of my Vice Chair. I will defer to him. Also member Benson.
Thank you. So this is the request for the city to lean in when it comes to educating and engaging our residents when it comes to our recycling solid waste. And what we've done and after about three months of conversations regarding the new contracts that will take us five years out in addition to getting feedback from our residents, they actually support investing themselves and support the city investing in more solid waste services. We think it's incumbent upon the city to also educate the residents on how to engage and properly utilize recycling and solid waste making sure we're bringing our trash barrels back in and putting them out in timely fashion. not littering. From our cars. A world is not our trash can. So this is a resolution supporting that.
Thank you. Thank you, member Benson. Are there any objections to the resolution? Hearing no objections.
The resolution will be approved non president as I like to request a waiver on line item 16.1 16.1.
Any objections to 16.1 or a waiver? Which is
Hearing no objection, Madam
Chair. Oh, there is an objection theory.
Thank you. Big teams.
Okay. All right. So there is an objection for a waiver for 16.1. And so that motion does fail. The president's report on standing committee referrals and other matters for the budget
Finance and Audit standing committee, Madam President, before we go to our first we do have one item that was moved to the end of the agenda. It is nine item 16 points well I do believe a resolution has been passed out to
your honorable body. Thank you, Mr. Clerk.
So we did receive a updated resolution that just has the hardship be adjustment add it to the schedule.
Some member Johnson. Actually let me go back
to 16 point well, yeah. Yep. Member Johnson, would you like to move this for
approval?
Thank you, Madam
President. Motion to approve the
amended language.
All right. motion has been made for for approval for the amended resolution, any objections?
Hearing none, that resolution will
be approved.
Madam President.
Yes, you do have walk ons, right. That's Yes. And I was
flags.
There was a flag regarding a approval for an encroachment that was done yesterday. Regarding the Whitney. It was on our agenda as six points 21. I have been asked to walk this on for approval due to the urgency. I want to note this is not how we conduct business and I just saw an email. But this is regarding an encroachments request from by the Whitney that was approved yesterday by PHS. So it wouldn't be in front of us during formal session. Dr. Powers I'm not exactly sure how to move this forward. It's my colleagues agreed to move this in today for a votes but it is income it's we will we will get out of PHS to formal
Okay, thank you Dr. Powers. So Madam President, if that's okay with you. We currently have as I mentioned in encroachment requests by the Whitney, they're looking to speed up the processes due to the urgency of the projects. And if it's okay with you like to pull it from committee for a full vote today. And if not, I'm also okay with waiting to a formal session. I'm simply asking this as a as a courtesy but I'm okay with holding it until next week as well.
But was it taken up in committee or just referred it was voted in committee and approved come up for the next session? Does the clerk's office have a copy of the petition?
Do we have a copy of it madam president that be for us at this time? No. I'm sorry, not
before us at this time that when
we see anything and we don't have to Madam President, we can get into a formal session next week. Okay. Okay. With that, Madam President, there are four memos that need to be referred. If it's okay with you would like to walk these on it's needed business to be referred. Okay, go right ahead. There are there is a memo regarding questions on our creole compliance fee calculation in questions regarding the renewed betray contracts that need to be referred to be FA and there is a CDBG memo that should be going to P Ed. And a Bayes net backup protection program. My mother should be moved to refer to PHS. I was like to walk these four memos on for referral
for referral. Okay. Any objections? All right, Hearing no objections and those will be walked on for
referral to the various committees. Thank you, Madam President.
Right. Thank you. Yes, Madam President. We also have a lawsuit that was submitted by the law department for referral to
iOS.
I don't know what they want to speak about it, Mr. Graham.
Good afternoon honorable Council. Graham Anderson through the chair. I received notice of this morning that this item was originally for internal operations in June of 2022. For whatever reason, it slipped through the cracks and never made it out of committee. Now I'm being told we are on the eve of trial. We have the final settlement conference next week. And we just wish to have this item referred to internal operations tomorrow. That way we can go through the due diligence, that committee tomorrow and be able to move
forward with a vote. Thank you. Great. Thank you. Your motion to send us to internal operations motion. Great Hearing no objections, this will be referred to iOS. Thank you. All right. Thank you. For the president's report on standing committee referrals and other matters for the budget Finance and Audit standing committee. Two reports from various city departments. The two reports will be referred to the budget committee,
or the internal operation standing committee. Nine reports from
various city departments. The nine reports will be referred to the internal operation standing committee Pro Tem Tate. Sure, okay.
Planning and Economic Development standing committee, Madam President, the clerk's office would like to note that not M 23.3 is actually a duplicate and it does belong and BSA however it already has been sent.
This one can be removed. Is there a motion to remove 23.3. All right Hearing no objections that action will be taken and the three reports will be referred to planning and development for public health and
safety standing committee. Well reports from various city departments.
The 12 reports will be referred to the public health and safety Standing Committee
under the consent agenda.
There are no items Madam President. All right. We will call for a member reports and we can start with councilmember Johnson.
