Good morning, everyone The regular session of Tuesday, April the 15th, will come to order, and if the clerk will please call the roll.
Council member Scott Benson,
God Benson aye.
Council member Fred duha the third. Present
council member Letitia Johnson, present
council member Gabriella Santiago Romero.
Council member Mary Walters, present.
Council member answer Whitfield Callaway.
Council member COVID Young, the second
Council President, pro temp James Tate and
council president, Mary Shenfield, present. We have a quorum present, Madam President,
thank you. There being a quorum. Present. We are in session, and we will start off with our invocation. We have joining us this morning. Pastor Steven Westbrook, senior of Grace Bible chapel, who is joining us virtually, good morning, good morning, good morning. The floor is yours, and you can lead us in prayer
very well. I first want to thank the city council of Detroit for allowing me to have this honor and privilege to open the meeting in prayer. So let us begin in prayer. Oh Father God, we come to you this morning in thanksgiving and praise. We are thankful that You are the only true God Almighty, all present and all knowing. We thank you for the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. We thank you for the Spirit of God. We, thank you for the Word of God.
And we, thank you for the people of God,
Lord God. We, thank you for this day you have allowed us to see,
for waking us up this morning
in our minds, our right minds, having a reasonable portion of health.
And as we invoke your presence this morning,
we want to invoke your word. Oh God,
Your word says that Except the Lord build the house. They that build it labor in vain, except the Lord keep the city. The watchman wake it, but in vain. So Lord God, we invite you. We invite your presence. This morning, we ask, Lord God that you would grant us wisdom as we conduct your business. Lord God, your word also says that we are exhorted to make supplications prayers and intercession and giving up thanks for all men so Lord God, we pray for the citizens of this great city of Detroit, Lord we We pray that you will grant us peace, safety and prosperity. Lord we remember the less fortunate in our city, those that are homeless, those that are hungry. Lord God, we think of our first responders. We think of our teachers and all those that are on the front lines. Lord God, your word also says that we should pray for the kings and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty, For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God, our Savior. So Lord God, we pray for all those that in authority this morning. We think of Council President Mary Sheffield. We think of her entire staff, all the other council members and their families, Lord, we pray that you would watch over them, that you would lead God and direct them as they lead this great city, Lord God, your word also says that we are to commit our works unto the Lord, and our thoughts shall be established in all our ways. Lord, we are to acknowledge you as we further endeavor to lead not our own, not to lean to our own understanding. So Lord, as we come to you this morning, we pray that our plans, the plans of this Detroit City Council, even today's agenda, Lord, that we would keep you in the midst of all of our decision making, that we will honor you, Lord as we lead even in this agenda, Lord, take the lead, oh God, Father. We just pray that you would make the difference in our great city. And Lord, as we invoke your presence, Lord God, lead God and direct us as only you can. And we'll be careful to praise you for these things. We pray in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus, Christ, amen. Amen.
Alright. Thank you so much. Pastor Westbrooks, we appreciate you, sir, and please feel free to hang on as long as you can. If you have to jump off, we understand. But thank you for that beautiful prayer. Thank you. Thank you. All right, those who are wishing to make public comment at this time, please make sure you raise your hand, either here in the committee of a whole or online, virtually after our first presentation, we will cut off public comment again. If you are wishing to make public comment, please raise your hand at this time, as we will be cutting off public comment after the first presentation. All right, we have a presentation from the downtown Detroit partnership, and those who are with us can join us virtually.
Good morning. Thanks. Kind invitation to be here. Thank you council president and to this honorable body. So I have just sent a request to share my screen. I have a few slides for you today, and I will look forward to presenting on our upcoming summer in the parks season. Okay? You
music. So it's great to be here with you today. I'm David Cowan. I'm the chief public spaces officer at the downtown Detroit partnership, and together with Eric Larson, we have worked with many of you and your offices to manage a long standing $0.00 cent contract between DDP in the city of Detroit to manage program and operate 18 public spaces, primarily within the one square mile of our downtown, where we focus on place management, and we've really expanded this portfolio of spaces in the footprint over the past two decades, starting with Campus Martius Park, then during Detroit's bankruptcy, grew to six additional parks, and as of last year, have expanded to 18. So I'll show those here on the screen to orient everyone to the expansion of our work in partnership with the city of Detroit, as many of you know, the downtown Detroit partnership is a nonprofit, public private partnership that has grown our work. Our dedicated team produces and presents approximately 1200 events per year. 95% of those are open to the public and free for all to participate. The way we do that is that they're supported generously by philanthropy, by corporate partnerships and by earned revenue. And so for this upcoming season, I am really excited about the great lineup we have planned, and that just kicked off with a record breaking opening day where we saw a 32% jump in attendance at Grand Circus park this year, and as we transition from spring to summer, we're heading into an incredibly busy period. The Detroit Grand Prix weekend is coming up. We're bringing back the movie nights in the D program, dozens of free health and wellness programs, large scale concerts, live music, family fun days, to name a short few. We also have part of that programming, a ton of diverse vendor opportunities. We want participation from local small businesses, from pop up vendors all the way from markets to food carts and trucks. There are a ton of ways to participate, and we're always accepting applications to apply. We give preference to Detroit based, women owned, minority owned, vendors and suppliers, and there's a ton of information about that on downtowndetroit.org in addition to a pretty large portfolio of public events. We have a lot of shovels in the ground right now that we're very excited about. A ton of park improvements are also underway. I think two of those that I would share are going to be very transformational. Include Capital Park and a full renovation there, as well as Paradise Valley Park, which are receiving new amenities, furniture, trees and greenery, Wi Fi upgrades, those are all currently going in and will be ready for this summer. So one last note before I leave lots of time for your questions, I just like to remind everyone how campus marshes has been trans.
All right, think we may have lost you. I'm not sure if you muted yourself or you're froze, but we cannot hear you.
Am I back? Can you hear me now? Yep, there we go. Yeah. Great, perfect.
I'll just repeat this section, but I always like to remind you know, not only our team, but also the community, as to how transformational investments in parks and public spaces have been. This is a picture of Campus Martius in the late 90s, and just to see a space that was walkability so many surface lots that have now been developed and filled in, and the greenery that has come back to Campus Martius is something that we really are proud of and want to replicate in the network of parks throughout not only downtown, but as we look to support and help many of our neighborhood friends and partners. So I thank you for your time, and I'll pause there for any questions. Okay,
thank you so much for that presentation to make us aware of all of the activation that is forthcoming. As the weather breaks, we're excited to be able to participate in all these amazing, amazing spaces here in Detroit. Colleagues. Do you all have any questions, comments for DDP? Okay? Yes. Member young,
excuse me. Member Vincent,
thank you. Um, just want to say thank you to DDP, they've been a huge partner when it comes to the Motor City, Kwanzaa, Canara, um, they've been on the plank owners. They've helped financially. They've helped raise money. They have been great partners when it comes to cultural celebrations in downtown Detroit. Choices, we want to recognize you all for your support over the last three years and looking forward to another year of a successful Motor City Quantum. Thank you.
Thank you, Councilman to my
madam president, yes member Johnson, thank
you. I'd just like to request specifically the vendor application. I know there were a number of individuals who have reached out who are interested in becoming a vendor and seeing as though the application process is open. Now, I'd love to get that. I was trying to find it on the website, but if you can just share it with us, that would be appreciated Absolutely.
Well, yeah, and we accept applications on a rolling basis. When the programs do fill up, you know, we look at our expanded parks and other opportunities, but absolutely, I'll get you a list of that.
Okay, all right. Thank you so much. And if there are no additional questions again, thank you for the amazing work that you all do, and we are looking forward to the continued partnership and working with
you all likewise, appreciate it everyone, and thank you for your support. All
right, thank you so much.
Okay, the clerk will know. Member Young has joined us, and Member Santiago Romero has joined us. The clerk will still know. All right, the Journal of the session of Tuesday, April the first will be approved. There being no reconsiderations or unfinished business. We will proceed to the budget, Finance and Audit, standing committee for the budget Finance and Audit standing committee,
10 reports from various departments.
The 10 reports will be referred to the budget Finance and Audit standing committee for the internal operations. Standing Committee,
a report from the mayor's office.
The one report will be referred to the internal operations standing committee for the Planning and Economic Development standing committee,
six reports from various state departments.
These six reports will be referred to the Planning and Economic Development standing committee for the public health and safety standing committee,
16 reports from various state departments.
The 16 reports will be referred to the public health and safety standing committee. We will now move to the voting action matters under other matters, there are no items. Madam President, under communications from the mayor and other governmental officials and agencies,
there are no items. Madam President, okay,
we will call now for general public comment, and we're going to also cut off public comment as well. Everyone will have two minutes for public comment,
and we will start with Mr. Mill Polk,
good morning, council president and staff and other council members. Thank you for taking a second to listen to us. I'm representing no barriers to success. We are a Youth and Family Services Agency that are offering to provide additional services to the citizens of the city of Detroit. With me are Mr. Richard Harrison from choice Property Services and one of our young people that has become a successful entrepreneur in his own right. Diamonte Redmond, and we'll take a second and just let you guys know what we're doing in the community of what we're offering. Mr. Harris,
okay, so just really quick. Okay, so we stop your time and start. Mr. Harris, okay, go right ahead.
Good morning all. We are very excited to share what we have been doing in terms of the joint venture between no barriers to success and choice Property Services, just give you a little bit about our background. We are LED inspection, led risk assessment and lead abatement firm, and we also offer Home Improvement and remodeling. We are here again, excitedly to share that our joint venture is bearing fruit in terms of training that we've put forth from from some of the young men represented behind us. These gentlemen are all carpenters, painters, masonry, professionals, drywall and these are the gentlemen that we'll be leaning on to carry forth these skills into a new era. And with that said, we'd like to pass it on to Mr. Diamonte. Redmond,
okay. Mr. Redmond, good
morning, council members. Good morning.
I would like to thank no barrier to success. This is more than a program. It is a movement that cultivates leadership, builds community wealth, reinforces the values that strengthen neighborhoods. Through it, I've grown both professionally and personally. Today, our team offers a diverse range of skill and services under one roof, some including Fire Restoration, interior renovation, remodeling, HVAC, electrical and plumbing, as well as exterior repairs such as porches, roof, roofing and siding. Now it's about lighting the path for those coming next, ensuring the doors we walk through stay open,
and that opportunity keeps flowing through our community.
Thank you for your time and support.
Okay, thank you. Thank you all for coming down. And I know we'll hear from more. We'll hear from more of your group here today, so we will continue. And thank you so much for coming down. Uh, Mister Cunningham,
good morning, everyone on the sound of my voice, good morning, good morning. Good morning. Um, 3134449114313444914313444914,
that number was made so you can remember it and on Facebook, not enemy. Again. On Facebook, not enemy. I like everyone to know there's a DDOT meeting, input meeting this Thursday. If you could send a intern or anyone you can send to these meetings, people feel like they're being listened to. The system is still lackluster. There's a lot of money being put into the system, but it really makes the folks feel like they are cared for when those council members staffers show up. And you guys have done that in the past. We did a bus ride along with former council president until Jenkins yesterday, none of you are new to that. You guys have done bus ride alongs, and we appreciate it well. It went well. So if any candidate would like to do a ride along on your own or with me, you can always hit me at 313-444-9114,
currently, if you can keep me, my mom's in prayer, as always ask, and my vehicle is down. It's been about a couple days, so asking God what He wants me to do. I've saved up some money myself, and I want to thank those that have donated, because I give out the hand warmers, the gloves in the winter time and the bus tickets, bus tickets, bus tickets, bus tickets. It's it's in high demand, and there's people that are in need. And you can also, you know, vicariously help others through me. Those bus tickets get to the right places the right people. And I'd like to thank you guys, and if you haven't done it, send help. So I can, you know, give out more bus tickets and get another outreach vehicle. Thank you for your time. Everybody take care.
