Budget Hearings — DLBA / PDD (missed first 35 min)

8:46PM Mar 14, 2024

Speakers:

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land bank authority

opportunities

master plan

20 million is what was just represented and an additional 146 People have 160 FTEs. So the purpose of that is to say that those at the dlba, who provide that direct service to the residents in the city of Detroit is 146 individuals. As you look at our revenue as we go down, and I won't go through each one of the lines, but it starts with the revenue that we receive from the city of Detroit, but we constantly monitor our sales on a monthly weekly basis to make sure that we are projecting properly on our structure sales as well as our vacant land. Sales. So as you go through here, these are, I would say curated numbers to look at our sales trends and project what our sales are going to be and economic development sidelites vacant land sales, auction sales, direct sales, as well as occupied properties, with a focus on community partners. And economic development. And why we say there's a focus in those areas is because as the graph depicted, we are roughly at 7000 structures remaining in our inventory, but the vast majority of our ownership and our property ownership is vacant land. So we are going to continue to work in with council work with the city to make sure that vacant land sales and the manner in which we sell vacant land, continues to evolve and continues to grow. Because from a financial standpoint, from where I sit, we have to offset that shrinkage of structure sales with vacant land sales and other sales. I would also like to point out that this by them being reimbursable grants, the funding for the grants you don't see in the budget because you see those that funding upon its receipt. And so those those funds are not listed there. So as we will be working on these things, the funding will not be recognized until the work has been closed out. The grant has been closed out and we receive those funds. So from a cash flow perspective, we have to be very conscious of the money that we receive in and our disbursements of course and again, that in and of itself is why if we ask the question, if we go back to the question that we posed at the beginning of our presentation, what does that $11 million do and why is it necessary? It is definitely necessary to maintain the operations of the Detroit Land Bank Authority when you look at an organization of our size and the volume of inventory that we maintain a fund balance that significant fund balance is necessary to make sure that there's a rainy day fund and that we are able to cover all financial contingencies that come up as an organ as a independent authority. So that, in essence, is our budget. But I think when we were posed this question may be sitting here a year ago about what is the land bank doing to get other grant revenue other than the revenue that we received from our philanthropic supporters. We were very diligent about going after all blight elimination grant dollars, and in order for us to be awarded those amounts. We are of course, due to our size, the highest in the state, but for us to be awarded those amounts. It's a clear indication that the land bank has applied for and is doing things that are going to impact the neighborhood in a very, in a very positive way, and help and assist in the affordable housing issue that faces the city of Detroit right now. So that concludes my comments on the budget. And of course if there are any questions I'm prepared to answer any budget related questions with our team. Thank you.

Thank you. We will go directly to questions from members. Again, each member will have two questions. We will start it off with member Callaway. The Chair recognizes member Callaway Thank you,

Mr. Chair and good afternoon. I appreciate every time I call and need you to come to a coffee. Um You guys are there at 737 45 You stay the whole time you you engage the residents and I appreciate that you're and most of my coffee so you have some representation as on a monthly basis. So if you've never not been there, so I appreciate you and your entire team. And Mr. Scott, you're always there. I mean, you're you know, you know, you know that you know the schedule so you're always prepared. So I appreciate all of you. I do have two questions. You said you get approximately 67,000 inquiries slash calls per year.

For the chair, that is what we got for fiscal year 2020 Pro all of last year I'm sorry for the calendar year of 2023. For 2022 it was not as high was like 44,000 but it jumps considerably for 2023. Yeah, okay.

And I wish the pages were number but they're not but I'm on the page of the operational costs and is still the same question. If you are having 67,000 inquiries, why do you just have eight customer service representatives but you have 33 in your legal department 61 in your programs and Landry us, I would think that you would consider increasing the number of cuffs customer service representatives that you have if you're taking in that number of calls. So I want you to consider that and have that. Just consider that because I'm really concerned about that low number. But the high number that you're taking in in terms of calls eight people cannot possibly take 67,000 calls and do a sufficient job. Did you want to reply to that and then I have my second question here.

So through the chair. So what we have done is, as a part of this expanded phase two of our approach to trying to deal with this staffing absolutely is a part of that. In the short term, we have added three contract employees to help support that team. But what we find is the vast majority of the calls we get are more in depth calls that can't be answered by the person answering the phone and so what what's happening is when they call in, we're documenting their call the property they're calling about and their question in referring it to someone on the team. So these teams that are much larger, they're being referred to those individuals to answer. The problem is with all the other things that the team members are doing getting them to understand that responding to the inquiry is a part of the process. So that is all of the things that are happening right now is creating dashboards so people are even aware that they need to be monitoring this and responding. So it is an effort that we are taking serious and staffing is a part of of all of what we're doing to address it.

Mr. Chair, my last question to miss Daniels is in your fiscal year 24 Quarterly, I guess second quarter report to the planning Economic Development Committee, you stated that you had 22,132 neighborhood lots for sale. Can you provide an update on the neighborhood lock program and the plan you have for addressing the backlog and citizen concerns about their applications? Thank you.

Thank you. So the chair historically, so the neighborhood lab program has been around since late 2020, early 21. Historically, we get 30 to 50 applications that were endorsed, up until May of 2023 we get 30 to 50 applications a month. In May. We received a huge influx of endorsed applications to the point where it went from 30 to 50 to 250 to 275 On average was the number of applications that that team was charged with responding to now this is the same team that does side lots and they also do vetting for structure sale so that that overwhelmed the pipeline. As of today, they have cleared that backlog. And so all of those applications have been processed and all those deals have been closed. But we did see a huge spike in in the number of neighborhood lot applications that we weren't charged with on processing. I will also turn it over to my partner Miss Hana because she runs that program and she can speak to more detail. Thank

you Tammy and through the Chair, just to echo that it's two things actually happened at that same exact time. So while the team was fielding about 25 to 5030 to 50 endorsed applications for neighborhood lots every month. What happened is we also for the first time ever hosted the side lot fairs in and sent out neighborhood lat in postcards, and so over 100,000 neighborhood lap postcards were sent in May of 2023. So we expect it to see an increase in interest and neighborhood ladder applications. But in that same month, suddenly as Tammy mentioned, there was there was a queue of neighborhood lots that had not been endorsed and all of them so for example it from made just in May June and July of 2023 over 1000 neighborhood lots were endorsed just in those three months, which flooded. So So while the on average the team went from endorsing I'm sorry vetting rather 50 a month. On average. If we spread it across the year it was 250 but when you condense it into from May to December, it was actually about 500 applications per month on top of everything else that the team vets for. So, yes, we were overwhelmed. You couldn't actually even staff on such short notice because we didn't quite know what had happened. And so that's why to get anybody trained, or should we just asked colleagues, you know, we need some help here. And so colleagues on other teams were assisting just to get through the backlog, but as Tammy said the team has been able, I mean, a lot of people worked over the holidays just to get through that backlog. Of the endorsements in the neighborhood lots

Thank you remember Callaway and at the car show no we've been joined by member young for some time now. I neglected to state that critical sell not Mr. Chair. Thank you and with that the chair recognizes member Yeah.

Thank you for that recognition. Mazda. Appreciate you Mr. Thank you everyone for being here. I just want to ask this question. First and foremost, um, what are we doing about medication because you know, I'm a member member. Callaway really kind of brought it up but I just want I understand why you have the staff that you have for the from the legal side of it, because of the Muses abatements and going through that process and I understand that but it's just late, please do this, right. Because when you don't respond, we're the ones that get the call. And I've endorsed over I think 300 lots in December 300 Plus lots of December so I just wanted to just talk about the endorsement process really quickly. I just don't think that they should be sent to council after they get past all the compliances you tell me why that is and why that's not Am I right about that or do you think I'm wrong and why?

I'm sorry, you threw the chair you said you don't think it should come until well,

I don't think it should be sent to council until after they get past all the compliances.

So through the chair the reason it's done the other way is because the and the the eligibility process is very lengthy. So for every so for instance a neighborhood lot could have 100 potential people who can buy it. So if we get five applications for one lot, every piece of property that that person owns, has to be checked for back taxes has to be checked for blight ticket all that has to be done per property per person, right? If they don't have an endorsement. They can't even get to the test like to get to step one. If you can get an endorsement, then we don't have to do all of that work because you couldn't even get indoors. So that's why we asked you to endorse first because that way, our team is then not bogged down with doing all that work on the front end only for them not to get endorsed and then that's wasted effort. And I'll also turn it over to Jonathan for a more detailed thank

you and through the chair. The endorsement process to is intended so as Tammy mentioned, we get multiple applications for the same exact lot. And the idea is the endorsement is intended to provide counsel and the district managers who have often boots on the ground, a connection to that community to better know who should be and who they'd like to endorse in each individual case. And with each application, which is why before we vet we want to ensure that council, the district managers are have decided and determined you know, this is a great actor in the community. We know they've been taking care of this lot and we are endorsing this individual to purchase versus this is a terrible actor. You know they are leaving hires and cars and whatever on the lot. We don't wish to endorse them. And so the idea is we are deferring to that endorsement to ensure that we are selling to the right individual. Does that answer the

question? I just I just think that you know, it's like they go through that we endorse and they go through the process and they don't get the they don't get the property. You'll see it goes back on us. You're in terms of why they did or why they didn't get it. So I just think the elected officials should not be endorsed to after the compliance is because what we're saying is that, you know, your time is less valuable than their time for compliance. And so I think that's just one of the things that I have about about that. I just wanted to say to you, I just want to know what you thought about that through

the chair. We do communicate on why they don't why they may have not gotten a lot so it could be the old back taxes and so that's not within your purview you endorse them but they had back taxes and that's what prevented them from being able to purchase. So there are ways that we can communicate to ensure that there is covered that provided so that they are not blaming a lack of endorsement for why they didn't get it we can we do communicate why we can you know revisit that and maybe even more succinct on why they did not get. They didn't you know, they weren't they didn't get the lot so that you don't have to worry about them thinking it was because of a lack of endorsement or because of an elected official or the Dons or anyone. Yeah,