Thank you, Madam President. Just want to share with our residents that one Monday February 19. We are hosting our monthly community meeting at 5:30pm at impact church, located at 12844 Elmdale. We will have treasurer Eric Sabri as well as Mr. Dam we'll be talking about property tax, property taxes, different payment programs to help people prevent foreclosure. And then on Saturday, February 24 At 4pm we are hosting a water townhall at Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church at 21150 Madras. We have a number of speakers that will be present to talk about water affordability, infrastructure improvements, the recent emergency declaration that the governor declared from the August of 2023 water event as well as or weather event as well as the basement backup protection program and still looking to confirm a couple other speakers just to present all things water especially as it relates to and impacts district for residents. So I want to encourage everyone to join us for both of those events. Just briefly had a great bus ride with Mr. Cunningham, President Collier of the Amalgamated Transit Union as well as vice president Smith, and a number of activist transit activists. So we had a great time we did jump on the east Jefferson bus and look forward to doing it again, just to make sure we have an understanding of what our riders experience on a daily basis. And provide support to do that to help improve services and conditions on the coaches. And lastly, Madam President, I just want to congratulate our very own David Whittaker, along with his wife, Linda Whitaker for their award and recognition of having an amazing African and African American art collection. He represents they represent the city of Detroit exceptionally well and especially the east side and of course, none other than District Four. So I wanted to congratulate them and
say thank you.
Any black art, thanks for your donation. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you. Thank you, Councilmember Johnson.
Councilmember Callaway, thank you Madam Chair, and congratulations on Mr. Whitaker. I have a couple of things here. First, I have a memorandum for LPD. Since the start of this year, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has raised concerns about the rise in cases of syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection that can affect that can affect the health of men, women and infants and 2022 the US surpassed the highest count of infections since 1950. In Michigan, syphilis rates have risen on average 11% annually since 2012. And the Michigan Department of Health and Human Service has reported a 25% increase between the years of 2020 and 2021. Alone in Detroit. We have the highest rate of simplest cases in the state. In recognition of these facts. I'm requesting that the legislative pass Policy Division draft a resolution declaring April as simple as Awareness Month in the city of Detroit. And further I am I have a memo for the chair of the public health health and safety Standing Committee and the chief health chief public health officer of the city of Detroit, of its health department Denise fair raisel Through the Chair since the start of this year. We've raised concerns about the rising cases of syphilis a sexually transmitted disease. In light of the facts that I've stated earlier. I'm asking slash urging the city's health department to provide a report on the findings of the rising cases of syphilis in Detroit and to communicate a course of action to address and prevent the rise and spread of syphilis infections throughout the city of Detroit. And I'm hoping, Madam Chair, that this can happen during the public health and safety standing committee. I'd like for the chief of the Public Health Office of Detroit to come before us or through the committee. I don't know if it'll make it to the formal session, but we need a report. Because we know this is a serious case, not only in the state, but it sounds like according to what I've read. Detroit has the highest rate of syphilis cases. So we need a report and we need to know what action the administration is taking or considering taking to address this very, very serious issue. Also, Madam Chair, I have a memorandum to LPD on February 5 2020 for the US House of Representatives passed Michigan Congressman Tim Walberg, bipartisan bill, HR 443, the enhancing detection of Human Trafficking Act. The bill establishes a basis for training and continuing education for Department of Labor employees relative to effective detection and response to human trafficking activities. As chair of the human and sex trafficking task force, dedicated to exploring and enacting strategies to prevent human and sex trafficking activities and protect survivors. And those at risk of victimization. Requests requesting the LPD draft a resolution in support of the enhancing detection of Human Trafficking Act, HR
443.
Additionally, Madam Chair, we are having our evening meeting, which is going to be on I think is February 20. It will be held at the University of Detroit jazz with Johnson Recreation Center located at 8550 Chippewa. Again, that is the City Council evening community meeting Tuesday, February 20. At 7pm at the University of Detroit jazz with Johnson Recreation Center at 8550. Chippewa on February 19. We'll be hosting our district two virtual community meeting. You can call my office at two to 445 35 for the meeting link, it will be via zoom. Additionally, that Detroit Golf Club is looking for caddies, applicants must be at least 14 years old to apply. The application must be postmarked by March the seventh and for more information anyone can visit Detroit golf club.org
Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you remember Callaway.
I thought those were memos she was going to just he said they already been referred.
Thank you. Thank you Dr. Powers.