Thank you so much. Who is well, Mr. Cunningham.
Malik Shelton, followed by Melissa. Love.
Good morning. Malik Shelton, first of all, this is directed to council president, Mary Sheffield. The last time I was here, I spoke about the blatant violation of the Detroit city charter, section two dash, excuse me, section seven. Dash 2017 dash 201 in regards to the questions that you were asking the health department, you had a lot of questions pertaining to health I submit that if the city administration was following the charters section seven, dash, 201, all those questions that you asked would have been answered. In fact, you're over the fifth district according to city charter section 7201, you're supposed to have a health committee which is keeping you informed about the health of the city, and there's also supposed to be an annual full, comprehensive report that's released by the Health Department about or stating the condition of the health of this city, also The City of Detroit, I believe, is in violation of Title six of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, because it keeps overlooking the residents who are primarily black, the majority resident this city. It's, it's, I don't understand how it could be done. It's like having a fish in a barrel and you're shooting into the barrel. You keep missing the fish. How can you keep issuing all these contracts and giving them to outside entities? For example, Stalin Dean excavating and demolition LLC. They are not, they're lying. They are not headquartered in Detroit. They give an address. They have a little sweep that they hired. That's the oldest game in the book. They have been, and they are, for the last 20 or 30 years, headquartered in Dundee, Michigan. They have the payroll in Dundee Michigan. The owner, a Caucasian man, is on video bragging about he started in Dundee Michigan, and he still in Dundee, Michigan. But every time I look at this, these line items, I keep seeing him on there getting demolition contracts. And so again, Detroit is like a bucket with a bunch of holes in it. The resources keep going everywhere, but we're supposed to go, Mr.
Shelton, that is your that is your time, sir. Thank you so much. And I did reach out to the health department. They do submit an annual report on the latest version director Raza Wilson to be in our fourth it over to you. We can go back and forth, but any other question concerns you have, we can continue to address offline. Got a health committee. I will continue to ensure that, yeah, and that's based on the health department, but based on what my conversation was with her, she was very confident that things are being followed. Where's your health committee? Okay, thank you so much. Don't have one. All right, thank you so much. All right. We will continue with Miss Melissa love, followed by Mark Lockridge,
good morning to whom it may concern. I Melissa love did not vote. November 2020, or August 2024, and I will not be silenced. I come here to a special express my issue to the public that Voter Fraud is real. Um, the evidence. And I will continue to call and come in person until I receive justice. James Tate, why would I call secretary of state when one of your city members, Andre Gilbert, the deputy city clerk, said I walked in and voted for the August 2024 election, so that let me know y'all the enemy and My fight is with y'all the corrupted elected officials who stole my vote twice. With that being said, I won't be silenced, and justice will be served. Y'all was bold enough to vote for me, and I will be bold enough to stand in my truth. I always registered to vote it, but I never voted. Thank
you. Thank you. Thank you,
Madam President pro tempore Tate, thank
you. Miss, love. And as I mentioned before when I spoke with you, welcome you to come down. But when you mentioned the clerk that that individual does not work for city council, that is a separate entity that has no that we have no jurisdiction over. And so the reason why I did direct you to the Secretary of State is because that's the entity that does those investigations, and so I will continue to provide you with that information, as I told you, I will help you and give you some phone numbers. But the reality is, we do not have the ability to reprimand punish the deputy clerk who provided you with whatever information that you received and so willing again to have a conversation with you on the side, but we'll always welcome you to come back. You're always welcome. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President, thank you. Pro Tem,
Miss, Miss Logan, followed by Mister Copeland,
good morning. I'm here be. Your
microphone is off. Oh,
good morning. I'm so sorry, Miss Logan. Mr. Lockridge was first by Miss Logan, yeah, sorry about that. Mr. Locker sorry.
Thank you so much. Good morning. Council President, honorable council members, I wanted to make a brief statement on behalf of Miss good speed, who couldn't be here today. So my name again, Mark lockers, Deputy Auditor General, Office of the Auditor General, her statement. Certainly, it was historic event in 2012 when voters choose chose to amend the city's charter to require city council to establish a proportional funding method to fund the city's oversight agencies. It was historic in 2022 when this honorable body passed a resolution establishing a working group group to assist the council in drafting a proportional funding ordinance. In 2023 Council President requested the law department to draft the ordinance, and in June 2024 the historic proportional funding ordinance was passed by this honorable body. Now today, in 2025 this honorable body has the awesome opportunity to make today another historical day in the city of Detroit by adopting the proportional funding resolution that sets forth a proportional, targeted and equitable funding system for the oversight agencies. So in closing, and on behalf of Laura Goodspeed, Auditor General and the entire Auditor General Staff, we say thank you for your continued support of the work that we do in the Office of the Auditor General. Thank you very much.
Thank you so much. Appreciate you,
right, Miss Logan, followed by Mister Copeland,
good morning. I'm here to I'm here because I love Detroit.
I'm invested in Detroit.
I worked and played here. I was born here. I bought a house here and raised a family here for 20 years. My frustration stems from the continuous and apparently deliberate over assessment of property taxes and city county officials refusal to reimburse reimburse those taxpayers harmed, as if it's not the right thing to do. Southwest Detroit faced a horrible disaster with the water main break. However, they were immediately reimbursed lended credit totaling 20,000 to $40,000
per home
in monetary compensation, costing your city more than five ten million because Gary Brown stated it's the right thing to do, bypassing all red tape, all legal processes
didn't matter.
But when our homes were burdened by a tax debt that we did not owe, some homes foreclosed upon without due process, we were not afforded the same goodwill. Instead, we still suffer the consequences of the city's neglect. So what's the right thing to do for us as tax payers, as voters who elected you guys to represent us? What you gonna do? Thank you.
Thank you so much. Miss Logan.
Mr. Copeland, good
morning, council members.
I'm a lifelong Detroiter, born here, raised here,
my issue is about this Detroit land bank situation. It seems like they run amok and they have no autonomy, there are full autonomy and no accountability for anything. I went, I tried to go through this program, through the land bank called the
if you live in a home, you could buy the home back.
Midway the program, land bank ghosted. Never heard anything back from the land bank, never got any contact from the land bank. Went to the land bank. Nobody knew anything. Time passes by, same thing again. Just went down to the land bank yesterday. They told me they couldn't do anything for me, that I have to move out of my home that I've been in for 55 years. So my question to you is, what is being done with this land bank situation. I've heard rumors that they are not being funded for the new fiscal year. I don't know if there's two or not, but I went to several places for resources. They basically told me, with the land bank, it's like a hands off process. They don't want to help, they can help. And by me not owning the home, having the deeds of the home, services are not I can't get any services. So as I said, now I'm trying to figure out where I'm going to go, what I'm going to do. Because my mother purchased this home back in 1970 she's passed away, she's gone on and I need help. I need resources, and I haven't been getting any.
All right. Thank you so much for coming down. And I'm not sure what area the home is and where you reside, but if we can get your information and make sure why you're here, we connect with you to the two at large council members and the person that represents you, so that we can see how we can better assist you with the land bank. We all know that there's a lot of challenges with the Detroit Land Bank Authority. We did reduce our our subsidy to the land bank in this upcoming fiscal year, but they're still operating because they had a surplus, and so they're still in existence currently, and we're constantly trying to figure out better ways to provide more transparency and accountability to the Detroit Land Bank Authority. So while you're here, let's get your information and connect you with the appropriate council members to assist you and see how we can help you. Okay, I appreciate it. Okay, you're welcome. Thank you so much, sir. We'll get your information and get an understanding of what area the property is in
good morning.
First, I would like to thank you for the legal aid that you had provided for me the last time I was here. Since then, I've learned that most of the laws for housing tends to mean to protect the landlord, I've come to believe that my management system do not fear Legal Aid, as well as City's inspectors for property management. A couple of examples, court costs are legally being charged to tenants without being norm. They have, they have the right to regularly raise rent for operational costs, but nothing is being fixed. My unit, after I left you, my unit was inspected. I called the city inspector. They felt 913, non compliances. They had 30 days to fix them. It has been 40 days. Nothing has been done. I called the inspector supervisor, and still no results. I was told that the city is aware of these conditions, whether that's true or not. I just want you to know that I can't just get up and move. So I'm going to fight for my apartment, but I do need you guys to help me.
Thank you again for coming down, and we're definitely committed to continue to work with you, to support you. Okay, madam president, yes, Council Member, thank you, Madam President, thank you for coming down. Ma'am. I'm not sure if you know of an organization called We the People Michigan. It's a statewide organization. You are completely right. This state does not have laws that protect tenants. They do tend to lean in support of landlords, and those laws come from legislation at the state level. There is an organization, as I mentioned, we the people Michigan. They are organizing with tenants and residents across the states, because that's what needs to happen. So if you wouldn't mind, my staff is out sick today, but I will go over and I'll give you my card. I want to connect it to the organization, because what needs to happen is legislative change at the state level, and needs to come from people telling their stories, their frustrations, the issues. Because when it comes to our our table, we are limited by the state laws, so I'll connect it to the organization. Continue to tell your story, continue to get other people engaged, because we need to organize to be able to change those laws at the state level. So thank you for coming down. I will give you my card right now. Okay, okay. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Thank you.
Good morning. Good morning, everyone. I am coming before you again to find out because of the city of Detroit, I thank you again. President council woman, Mary Sheffield, for helping me to raise the Juneteenth flag. So this year, also we're going to, you said we're going to raise that again. Is it going to be on a Saturday or on Juneteenth day or of the first month, as I would love to have it flown for the entire month of June, but I know we have other places flown, but I just wanted to date. And also I wanted to know, secondly, I wanted to know about the Martin Luther King statue that sits here in in heart classes, that's yelling across to Canada. I'm still wondering who is the art? Who was the artist for that? Who did that, that famous statue, so we could have it turned back to United States. Also, I know we, we still talked about the, the Martin Luther King Memorial Park. Also, when it was going to be start the renovation, because this is a 45th year of the Martin Luther King Memorial Park that's on 12 Rosa Park Boulevard and West Grand Boulevard, when with the reconstruction for it to be started.
All right. Thank you, Miss Mayberry, and we will continue to work with you to get those questions answered for you. Okay, okie dokie, I'm still waiting. Man, we will. I'm going to be speaking with Director Perkins. I know some progress has been made, as you've seen over there at the park, so I just know that they have more plans to continue. I'll get a timeline for you and to make sure I update you. Okay, all right,
I'm just trying to get my people ready so we can celebrate and I thank you so much. Thank you. We appreciate
you. Dori Rios, we're gonna play not with Zippy Nia and Devon dog was my name. Hello, all. My name is Dory Rios. I am the tribal Chairwoman for the natawa sippy Huron band of the Potawatomi. Um, thank you, honorable council members for allowing me to speak on this important matter. Today, the tribe is being represented by several members, including our elders, our tribal council members and veterans in consideration and hbps deep cultural and historical ties to the Detroit region and the Fort Wayne burial mound we highlight over 12 years of consultation with Detroit regarding issues surrounding this for Historic Fort Wayne mound, while yatinang, or what you refer to as Detroit, is, is a very significant homeland for our ancestors. We are descendants of the waiatang bodewami, the Detroit Potawatomi, who are relocated to the Huron River Valley after broken promises were drafted on bad pieces of paper, or what the federal government refers to as treaties. We became later known as here on Potawatomi, and to present day, natawa sippy, Huron band of the Potawatomi in 2014 nhbp, reclaimed and repatriated ancestral remains and burial items from the spring Wales mound group. This further solidified our connection to the Fort Wayne mound in this Detroit region. Our primary goal is to assure the long term responsibility of protecting and preserving the Fort Wayne mound, ensuring that our ancestors have a resting place and are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. Our ancestors are the reasons why the four of us sit here today. Transferring this deed is a necessary step toward correcting a historical injustice, and represents a victory for not just our tribe, but our tribes with historical ties to this region. The transfer of this deed marks the beginning of a renewed era of collaboration and engagement between nhbp and wa yatanan Detroit, what and this is truly what a government to government relationship should look like. I want to thank all of those who have supported us and this endeavor, and look forward to working together to preserve this important cultural site. We would like to present you with our tribal nations. Tribal flag. Nice. Me watch.