I mean, that's just an important process. You want them to to be able to go through that process and know that that's being dealt with before it comes to us. You I mean, this is my final question. Sure. Thank you for your patience. I just wanted to also ask really quickly, I'm in Metro Detroit. It's black people's property is about 45% less than their white counterparts. Now a lot of that's due to lack of access to credit, debt to loan value. I just wanted to ask because part of the reason when we start talking about the value of these properties is they do something called cops. So they'll compare their property to a property that's next to it. And with the land bank, you're taking these really damaged, vacant, deteriorating abandoned properties, attractive nuisances, and you're turning them into new properties. Is do you track at all? What impact that has in terms of lowering that racial wealth gap between people in the city tree and what their houses are worth? Compared to that in Detroit? And in the metro region? I know, nationally, it's like things like to be are twice as likely to have your house undervalued, as African American, even if it's control, it's the same similar stock and control for crime and neighborhood similarity. So I just want to think that that's really important that you're kind of lowering that I know it's large now. But I'm sure it was a lot bigger before you got here or doing what you're doing. Do you measure that at all? And do you talk about that at all with the constituency, because till we get federal reform for that, I think that's a big deal in terms of close the racial wealth gap, as well as terms of beautifying and changing the neighborhoods

through the Chair. I'm gonna I'm gonna turn it over to Robbie Lin, as he is our data guru, but before that, I do want to highlight our efforts toward addressing that so rehab and ready is a program that is directly geared toward addressing that issue is to unlocking the value for residents so rehabbed and ready, we go into a neighborhood that has not seen a lot of activity in terms of mortgages, and they don't know the value of their property. We fully rehab the house, oftentimes at a loss and put it on the open market, so that it can sell and create that comp, so that the residents can now know Oh, okay, now I have an idea of what my property is valued at. Additionally, when we sell our properties on auction and own it now a lot, we set the price at $1,000, regardless of the neighborhood, knowing that in some neighborhoods, that the values are much higher, so we transfer that immediate equity over to the purchaser land bank doesn't get it the market drives what that price is going to be but most we sell at a loss and they they recognize some equity. So those are two efforts that we make to try to address that and try to help residents recognize and appreciate the value of their property. I'm going to turn it over to Rob because he may have some more detailed data driven analysis. Yes,

through the Chair, I would say that our research has shown that our buyer pool very much mirrors the city as a whole in terms of race, age, gender. Our work has also shown that the economic impact of our work has created hundreds of millions of dollars in black wealth across the city. But you raise an excellent question and I can't say that we've done research on the racial wealth gap issue, but I will say that, you know, we are in the sort of exploratory phase of working with some academic partners to commission a buyer impact survey of our buyers. And I think that's a wonderful question we should certainly be asking. And so I really thank you for it.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair. I'm done.

Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you member Young's chair recognizes member Johnson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and good afternoon to you all. I appreciate the engagement with our office and the the announcement that you may relative to the properties in District Four. It's greatly appreciated. You know, I continue to advocate for shelters or properties that can be provided for our unhoused folks for lower income folks, and so certainly do appreciate that work that you're doing in the district. I kind of want to go back to when the land bank was first created in the city of Detroit. I know some of you were around, came shortly after it was it will start it and I believe when it was started, there was a policy in place. That required for anyone to bid on properties to be either a resident of the state of Michigan or to have a business in the state of Michigan. Can someone speak to whether or not that was a policy if it was have we moved away from that?

You're the chair. I was not here at the very beginning. And so I I am not aware of that policy, but I will go back and look and see if I can find something on that to provide you with a co cohesive answer. If there's anyone on the team who knows differently, I encourage them to answer. So we will go back and look through our policies and see if that indeed was the case and find an answer. For you. Okay, I

was hoping either original Scott or Robbie Lin was going to respond because so when the landmark was first created, I was volunteering in the community and the neighborhood that I live in East English village was one was part of the pilot program went NSP dollars were utilized to rehab houses. And I believe that was one of the policies and I think if it if it wasn't, I think it's something that we really should entertain because I think we would not see properties being purchased by entities that are not maintaining them whether I was about to say where the properties are lots but I don't believe anybody can purchase a lot. Currently unless they are adjacent to it. A neighborhood live within 500 feet and all of those requirements but specifically for properties just making sure that our residents and our communities are not losers or not having to continually deal with properties being vacant, open a trespass, continuing to fall into a state of disrepair. I have a particular community organization that continues to complain about how long it takes for properties to become available for them. Because they've been in such a state of disrepair for so long. And so if we can work on that, I think we would be miles ahead of where we are today as it relates to just how we bring these properties back online. So we'd love to have a greater conversation with you all about that as we continue to move forward. Okay, so my other the other area that I want to focus on is a policy around community land trust, and we've had this conversation I feel like I'm making some strides now, as it relates to the city, being supportive of community land trust. I think it's a great direction for us to move into, just to ensure that we can help create opportunities for affordable housing, and affordable homeownership. Um, and so I know I sent the question over. Can you talk about whether or not there is a policy currently with the Detroit Land Bank Authority relative to supporting community land trust,

so through the chair so as our MOU indicates, we have always said that we would absolutely support the city's efforts around community land trust. So I think the language indicates that the city will create a policy and we have said that we would absolutely support that in lieu of that we have done at least three deals with Community Land Trust, through our own our own policies that exist currently. So again, we have no issue with with supporting the community land trust policies that the city would initiate Okay,

thank you. And with that, Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion to add to the closing session. I'm sorry, the closing resolution to provide information around creating developing a policy for community land trust in the city supporting CLTs.

There is a motion to add that to the closing resolution. Are there any objections? Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

Thank you and Mr. Chair, I'd also like to make a motion to add to the closing resolution. Creating or developing a policy for Michigan residents and Michigan based businesses to be prioritized in purchasing properties from the Detroit Land Bank Authority.

There is another motion on the floor to add that to our closing resolution. Are there any objections? Seeing none, that action shall be taken. Thank you, member Johnson. Thank

you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Chair recognizes a member of Santiago Romero. Thank

you Mr. Chair. Good afternoon. Good to see you all. Once again, very much in line with my colleague member Johnson in thinking about how we creatively utilize Orleans incredibly happy to hear about policies. I'm now interested hearing about in PDD is next. Are you happy to see the programs that we have the outreach that we're doing? Just want to see a little bit more insight if this has been strategic. We have a master plan revamp coming up. We have a lot of lands will we have a lot of opportunities are we what is the strategic planning and if it's happening great because there are a lot of opportunities like really, I'm trust, but I want to make sure that we are being proactive and identifying space opportunities. If we have policies, if we have funding working together. So are you being strategic and how we utilize our lands are you planning to be a part of the master plan revamp? How can we make sure that we're having these conversations collectively?

So through the chair, let me first say that we absolutely partner with our city partners and often take they take the lead and we they let us know how we can support their efforts. I'm gonna let Robbie Lin talk more detail about it because he's a part of a number of those initiatives. I'd also say that we are currently undergoing a five year strategic planning effort where we are doing outreach to the community that's that's a cornerstone and a key piece of our strategic planning effort to hear their voices. A number of our city partners participate on the advisory panel for our strategic planning initiative, because we do want to ensure that we get resident voices but we're also operating in lockstep with our city partners, but I'm going to turn it over to Robbie to talk in more detail.

Yes, sir. Thank you so much, Tammy. Through the Chair, I would say that we are absolutely working in lockstep with our colleagues at the city staff. We're meeting daily with our counterparts at PDD HRD and the other planning teams at the city and we are absolutely you know, involved with and I think supportive of the effort for the new master plan. We are also working on our own five year plan and we have several members of PDD staff on our advisory board who kind of are helping us guide the process and we are also meeting with staff on a daily or weekly basis to gain their insight and how we can best align our work I will say we deeply want to be thoughtful and how we sell land. And you know I personally view our land as a tremendous asset and something we need to harness to better the lives of people who live in the city. But I also will say that we are not planners and there's a city planning department that it helps us pick the where and we are trying to support them with the how and I so I you know, see it both ways, and that's what we're trying to balance in our five year planning process.

Okay, thank you through the Chair. Thank you. This is an exciting time and there's in my mind, a lot of opportunity and just want to make sure that we're breaking down silos so that we're able to work together to utilize what we have and really build upon that. I have a lot of questions, but I'll just stick to this next one regarding the nuisance abatement program abatement program. So I chair public health and safety we cheer dangerous buildings. We have begun to send properties back to BC that we believe would cost less to rehab versus demoing. That is what we're supposed to be doing saving the city money and essentially saving properties from being demolished. Happy to hear that you're utilizing the program to create agreements for rehab. I am a little concerned though. That's the number of legal action is higher than the agreement so could you explain what your outreach process looks like when you when when when there's a property that you go through this process? What is the engagement what is the conversation? Because if it's a simple Is it simply do you plan on on rehabbing? No then you go ahead and take legal action? What is the amount of work that's done with the property owners because what I don't want to happen is for us to identify properties that then go through the nuisance abatement program and now we're just removing homes. From residents versus keeping them in their homes.

So through the chair, so let me first say that the nuisance abatement program only targets vacant homes so we do not target occupied properties. These are vacant blighted homes that are open to trespass and our process starts with a survey. So there is a city has funded a two year citywide survey, and we're going block by block and as a part of that process, they are identifying properties that that will be good for the nuisance abatement program. Those properties are posted which ended with a number to say you know, reach out to us and you have you know, certain number of days to reach out before we will take action. There is a vetting that's done to before we do anything to make sure they're not privately owned that they are not already in some other pipeline that these are legitimately private and they've sat blighted. Oh, we then so that's our first outreach. What we have noticed is that there has been a tremendous response by owners. We engage the process so if they show that they are they already have a plan to remediate the blight. We work with them. At every step, we are willing to work with them there we file lawsuits and then dismiss them because the person is coming forward and they are saying oh no, no, I want to take care of my property. So our goal is never to take it is always to get them to step up and take care of their property. Even as there have been times when we have actually taken a judgment because nobody kept came forward and then they came forward and we returned the property to them because again they have said oh no I'm willing to take care of my property. So again, our interest is not in taking the property isn't abating the nuisance and making sure that the property gets taken care of. So our outreach is constant it is and our our willingness to deal with and to come to an agreement with private property. Owners is never ending so we always want to see the private property owner take care of their property that is truly the goal of the process. And when we go into court, you know, the court wants to again see them come forward and say what how they're going to take care of their property. We are absolutely operating in lockstep with whatever the court orders, we, you know, many agreements happen in the courtroom. So there are so many opportunities for property owners to again step up and take care of their their property because that truly is our goal again, not to take it but to see the the level of rehabs that we showed in the deck, that level of care and concern for people's property through

the Chair. Thank you. That's incredibly helpful. And you're great. Thank you for clarifying that. These are vacant homes. Many times during the dangerous buildings process, folks want to keep their homes in their families, they they might. The other issue is that they might not have the three to $10,000 needed to immediately fix the broken window or fix the roof, which is why I'm bringing up to the table of potential funds that could support those families. And we want to be able to work with you to figure out what that system looks like. I don't know if it falls under HRD that has the systematic process to already do that. Or if it's through BC or through yourself. But if you are already supporting residents and rehabbing their homes and if we're already identifying what those aren't saving those we'd still need this, this this portion of funding to support them. Again, just trying to break down the silos and work together a little bit more

through the chair. We would love to work with your office and figure out how we can absolutely, you know, our Again, our goal is to get the house rehabbed and so if there's additional support that can be provided. We would welcome it.