Member Santiago Romero. Thank you, Madam President. Through you to member Callaway. We have been asking that the health department regarding the syphilis rise here in the city. And when we receive your memo, we will be happy to have discussion during committee. So that is the process that that we always hold when it comes to a request like these from our colleagues for member reports. I quickly want to invite District Six residents to our office hours on Monday, February 19. We're going to be at equity Alliance from three to 5pm. I will have team members there to support you with any issues you might be having with the city. We want to invite everyone next Thursday to our coffee our ag pregs Coffee. It's going to be from 11 to 2pm to 12pm We're going to have burritos they are amazing. So if you want to come have some please come join us for some burritos. And then that same night on Thursday the 22nd from six to 8pm we are going to have our first skate nights out roller Cade. This will be family friendly with free entry skate rental pizza, the first 250 people so get there early. Bring your friends bring your family and just want to invite everyone to nights to the hotel water square community benefits meeting at Huntington place. Doors open at 530 discussion begins at
6pm. Thank you Madam President. Thank you,
Councilman Robinson. Thank you just want to remind everyone that tomorrow is Valentine's Day as a direct result. There will be the 11th precinct Valentine's Day dance from 1230 to about 330 at Farwell Recreation Center to 711 hour drive. And as a direct result of the syphilis issue. health department will be passing out condoms at that event as they do now four major events involve seniors because our senior population is also a heavy are heavily impacted by the rise and syphilis case. And so at senior events within the third dish, they do come and they hand out condoms at those events to help ward off that problem. In addition, tomorrow at 11am at the matrix Center at 13560 East McNichols the matrix then there will be a career fair. So if you know someone who's interested in the job, please come out 11am To 2pm to have those conversation and just really excited to start having a conversation around our efficient transfer of wealth program where the city will now start providing services for wheels as well as estate planning and we're partnering with a major philanthropic organization as well. As the Wayne County Treasurer to provide probate services. As many people know many of our families in the city of Detroit do not have clear title for their homes and are therefore ineligible for any grants or support services that the city can provide. And so probate would allow for that and what we've seen in other states such as Florida, where the nonprofit sector and the city of lien den you will see the ability to return 68 $70,000 of equity to families once they're able to clear title and get that property in the family's name, as many people know black Americans we keep a large portion if not all of our family wealth within our homes and so the ability to attack that equity have proper title and ownership is so helpful and to educate our families on estate planning is also part of wealth building and this is one of this is the main pillar from the wealth generation Task Force is really looking forward to seeing how this task force will be implemented and is providing this type of relief to our residents will make it very clear that the work being done on our task force is valuable and it does result in valuable services being provided to our residents to help
improve their quality of life. Thank you. Thank you member Benson. Member Young? No. Thank you remember young member waters.
Madam President, just a couple of quick announcements. Our skilled trades task force will meet on Wednesday, February 28. Four to 6pm. Cheer by waters young and Sheffield. It will be at the Randolph Career and Technical Center which is at 17101. Hubble street that's 17101 Hubble street and I just want to add that these this skill trace taskforce actually work well getting people jobs as a result of this and that is a great thing. On February 29, which is a very next day, we're doing waffles with warriors from 9am to 12pm at the Northwest activity center, waffles with warriors. Thank
you Madam President. All right. Thank you, Mr. Waters. President potentate.
All right. Thank you. For my reports would like to mention we are hosting our first annual gun buyback expungement in Job resource event. This is in partnership with Detroit Police Department and the Wayne County Sheriff's office along with Judge Tanisha Yancey, this will take place next Saturday the 24th from 10am to 2pm. At the Icahn again, this is our first gun buyback and I know a lot there's a lot of mixed feelings around whether or not gun buybacks are effective or not. However, you can come into this event in turn the Ghanaian get paid for it, clean your record and leave with a job. And so that is the message that we are getting to our residents. Come in no questions ads, turn your Ghanaian clean your record and lead with employment. We have several vendors who will be on site that hire individuals with records and so this is just an opportunity for those who may have records looking to get those records clean and also get employed. One Stop Shop for individuals who are looking forward to it. We will be giving out gift cards, cash money I guess I'm gonna give cards for individuals who turn in those particular guns and again, you can also expunge your record on site and leave with a job that is next Saturday the 24th from 10am to 2pm at the icon located at 200 Walker Street in Detroit, Michigan. Organizing for Action part two, which is our community conversation where we organize for the upcoming year will take place Monday, February the 19th at 5pm over a butzel family recreational center Organizing for Action part two for district five residents. Please join us Monday February the 19th at 5pm over at the butzel family recreational center and that is all I have for member reports. Director Whitaker I see you coming up. Is
there anything that we are missing?
I haven't president on the agenda this morning. Of for referral it item 8.7. There was a report from LPD was originally referred to the internal operations committee should go to budget Finance and Audit however, and if that can be referred to budget
Finance and Audit we'd appreciate it line item eight point 7.7 Okay. Um Is there a motion to refer that to the appropriate committee? Motion? All right, Hearing no
objections that action will be taken.
All right. Thank you under testimonial resolutions and special privilege
under okay under adoption without committee reference,
no idols Madam President, under communications from the clerk, a report on improved proceedings by the mayor. The report will be received and placed on file under testimonial resolutions
is special privilege. Councilmember young to resolutions 929.1 and
29.2.
Councilmember Yang Thank you, Madam President Move to approve line items 29.1
and 29.2. Hearing no objections
that action will be taken.
There is no further business to come before us this morning. It's their motion to adjourn.
This meeting was stand adjourned. Everyone have a great day. God bless