Beautiful. Thank you. Applause.
Yes, Director Perkins, okay, okay, thank you so much.
Okay, remember young
I just want to say to Chairman Rios and to the entire tribe of Potawatomi, thank you so much for your leadership here. Thank you so much for doing this. I know this has been a very long time coming, and we all know that this was it still is native land, and we are very familiar not just with the genocide that took place in order for this country to be built, but also the spiritual connection that you have to this land. And so there is nothing that we could give to repay you for what you have lost. I think that this is a good first step, and it's very rare in government that you are a part of a policy that will outlast your life, but this will, and so this has been one of the tremendous honors of my life to be able to be a part of this. So I say thank you for your sacrifice, and continue to keep doing the good work for you and for future generations to come. Thank you
all right. Thank you so much. Member, young members, Santiago Romero, thank you, Madam President, good morning. Thank you all so much for being here. I represent to you. I am the city council member in District Six, which encompasses Fort Wayne. We are we in the past, have tried to pass an ordinance that recognized indigenous peoples day as a paid holiday. Continue to push that, if the need still stands, really I'm here to offer my partnership my support. My staff is going to come down Trish just to meet with you. We work very closely with our indigenous community here locally, and we think it's important that we do more education, more cultural events to really highlight the fact that you are here. Have always been here, and we need to be reminded of that. So just want to thank you all offer my partnership and let you know that Trish is on her way now to meet with you as well for us to find ways to be able to continue to support you. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President, okay, thank you so much.
REO Boonstra,
good morning Council, and thank you for your time. My name is Ariel Boonstra, and I'm tribal council treasurer of the Nada. Was happy here in band of the Potawatomi, and I am here in support of the transfer of the Fort Wayne burial mound deed to the natawa Cepi here in band of the Potawatomi, because of the cultural and historical ties the mound has to the tribe, this is more than a burial mound to us, it's a sacred burial mound for our ancestors. The recognition to the mound to the Natomas epi here in band of the Potawatomi was made long ago, and the transfer of the deed is
the next step. Mcque,
thank you so much.
Robin Elkins,
good morning. No Robin, I just I can't express to this council how much myself and our entire tribe appreciates all of your efforts in dealing this over so that we can get back to our relatives that were once here and and I'm sorry
this, this is, this is something
that's been so many years in the making, and it's actually kind of hard to believe that it's finally happening, of course, upon approval. And I just, I just want to express my deepest gratitude for allowing us the opportunity to be here today, for allowing us the opportunity to basically, kind of come home and look forward to the continued relationship that we have with this with this council and the city of Detroit team. Thank you.
Thank you so much.
And Homer mendoka,
Madam council president and fellow council members, how Bucha Mano Waban Jack, that is me saying hello and good morning to all of you. I am Homer, Austin, Mando condition,
Devon Douglas, Ohio, mcwitch,
we stand together before you today to express our grateful spirit of our mano benaz Win way of life as our grandfathers did before us, today's action of this government to government relationship for the historical side of the Fort Wayne Barrow mounds is profound. Is a profound act of love, respect, bravery, honesty, truth, humility and wisdom,
grandfather, grandmother, smiles, All of them, ours and yours with this tribute, I offer my remaining time as a moment of silence to all that were here before, during and after. We were all connected in this moment of time, a How you
miigwech,
thank you. Thank you all for coming down. Thank you,
and we will take that item up first. So we're going to take that item up first once we get through public comment, because I know you all came down for that item, so we'll take that up first before we proceed with our agenda. After public comment, okay, thank you. Thank you. All right. Ronald Foster, you
Good morning, President. Just want to say a few things. I because I come down and I speak about issues, doesn't necessarily mean that you guys are doing bad. What I'm simply asking for is to do better in a lot of areas, and that should not be met with any type of rebuttals. Um, I want to speak today on desperation. Desperation is the state of despair, which is a complex emotion state that arises from a sense of unmet needs, despair and often perceived lack of control over one circumstances, the feeling that you have when you are in such a bad situation that you are willing to take risks in order to change it. Now, just last week, I spoke about my community, one of my communities in Puritan and no sort of then I leave there, the young man that I mentor to and try to be proactive with, was involved in a bank robbery roll all the way down, crashed out. But the importance is, is that I speak about these things here. I speak about things that you don't know directly. Some people speak about statistics and data. Before you could get to any statistics and data, you got to have raw data. What Mr. Foster bring down here is raw data. It has to be taken into account. I'm sick and tired of seeing young black men and people at desperation and risk. And the powers that be are not listening or or contipulating to some other powers, you know, and, um, I just want to acknowledge I'm not perfect. I thank God for the opportunity to do everything that I do. I thank God to be able to speak down here. I thank God to be able to stand up for other people, to have the courage to come down here and check people that need to be checked and to bring about change. We want change here.
Thank you so much. Mister Foster,
okay, that will conclude all of our in person public comment, and we will turn now to those who have joined us virtually.
Morning. Madam President, for teen hands zoom for public comment, and the first caller is William M Davis.
Mr. Davis, good morning. Good morning. Can I be heard. Yes, you can.
I'd like to start off again by saying the city of Detroit needs to do something help city Detroit retirees, especially as it relates to the annuity clawback. You know, that was money that we set aside for our children and grandchildren. They could be helping to enrich our family and helping to encrypt increase our generation of wealth, you know. So I think that's urgent. You know, many city of Detroit retirees were more dedicated than some of the young people to represent the city of Detroit today. I know myself. I work for the city from 1978
to February of 2012
the last time I called in sick was
october 20 I mean, October 1992 when I was a board of Police Commissioner, I never missed a session. I still haven't missed a session. You know, I think that some of you young people need to show a little bit more dedication and work harder, because city, Detroit, city council people make like five times with the average city, Detroit retiring makes. You know, we haven't had no increase in years. The mayor makes over 10 times he has his his increase has been over 45% but we have not received a penny. I think it needs to be a greater effort to help city. Chart retirees. We are, there's enough of us in the city, Detroit and our kids, grandkids and family members and friends that we can make a difference. Come this August primary, y'all should remember that, because we are going to remember those who help and those who choose not to. Thank you.
All right. Thank you. Mr. Davis,
the next caller is mik a Williams.
Nicole a Williams, the floor is yours two minister, general public comment.
Hi, good morning. Can I be heard? Please? Yes. Who running the city of Detroit? Technology, social media. I heard it was young people, and they're becoming a little unprofessional on social media. The City of Detroit is supposed to have a professional firm contract or company running our social media that is very important over all of our channels. It is not to be used to be made fun of. It is not to be used to make no type of response. Um, someone had mentioned rebuttal, and let me just be honest with you, Mister Charles Brooks about the land bank. I don't mean to talk about other residents, but he was a dugganite in the first election, supported him, sold the city out to white supremacy and fascism and became a separatist. Told all of us grassroots, if we didn't, we didn't get down with the new revolution of what they were doing in that time. 2013 was a very divisive year, and Mister Brooks was a part of it. Now he's screaming that his property is being taken. He went on social media with the cream of BS, Lisa Carter and the hungry black man and these outsiders. And, you know, he sold out once again for a deal, and people compromise, and they sell out other neighbors, so we can't get no justice. The land bank needs to be dissolved. This funded and disbanded immediately, because not just Mr. Brooks, there's other people that's caught up in the situation. They get no justice. However, Mr. Brooks used social media and abuses it for his own purposes. I've been quiet about this, but I just could not take it anymore. The exploitation that's going on in the city and that social media need to be investigated. If it's teenagers running it. That's worse than Doge and Elon Musk in the muskrats. Next
Caller, please. The
next caller is phone number ending in 169,
caller ending in 169, the floor is yours. You have two minutes. General public comment,
hello. Can you guys hear
me? Yes.
Great. Great. What up though, what up though? What up though? I just um, want to say thank you all for praying for Cunningham. Um, thank you for donating money. Cunningham needs a new outreach vehicle slash taxicab. Cunningham ain't fully broke. I'm sure he has a couple of 1000 to start off with, and I have been looking on Facebook marketplace and for a decent use. Van is about $7,000 clergy, church, folk, Council, persons, everybody, please send help. Touch not God's anointing, neither do his servant, Cunningham. No harm. Please help him. Don't hurt him. Don't let karma plague you all. Again. I've seen on Cunningham's facebook page. See on tail Jenkins rode the busses and Cunningham endorses No. Hey, I repeat Cunningham endorses No, I can see that. Thank you for my time.
Thank you. Next Caller, please. The next caller is Galaxy S 22 ultra alright. Caller,
the floor is yours. You have two minutes? General public comment, yes.
Good morning. First of all, I want to thank Steven. I want to thank mister Steven for coming down there and give us all the information we need, because we haven't. We not receiving them from you guys, you know. Second of all, the health department is a joke. When we went through hell with these fumes over here, they did nothing. The state had to come in and find them over $100,000 which they gave us, nothing. You guys supposed to be fighting for us. We put you guys in office to get a paycheck. Y'all didn't put us in office. That's our tax dollar. We you guys get paid with. But when we come down there for help, we can't get it because you give it to outsiders. They give contracts our tax dollars. And it's sad that we put black folks in position to help us in the city of Detroit and I our neighborhoods is terrible. You throw crumbs at us in our neighborhood and think we supposed to be happy we didn't get none of the opera money. You build stuff. We need stuff for our homes and our street. We don't need different things built that that we don't go to y'all just say, the hell with the seniors in the community. And then you sitting up here and running again, I want to see what y'all have to offer when you to us, when y'all run again, it's just so sad. We have to accept the BS from down there with the people we put in position to protect us. And it don't make sense. How can you guys go home and sleep at night. Where's your conscience? You know, Duggan get everything he want. Dan Gilbert buying everything downtown. But our community look like hell over here. Like I said, y'all give us crumb and and think we supposed to be jumping for joy. Christ has messed over us. We got fumes in our system and we inhaled, and now y'all say it's fixed, yeah, because it's in our body and we got certain sickness over here. Alright,
thank you. Next Caller, please.