Wonderful Mr. Chair with that. I would like to offer a motion to put into Executive Session. A dangerous buildings funds can't think exactly what to call it at the moments but would like to have further discussion during our Executive Session.

There is a motion to put into Executive Session for the dlba Dangerous buildings fun. Are there any objections? Hearing none that action shall be taken.

Thank you Mr. Chair.

Thank you Member Santiago Romero chair recognizes member waters. Well,

thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wasn't good peasant. Did you Have you guys noticed that? It's all new council members that was sitting out here this afternoon. All six of us first term. Yeah, I noticed that. So good afternoon, Director Daniels. Good afternoon. First of all, let me just say thank you for always being responsive. I know that we have a lot of requests of you but we've certainly received a whole lot of telephone calls and emails from members of the community who need help with that big old Batman bank. And so um, so we do reach out and you always very generous and responding helping us to try and get to the bottom line for the issue. You know, when when the land bank first started I thought basically your primary responsibility was quiet titles and, and sale of properties. And so I never really associated you with other things like the buyback program and nuisance abatement and all those things. But but I'm learning all these things that you do. And I certainly appreciate the fact that you were willing to partner with HRD on the buyback program so that we can ensure that our residents have that opportunity to purchase those properties. So I'm gonna go back to the nuisance abatement piece because that's been a stickler for me. So under land bank Fastrac act MCL 124, dash seven five for section four, subsection eight. Land banks shall not exercise the power of eminent domain or condemn property. So I'm gonna need you to explain how the nap process is not a kind of condemnation action. How does a nuisance abatement program interact with the established buildings safety, electrical and engineering department, property maintenance division to eliminate blight and to ensure that properties are not going through both the nuisance abatement program and dangerous buildings here it's through BC that the same time now we do receive quite a few land bank properties during committee

so

here's what I'm saying that though land bank does not have state power to condemn property, right, so I just cite it say that the law you don't have the legal power to issue blight tickets. Or to take a private owner's property. So so how is it that you then notify people when you file a lawsuit because people call the office and they say, Well, I just got this notice from the land bank, they're taking my property I haven't. I haven't received any tickets. I have, you know any of those. Those kinds of kinds of things from the from you all. And so a lot of our owners don't don't have the money to represent themselves in court. And and then you have these default judgments that you do Where are you getting these powers? Because it would seem unless I'm missing something the state law doesn't give you those powers.

So through the chair, our nuisance abatement actions or common law actions there are there their file under common law so the statutory that the property has been deemed a nuisance. Common law under common law is not a statute that we act under. I would also note that under our MOU, the the one that we are currently negotiating, but the one that previously expire the city as a as a part of that agreement, empower the land bank to take the actions the nuisance abatement actions on behalf of the city. So we file those if you if you've ever seen the complaint, it is on behalf of the land bank the mayor, those that that is the legal authority by which we take those actions. And again, we aren't condemning it and we are not taking it for we're not using eminent domain. I would also know again, our stats our statistics show Yes, we do fall on a lot because there are a significant number, I think, in our in our most recent survey of the city we identified over 7000 by blighted and vacant structures. Now all of them won't all of them don't qualify for nuisance abatement. But that's the the scope of the problem that the city is plagued with. So you are focused on the private property owner who has a blighted open to trust plants vacant property, and again, our focus is on the residents who have to live next to that, that piece of property. We're advocating on behalf of those residents who probably can't afford to hire a lawyer, but those residents who also can't walk down the street because they're afraid that somebody's going to pull them into a vacant house. I

understand that. Director Daniels, I just need somebody needs to be in charge of me if you don't have all these powers and why don't we let those powers rest with our BC department and that kind of thing? I'm not sure if you guys should be in the business of nuisance abatement. That's just my thought. And so, which is why we have all of these conflicts coming from residents. Those are the kinds of things that are happening, and we get the telephone calls you were one of my colleagues say a little bit earlier. We get the calls we do and we want to be able to work things out on behalf of the residence. And I'm not trying to beat up on you because I know that that you've been trying you have but we do need more. We've got to do something about this, this nuisance abatement program that you have an app and you know, I'd like to talk with you about it at some point because I just don't know why. You have the direct authority. I'd like to put that back with with BC and let them do their job.

Um, through the chair I'd be more than happy to commute to talk with you about it. Absolutely. Um,

so here's my second question. Mr. Chairman, may not be rushing me I'm

not rushing. So as much latitude as I can. Of course it was about five wrapped in one, but I was trying to try to be mindful. Oh, and I appreciate I appreciate it. Yeah, Miss I appreciate I appreciate your second question.

I have to get over him. All right. So here's the other thing I want to ask you about, um, people who are occupying your property as a result of fraudulent leases or deeds. You cannot put them in the same category as you do people who were previous owners, you can. You're asking them to present the same type of information that you're asking of other folks who actually had had a connection to that home. What we're saying is that if we have people there, and we've identified some who have been living there, but ended up you know, the scammers, fraudulent deeds they had to do and they've been there making changes to the house. They've been paying money to somebody who never owned the house, but nevertheless, they've been acting in good faith. How can we ensure that those people are able to purchase that home and not be subjected to the same criteria as you subjected the other people to who has some sort of connect other connection via the buyback program? It just doesn't work and make mixing apples and oranges and we need to fix that. So through

the Chair, I'm going to turn it over to my colleague John all but I will say that we are very accommodating and lenient with the types of evidence that we ask from individuals, especially individuals like you described, fraudulent deed as you are aware we can go on the Register of Deeds for anyone who used to be an owner and find them in the chain of title for over fraudulent deeds. We asked for a copy of whatever deed you had and may not the biggest fraudulent but you had something a check you wrote to the person who purported to be the owner and he was not. So we try to be extremely lenient with the types of documents that we will accept from people what oftentimes, unfortunately, we either get no response at all, or no documentation at all. And so the partnership with HRD to give your office comfort allows them at six different points in the process, to enter to to put insert themselves in the process, reach out to those individuals and try to get them to provide the documentation so that they can get into the program to ensure that they've been given every opportunity to participate. I'm going to turn it over to Jonelle for more specifics about the types of documents we accept for individuals, victims of fraudulently leases and D leases.

Thank you and through the chair, Councilmember waters, the that exact scenario actually came up at one of the events that we attended that you hosted. And the gentleman we had been working with quite some time before that. And he came actually to meet the gentleman that he'd been working with the dlba employee, and that was the incident where they they were hugging at your event because he was just grateful but what he did was because he was a victim of fraud in our minds. He has a connection, but even even the fact that you were a victim of fraud, you still have a connection to that house because you have been paying someone you have been living and you have been doing a series of things but in his case you have to have filed a police report to show that you were a victim of fraud and he didn't do that. And so he's been on that path to the you know, the buyback path and what have you but so in those scenarios in the in the other example that you gave is also another element that you can check which is making improvements to the house we take that under consideration because somebody that didn't have a connection to a house would not be investing into that home. And so there are as Tammy said, there are lots of factors that we consider. It's not just you have to meet it. You have to meet all of them. We don't expect anyone to be able to meet all of them, but there are a series that are written right within the policy, but then we also have actually a different policy. So in the in the fraud scenario, we have an equitable transfer policy, who for someone who has been defrauded and the land bank ended up in sorry, the house ended up in the land banks inventory. We have a policy that allows for an equitable transfer back to that individual if they can show after like a legal review, that they were defrauded, and so it's not just by back because they were living in it but even just then them defrauded out of the house even if they weren't living in it. We have opportunities for people because we're very aware of what is happening. So we try to create as many opportunities as possible. And

so let me just say this is just closing haven't missed. That then, you know, we have some people right now who fit into that category and I want to talk with you guys about it, because they've been living there. It's the same group of people that were where we originally was set up with selling the homes for 42 homes and 28 of those homes were were occupied. So we want to solicit conscious need you guys to work with us, but people who want to remain in that house. I need you guys to figure out a way to help them to stay there. If in fact they are ready. If they say that here, here's some money. Here's what I've done, because we don't want to see people out on the streets. And so we want you to help us to pop you late, our city to repopulate it. You understand what I'm saying? So so don't just throw people out because they don't have everything you're asking for. But if you see that they are trying that you know that in fact that they can meet other criteria. Please work with him. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The

chair Absolutely. I would also indicate that oftentimes people don't qualify for buyback not because they don't have the documentation by that or even or any program. It is because the condition of the house is so poor that they shouldn't be living in it. And so sometimes people don't want they don't qualify because they we don't want them to stay in a house that is unsafe and is not habitable. So that is also a factor people sometimes get denied because the house is not habitable. Okay. Just wanted to say that for the record. Thank you. All

right, Mr. Chairman. We just need to know which ones fit in that category. So we know how to move on but those residents that are trying to live there, okay. Thank you.

Thank you remember waters number of my questions have already been asked and an interest of time noting that we're about 40 minutes behind from our other hearing. I will just be very brief, just heard some really great things my response to Romero articulated just wraparound services. You know, that's what we hear about oftentimes that folks will buy land bank home and they did not know that maybe the sewer line needed to be replaced. So this is this is an additional cost. I bought a house for $1,000 and now I got about $25,000 worth of work I got to put into it. So my question just was, what is the process relative to that? Are we when folks purchase because we we get calls all the time about this? So but just even put in our record? What is the process behind that? Do we notify folks who are making these purchases? The actual condition of the house? And is there a database that where they can go look this up the condition on the house before they even place a bid on it. So

through the Chair, I will say that through this MOU process we have enhanced the information that we're providing but prior to anyone purchasing a land bank house, there is a red disclaimer on there that indicates that the waterline may not be intact and that you need to factor that into your analysis when making a decision to purchase the house. I will also know for auction properties. There's an opportunity to walk through the house before you before you bid on it. And for auction houses. We have an inspection report that we provide to them. That gives them an idea of all the things that are potentially problematic with the house. I think the owner now that they're also an offer an opportunity for inspection Robbie, there's also an opportunity for inspection with the owner now properties as well, but we absolutely raise it for them before they bid. Historically there was a time when there was some confusion about whether the data that we got from the water department was not accurate. And we disclosed that the water line was intact when it wasn't all of those individuals who bought with that misinformation had been made whole either their water line was replaced by the water department or if they wanted to return that we get a refund for the property. We took the property back. But we have completely dealt with all the people who raised their hand who fell into that that short window of time where there was misinformation going forward. We have created a an additional one pager share it but it not only gives you a graphic of the water line but the sewer line as well gives you estimates on what that costs will be. helps you to understand how you find out if your water line is exists or not and what to do if it doesn't so I can I can share this with you. I don't know. This, this is what will be given to each. Any anyone who's interested in bidding on a land bank house. Yeah, and

if we can just yeah, we're council members. It doesn't have to be right here at the time. I just happened to have it sent to us. And my final my final question just revolves around some things that have been discussed. Obviously myself, I remember waters we co chaired a retiree Task Force. And when we talk about ways and working on ways to make retirees hope one of the mentions from some of our retirees or maybe they have access or get preference to bid on a land bank on home, and so not more so of a question but just a comment because I'm going to ask for a motion to put that into Executive Session. But I wanted to put that on your radar as we explore possibilities on how to work with our retirees. And obviously that would be something that will have to be built out. But as we look at that we think about who are our retirees some of them are grandparents, right? That would love to have their children stay in the city of Detroit and work on building generational wealth for their grandchildren or their children for that matter, and have the ability for them to become homeowners. So want to have that discussion offline and build that out. But for now, I would ask I'm putting

him back into session. Okay.