The next caller is we see you, alright? Caller,
the floor is yours. You have two minutes general public
comment, um, good morning and through the Chair, may I be heard? Yes, it's interesting. We get no comment from anyone when Mr. How, how well calls and talks about the health conditions. And we know that the President, the council president, is not honest. She said you're getting a 13th check. These people haven't seen a 13th check, and you were told you weren't getting a 13 check by OC, oh, fo, this is, this is become some somewhat of a a circus here. This body on the agenda today has 20.6 to 20, 20.9 for $13 million to go to Ohio and other areas. I asked Mr. Bail, what are the 15 points that these inspectors are supposed to be inspecting, and what makes them qualified to inspect these 15 points? Mr. Hollowell, you, I'll draw your attention to 20, 23.9 which is some guy named Henry Green who's up for legal representation and and demoflication. What is going on? Why would be said, need someone to be indemnified, and why would I legally represent them something seriously wrong going on with the council? I want to know who's going to fund this $13 million and what Mr. Bell tells us is he's going to get them from violations, which means we need to have a fiscal impact statement before you do anything with these contracts. What is the source of the revenue on 2020, dot 11, the special revenue. I see this a lot. What's the source of the special revenue? And then I see Construction Code, funding, what? What is all of this? This, this goodly good that we see on the agenda. 20 dot 16 is transportation, but we're going to divert all of those funds to the Greenway. And I want to, I want to call your attention to 20.5 to 25.1 Oak Grove, also Saint Paul ame, which was the first mega church in America, and the first church built by black people from scratch.
Next Caller, please.
Apologies. The next caller is the A Varner,
the floor is yours. Good morning to all within the sound of my voice, I'm Betty, a Varner, president of DeSoto Ellsworth black Association, aka Diva. Diva stands for D is for dedicated. E is for involving. B is for believing. A is for always we believe in our community. We are still seeking help for our finger corridor, funding for we are looking for help to improve our finger corridor from Finkel and liver noise to Finkle in Wyoming. If there's anyone within the sound of our voice, my voice, that can help us with funding. We're working with the city of Detroit. There's some great ideas for that corridor, but we need funding monies. The bottom line, I think a quarter is not being funded, as well as other quarters throughout the city of Detroit, black clubs, associations that are working in their community to improve their community. We need help. I'm not only advocating for my organization, I'm speaking for the other organizations. We need help. We have created a park in our community, the diva Community Park, in the memory of our late vice president. She wanted a park in this area, especially for the children, to get them off the streets from playing in the streets. We have had theft. We had a beautiful park, we had a fence, we got the neighborhood beautification grant, and now we've had two thefts. So now we are seeking help to get boulders for our part. Thank you for this time. I appreciate
Thank you, next caller, please. Next caller is Margaret Scarlet Maddox
Margaret Scarlett. Maddox floor is yours. General public comment. You
are you there?
Morning? Yes, Ma'am. Okay,
today, presentation, I
is our
Okay,
the question about the ADA
and in The guys, universal
design
approach.
Of
the
city, and
again.
Thank you.
Thank you, Miss minox. Next Caller, please.
Next caller is Darren McCluskey.
Caller, the floor is yours. You have two minutes general public comment.
The tennis responsibilities, pay the rent. It's outlined in the lease, right? Lastly, keep in mind you you'll never know who's on the other end of the phone. Okay, if you're taking floor and you're getting these phone calls about rentals, be careful how you answer, can
you guys hear me?
We can hear you now.
Hi, Council. Can you hear me? We can hear
you now. Yes, okay, great, sorry
about that. Okay, um, Detroit is a bucket of holes. That's a very interesting concept in these solar neighborhoods. It's not bridging neighborhoods, owner occupants are getting 90 to 100k plus, likely moving out of the city. Light stars, Boston, Bay sales, Mar law firm is in Farmington Hills. $8 million you're working with 12,000,002 thirds of it goes out to Farmington Hills, and there's a the lead, the lead attorney who is representing most of these cases is the Ann Arbor. So lots of the money for these solar projects are flowing right out of the city. And the craziest part is, if you guys actually spent this money the right way on land that you already own, you could build an order of magnitude, maybe 10 times as much solar farm land, and produce a lot more energy, not only for the city buildings, but for residents that are in need. I don't know why that wasn't even considered, and it's probably because this was rushed through so quickly. So the Greenfield club block club meeting yesterday, there was a lot of information given out about the use restrictions being removed. It looks like you guys are gonna have to file eminent domain lawsuits on hundreds of people to get those restrictions removed if they don't take your $100 offer. Just curious how long that will take, how much more expensive that will be, legally, to do all of this. In the meantime, everyone's welcome to go to Detroit solar scam.com. Thanks. All
right. Next Caller, please.
The next caller is not that Karen. All right.
Caller, the floor is yours. You have two minutes general public
comment, hello, hello, good morning. Um, yeah, as they life long Detroit resident, and also a 30 plus year civil servant. And make no mistake, if you working for the city, you are a civil servant normally out of your status, whether you're on council or you're clearing the alleys of weeds and debris, you're still a civil servant, nonetheless. So I agree with everything that Miko Williams and William Davis and Carol Hughes have said thus far, because it seems to me like you guys are doing a much better job now, but it is a lot closer to election time than it was when you started. And there's a vast difference in your attention and your remarks that I can see. I'm sure it's not just me. So I just want you to know that your actions are noted, and I'm sure I'm not the only one that sees the difference. I think it would be great if you could somehow find it, a way to help finance the parking fees of one that would want to come down to the meetings. Being on a fixed income is hard. Sometimes, I think I was down there for less than 20 minutes and it was $16 almost $1 per minute, a little bit different. So perhaps we could put that on the agenda, and you don't have to pay for all of the parking, but perhaps substitute some of the fees that that everybody's making off of the city residents that want to come down and voice their opinion. That's it for today. Thank you.
Thank you. Next Caller, please.
The next caller is the hero Ahmed.
Caller, the floor is yours two minutes to Don public comment. Good morning.
My nightmare started with a leaking roof. For over 13 years of Mayor Duggan reign, I went to him every year for help all along while battling multiple sclerosis, struggling up and down my two story home stairs with rain catching rain water, not in buckets, but storage bins fall while the water collapsed, ceilings and every room upstairs I slept with one eye open. There are no ceilings in my home now. The wood floors are warped, the walls are bowed and severely damaged in every room, all while, while being charged and taxed illegally, $30,000 and at the mayor's land value tax press conference member, Coleman Young the second, told me the reason why he wouldn't help me get life saving home repairs was because I criticized him in public comment, which he never denied saying to me, and which I have a witness heard him and told him he was wrong for saying that to me, he simply said. Coleman Young simply said that was supposed to be kept in confidence. Home Repairs illegal taxes and foreclosures are at the root of the housing crisis, homelessness and mental health. So tomorrow, at 3pm Coalition for Property Tax Justice will hold a press conference online, on Facebook, so go to Coalition for Property Tax Justice for the press conference at 3pm and I just like to humbly demand that Coleman Young, the second apologized to me because he tried to make it look like I was lying I got home or I got a Roofing Repair, but the the structural damage in my home, he has not helped me with, and the reason why He won't is Thank you. Member, young,
Miss Ahmed. I love you and I appreciate you, but we keep going back and forth like this, and I really just want to sit down and talk with you about this, because I really want to help you out, and I know that from the story that you told that you heard right now, and as you already mentioned, I've already with through my office, have appropriated through the Community Health Corps and through housing revitalization department, over $21,000 to you, $15,000 which was the Max from the housing revitalization department, and 6000 From the Community Health Corps. But I really don't want to, like, continue to keep having this conversation, because I really just want to talk to you. You know, it's kind of like that Jody song. Can I just talk to you? You know, I really wanted to sit down with you and work this out. I mean, I feel this is something we can get in the room and discuss. And, you know, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, and I'm sorry if I did, but I remember in that conversation, the last thing I said was, just call my office. I mean, this really could just be solved with a phone call and discussion. And I really want to sit down with you and work this out, because I listen to your story and I can hear the pain in your voice. And so as your at large member number one, I really want to work with you, so if you could please just give me a call at 2244248, I really appreciate it. And anybody who needs some help and assistance, I want to work with you. That's my job. And so as much as I love hearing you and having these conversations, this is something we just work out together via phone call. Thank you, Mr. President, thank you.
Next Caller, please.
The next caller is torpedo, alright? Ruben. James
Crowley Jr, the floor is yours. You have two minutes. General public comment,
okay? Angela Whitfield Callaway, listen up now. James Tate, what you said to Melissa love has made me take a different course. Now you are on video tape talking to her and Malik Shelton out there in the hallway. Then you talk to me afterwards. Well, I had intent, but now I'm just getting ready, running down the line
the shelter
disabled veterans housing facility, housing facility for veterans. We got to go to court on 18th three days. Crafty Conrad and the Brenda Lindsey city law department people. Crafty comrade is behind it, him and crafty mike up to no good. Now the seven lots, Ari, I know you own and you can hear me, the seven lots behind my house has been moved, and it's jobs and amenities, development assemblage. You ain't calling me about that. Ari, I need to get information from you about what's taking place now, Kenisha, James Tate, you call Miss ivory. Antoinette ivory. Kenisha, mother and you said what you said out your mouth. She told me what you said. Now you need to call her back and apologize, because I am the right representative, and now that the matter is in the right proper hands, now we going to see it adjudicated and done correctly. Nini wants what she wants. I don't care about none of y'all political aspirations, none of y'all political affiliations, political considerations that y'all give. I don't care about y'all political careers. If me don't get what she vote, I'm going to tear this whole city down.
All right, next caller, please.
The next caller is Saint Dara
senator, the floor is yours. You have two minutes general public comment,
yeah. Can you hear me? Yes.
Um,
I'd like to ask that young man about who makes the parks for downtown. We're only a half a block from the downtown boundary now that you moved it all the way to Charlotte, it goes to the middle of the island alley between Peterborough and Charlotte. So I'd like a Chinese design for a park over there instead of a parking lot. So they are gonna get a grant for Chinatown, so that would fit in with what they're trying to develop here. Now I was listening yesterday to Gabrielle's construction and demolition thing, and I I'm astonished. You know, you're giving them the right to write a blight ticket for for windows that are out on the second floor. I saw a picture of a duplex. There's no way that some kid is going to put a ladder up to the window and crawl up to the second floor. So that doesn't make sense, right? So what? Why would you write a blank ticket? Because if you have a bad roof, it's better to have ventilation. Have some open windows on the second floor. Now, somebody broke two of my windows on the second floor this winter. I want them to have quarter quarter inch Plexiglas in a small window shouldn't have broke, but it must have been a hard rock that they've threw at it. But the point is, I haven't fixed it yet, and I don't want anybody thinking they have right to write a white ticket on people when they're actually doing something good for their property. By the way, they're probably stealing the boats, reselling them, probably doing something with them cars, or they get $400 minimum, I think, on scrapping cars. But where's the are you tracking the money? Might as well track it. It adds up.
Next Caller, please. The
next caller is calling user one, calling
user one. The floor is yours. We have two minutes. General public comment.
Can I be can I be heard?
Yes, ma'am.
Good afternoon
and happy early Easter, and palm funding Easter, all that good stuff to everyone, I am very disappointed that I've been asking continuous for two years for you all to get this light up that's at this gas station that reflects enough lighting for the bus stop so that women and the children that go to Northwestern High School when it's night time don't have to be unsafe. I asked the gas station, one of the owners on yesterday, has Council ever approached him in making sure this light is up? And he said no, and when I explain why it's needed, he claims that he'll get around to it. That's the same thing being said for two years. Why lie if you're not going to do anything to help the community. Nobody should have to keep asking the same thing over and over, only for attitudes, when you call your council person's office as if you're not supposed to ask, and then back up day to day every time you're having to ask. I'm so sick and tired of this and James Tate as the pro tem. I like for you to do something about this so women don't have to be raped at 13 and 14 because it's a lack of lighting. It's bad enough to see heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine being sold out of apartment building that you all do nothing at all about this is election season, and I'm keeping a tab of each of you how many times I've had to ask the most simplest thing just to be able to see why is this. Somebody always has to die and be on national
Thank you, Miss Shay. Next Caller, please.
The next caller is Whitney Clark for city council.
Whitney Clark, two minutes general public comment. Alrighty.
Good morning again for to everyone. Um, and just want to say that it is connected. It's all connected, and we have to continue to to we have to continue to remember that these concerns are all connected, and they are intertwined in a way that tells the true story of the experience that we all have. What am I saying? I'm saying that if the people who who want their city to be safer come together with the people who've been overtaxed, and if they come together with the people who are retirees who are still paying clawbacks while the city is celebrating, you know, $500 million in the rain today fund, if those people Begin to come together and draw and connect the dots, you'll see that change won't be hard to make, and so it's so we just have to continue to understand that these that these issues, that are the issues that are going on with our schools, well, they're connected. Why? Because if we're talking about bringing the neighborhoods back, and you're talking to young parents like me, what's the first thing they ask you about? Well, where are my kids going to go to school? And so we've got to understand that this is all intertwined. When you're talking about the neighborhoods, why don't people want to pick the neighborhoods? Because we don't have strong city services, the council, the cops don't come in, you know, in a time that's feasible. Now, yes, we've made great progress, and so we have to manage that balance of celebrating the success that we've had because we've had great success, but we've got to ensure that we we connect the dots. It's time. Every week, we've heard every excuse in the book as to why the the neighborhoods have not been addressed, why the worker has not been made whole, why the why those who've been over assessed on their taxes have not been made whole. It's time you guys, but it's only going to happen if we connect the dots and we understand that this is all intertwined. We just got to come together. We got to come together. We got to do it now.
Thank you. Thanks, Caller, please.
The next caller is rebell Stewart.
Stewart called it and you have two minutes general public comment,
good morning, President Sheffield and other council members. My name is Marcella Stewart, and I'm calling today. Thank you for the increases in the DDOT budget. Thank you for the money for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, but we need a little bit more there. I know that the director said that he didn't need that additional $16 million but that $16 million was bad. We needed to increase the wages for all DDOT employees. If we don't get additional funding in DDOT, it's never going to get up to par. I don't care what you do if you don't put money into transportation for the residents of this city so they're able to maintain and do the things that they're supposedly unable to do and need to do. We're still going to be at the same point next year, year after year, we come in asking for more money in housing, transportation, special, the affordable housing, which we know we don't get that much at that 30% AMI, we don't even have construction of single family homes going on in this city, which is badly needed. We have residents just leaving this city in numbers, which they shouldn't be leaving the numbers. And the people leaving in numbers is the black folks in this city, and brown, and we're the people that kept this city together, doing bankruptcy. Now, all of a sudden, all I hear when I hear the mayor, they're coming back. Hell. I never left. Never left. I'm 67 years old. I've never left. Pay my house taxes, my property taxes, my house insurance, and I'm at that 200% property level, but I still maintain and it's a lot of people here. These retirees, deserve better you took away from them the bankruptcy you know it, give their money back to them. I know you can't physically give back everything you took from but give back enough to them so that they can support, they self and maintain their homes, and they lifestyle and they livelihoods. I don't know what else to say. I know you hear me in here. I'm always preaching, but I'm passionate about what I say. I love the city of Detroit, these residents, and I thank you for this time. And everybody. Have a beautiful day.
Alright, thank you for that. We go next to
the queue. The next caller is phone number ending in 3193192, minutes.
319, going once, 319,
going twice.
319, going three times.
319, going three times in the third All right, 319, submit your question, right? Who do we have next in the queue?
The next caller is Renard. Alright, Mister
Monson ski. Mon Excuse me. Two minutes, sorry about
that. Good morning.
Can I be heard? Yes, sir. Two minutes,
alright. Good morning,
members and council, and my name is Rena murzeski, Detroit people's platform transit justice organizer. I just want to echo the sentiments of my colleague in terms of transit funding, that the city really needs to make a bigger change in terms of how it treats transit. I still believe that transit, in the minds of some council members or just the city administration or the culture, is that is not a priority like other cities, and this is why other cities are still thriving and keeping their population and the state of Michigan and Detroit is struggling to keep people here. It's because the lack of transit conveys the lack of modernity and lack of a modern city with an enmities and rich services which have been cut over the years and years and years of austerity, and we have to pay off bodies bonds and downtown development and All these theoretical, conceptual benefits from these developments never arise. So we don't get these jobs, we don't get the income tax revenue, and it's it's tired. So we need a new administration, and we need a new city council that's going to think about the our city services in a radical way in the face of federal cuts, because federal government ain't going to be there for us, and right now, we have to defend ourselves, our finances and our city and enforce our laws, and not be bullied by the federal government or any other entity as well too. But this is strictly about our budget. I do have an inquiry in terms of the American rescue plan, act, interest, dollars. Is there any sort of direction from the federal government as to how that's used? How much, how many dollars did we have in that regard, and how was it being invested? Because the what all that money that we had seems not to be translating to this type of budget. When the budget only changed about 2% of what the mayor proposed.
Alright, thank you for that. Who do you next to the queue?
The next caller is Charles miles.
Say our last name again,
parties. Charles miles, all
right. Mr. Miles, floor is yours. Two minutes. You
Hello,
okay, floor is yours. My name is Charles miles, calling in today. I have, can
you hear me? Yes, we can. Floor is yours.
Okay? I'm calling in today in regards to
this, these gas stations and party stores around the
city of Detroit, they're
and right and center floor.
Called in.
I called Mr. Miles, your phone is breaking up environment. Mr. Miles, no, your line is breaking up pretty badly, you know, Ari, let's give another opportunity if you can log out and then log back in, we'll try to get you in at the end of the queue. All right, can you hear me? Now? Oh, yes, we can hear you very well. Now you may proceed. Okay,
yeah, I was calling in about these gas stations and party stores about, you know, they sell an expired food right in the center of the floor, right there, six mile Wyoming all over the city of Detroit. There, there's no bathroom, restroom, or, I should say, where a person go in and use the restroom. And none of these restaurants. And that's a shame. I mean, that's against the law too. Should be able to go in. It's embarrassing, too, for people that's from out of state to come in to stop for gas station. It's unsafe selling expired food. It's just a smack in the face for Detroit. And you guys are letting this happen. And this is not I mean, I'm sure you know, but most of you don't even live in Detroit. But anyway, I called in about that. I called in about these property taxes where you're taking people's property. I got a lady, a grandma, and been owning that house right there on metatall and Grand River for 60 years. They just got lost a house. You know, the Mama died, and they were trying to get it, get the house into the daughter's name, and they want the city of Detroit, with all this red tape, will not let these people get their house, their grandma's house, so they got to get it move out, and nobody can help them down there. They done been downtown begging y'all for help. Y'all do not care about the citizens you got. If you don't like your job, you should quit, or you need to be fired because you guys are doing a terrible job. I've been coming down there for years. All you
alright, definitely receive any and all criticism, but your allegations were pretty broad, so would definitely love for you to reach out to the offices and we could better try to assist that way. But as you know, you have freedom of speech during public comment, as we've seen expressed today. Member Callaway,
thank you so much, sir. If you're still listening, you set the gas station at six mile and Wyoming, which is owned by Mr. Nazar beydoun, I just put a text message into him, and we will be over there this afternoon. Hopefully they are not selling any expired foods, because I can assure you, that's one of the better gasoline stations with excellent customer service throughout this entire city. And they he just bought the one where the killing occurred, and I have no doubt that he will do a splendid job. What click with? Clean up that one that's at West MC Nichols and James cousins, and so if what you're saying is true, that's problematic for me. I know Mr. Bedou And I know that those two gasoline stations, especially the one that you mentioned day across from Mary Grove colleges, always, always clean, and they have exceptional customer service, and I've never seen them selling expired food, but I will check on that today. Thank you, sir. Thank you Mr. Chair.
Thank you the next caller, please.
The last caller for public comment. Phone number ending in 319,
caller ending in 319, the floor is yours. Two minutes. General public comment.
Caller, are you
there? Bucha, Bucha nats for indigenous, botaway water main, Dow, Pine Creek, Indian Reservation, indigenous. Good morning, everybody. My name is Nat spur, enrolled tribal member four of the NATO Mississippi here on band of the Potawatomi. I'm currently on the I serve on both the planning and land use and environmental committees from the tribe. You heard from both of our chairs, Homer, mandoca and Ariel boomster earlier, as well as our Tribal Chair, Dory Rios, I'm here because my mother, Laura Wesley, spurred long time Tribal Chair, tribal leader who led our tribe right up until her death a little over 15 years ago, he raised my brother, Josiah and myself, both tribal members just outside of the city of Detroit and Metro Detroit. I'm here to just convey all of our gratefulness and thankfulness, you know, on behalf of our family, to the city of Detroit, but to the mayor city council members, especially council member Coleman, young junior who's always been there to support underrepresented minorities, including Native Americans. So I'm grateful to the city, City of Detroit's government, for taking up this issue to convey the lands of historic Fort Wayne burial mounds, which are extremely safe, sacred to our tribe, to give those back to our people. My on behalf of my mother, Laura Wesley spur my brother, Josiah and myself, we have nothing. We are bursting with pride for both the city of Detroit and the NADA was simply here on band of the Potawatomi. Thank you so much.
Thank you. Im going to our language.
Thank you. And so that takes us to the end of our general public comments.
Member Callaway, thank you so much. I neglected to do this earlier, sir. Is still a part of public comment. If I can have everyone from no barriers to success to please stand. We have said several graduates over the weekend, and these are the young men who will be able to remediate lead, and that's a program that I've been working on since I've been on this council. These are going to be, hopefully, the new cohort at Wayne County Community College. They don't know it yet, and they're going to learn how to inspect homes. That's what we're working on. And I've already spoken to the President of Wayne County Community College, Dr ivory, yesterday, and it's in the works. So I just want to acknowledge you. You'll be formally acknowledged at a later date during formal Council, where you will receive a certificate of acknowledgement and recognition for all that you've done, we're all so proud of all of your successes and completing the program. And the founders, if you four kids, raise your hands. You three, and then, yes, you are doing an amazing job, and you are helping to remove barriers to success, like transportation, like education, like child care, even on state ID, this group is helping this group. So you all will be the future leaders and making sure that our homes are in compliance. And I think you all have even purchased the equipment to detect lead in paint. You all have advanced equipment, and so this is the type of program that we want to continue to promote in our city. And I see the work that you've done, and this is the evidence right here. So thank you all for being here, and I'm so sorry I neglected to acknowledge you earlier during the agenda. So thank you so much, Mister Chair, for allowing me to recognize these young folks and the founders of the program no barriers to success, located in district two. Thank you.
Thank you all thank you. All right, Madam Clerk, as mentioned by council president wanted to take up. Line item 20 point 19. First item 20 point 19. If there are no objections, colleagues, seeing none, an action shall be taken.
Mr. President, that's council member young a resolution. Line item 20 point 19.
All right. Line item, 20 point 19. Member, Young,
thank you, Mayor. I think she Thank you, Mr. President. I'm sorry. Sorry. Slip the time. Can we move? I don't think we have anybody from GSD that's willing to comment on this. Dewey, so
director Perkins is in the hallway. Perkins, does she want to? Did
you want to comment on this at all? Director, Perkins,
lines 2119 Okay, well, then in that case, I would like to make a motion to move to approve line item 20 point 19.