I was gonna say this, but thank you very much. So I would ask for a motion just for clarity for Mr. Corley, as well as middle Mr. Whittaker to put into Executive Session. The creation of a program for retirees to receive preference and or land bank owned properties. Is there a motion? Okay. Discussion discussion on the motion chair recognizes member Callaway,

would you consider also adding veterans to that? Because if we're talking about retirees I would hope that that population of veterans could also be included if you don't mind. Mr. Chair.

Thank you member calorie. I think that's an amazing idea as we our veteran population are very underserved when we talk about homelessness as well as a significant population. So I modify that motion is there a motion adding veterans brochure? Okay. Are there any objections? Hearing no objections that action shall be taken we placed into Executive Session. The chair quickly recognizes member young only for the purposes of maybe making a motion. Yes,

I want to make a motion as somebody that's in city council with an approval body. I think it's important that all the people are vetted before they go through the endorsement process. I just want to make that clear. As a result, I would like to put the endorsement process into Executive Session.

There's a motion to put the endorsement process for the DVLA into executive session are there any objections? Hearing none that action shall we take? A motion chair recognizes member waters. I

like to put place the nuisance of bite bait program in Executive Session.

There was a motion to place the nuisance abatement program into Executive Session. Are there any objections? Hearing that that action shall be taken? Thank you very much member waters. Are there any other motions for Executive Session colleagues? Okay. So thank you all very, very much. We appreciate your time and we look forward to having those further discussions with you as well. Thank you. Thank you. So much. Thank you. We will now close public comment just to let members know we still have a round of public comment. Public comment is now closed. We will go directly into public comment after our next hearing. And so we will try to again, move expeditiously as we can while still getting that information but again, asking colleagues to recognize that we still have a round of public comment. And our residents have been waiting very patiently all day.

While people were assembling. I just had one of the motion. Okay,

any chair recognized? Do you remember Walter Scott

thank you. It's some you know, HRD I want to place the tenants rights commission. In an executive session.

There was a motion for HR D to place the tenants rights.

We have one place in there because we have to do so and so is that kind of session.

Are there any objections? Hearing no objections that action shall be taken. Thank you member waters. We will now move to our next hearing a little bit behind not our three o'clock hearing anymore. But we have the planning and development department. We have director Bryant joining us. Please join us as well up here

as well as Miss Williams Good afternoon. And if you can please state your names for the record and anytime you would like to proceed. Please feel free.

Good afternoon to the chair Antoine Bryant, Director of Planning Development Department with the city of Detroit. I am glad to be here with our dear colleague Miss Yunus Williams. We will also have our Associate Director of Legislative Affairs and equitable development Edwina King is helping us virtually she will be manning our slides. Right now you should be receiving a hand copy of the slide deck. When everyone has that. We can begin

as we know if we cannot be promoted to a panelist and she can manage the slides for us, we'd appreciate it

Mr. Chair, Miss King has been promoted to co host and she'll be able to share her screen.

Thank you very much Miss blesma.

Is king if you are there I'm here just one moment thank you

Thank you Next slide.

Want to kind of go through some of our accomplished over the last fiscal year. Many of you know we've been engaging with each of you in various capacities. We finished two major community benefits ordinances over the last year one for the future of health that was recently passed by oh this august body as well as the hotel and water square, which will be coming to you shortly probably right after this budget process. So we're very excited about that particular event. We've completed two of our neighborhood fabric plans. One from Midwest tyerman neighborhood and one for the north end. We've Additionally we've kicked off the Master Plan update process. So we're very excited. That's an a very, very, very beginning stages. And I will talk a bit more about it there over the course of this conversation. wanted to let you know that obviously the city of Detroit and its planning efforts are receiving state and national attention. We received a National American Planning Association Award for the warrendale Cody ruse framework plan and a state of Michigan American Planning Association Award for the greater Corktown neighborhood framework plan in the last year. So we're very excited that the work of this team has been recognized throughout the state and across the country. We have continued progress on implementation of some of the work that's being recommended from a neighborhood framework plans. We've also started the neighborhood planning process for grid scale farms, as well as the corridor planning process along Finkel Avenue. We've reviewed over 350 applications for the historic district commission. We've conducted 92 design reviews for new developments all across the city. And we are very proud to that we are continuing an intern partnership with Wayne State University's Department of Urban Studies and Planning. So we're really glad to partner with all of our schools. We've had students from University of Michigan as well to the mayoral fellowship program. Next slide. As reported the we know the future of health that CBO went through so we're excited that we're about to begin on see work completed bear next slide. The CBO for the hotel at water Square was easily one of our our best CBO processes we've had since 2017 received went through in seven weeks and that was by the neck the neighborhood advisory council. So they were ready to come to a vote. And so they voted and it was very seamless process and it should be coming before your body after sometime in mid April. Next slide. continuing progress on our neighborhood framework plans the show the ones that are completed as well as the ones in burnt orange or the neighborhood forever plans that are currently ongoing right now both in greater Warren Connor and in bright more neighborhood. As we've said and as we've talked to each of you offline next slide. Community engagement is the foundation of what we do. We have been active to be in our neighborhoods. We've been active to partner with each of your offices to understand and make sure that we are talking to the groups and individuals that we need to and to reengage when it's deemed necessary by many of your offices and many of our partners as well. And so we are very intentional about engagement and want to continue to do so. Next slide. We're going through the four of the studies that we have completed, and we've finished our work for the neighborhood framework plan for Midwest tyerman. A number of recommendations that came from the community for this particular body of work. They're interested obviously in the improvements that will happen on the streetscape for West Warren. We know that that's going to be under construction very, very soon. They're interested and what will happen for sure we'll school and for the site of that particular location. We do note that it has been identified as a park for phase three, the GSD Parks and Recreation strategic plan that will begin during the fiscal year of 2526 as well as identified, strengthening and supporting equity Alliance, which is one of the strongest nonprofits in that area. Next slide. We finished a framework plan for our North End neighborhood. One of the several recommendations came from the community from that one. They're interested in doing improvements and revitalization along Oakland Avenue. They wanted to look at how can we update zoning for specific nodes within the neighborhood. They're very interested in tree buffers and additional vegetative buffering along i 75. As well as continued and perhaps even increased marketing of the publicly owned property in that area for development. Next slide. We are in the midst of the gathering and continuing to collate all the information for the greater Warren Connor framework plan. A number of items have come from this including everything from neighborhood stabilization, commercial economic development, public land stewardship, as well as increased attention for home repair. One of the things that we're really excited about. We many of you know that $800,000 had already been identified, and residents have been locked in on wanting to see those dollars spent on home repair. But it's our understanding that still Lantus just announced a couple days ago that an additional 2.7 million will go towards home repair and impact area. And so we're looking forward to partnering with the community and with yourselves about how best to put together a process to make sure those dollars reach the community. Next slide. And now we are continuing were in the midst of our bright more framework area plan. It's currently within phase three of what's currently designed as a four phase approach. We've been in the community for last eight months. A lot of it has been based on community feedback. Several of the early responses have been focused on basic needs, increase community resources, the necessity for affordable quality housing, and for increased focus on wealth creation. And so we're partnering with councilmember pro tems office intensely to ensure that we're getting real engagement from the community and there's been increased participation by the Deputy Mayor Bettison in that regard as well. Next slide. We have begun the Master Plan process to really reiterate those goals. We want to ensure that we align and codify existing plans. We are currently working with our consultant. There are a number of plans that have been created by all departments in the administration, as well as many strategic plans that have been done by community residents and block clubs. And so we've been engaged with ciudad and other entities to ensure that we're hearing some of the community efforts that have already gone on and looking at all of them and trying to align those recommendations with ones we've already done ourselves and use that as a starting point. We will this document will guide strategic decision making related to infrastructure development and capital investments so that we have a real roadmap about where the city can go moving forward to determine the mix of future land uses as well as their physical relationships and to ensure that we're engaging community members and building consensus around city planning efforts. We're really excited that we took the recommendation by this august body to implement a community advisory group. We're in the beginning stages of defining what that rubric should be to ensure that we have representation all across the city and we're really excited about the reception that idea has already gotten from all over next slide. This gives a very high level overview of our current calendar. As you see we're in the midst of essentially the first phase we were doing data collection and analysis. We'll be doing very shortly, kind of an outreach to the community to let people know that the Master Plan process is coming. What a master plan is and what a master plan is it we want to make sure that all of our residents understand the difference between a master plan and a neighborhood framework plans which have been the brunt of our engagement for the last several years. And also remind them that the last masterplan update was from 2009. We are in a much different city than we were back then. And so we want to understand where the direction and excitement for this new one can go. Next slide. We're also actively involved with the Joe Lewis Greenway neighborhood framework. As many know, that's a cross departmental initiative that we are helping from an engagement and from a planning standpoint, including but not limited to an economic development analysis. We want to ensure that the Joe Lewis Greenway, which will be one of the most important opportunities for this generation, is something that all Detroiters have the opportunity to benefit from. And so we're very much in the midst of recognizing and achieving each one of the goals represented here, where it will enhance residence quality of life, promote community development, promote equity, and ensure that the JLG will be a unifying connective, multimodal transportation network. Next slide.

And then briefly, we are planning for future land use as an zoning for interstate 375. We are working with the Michigan Department of Transportation on the specific purpose of a zoning and land use study. The RFP for that is closed. We are in the midst of evaluating a consultant for that and then once we are able to identify a site consultant, then we will work with law and with procurement to get that in front of this august body wanted to be available for questions. I know time is a little tight on us all and I respect you guys have been working all day. But we are now available for questions.