Colleagues, there's a motion to approve line item 20 point 19. Any discussion session? Member waters,
yeah,
i What are you going to do with this property?
Was the question to me, pardon me, who's the question to
whoever can answer it.
Okay, well, I guess this is now directors. Opportunity coming by. Who?
Director? Please introduce yourself for the record. And I don't know if you heard the question. You may proceed
Good morning through the Chair. I'm Crystal Perkins, director of the General Services Department. And can you repeat the question? Because I did
not, yeah. I just want to understand what they're going to be doing with this property that they're purchasing here. So
this is a through the chair. This is a land transfer. This is their burial mound for their their ancestors are buried at this location. It's a little bit over five acres. There will be opportunities for them to hold ceremonial rituals there, according to their customs at this property.
Okay, alright. Thank you. Thank you for complaining. Thank you, Mister Chairman. Thank you, um and beyond, yeah,
I just want to make sure so we're clear. We're transferring the deed of the burial ground to the Potawatomi tribe, as well as giving them an easement for them to be able to have ceremonies and things that nature as well. Yes, that's correct. You were saying through the Chair. Yes, that is correct. I just want to clarify that. Excellent. Thank
you. Thank you, colleagues. There's a motion on the floor. Any objections Seeing none that action shall be taken.
Thank you. Thank you.
A request for a waiver,
request for a waiver, COVID
request for a waiver. Any objections, seeing none. I'm sorry I didn't hear you. Seeing none, a waiver shall be attached.
Thank you. Thank you again,
Madam Clerk. I think I forgot to give the procedural language before we started the report. So under standing committee reports for the budget, Finance and Audit Standing Committee under resolutions,
Council Member Whitfield Callaway two resolutions, loaning, noting that nine, item 16.1, is on behalf of Council President Mary Sheffield. Council member Whitfield Callaway. Two resolutions.
Member Callaway is stepped away from the table. Colleagues want
to Mister Mister President Yes, Council Member durha, on behalf of council member Whitfield Callaway, two resolutions nine item 16.1 and 16.2 thank
you so much. Member durha, thank
you Mr. President. Line item 16.1 is a resolution of authorization establishing a proportional funding formula for oversight agencies. And line item 16.2 is a resolution in support of proposed legislation taxing vaping products in the state of Michigan. Move for approval for line items 16.1 and 16.2 thank
you so much. With discussion by member Benson,
thank you. Like to join you. Member Callaway on line item 16.2
there's a request for join itch. Member Benson on line item 16.2 I'm not sure I said Yes, any objections? Seeing none. I mean, she's not in but I don't think there's any objections. So my question I have regarding this item is, is it solely concept concerning tobacco related products, or are we talking about other potential substances, products as well? Is this? Did this go to LPD? The LPD produced this, or it was solely from the office.
Mr. Chair, LPD wrote this. All right, thank you. Okay?
Discussion, yes, we further. Discussion member Benson, thank you.
And first, whereas it indicates, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, during the State of state address, called upon Michigan legislator to apply to vaping products the same tax structure currently imposed on cigarette cigars and other tobacco products, namely, $2 levy per pack of cigarettes and a 30% wholesale tax on non cigarette tobacco. Yep,
got it just one. One again, verbal clarification. Read it, but want to hear it from the those who drafted
it. See what you started
just again through to the LPD, checking to see if this includes, and I'll just put it out there if cannabis is also considered in this particular resolution.
Attorney Phil Keller, LPD, yes, the resolution is just specifically related to nicotine products, okay, and nicotine vape products.
Thank you, colleagues. Any further discussion?
Seeing none. There are two resolutions on the floor. Any objections Seeing none, both of those actions shall be taken.
Request the waiver for line item 16.1
as a request for a waiver on line item 16.1 any objections Seeing none, a waiver should be attached. That's a waiver. 16.2 there's a request for a waiver in line item 16.2 any objections Seeing none a waiver should be attached. For the internal operations standing committee from the Office of contracting and procurement, Council
Member Johnson, two resolutions, line item 17.1 and 17.2
contract number 6006291,
dash, a one, 100% city funding. Amendment One to exercise one year renewal for federal lobbyist services, contractor, boundary stone partners, LLC, total contract amount, 420,000
that's for law. Contract Number 6006726,
dash a one, 100% grant funding. Amendment One, to provide an extension of time only for women's history in Detroit, study contractor Quinn Evans architects incorporated total contract amount 69,000, that's for city council. Council member Johnson to resolutions.
Remember Johnson. Thank you, Mr. President, Move for approval
as a motion to approve line items, 17.1 and 17.2 colleagues, any objections? Seeing none those actions shall be taken.
From the law department.
Council member Johnson, for resolutions, line item 17.3 through 17.6
member Johnson, thank you, Mr. President. Move for approval. These are various lawsuit settlement requests.
As a motion to approve line items, 17.3 through 17.6 colleagues, any objections, seeing none that action shall be taken, dropping down to line. All right, for the Planning and Economic Development Standing Committee under unfinished business,
Council Member durha, on behalf of council president pro tem James Tate, an ordinance noting a roll call line item 18.1,
no, what? I don't have this member.
Durham, thank you, Mr. President, I move to take from the table an ordinance to amend chapter 21 of the 2019 Detroit city code history by amending article two historic districts and landmarks decision Division five designated district section 21 dash two. Dash 229. Brewster Wheeler Recreation Center historic district by providing the corrected boundary provision chapter 50 zoning, by amending article 17 zoning district maps section 50, dash 17, dash 48 district map number 46 to revise the zoning classification for one parcel, generally bounded by McGraw Street to the north, 16th Street to the east, Antoinette Street to the south and Stanton Street to the west, laid on the table. March, 4, 2025
Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken. Member, duro,
thank you, Mr. President, I move the ordinance be placed on the order of third reading and considered red.
Here are no objections that action will be taken. Member Durham, thank you, Mr. President, I move the ordinance be passed as submitted. There being a roll call required. Will the clerk please call the roll
council member FRED DURHAM Hall, yes. Council member Letitia Johnson, yes. Council member Gabriella Santiago Romero Yes. Council President James Tate Yes. Council member Mary waters Yes. Council member Angela Whitfield, Calloway, yes. Council member Coleman Young. Council President Mary Sheffield council member Scott Benson, yes, seven years That motion passes. Mr. President, thank you,
the ordinance is approved. Member durha, thank you. Mr. President, I move the title to the ordinance be confirmed, Hearing no objections that action will be taken. Request a waiver for line, item 18.1 Mr. President, there's a request for waiver online. Item 18.1 Colleagues, any objections? Seeing none, a waiver should be attached from the City Planning Commission.
Council Member durha, a resolution, line item 18.2
member durha, thank you, Mr. President. Line item 18.2 is a resolution of authorization, authorizing alterations in a PCA zoning district at 660, Woodward Avenue Move for approval for line item 18.2
as a motion to approve line item 18.2
any objections, seeing none that action shall be taken from the housing and revitalization department council
member durhall two resolutions line items 18.3 through 18.4
member, durha, thank you, Mr. President. Line item 18.3 is a resolution of authorization to appropriate and expand revenue from developer loan repayments home Investment Partnership Program. And line item 18.4 is approving a commercial redevelopment district for the new Whitney real estate LLC in the area of 60 West Canfield, in accordance with public act 255, and 1978 Move for approval for line items 18.3 and 18.4 is
there a motion to discuss with discussion? Thank you. Member, Santiago mayor, I believe that there was a request to postpone the vote for this particular item. Line item 18.4
Yes, sir. Would like to do so. So moved.
There's a motion to postpone for one week to vote on line item 18.4 any objections, seeing none. We should postpone the vote for line item 18.4 there's a motion on the floor for approval for line item 18.3 any objections, colleagues, seeing none, that action shall
be taken request a waiver for line item 18.3 as
a request for a waiver for line item 18.3 any objections, seeing none, a waiver shall be attached From the planning and development department.
Council member der Hall, a resolution line item 18.5
member durhall, thank you, Mr. President, line item 18.5 is a resolution of authorization for a property sale at 18338 Joy road Move for approval for line item 18.5 as
a motion to approve line item 18.5
any objections Seeing none, that action shall be taken. Request a waiver for line item 18.5 as a request for a waiver on line item 18.5 any objections Seeing none, a waiver shall be attached. Thank you, Mr. President, thank you for the public health and safety standing committee from the Office of contracting and procurement Council
Member Santiago Romero, 12 resolutions line items 19.1 through 19 point 12, noting that line item 19.1 was postponed from last week formal session. Contract number 6007011, 100% blight funding to provide demolition for residential group, 2.7 point 2025. A contractor, inner city contracting, LLC, total contract amount, $2,205,527.10 cent. That's for construction and demolition. Next contract is contract number 3079478, 100% blight funding to provide an emergency demolition for the residential property. 6030, Northfield contractor, inner city contracting, LLC, total contract amount 27,000, construction and demolition. Next contract is contract number 3079972. 100% blight. Funding to provide an emergency demolition for the residential property. 14131, Blackstone contractor, DMC consultants incorporated total contract amount $14,608 construction and demolition. Next contract is contract number 3079974, 100% blight funding to provide an emergency demolition for the residential property. 13925, Mayfield contractor DMC consultants incorporated next contract line item 19.5 is contract number 6006862, 100% blight slash prop in funding to provide a joint venture with G or G concrete for sidewalk replacement services. Contractor, major contracting group incorporated total contract amount 2,875,000 that's for construction and demolition. Next contract is contract number 3079961, 100% blight funding to provide an emergency demolition for residential property. 8030,
Manila, total contract amount, $27,688,
construction and demolition. Next contract is contract number 3082242, 100% blight funding to provide an emergency back fill for the commercial property. 3615, aren't contracted. Salad being trucking and excavating incorporated total contract amount 18,687 1680, $768.49 cent construction and demolition. Next contract is contract number 3082013, 100% blight funding to provide an emergency demolition for the residential property. 4111, Lily bridge contractor, salad being trucking and excavating incorporated total contract amount $21,910 that's for construction and demolition. Next contract is contract number 3082245, 100% blight funding to provide an emergency demolition for residential property, 7545, dice contractor, DMC consultants incorporated total contract amount $17,226
that's for construction and demolition.
Next contract is contract number 3079973,
100% blight funding to provide an emergency demolition for the residential property. 14117, black stone contractor, inner city contracting, LLC, total contract amount, $17,254 that's for construction and demolition. Next contract line item, 19, point 11. Contract number 6006953, 100% CDBG, dash Dr funding to provide preliminary, preliminary engineering analysis for Fisher and mail, drum sewer drainage area for dw, SD, contractor applied science incorporated total contract amount 380,000 that's for DW. SD. Last contract is contract number 3081504, 100% grant funding to provide historical and cultural markers, medallions and signs on Dexter Avenue as part of the Dexter streetscape. Contract, four medallions in one sign, contractors, Angelo I freight construction company, total contract amount, 75,000 that's for public works. Council member, Santiago Romero, 12 resolutions. Member, Santiago Romero,
thank
you, Mr. President, motion to approve 19.1
as a motion to there's a motion to approve line item 19.1 Colleagues, any objections, seeing none that action shall be taken. Member Santiago Romero,
thank you. Motion to approve 19.2 through 19 points 10. There's
a motion to approve line items 19.2 through 19 point 10. Any objections? Session with discussion. Member waters,
I have some I have a question regarding 19.5 Mr. Chairman, yes. Ma'am. Floor is yours alright? We have somebody want to to answer. I, I voted no on this, coming out of committee, and so I'm still trying to understand a few things, um, using prop in dollars for sidewalk, walk repair and warrant the want the
contract originally
bonded in the first place and then, and so if they and if they were, why aren't? Aren't we using their bond to pay for these sidewalk repairs, because these are sidewalk repairs that demolition sites and so and those are different questions that I asked during during committee. Of course, I was concerned about the joint venture and the fact that they didn't have minority person as part of this joint venture, but so now I want to know why we're using prop in dollars for this, and if the contractor was supposed to be bonded, why aren't we using that to repair the sidewalks? I don't even know who the previous contractors were who destroyed the sidewalks. If, in fact, that is what happened.