Thank you, Director Brian. We will start off chair recognizes a member of Santiago Romero.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, through you to Director. Thank you. Good to see you. Thank you for the information. I'm incredibly excited. About the master plan coming down the pipeline. And happy to hear that you're moving forward with the advisory group. One of the questions was for an overview of where we are with the process so thank you for sharing that. I know part of the master plan is identifying how to codify your, in my mind that is how to find the funding to put the plans to action. What have we been doing with the other neighborhood plans that we've had already that have been sitting there? What have you been doing to put those plans into action? really grateful for the Midwest hiraman framework study that you recently completed? One thing that our office is doing that we can always do is identify resources through the city through the budgets. The negotiation of community benefits, which we have been doing, just want to hear from you what your efforts are to make sure that we doesn't that we're not just creating plans but also finding resources to put them into action.

Thank you councilmember through the chair. Many of the initial neighborhood framework plans were through the strategic neighborhood fund and so there are different defined resources explicitly available for those projects. And then for the products that came from those recommendations. A couple of the now subsequent plans do not have they're not directly related to the SNF. So now we're ensuring and looking for other opportunities. to fund those projects. Many of the recommendations usually are related to our partner departments, ie working with the General Services Department, working with Department of Public Works, and many HRD. And so what we then are looking at the recommendations that come from them and then looking at how can we align with the direction that some of those entities already had in place. So you heard me reference the park that Midwest time and was looking to do with their school site? Well, that park had already been identified through GSDs kind of strategic Park plan. And so now we're looking to say, and one of the things we found some success with and I know you and I've talked about this, when you engage the community, and you are truthful about where things align from a calendar standpoint, the residents really do appreciate that at least they're having some level of communication and they're being told where it can go. We will never turn down other opportunities for resources through other third parties. And so we're looking at things that could come from the state that could come from the private sector, but right now, we're trying to align them with the treated the strategic plans that currently exists one of our member departments, while also simultaneously seeing if there are other opportunities to get private resources or other resources as well.

As a chair. Thank you. I'm glad you mentioned the strategic neighborhood fund because that's the fund that I've been able to allocate resources to, to do some community investments recently. We were able to receive over a million dollars that's going to go into Warren avenue to begin to implement a lot of the work that has been done through the planning departments. So happy that we aligned there. That brings me to another My other question. So the strategic neighborhood fund is something that we should utilize to implement plans. I believe it's something that can be advocated for probably through every CBO process. Which brings me to the neck and wondering how prepared are they? How trained are they? How much power they didn't know what they actually holds? Because while the latest snack process was seamless, I want to make sure that we're not gathering a group of residents that are excited about a project period that see the project as the benefits, when in reality the benefits are what they what they're able to negotiate with the developers just wondering what is training look like? Some ideas that I've had is bringing in alum NEC members to to the space with with new ones so they can share best practices, some some lessons learned, but how are we preparing our NEC members to know the power that they have to make sure that they're asking for the best benefits possible?

You the chair councilmember Santiago had clearly you sat in on a couple of these meetings before. The neighborhood Advisory Council, as established by this body is one that we take a lot of pride in. And residents that participate in this process. Are go through a pretty rigorous amount of training and engagement especially on the front end. We have had for the last for next and I participated in alum come in and do seminars about what they learned or what they would have done differently and also to even suggest things that they may think about right? Those things aren't those particular meetings are convened by staff many of you know Edwina who's currently on as well as Aaron Goodman. they convene those discussions and these are in addition to an external to the actual public NEC meetings to ensure that they have all of the training that they can have. We have presentations by the DGC. We have presentations by housing revitalization department, often to talk about everything from the definition and understanding of a capital stack to the difference in differentiation between tax abatements and tax incentives. We talk about the difference impacts that particular project could possibly have. And we really do allow the training by subject matter experts to be joined by the participation by previous attendees and they really do appreciate it. We recognize that most of the NEC members don't necessarily have a background in development or architecture or planning. But I think that's actually a good thing. Because they are able to give an objective and quite frankly personal view on what they are experiencing and what the impact area looks like. I intentionally don't attend any of those. So they are all led by NEC members, former NEC members and two staff members. We want them to get as much inquiry as possible, and also to get as much training as possible. And we also asked them we pulled them what else would you like to know? Are there things that you need to hear? And so we tried to be as responsive as possible and get the right voices in front of them. We look forward to if any of our council members would think that there should be other people they should see. We'd be more than open to it. Because at the end of the day, we want to ensure that the neighborhood Advisory Council is led by the neighborhood and to this date. We feel very convinced that we've been able to deliver benefits packages that truly reflect the desires of those members.

The Chair Thank you. I appreciate that insights and the equitable development task force that I co chair with member Johnson has a lot of discussion, when I think just ideas around revisiting the CBO in general. And they think just for now, I'd like to put the CBO into the Executive Session for discussion. Just to keep this going because this is something that a lot of residents are looking at just to make sure that we're enhancing it to get the best possible benefits that we can through these through these developments. So Mr. Chair, that is my motion.

Thank you remember Sasha Ramiro. There's a motion to put the community benefits ordinance into executive session in the PDD. Budget. Are there any objections? Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Director.

Thank you. Thank you Member Santiago. Romero. The Chair recognizes member waters.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So good afternoon. Good afternoon. I'll be real quick actually. Um, Member Santiago Romero talked about the neck and that's been kind of a sore spot with me, as well. I think that it needs to be reconfigured. I I want them to have some nd independent experts to talk with them. Because you see the developers come armed with big time lawyers and all that stuff in an hour nap people just from the community and so they don't have that type of background. So we need to take a look at given them the type of support and I know what you said you know, you you give them all this kind of but you know what me you could people that you recommend could be biased. I mean, it's possible. So we want them to have somebody that's independent. So I'll I'll say that. First of all, I know that wasn't a question, but I wanted to hit Are there any um, my question then I'll just ask you one. financial constraints, budgetary constraints, that keeps you from doing a number of other things that that you need to do. And I just want to always thank you for being accessible. You know, when I call on you, you run to meetings and things like that. So that's certainly appreciate it. Are there any budgetary constraints that keeps you from doing a lot more than you're doing right now for example? Bucha

Thank you, Councilmember waters, and we appreciate being a partner, with your office and with your team. And definitely respect your desire to have additional consultants for the NEC and look forward to discussing that more offline. Right now. The plan development department, we love to prefer it ourselves. It's as small but mighty. And we've been doing a lot with the team that we have. I'm proud to have and I've said this publicly and privately. One of the sharpest planning departments in entire country. And we've been able to as recognized by the state awards, and there was only a couple that we listed make a tremendous impact in this city. And so we are very satisfied with where we are fiscally and look forward to even greater things to come. And so this is not the last that you'll hear from planning, development and we're definitely trucking right along right now.

Thank you member waters chair recognizes member Johnson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair and good afternoon to you. Um, so it's always great to hear about the work that's happening within the planning department. I'm glad that you gave some an update on the master plan. I know that director tat has been working with us in collaboration with the planning department just to make sure that we're making the progress that we'd like to see. So Member Santiago Ramiro mentioned the equitable development task force. So first want to say thank you for allowing your staff members to be a part of the task force, and to make sure that we have that connectivity. I am going to just kind of talk about a couple of things that the taskforce has been focused on, just to make sure that the community engagement is at the level that we'd like to see it. Yes. So I know you talked about sea dad and the work that the planning department has been doing with them. But I also just want to make sure that we uplift and elevate the community organizations that exist throughout the city, because people in the city of Detroit have to develop a level of trust. And so in order for them to really divulge and open up as it relates to what they'd like to see in their community. They will lean on someone that they see regularly in their neighborhood that's advocating on their behalf. Right. And so I'd like to talk about what the plans are to do outreach with community groups throughout the city of Detroit and noting that there is a proposed roughly $350,000 for strategic and citywide planning in your budget. If there are any of those dollars will be utilized to provide support to community groups for them to help with engaging residents in doing more work to get more people out so that we have more individuals that are involved in identifying and shaping what we'd like to see the city look like moving forward

through the Chair. Thank you, Councilmember Johnson, for that. It's always a pleasure to engage with you and your staff. You guys have always been available and participated, quite frankly in a lot of our framework planning. So we definitely appreciate that. We have been very intentional to not I mentioned c dac because that's one of the early entities that engaged us and we've engaged with, but we've been looking at CBOs all across the city and in every council district to ensure that we not only let them know that this is coming down, but to ensure that we have their participation and their collaboration. So we're in the midst of going district by district. We'll be partnering with our Department of neighborhoods to begin to introduce the master plan to every district and all of the attendees that regularly attend those programs. But we're also looking at resources coming in through the CDBG Dr allocation, as you may know, over $47 million was was appropriated and allocated and last September and it included a one and a half million dollars for planning activities. 500,000 of that 1.5 million will be used for the master plan to incorporate equity, sustainability resiliency, and to enhance community engagement efforts. Right now we're looking to define what that process will be from an engagement standpoint, because we have already begun to receive a number of inquiries from community groups about how they can partner and what kind of resources would be available. And you know, this isn't an unending pot, right? One of the things we want to be intentional about is that we're going to be partnering with groups all across the city. We won't have the capacity to pay everyone. I mean, that's just a reality. But we definitely embrace and agree with the notion that residents often respond more to people that they know. We're intimately aware of that. And so we want to be as intentional with that knowledge as possible to ensure that we're getting participation all across the city.

Thank you so much for that. That's That's good to hear. Recognizing that I know it could get very expensive if we were paying everyone. But I do think that is important. Because so there have been several items that have been identified thus far, just going through budget hearings where we're looking to engage community, and a lot of times I just want to make sure that community does not become fatigued with hearing from different departments, different entities asking for essentially the same thing and the master plan. is really the body, the the document, if you will that shapes, how everything is going to be laid and how we as a city is moving and I would think that nonprofit organizations will utilize that document as they do work in community and have conversations with community organizations. And so if there is a focus on housing or transportation or any of those things, I think the most beneficial way to gather the information that is needed, it should be through this process where the other departments that have a desire or are planning to engage community should really maybe have conversations with you. So that this that conversation is part of the mass plant have policies, engagement and the conversations that happen there so that residents are not fatigued, and so that residents also feel as though they don't have to continue to keep coming out. To different meetings to have the same conversation in that we have our quote unquote Bible within the city that leads how we're doing work in the city as a whole.

Well, we're in agreement on that part of our engagement policy will be partnering with our sister and brother departments and appearing at their meeting structures. Right. So we will be convener at an already existing meeting schedule, so that when we're meeting with residents that are interested in land based projects, they'll hear from the master planning team when we're meeting with individuals interested in transportation and DDOT. They're hearing from the master plan team. And so we're going to be working with our member departments to ensure that all of that information is captured, as well as we have a series of engagements that will have more of a focus group approach where we'll be having subject matter experts talking about mobility, talking about resiliency, talking about housing, and residents will have an opportunity to fully inform our comprehensive approach, the master plan of policies as a city wide entity, and it's going to be organic, but it is meant and designed to be comprehensive. And so that is our goal. And we're looking forward to engaging the entire city in that process.

All right, excellent. Thank you so much. And lastly, I just want to say that I am hopeful that the department is able to ensure the input coming from community is influencing the outcomes of the planning process. So that it's it's not just identified by the city, how the planning process should move forward, but that the community has the ability to provide influence within that. I know that we have the advisory group, but an advisory group, I just want to ensure that they can influence the process right and not just we are entertaining them to say that we've checked the box

we'll hear you loud and clear and they will be a very key part of how this all is successful.

Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you member Johnson chair recognizes member Callaway.

Thank you Mr. Chair and good afternoon. Good afternoon, everyone. Um, I have a list of questions and we're going to make sure you get them by I'm going to make a motion to put the entire P DDS budget into executive session. Mr. Chair, my first question is, are you familiar with the Sawyer arts apartment complex in the live sixth district located at 73 03 West McNichols was supposed to break ground and 2021 before my arrival hasn't done so yet supposed to be completed by December 2023. Not one brick. Yeah. Are you familiar with the project?

I am? How much? I mean I'm not I am familiar with the project. Yes,

ma'am. Okay, what's the delay? What's the timeframe? To put one shovel in the ground?

So it's my understanding that they are slated to begin construction this year. They were engaged with some challenges on a capital sack ratio. I think that will be a question that my teammates and housing revitalization department could address because it's directly in the department. But I do know that they will be a key part of the six mile McNichols corridor, and we look forward to them being a tremendous asset to the area.

Yeah, I'm gonna go back to my original question. I was just reading an article through the chair to you Mr. Brian. It was supposed to be completed by December 2023. There's not one brick over there. Not one shovel in the ground. Nothing has happened over there. And that's I live in the area. So I want to know when is the project going to start because it was supposed to be completed by December 2023.

Thank you through the chair, again. On the planning and development department. We are intentional to work with community as well as with developers on what the community would like to see Sawyer as apartments is most assuredly one of the things we're most excited about. I do understand the frustration where it has not been maximized yet. I think we also know that when it originally was passed, we were in the midst of COVID. And every developer will tell you, they've dealt with a tremendous amount of construction delays because of that, as to when they were begin it is my understanding they're going to begin this year, but I can't definitively tell you every single reason why they've been delayed, I do know there have been construction delays and I do know they had a construction excuse me a capital stack gap. That is my understanding is now filled and they're looking to start shortly. Okay,

so you can put that in writing for me, Mr. Brian, just an update on the project 73 03 on West McNichols, and also a list of all of the plan projects for district truth. District Two, those are requests. My second question is what were the outcomes of the discussions with the AARP regarding the living Cities Initiative aging in place and has the application for the program being completed? And what are the resulting next steps

through the chair let me we'll have to get back. I'm not prepared to talk about the the living Cities initiative but we can make sure we get the answers to that to your office shortly.

Just a follow up question that so have you are you in discussions regarding aging in place and the funding and the grants in the whole process? So are you working on it?

There had been a discussion with their team several months ago, I will have to check to see where it is right now.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you member Callaway chair recognizes member Young.

Thank you, Mr. President. Director.

Good to see Good afternoon sir.

And CFO, US Williams. Appreciate you and all your hard work as well. I just wanted to start off first and foremost by saying that about 74% of the housing in the city of Detroit are single family homes. And part of the reason why the costs are the way you know with inflation, you know I think we're like 11th in construction materials and 13th and rents and also we're number one in terms of residential property tax tax rate. But also is because of these single family homes, which are more expensive. So I just wanted to kind of ask you, what plans do we have or to have more multifamily housing, or to have more apartments and other such things as well? And have you factored that in into the cost of living for the residents of the city?

Detroit? That's a great question through the chair. Councilmember young, it's something that we talk about quite a bit and planning and we definitely lean on our peers in the housing revitalization department. We have one of the highest per square foot costs for single family entire country and when you couple that with a challenging household income ratio, it makes the match very, very, very

tough. And it's the third most single family houses in the country. Just want to add that to you. Correct?

Correct. And so it's one of the things that as quite frankly led to the number of single family new construction being so low for a city of our sides. Well, that's a much of the reason why so much of the new housing that comes before this body is multifamily. Because quite frankly, the numbers make more sense. And that's talking to developers that are local. That's talking to developers that are national, that's talking to new construction as well as ones that are incredibly versed in affordable housing and in acquisition rehab. It's something that from a planning standpoint, we would love to see a increase in more homeownership opportunities. We're looking to see if we can diversify the housing form, right. Could we look at more forms and might be multifamily with lower density, right, so instead of a tower of 30 or 40 units, perhaps maybe quads or mid rises? You know, there had been a number of inquiries sent to us and as well to HRD and others about modular housing, about the container homes. Many of you are aware of the new 3d printed home that was opening. So we're looking at as many different avenues that will make sense. I can tell you there's no quick fix for affordable housing. All of the methods that I just mentioned come with constraints and complications. That is the current primary reason why you don't see them as much. Even though from a design standpoint, they have certain pros from a sheer cost and constructability standpoint, their challenges and so it's something that we are aggressively taking a look at. But I have often said that we have to look not only at the provision of housing, but also at the provision of how do we improve the human condition of our residents to ensure that the household income goes up, and that we have more resources in our personal toolkits to effectuate a better housing condition. So it's a broad issue, but it's something that we're taking a very, very consistent look at.

Excellent, thank you for that. And I also want to ask you, what are your thoughts on on how raising the level of i 375 will provide and redress previous inequity in the taking of Paradise Valley and black bottle communities and neighborhoods that were previously located in that area that due to intentional redlining, but also due to intentional pilot urban Urban Renewal Policy, particularly with Tiki was Eisenhower 95th This is what the freeway had that built these freeways directly through these communities. Do you think that this is something where we can actually be able to try to make people who were harmed whole you know within the confines of the law? No, you can't specifically targeted towards African American people per se, there's laws against that. But do you think that we're going down the trajectory in which we're we're building this this can actually be used to help more African American business kind of honor that legacy and kind of have like a Greenwood with Blackbaud will have a much better so I play back out here having the original version of Greenwood in Oklahoma in Detroit.

Thank you for that to the chair. The raising of I 375 is going to be one of the most important things that occurs in the city over the next decade. It is much more than merely a transportation construction project. Because of the ramifications of the Federal Highway Administration's deeds in the 50s and 60s, as you stated so well. Black and brown neighborhoods across this country were decimated and Detroit is not alone in that fact. We're going to raise it with the through a partnership with the Michigan Department of Transportation which owns and operates that our arterial arterial and it's going to result in between 28 to 30 acres of new real estate, our zoning and land use study that will be beginning hopefully within the next 90 days will really help to identify what that result in real estate can be. Upon completion of this arterial. There's also significant amount of conversation about how do we engage the populations that had to

move out as well. As the legacy Detroiters that are still here, but that have a relationship to that. It's our understanding that that's going to be a long standing conversation, alluding to Councilmember Johnson councilmember Santiago Romero and others about engagement is our assertion that engaging with the public on a continual basis to ensure that we're hearing about the things that they would like to see will really begin to allow us to yield the results that people would want to see. And so we're looking at this being a process. They're not slated to break ground right now, even until at the earliest, the fourth quarter of 2025. And maybe a little bit later, and then we'll have a two to two and a half year construction period upon which the close of that there can be a discussion about what that real estate can be. So I think it does afford us to time to have a very, very much needed but also very important conversation about what that land can be. I think ultimately, we're looking forward to having a result that will be advantageous for Detroiters, but most assuredly, those that have a direct relationship to the aforementioned Blackbaud on the Paradise Valley. Excellent. I, I appreciate that. I just was so you're saying you're in the preliminary stages. So it's not like you're talking to businesses or African American businesses or independent business association or things of that nature yet? Well, the Michigan Department Yeah, apologies for interrupting I do. I do want to assert that the Michigan Department of Transportation has made determinations to ensure that Detroit businesses as well as black businesses will take an integral role in the construction part of it, which when you're talking about a nine figure construction project is very, very important. So that measure has already been committed to right now we're looking to see what can happen not only during the process, but also after the process as well. So they give you a number what they're trying to hit if I don't have it in front of me. So no, I think the average is like for minority disadvantaged pride like 10% I don't think that would cut that. No, I think it's I think it's above that but we will make sure to get that to your officer with Thank you. Thank you remember Yeah. Obviously have time to talk to you offline. We CMP PD a lot. One thing that I do want to note though, as we were going through the presentation, obviously we talked about neighborhood framework plans. D seven has seen some considerable amount of growth in these past few years, which I'm happy to see whether it's the AMC site, whether it's our streetscapes, we talked about Dexter Elmhurst Community Center or the new one that will be coming at the Brennan pool site. With the pistons but my question also just revolves around something we touched on last year and I'll transparency we had a discussion about it. Where we requested and last year's budget about a retail corridor study. I will stay because I know Miss Varner is probably listening you guys are looking at fecal Yes, we all just so she knows better. So she's not mad at me when I asked about this was simply we've already started on thinking yes, so my my question though, again, just revolves around and I'll be asking for a motion for it as well. When we look at retail corridors, you know I to shout out member Calloway his district one of the best corridors we have, obviously is the avenue of fashion when you go down to liver noi, it's great to see particularly minority owned businesses that flourish and I think there's opportunity for this city to have many corridors like that throughout all of our districts. When we talk about a long term plan, I know that to member Johnson's point, the master plan is that constitution so to speak, when we talk about building you know here, what are the thoughts though more so focusing on retail I know you probably traveled to many cities, but what are the thoughts focusing on retails that are adjacent to some of these neighborhoods that are struggling to kind of get a kickstart of stability in those areas through the Chair. Thank you for that. Councilmember. There's a couple of things that we are talking about within the planning development department again, and I've often said this liver noise often heralded as a shining example. But it was also in some respects the pilot, right it was one of the first two strategic neighborhood funded, but also had a built in legacy that is known nationally. Additionally, it also has kind of the built in benefit of being surrounded by some of the most stable neighborhoods in the entire city. One of the challenges that comes with traditional commercial development is that there's often recognized a density of households that they seek to see that will merit not only the inclusion of new commercial activity, but its ongoing success. Typically they look for 5000 units per mile source so to speak. There are actually a limited number of corridors in the city did actually still have that density. And that's much of the reason why some of our bigger more quote unquote national tenants have been reticent to relocate are located an opportunity in the city of Detroit we have as councilmember Jung alluded to a overwhelmingly percentage of single family population, and it's spread out and some of it we do have some missing. So one of the things we're looking at is, first of all, how many corridors do we have that actually have that density adjacent to it, that would lead to success that will lead to capitalization. If there are those that don't have it, but they still don't have a historic notion of being a commercial corridor? What other things can we do to support that level of reinvestment? Can it be facade treatments on the existing units? Can it be sidewalk and street improvements that are along the surfaces? That uh, but it? Can it be some cleaning and some beautification efforts that will make that area much more sustainable in and of itself? And then can it be the inclusion and support of local businesses that are from the area that want to be in the area and that have the desire to really locate and thrive and a built in customer base? So then you're starting to see now we're white boxing and grey boxing, some of the existing vacant storefronts that are there. So we have to look at commercial revitalization through a different rubric than what's typically used. In most urban contexts. But we believe that with the different lenses, that we will have a strategy that will help spur commercial activity. And then ideally, I mean, at the end of the day, we need to continue to bring more people to tap right. We've said before this body not only during a budget hearing, but also in other settings that by the end of 2020, for the city of Detroit will be a city that the entire world is talking about, and I think we're ahead of schedule on that. And so, once we have people really coming down to every single one of these districts, they're going to want to shop here, they're gonna want to buy here and they're gonna want to locate here, and that's something that we're aggressively moving toward. And I appreciate that I will just state very quickly. You know, most of our colleagues, we talk about affordable housing, which is a big issue, and that has been on everybody's plate and we've all been pushing for that. But I asked her that question in that vein, because coming from Mr. I'm being familiar with light tech, and that's low income housing, by the way, because there's a difference between affordable and low income housing. I know you know that I'm not teaching you that. One of the things they look about look at is a walkability score. And so to attract developers to come here and build more housing. Retail is a very important piece when you visit DC. You visit Charlotte Columbus, a lot of Phoenix a lot of these other cities. Now there are building housing that are adjacent to businesses that are already there. And those developers are interested and sometimes it works in reverse where the housing comes and then obviously the retail follows it. But I think when you create great commercial corridors, it also encourages developers to come move here because again, that walkability score when you're trying to get a light tech is very important. And that means that you should be able to do everything within one mile of where you live. So with that though, I will be asking for a motion because we're talking about joy row specifically is what I'm talking about. I will be asking one of my colleagues to make a motion to put $250,000 into a retail corridor study for joy road and district seven. There is a motion on the floor. Are there any objections? Hearing that that accent? Shall we take it? Mr. Chair? Member Callaway,