Mister Washington, do you have anyone on we can provide a response, yes and good
morning, Mr. Chair and council, we do have group exec Council on my
morning, if we can pre please pull over group exec counts. I
Good morning. Lawan counts group executive over construction and building operations. Good morning.
Not sure if you heard the question that member waters pose, or if you need her to repeat
through the chair. I did hear council member waters. So through the Chair, I would like to kind of explain how we got to the situation. Under proposal in contractors were required to repair any sidewalks that they damaged in the execution of the demolition activities. And so what we did to ensure that that work was completed was we would withhold their site finalization funds, which is about $2,500 per property, to ensure that the sidewalks were repaired. But the sidewalks themselves were never a part of the contract. So basically, those repairs were done at cost to the contractors. The site finalization, however, was a part of their contract requirement, and should they not get that money? That's basically they did additional work for free as well. So we considered that to be the penalty for all of the properties that they were not able to complete the sidewalk repairs. We withheld the $2,500 per Site, Site finalization, and so that's why we're funding the sidewalks with Prop in but it's not an additional money or money that we could have used for demos elsewhere. It was money that we, I don't want to say, Save, but money that we captured on demos that were performed, and that's how we're covering the cost. Now, we did provide a list of the contractors that were released from their contracts for poor performance. And while we receive some of these properties, but the bulk of the contractors, it was not because of poor performance. It was because of their inability to be able to contract with sidewalk companies, because the lots are, you know, they did not have a significant amount to be able to have a contract. And then, because they were so scattered across the city, it just made it not to be an advantageous opportunity for concrete or sidewalk installers to contract individually with the demo contractors. And so it made more sense and better economic sense for the department to have one large contract with money that was captured from those previous contracts because of their inability to be able to get the work done.
Okay, just to follow up, Mr. Chairman, So how often do we use prop in dollars for sidewalk repair? Is that it? Are we supposed to do that
through the chair. We don't. We don't. And like I said, this was an exception, and it's not that we were using the is not that we were using the the intended. Like it was never the intent to use the prop in dollars for the sidewalk repair, but it was always the intent to ensure that those sidewalks were restored because of any damage that was caused because of the demos.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman,
thank you member Callaway. I'm just trying to understand
who damaged the sidewalks
through the chair, the demo contractors
who's going to pay for the repair of the sidewalks the city
through the chair. In this instance, because it's we pulled the money from the original contracts to be able to fund this effort. Yes, the city's paying for these particular contracts, but in essence, the contractors are paying the cost because they performed work under the original contracts that they were not paid for.
I don't know if they do business like this anywhere else in the country that we are having to pay for sidewalks that are contractors damaged. I don't know how you can explain it. I don't understand what your explanation is. It doesn't make you know, it doesn't make logical sense to me. It's illogical. Why would the city be on the hook for damaged sidewalks? I understand the money was set aside, but why are we using that money to repair sidewalks at the construction company damaged. We can't even get out here and repair the sidewalks that our residents are begging for us to come out and repair. Every single day, we get calls about sidewalks in front of residential homes that need repair, but we seem to find a pool of money to help the contractors. That's what it looks like to me, and maybe I don't have a clear understanding, but it just you know that Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don't know if you can answer my question, because I don't understand the logic in it. I'm not in construction or demolition, but I know if a company comes to my property and damages you, better rest assured that they're going to repair it, not me, and that's how we should act and conduct our business in the city. If a contractor comes in and damages property, they should be held liable and not we find some money, a pool of money, to repair the sidewalks. I don't understand the the logic behind it. I don't understand the explanation. So I know I can't support it, but thank you, Madam Chair, Mr. Chair, and thank you Miss Council
the chair, yes, ma'am.
So again, the work that was performed initially under Prop in with these contracts, the contractors were not compensated for repairing sidewalks that was never an agreed upon line item in those contracts. What was agreed upon was that in order for them to be able to invoice and be paid for their site finalizations Was that any kind sidewalks that were damaged in the course of their demos had to be repaired prior to at their own cost, these sidewalks that we're talking about were sidewalks that were not able to be repaired, and so we withheld their site finalization money, which is work that they were should have been compensated for, had they performed the sidewalk repairs. So there was a service that was rendered, and then the city did not compensate the contractors for that, in order to support the cost of these or this contract to be able to repair the sidewalks, as the city had said, that we were going to not have damaged sidewalks because of demos. And so while I understand it seems as if the city is paying for this cause, it's it's not, it's money that or funds that would have been paid had the contractors been able to execute the sidewalk repairs, understanding that they could not because of a variety of reasons. And like I said, we did have three contractors that were let go because of poor work performance. That's one situation. We did enter into legal issues with those but then the balance of them are because of their inability to be able to contract. And we understand the ebbs and flows of what happens in the construction industry. And one of the main things being was that DPW had released a significant a lot of contracts for sidewalk repairs. And so small work, like the work that we had on a one contractor here, one contractor, their basis was not advantageous for those for sidewalk companies of this scale, to be able to go after when we pulled all of the properties together, and because they're all across the city, it makes it more of a, it makes it more cost effective for the department, but also it makes it more of a, I don't know how to put it, but More of a appetizing contract in general, for the inconvenience that's about to take place because it's across the entire city, and not just with one contractor, it's with just dealing directly with the city.
Mister Chair, remember Callaway and my colleague member waters brought up the fact about minority subcontracts. This is a huge contract. This is close to $3 million we spend money like it's just no into it. I don't know who's balancing the city's books, but one day we're going to have to balance our books. We're going to have to balance that checkbook. I just don't know who negotiated the contracts. I don't understand it. I know I cannot support it, if you damage something you should pay for. And then I don't understand the joint venture between Georgie. I get Georgie and major I don't understand that. And you never answered member waters question regarding, you know, subcontractors, minority subcontractors. This is a huge contract. You said there's sidewalks across the city. How many sidewalks are we talking about
through the chair?
Do we even know
direct accounts
through the chair? We've identified? It's a little over, or close to 5000 flags, and I think the count was about 1900 properties.
Mr. Chair. Not to belabor it, but that's a lot of damaged sidewalks by construction company. So thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you Miss Thomas. Thank
you remember young going to come to you just got a quick question in terms of the sidewalk flash, so we have a timeline upon which the, let's say the first that's in this group to be paid for or be compensated for, hit our books and the most recent one. Do we have a time frame between the collection, if you will, of those 1900 properties
through the Chair? I'm not certain if I understand your question. Are you asking? Can I tell you the date at which those flags might have been damaged? Yes, so through the cheer, I can give you the exact dates, but some of these properties go back to the beginning, so approximately June of 21
okay, and why did it take us that long up until now? I mean, I understand the the challenge. You've laid that out pretty clearly, but in terms of the time frame, we're talking about a damaged sidewalk, potentially a hazard for, you know, those who may have mobility issues, why did it take so long for us to come up with this particular solution? Now in 25 if we are looking at all the way back in 21 with this challenge that we see before us through
the chair, unfortunately, we did not anticipate losing the contractors that we did, the properties that we have these challenges with from 21 those are going to be the contractors that we ultimately let go out of their demolition contracts in total because of their work performance. We were not anticipating the issues when it came to sourcing Portland one winter, one summer, I'm sorry that was the concern. The next summer, it was an issue with actually being able to get contractors that would respond to the construction companies, and the entire time the demos are still going, we completely understand the burden that we place on the community, hence why we did come up with a solution to address it, as opposed to trying to keep the can down the road. And I understand how the movement of the of the overall work can appear to be that we were not, you know, overseeing the process, but we actually indeed were, because we were able to monitor exactly, you know where the damages were, so that we could make sure that we captured them all, and we know exactly how many parcels, how many flags at each parcel, were actually impacted, and we can give you all that information.
It's always nice to have the information close to real time and in advance, you know, especially when we're looking for this amount of money. Again, understand the need, because I've seen some of these properties, but would like to know that in advance, you know, closer and when we first started seeing this issue. The other question I have is, how do we know that the money that is being requested for this particular contract is so called apples to apples, you know? So if we talk about the 19,000 excuse, 1900 properties that are affected, how do we how do we have an understanding, a clear understanding, that the dollars requested in this particular contract matches with the amount of flags that are required. I'm sure there's some amount of overage, just in case there's some challenges with some of the repairs. So talk to us a bit about that, because I don't necessarily see that information before us either.
So through the chair, in essence, are the amount that we're withholding for for the site finalization, it captured in a general number, which is really kind of on the lower side, I'm sorry, on the higher side of how many flags we had anticipated having to repair, in addition to, you Know, possibly happen to do site work as well. We feel that we have more than enough to cover each parcel that we're going to encounter, but also every parcel, every flag wasn't damaged on each parcel. So the numbers range. We could have one flag on one particular parcel, and we might have 10 on another, but at the end of the day, we still kept the 2500
per parcel.
Okay, thank you. And remember, Madam President. I know member Young had his hand up. Thank
you. Proton tape, before I begin, Madam Clerk, I saw you raise your hand. Did you did? Did you have something you want to say? Or no, oh, I'm sorry. I misread it. I apologize. Okay, um, Director counts correct me if I'm wrong when I'm getting ready to say so. It's part of a tripartite agreement that we're talking about here. It's the surety. That's the bonding company. This the oblige. That's the city, and it is the principal. That's the construction company, and that's part of the tripartite agreement. They apparently violated that agreement by destroying sidewalk that they were not so they were doing something they weren't supposed to be doing. At first I thought that we were just paying them what we were supposed to pay them for the money anyway, and then they did, the city would be reimbursed through the surety because of that violation. But you're saying that you're just paying that. From my understanding, we're paying them after the site is approved. We are we are paying them what. We'll be paying them anyway, and then out of their pocket, they paid for the sidewalk repair, and it doesn't cost the city anything. I just wanted to ask you is, do I understand that correctly, in terms of of what you're saying, is how this process works, and then secondly, it where it does. Because, let's remember water said they are bonded. Where does the bonding company come into that? Does the bonding company pay us for the violation of the agreement, or are they not covering this and it's just going to be solely on the principle to be able to pay for this
through the chair to Yes, you understand the question, the explanation. The construction companies, and I do want to speak on the issue with the bonding company. So the construction company, or the demolition companies, in the beginning, they were not being paid for sidewalk repairs that was done out of their own pockets, that was at their own cost. What we were covering was all of the demolition activity, including the site finalization. Those were all efforts that we felt should be reimbursed if you damage the sidewalk. However, because there are some precautions that you can take, you can put down metal plates in order to drive the excavator across the sidewalks. There's things that you can do in order to try and prevent the damage. Now, we all understand, though, that an excavator win a couple couple tons going across the steel plate and only going across four inches worth of concrete could potentially cause damage. It's just kind of the nature of the beast. So they know that that's a risk that they're going to take the bond company, however, comes into play us, us explaining to the contractors ahead of time that we're going to hold that $2,500 that's an additional measure on top of our ability to be able to pull a bond. So we always still have our ability to bond, you know, pull, to pull their bond, to be able to be compensated for the work that they failed to do, but that's typically against the work that they are required to do, and we will be paying for so for the three companies that we ultimately terminated our contracts with the bond issue, definitely what could come into Play on those but because we still had this $2,500 that we were withholding, we had protections already kind of in place to ensure that we were able to repair the sidewalks. Should the contractors not do it?