I would ask that the pdds budget go into Executive Session attire budget.

Absolutely. I was gonna come to you. I have one more question but there is a motion though from member Callaway to put the entire PDD budget into Executive Session. Are there any objections? Hearing none, that action shall be taken. Last but not least I just want to talk about really quickly. Just when we talk about development here. Obviously you had an opportunity to travel many cities, even other countries from what I hear, to see how they're doing development within their cities. You know, oftentimes, we get hit sometimes based off of what we support relative to development. But then again, I go to cities such as a Charlotte, I go to a city such as a Phoenix, and they're very friendly, development friendly. They may not have so many tax incentives or abatements, but they do have some of those tools that they utilize. What in your opinion separates us, or that kind of holds us back right now. From even taking that next step. When we talk about development and I always viewed development as a great thing because I want to fix the neighborhoods more than anything. What if I can't generate income tax and I can't do that, but can generate revenue then we can't do that our general fund budget is only $2.6 billion. We can't do all of that in that budget. What do you see the difference? The difference is here in the city of Detroit and we're getting there to a good place. But what are those differences?

Do the chair you've, you know that's a thesis question. I'm not sure how much time we have but I will I will take a couple of stabs at that from research and as well as from lived experiences many of the cities that you've mentioned, I know for certain Phoenix and definitely where I spent my previous parts of my professional career in Houston, Texas. They're incredibly developer friendly. And some would say even, some would say overwhelmingly so. One of the challenges in the city of Houston was they were often lauded as being too developer friendly. And so commercial housing would have you entities would occur in those cities and engagement was minimal, if at all. It's in many respects the opposite of what we have here in the city of Detroit, where often it was not uncommon that you found out a new housing development or new store was going up when you saw a crane in your backyard. Right. And so, I do think that you know, some of our peer cities, err a little too hard on coddling and working with developers. But that is something that is a sheer difference. I also think something that we have to honestly address and try to work through is the connectivity challenge that exists right many of the cities that you mentioned, have a very, very preexisting robust, multimodal transportation system. And so we have to acknowledge that we're working to address connectivity in the city. But developers want to ensure that residents can get around to the things that we're trying to get to and so they want to see a system for people to move and be safe and and get to the desired locations, which is something that we see as well. And so that's why we're taking a real look at how we connect residents through a variety of means, because we know once people are connected, then they will be better able to get to the things that they want to see. Then thirdly, I think we have to revisit the form and the model of development right right now many of the locations that were either studying or implementing are along corridors, right. You just brought up the opportunity to look at Joy Road, we've wrench and liver noi, which is again an entire arterial, but those are very long. And when you have a long material that may be abutted by somewhat spacious residents areas, you're not going to get as much traffic as you may desire. Could you look at a node as opposed to an entire corridor could you have more success by the intersection of four strong corners going perhaps 100 yards deep on each cross section as opposed to one mile stretch? Right? So you're looking at different forms of commercial activity and then building out from that, and then one thing I can tell you for sure, and I can even give you a voluminous list of papers to bore you on some night is about the fact that development spurs development and so once we are able to begin to see a development along a node or a certain part of a corridor, it will help accelerate the adjacent areas and adjacent corridors. So we really just need to catalyze almost jumpstart that one part and then the adjacent area will spill over. I would argue that much of the activity that you see along live in Norway has led to the resurgence and housing prices and badly right just year over year, the costs in a home and Bagley has gone up over 30% And that's a very small neighborhood but it's walking distance delivering on the same thing could easily be said for some of the homes even in Green Acres. And so you're starting to see those kinds of opportunities when you are looking at different forms of development models, and then leveraging that to catalyze other parts of the area. And

that's glad to hear I mean I mean I'm glad to hear that because when we talk about property values going up, obviously, when you talk about generational wealth, your home should you know be valued as something higher and that is how you get to generational wealth. But glad to hear you touch on that again, stay and stick on development. I was you know recently with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver when he came to town and I wanted to ask him about the all star game that was the biggest question I asked what are the barriers that are going to prevent us from getting that we see the NFL Draft here now, but what would be some of the barriers and we had a pretty candid conversation with one another. Just talking about hotels, we talked about transportation and just some of those key components and so, but again, I appreciate your conversation on that and with that, if there are no other motions for Executive Session. I think we'll conclude this hearing as well. So thank you again, Director Brian, for coming down today.

Thank you for your time council members. Appreciate you.

Okay, and members, we will now go. We will now go directly into public comment. We I believe have 10 Hands online members. We have someone that here in the committee of the hall. We have 10 Hands raised I'm going to give two minutes for public comment. Our residents have been waiting all day long. I know that will take us into five o'clock but want to be respectful of their times as well. So I will turn it over to Miss blessed man. Good afternoon, ma'am.

Good afternoon, Mr. Chair. The first caller for public comment is Betty a Varner.

Miss Varner. you have two minutes for public comment. Please state your name for the record or proceed.

Good afternoon to all within the sound of my voice, Betty a burner, president of soda elsewhere black association was.

that's doing a thing that they can't. So please, as I always say, support my community and the projects that we have, I think quarter diba community park, want to say that 10 precinct community where the board of police commissioners evening community meeting is this evening. The 10th precinct is hosting and that's going to be at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. And that's on West Davidson corner of Dexter, and annex. I'm also asking that the current so especially count, council member, Dr. Hall, Councilmember Coleman, and Councilmember waters support projects, and I'm hoping that you can put on your schedules to be proud of a rise Detroit annual third resource fair. That's going to be August though, from 11 to three, I will be sending information to you and your staff. We're very proud of the work that we're doing. We want to show off our power and the show that we're taking care of business over here. We're a group of seniors with health challenges and a lot of stuff going on, but we still getting the work done. We thank you and appreciate the work that you're doing. God bless you. Thank you for this time.

God bless you. Thank you Miss Varner. next caller please.

The next caller. Mr. Chair is Ruth Johnson.

Ruth Johnson, you have two minutes for public comment. Please state your name for the record and proceed.

Ruth Johnson Community Development advocates of Detroit first of all, I would just say that I'm looking for presentations and handouts, any materials that are being provided during these departmental budget hearings be made available to the public and indicate to the public not just during the budget hearing, when where and how those are made. be made. Available both electronic and non electronic means. Secondly, I remain very concerned as well as our members about the public comment period. I received a text early this morning and I couldn't tell the person what time to expect to be available. And just having two minutes to comment on multiple department budget hearings. It's very difficult. I would ask for this council along with LPD and anyone else involved to provide adequate notice to the public about how public comment is being handled but just be aware of see Dad will be issuing a statement with recommendations with HR D I've asked about a current strategic plan about both multifamily and single family and what their performance metrics are. For the land bank. I'm interested in how do they measure if they measure effectiveness of their community education outreach and engagement for the general public for participants for people who encountered their customer service system, as well as their strategic planning process. I would also think that, beyond meetings and events and electronic communication, I could see the land bank doing much more because I get many inquiries. I'm not even asking and people are just very discouraged and needing more information about all the various programs that are under the rubric of the land bank. I wish I had time to say more. But I would ask that council members, listen to these questions and submit them in writing to the department officials. I thank you for your time.

Thank you Miss Johnson. next caller please.

The next caller is William M. Davis.

William M. Davis. You have two minutes for public comment. Please state your name for the record and proceed sir.

Good afternoon. We're men David's gonna be here. You may sir. Yes, let's start off with the Detroit building authority. And I think that that could be done much better and organized much better than what it is. I mean, they're spending too much money on Sal Khan, doing what they supposed to be doing. I think it was better before. Also, moving on to the land bank. The land bank is the most hated entity the city has and you should be getting a five year plan on how they're going to go from controlling almost 25% of the land in the city Detroit down to less than 5%. You know, if most of the land bank properties was turned over to private entities, you know the average cost we all pay for drainage B would go down. It'd be more revenue going into the general fund. It'd be very helpful if we could basically do away with the land bank and put those back into private citizens hands, you know the land bank is a shamble. In most neighborhoods. The properties just the most prominent is the land bank properties. The properties got the biggest grass growing is the land bank property. You know, the properties to get the most crime around is the land bank properties so you can improve the city of Detroit morale. And help a number of people think much more highly of everybody on this council. If you had a conservative plan to basically maybe not completely eliminate the land bank but eliminate 98% of what is involved in you know, it's it does a terrible job as poor you know, poor public relations with the community, and nobody likes the land bank. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Davis. next caller please.

The next caller is Casey Peller.

Casey Peller, you have two minutes for public comment please state your name for the record and proceed.

Good afternoon, Council. This is Casey Pilar. Can y'all hear me?

Okay. We can.

Thank you. Again. This is Casey. I'm a resident of District Four and Policy Manager at Detroit disability power. I'm here today. To ask council to work with the housing revitalization department to fund and house disabled Detroiters. First last year, there was $100,000 in our funds that were budgeted between crebio HR D and D C, G or D GC excuse me to jointly develop specific job training and placement programs for disabled people. We want to know have they been spared? How are they spent? What's the update there? We haven't seen anything come from this yet. Secondly, we request counsel to work with the housing revitalization department to identify strategies for increasing dedicated funding for the development of affordable accessible family housing in Detroit across existing and potential new programs. We need to be proactive to fill the gap and accessible housing stock especially those that would be suitable for families, including a sizable contribution to the Housing Trust Fund. Third, we'd ask you to work with HRD to identify strategies to increase resident engagement and funds for Homebuyer Assistance Programs. We want to see programs for disabled residents that offer things like no downpayment, low or no closing costs and fees and programs that would allow disabled buyers to include the cost of accessibility related modifications within their mortgage to make that whole process more accessible and attainable. Finally, they asked you to work with HRB and the mayor potentially Detroit at work to develop an accessibility focused construction employment pipeline to ensure that this growing accessibility, subject matter matter expertise in the housing space has grown to meet the demand for repair and accessibility. modifications in our city. Thank you and we invite you to please reach out with any further questions.

Thank you and we will also get the information to you you can contact our office. We put that amendment in the budget last year relative to Creo as well as DGC and we will be more than willing to get a update for you particularly on that. next caller please.

Mr. Chair, the next caller is Mr. Foster.

Mr. Foster you have two minutes for public comment please state your name for the record and proceed.

Mr. Foster Ronald Boston. First thing I wanted just to say was I appreciate your public service today. From the chair sticking over, and on the count of one on this day over a little bit and then allow us to get it's really appreciate that. But I am grateful for all the questions as I want this body to understand that the questions reflects the community's desire for change of coaches. And so these are not just quick fixes that we asked him for. We asked him for a change of coach it was within each of these departments. And when it comes down to land bank, I personally received a nuisance and abatement and I have all the documentation here went to court for it, but high grass not notice. So we think that the nuisance and abatement portion of the Land Bank Authority should be abated. They should not be having that part of it going on. The second thing when it comes down to Planning and Development. First I'd like to say two gentlemen spoke very intelligently. They seem to be willing and for maca, sir is is is his advocacy for the community. I'm glad to hear I'm really speaking out about changing culture and really wanting to be more involved with the community. I think that's a really, really good start. Um, overall, I think you guys are doing a really good job with this budget season. Second, third day. However, I would ask that you request these department heads have clear and concise goals. This is budget season. You can't just come in ambiguous about anything and not really have clear and concise goals. And to the land bank guy. I did hear him and I did highlight the return that's gonna be coming back. But I did hear I'm getting a little quiet about not knowing when it's gonna be coming back as a financial guy. Those are the most important elements of that department. So thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Foster. The next caller please.

The next caller is ADOS Detroit

ADOS Detroit. Do you have two minutes for public comment? Please state your name for the record and proceed.

Good afternoon and through the chair Carolyn Hughes may be heard. You may ma'am. Thank you. Thank you for the two minutes. My concern was with the gentleman who was from the planning department. You've got Paradise Valley and black bottom that belong to or the people that were harmed. It was not a multicultural kind of thing. It was a single culture. And so we have a Mexican town we have a a Chinatown. Why can't we create an African town or a black American town or an ADOS town? After all, we were the people who were injured and so we should decide what goes in that area. Not any other group. It's not it's not like you know, you're going to raise your hand and everybody's going to decide what happens. I think the people who were harmed should should decide what goes in there and they should get first preference for everything that is in that area. Since they were the people that were that were harmed HR D HR D has so many programs, please can we have some metrics? How successful are they because what I'm hearing is that shelters are a field and thank God the weather is going to be warmer soon, but we still need to and please stop saying on house and stay hope homeless. This it doesn't make it sound any better. Unless you're unless you've got something behind that definition. On housed the land bank is not conducive for the citizens in the city. So please can we rid ourselves of the land bank they have no value added to our community as a matter of fact, they are a bane to our community. They provide a lot of the blight and you actually think that they're going to we're going to accept them going out giving people blight, they should clean up their own backyard because they are destroying our city. And please mr. Darryl hall with Councilman dr. Hall please advocate for joy row Dori road has not seen any investment in 3040 50 years please and please note it let it be hookah lounges Thank you.

Thank you misuse my share the same sentiments I'm advocating for job roles. So that's where we're trying to do that. Sure. Recognizes member young very quickly,

very quickly. Thank you misuse. I just wanna let you know in terms of Africa town, I actually last year put ahead, actually putting the budget planning study I still think we're going through that process. So I'll give you update on that. But I just wanna let you know we are planning for the head that we are in the planning process in order for us to have Africatown because I totally agree with you on that. Thank you.

Thank you remember, yeah. next caller please.

The next caller is black bag room.

black bag. Ru you have two minutes for public comment. Please state your name for the record and proceed.

black bag rule Going once. black bag robe on twice. black bag ruwan Three times. Sir we are going to have to move on Sir you can please submit your comments to the clerk as well as our office. next caller please.

The next caller IDs and 711

Caller ending in 711. You have two minutes for public comment please state your name for the record and proceed

My name is Malik Shelton for the record. I patiently observed and listen to all of these different department heads and so forth come before Council. And at the end of the day the black majority residence industry you're still suffering in poverty and misery. Yet every group is getting a piece of the American Pie across this nation. Except for black Americans shout out to the late Councilman Eric Mays because he would speak out for his constituents and he didn't care who got offended? It's not enough people advocating for black people in Detroit as well as across the United States of America. And that's why if you look at every category that groups of people want to be in jobs, housing, medical care, high income, we are dead last. And if you look at all the categories that groups of people do not want to be in, like, high incarceration rates, homelessness, lack of health care, lack of quality homes, good education. Poor education. We as black Americans are first. Every racial or ethnic group in America speaks up for itself. And they do it boldly and unapologetically. Wow, our representatives need to start speaking up for us and coming up with policies and programs that benefit us and that will improve our condition because we are being slowly bamboozled, neglected.

Thank you. Next caller please.

The next caller ends in 124.

Color and again 124 You have two minutes for public comment. Please state your name for the record and proceed.

Yes, good afternoon. May I be her? You may ma'am. Okay, thank you. Well, today I give member waters the Eric Mays award. Because I have been coming to the city council for years talking about that nuisance abatement program. She's a first member I have heard bring this up. Now. I do not believe that. This is Oh, we're doing this because citizens can't advocate for themselves. No, I've heard it's a district managers that drive around with the land bank attorney and go around and decide to nuisance houses and I've been told they do it in areas. They weren't a gentrifying, unfortunately I live in one of those areas. And no, I they also say no, they don't just go after houses that are vacant, blighted, open to trespass like a bunch of land bank homes. No, I can prove her wrong on foreign they've been nuisance abated a guy who was living in his house. I've seen him nuisance a bit houses that were all boarded up looked better than land bank property. So it absolutely needs to also, land bank they didn't tell you all and also, the Eric Mays award goes to member waters for pointing out the members take Benson Sheffield, they're not here. They originally voted for that MOU that allowed the land bank to do nuisance abatement. They gave the 50% discount to city employees contract employees retirees and their parents siblings and children. I call it the Mike Duggan Friends and Family Award. And if you're garland Gilchrist whoever bought the house you never fixed up you don't have to follow the rules because 253 Merson and since 2018 It's still not fixed up. And that's like Easton see the back if you go down the alley kids could fall it I mean it's just out of control. And some of those people are not very transparent. They still will not be straight with me about how they screwed over my neighbor they sent her a sidelight postcard she applied for them right away. Then they sent her four separate denounce for Lazzeri took care of for over 10 years. misrepresenting.

Thank you very much Miss Warwick. next caller please.

The next caller ends in 167. Mr. Chair,

caller Hennigan 167. You have two minutes for public comment please state your name for the record and proceed.

Good afternoon everyone. My name is Vanessa peak. As I continue to say to this body dystrophy was not initially included as part of the Heritage Fund program, which meant that Detroit Land Bank Authority was given $5.23 million do I say assessments were made by them in my community to bring restoration due to the recession that occurred in 2008. As a result, we were left by the Detroit Land Bank Authority to die and they are the biggest nuisance nuisance in our community. I tried to work with Detroit Land Bank Authority to transform our community back to becoming a solid working class community with no success. They're the major contributors in my community, to my community now being attracted to slumlord square upon the poor. people acquire properties for purposes of conducting illicit activity, the attraction of strip clubs, liquor stores, hookah outlets, and marijuana dispensaries. They have a different program and rules in areas of Detroit undergoing justification. And as Councilwoman Marielle waters has previously mentioned in past conversations, we considered Detroit land bank, the boots, the boogeyman, I have been trying to restore my community and not getting the needed support from Detroit land bank. I have been calibrated again for voicing my opinion as long standing Detroiter, the walls in which the land bank conducts themselves and areas made just to justify are completely different than what is going on in district three and we need some help. I recently attended a form that they put on and put my supplies everyone in the room we have problems with Detroit Land Bank Authority, and this whole nuisance abatement program that authority to take people's homes shouldn't be taken away from them. I totally agree with Councilwoman bear waters. We need to start having

Thank you. And is that our last caller?

Those are all the callers Mr. Chair.

Thank you Miss blessed man. And thank you to committee members for your patience and sticking around as well. Seeing that there is no other business to come before us today for this hearing and just a reminder to the public. Our hearing start again tomorrow at 10am. We will have the Health Department, the Department of innovation and technology, the mayor's office and the library. So again, join us tomorrow at 10am for our budget hearing saying no other business to come before this committee, the expanded budget finance, Finance and Audit standing committee will stand at ease at the college cheer