Okay, okay, thanks. So
just a quick question, remember water, right? So could you provide a list of the those contractors who did the damage, the sidewalk damage,
through the chair, we did provide a list of the contractors who provided, who performed damage, that were the ones with the poor work performance. We provided that after that, the last committee meeting.
Okay, all right, I'll look forward. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you. Just
GE counts, it is not necessarily regarding this particular contract, but I know that I have mentioned, not directly to you, but number of folks surrounding you about a the street on Elliot in front of 293 Elliott Street, as they were, some of these condos being built, some departments that are being built over there, multi family. Rather, there was destruction in the middle of the street. There may have been some DWSD pipes that were installed. But it's been a number of years now that it is still in its state where it's not complete, has not been repaired, and it was all begun as a result of apartments or multi family units, excuse me, that were being constructed at that location. So if you can, please work with your colleagues. And again, may have been the water department, not sure, but I know it's in the public right of way on the street. And so that again, is near 293
Elliot Street. Thank you.
Thank you. Pro Tem. All right, is there any additional discussion on 19.1 through 19 point 12.
Madam President, we are on.
We're on. She took 19.2 through 19 point 10, 19.2
through 19 point 10. Yes.
All right. Any further discussion on those items? Objection, right motion has been made for approval. Are there any objections? Objection, okay, we'll start my right. Member, Calloway,
yes. Thank you, Madam Chair. Objection to line item 19.5
waters. Objection to 19.5
member, Santiago Romero, objection 19.5
President Tate Tate, objection 19.5
member Johnson, objection 19.5
Madam President, that item fails.
Okay, that item does fail for 19.5 i
Okay,
and the remaining items will be approved.
Council Member Santiago Romero, thank you, Madam President, motion to approve 19 points 11 and 19 point 12. Wait. A motion has been moved for approval for 19. Point 11 and 19 point 12. Are there any objections to the two resolutions? Discussion, discussion member Johnson,
thank you, Madam President, through you to DWSD, I would just like to have someone connect with me to get a better understanding of what this contract is for in the impact that it'll have on the entire system. Just been having a lot of conversations about drainage in the city of Detroit, and would just like to get a full, complete understanding, no need to have anyone come on the line, but would like to have that conversation. Thank you.
Okay, thank you. Council member Johnson.
Any additional questions or comments for 19 point 11 and 19 point 12? Any objections to 19 point 11 and 19 point 12. Hearing, no objections the two resolutions would be approved. Request a waiver, madam president for both items. Any objections to a waiver? Hearing, none. A waiver will be attached to both items
from the General Services Department
Council Member Santiago Romero, a resolution nine, item 19, point 13. Council
Member Santiago Romero, motion to approve. This is a request for a gas easements.
Any objections,
hearing, none. The one resolution will be approved
from the Department of Public Works Administration.
Council Member Santiago Romero, a resolution, line item 19, point 14.
Council Member Santiago Romero, thank you, Madam President. Motion to approve this is an application to support our bridges with preventative maintenance.
Right? Are there any objections
hearing none. The one resolution will be approved
under resolutions council
member Whitfield Callaway, a resolution nine, item 19, point 15.
Council member Calloway, thank
you, Madam Chair. This is a resolution declaring March 18 as dawn ice and day. She is our former US Attorney motion to approve Madam Chair.
All right, any objections,
hearing, no objections. The one resolution will be approved. To your attach a waiver, please, all right and Hearing no objections, a waiver will be attached to 19 point 18. Excuse me, 19 point 15,
under resolutions.
Council member waters, a resolution line item, 19 point 16. Council member waters,
thank you, Madam President, Move approval.
A motion has been made to approve, and this is a resolution recognizing April as mathematics and statistic Awareness month here in the city of Detroit. Any objections? Hearing, no objections, the one resolution will be approved, moving to the new business portion of our agenda from the mayor's office. Council
member young, five resolutions, line items, 20.1 through 20.5
council member, young
Thank you, Madam President, I moved to approve line items, 20.1 through 20.5
All right. Motion has been made for approval, and these are all various city events that have received departmental approval.
Are there any objections?
Hearing no objections. The five resolutions will be approved
from the Office of contracting and procurement.
Council member, Santiago Romero, eight resolutions, line items 20.6 through 20 point 13, noting that line items 20.6 through 20 point 11 were postponed from last week formal session contract number 6007051 100% city funding to provide third party rental inspections for single family and two family homes. Contractor, prospections, LLC, total contract amount $2,119,275 that's for BC. Next contract is contract number 6007052, 100% city funding to provide third party rental inspections for single family and two family homes. Contractor, the inspection group, doing business as Detroit inspection group. Total contract amount, $3,000,656
200 $656,205
that's for BC. Next contract is contract number 6007047, 100% city funding to provide third party rental inspections for single family and two family homes. Contractor, custom built construction, LLC, total contract amount 2,119,270 million, $119,275 that's for BC. Next contract, Contract Number 6007048, 100% city funding to provide third party rental inspections for single family and two family homes. Contractor, safe built Michigan LLC, total contract amount, $4,235,625 that's for BC. Next contract is contract number 3082563, this is a DPD municipal parking department. Towing management is to provide Tollway management, dispatching, software system contractors, professional Account Management, LLC, total contract amount $213,191.50 cent that's for municipal parking contract number 6006992, 100% special revenue funding to provide total management dispatching, software system contractor, professional Account Management, LLC, total contract amount, 455,000 that's for municipal parking. Slash, police. Next contract, line item, 20 point 12. Contract Number 6007030, 100% Construction Code funding to provide construction services at the Russell ferry yard, located at 5800 Russell Street contractors, w3 construction company. Total contract amount, $411,221 construction and demolition. Last contract is contract number 3082503, 100% city funding to provide traffic delineators. Contractor is Lytle enterprises of Ohio LLC. Total contract amount $179,205.42 cent. That's for transportation. Councilmember, Santiago Romero, eight resolutions, all right, thank
you, Madam Clerk. Council member, Santiago Romero, thank you, Madam President, motion to approve 20.6 through 20.9 we can move for discussion. I know we postponed 20.6 through 20.9 from our last week's discussion. And I see we do have representatives here.
Thank you very much, Madam President. Andy tiverna, Deputy Chief Operating Officer for the City,
Madam Chair, Arthur Russian, BC, property maintenance, Chief enforcement
officer.
Any updates from our last conversations from last Tuesday? Know a lot was discussed. So
yes, ma'am. I wanted to start by thanking council members for their very thoughtful and thorough engagement on these contracts over the last week, I think we've had the opportunity to speak with just about everybody at the table today, and we do have a few updates. So the first is that hearing feedback from members call away and waters, we have made a few adjustments here to better support Detroit based businesses. So the first update is that we have confirmed that three of the four vendors here have hired 100% Detroit residents. The fourth vendor here has all Michigan based residents, and they have committed that future hires will be Detroit residents if they can meet the minimum certification standards that we have, and we feel very confident that we can help them to do that. So we're anticipating almost fully Detroit residents working under these contracts. The other update is that we have submitted a correction letter requesting that the amount of the contracts be standardized across all four vendors. So the idea is now that we will standardize the amounts across all vendors and then work very closely with the vendors on their capacity to make sure that they can handle all of the inspections assigned in their areas. The last update I would give is that we did send a memo up to council answering some of the questions around what it would look like to do this work internal to B seed, we've had really wonderful conversations on training opportunities and ways that we can partner with some workforce development providers here in the city and the skilled trades in the skilled trades in the city to get a real pipeline of inspectors ready, and we're more than happy to continue those conversations with council going forward.
Okay, all right, thank you. Did you have anything?
No Right? Member?
Callaway, thank you so much, Madam Chair, and thank you to Mr. Verna and Mr. Rush, and we had great conversations yesterday, and I also provided to two of you and also to is Director Stahl available through the chair, because she should be a part of this conversation as well. We
can ask her to join. She's at a conference today, but she is on standby to join. Yep.
Okay, Mr. Washington, can we is Director Stahl on Yes, Madam Chair, Director Stahl is online. All right,
we will promote director Stahl.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So yesterday, yesterday, Director Stahl, Mr. Burna and Mr. Russian and Peter and myself, we had a great conversation. And last week I provided to each of my colleagues and to Director Stalin, to Mr. Rush, and, I think, to Mr. Verna, copies of home inspectors who are here in Detroit. I think there were eight of them, a couple of them in district one. I think one in district two, we have one here today who's associated with no barriers to success. So I'm hoping that my research will help in this effort to make sure that when we have these types of multi million dollar contracts that we look at who is already here doing that work. And I don't believe we did that, we're doing it now with little nudging, but we agreed yesterday, and that's why I'm glad director Stahl is on the call. She agreed that these amounts would be standardized, but they're not. I'm looking at the agenda today, they're the same amounts that were presented last week, and then I'm getting an email from her with incorrect amounts. So if they're going to be standardized through the chair to Director Stahl, what does that mean? Does standardized mean that all four contractors will be getting the exact same amount? Because that's not the email that I'm reading right now. So through the chair to Director Stahl,
yes, ma'am, through the chair, like we discussed, the contracts will be $3 million a piece that is stated in the email that I forwarded to you. Those are the correction letters that state the original amount and then the corrected amount below it. Those correction letters are being attached to the agenda by the city clerk to reflect that correction and thank you for sending the list as I shared, we did look at that list. I'll note that of the 1000 suppliers invited to the bid, 500 were in the city of Detroit, and around 900 in the state of Michigan. We got 13 responses. Many of those vendors were local with service areas in Detroit, but we did identify some that are inside the city, and those will be encouraged to the vendors to hire. They have all agreed and committed to hire Detroit residents for this work. And so yes, we always have great conversations and good encouragement from council to support our local businesses and residents, so always appreciate that partnership in doing that
through the chair to Director Stahl, I'm not sure, do we have to have, like, a walk on because of the agenda is incorrect, so I'm thinking through the chair, we'd have to have a walk on, perhaps Bring this at the end of the agenda. Yes,
I don't think the clerk has a copy of the Yeah. Do you have a copy of the? No, we do not. Madam President, okay, so we will need to get a copy to the clerk's office as well. I'm not sure. Director Stahl, you said you were sending it over to the clerk's office.
Well, the correction letters were sent over on Friday to the clerk's office. I've been in communication with Mr. Gilbert about uploading those correction letters to the agenda right now, and I will defer to the clerk on their process,
madam president, if they were submitted to the deputy city clerk, then we would we have them. So I can say that we do have them. It's just a matter of they were received after the agenda went out, right? So if anything, they will be approved as amended today. Yes, ma'am,
Madam Chair. And to Director Stahl, Mr. Verna and Mr. Russian, and to my team. This is good work. This is good partnerships with your departments, BC, and also with contract and procurement. Had we not postpone this, it would have just got voted up, no questions asked, and that's routinely what happens around here. So with a little bit of nudging and just postpone it for one week, I was able to do research to support your efforts, but I'm always going to be about the business of making sure minorities and those who are based in Detroit have access to opportunities in contracting. I don't know how we could have easily just supported a company in Westerville. We did the research. One of the cities has less than 900 in population, and they have the capacity to come to a city 637,000 people and conduct 70,000 in home inspections. I couldn't believe it, and that's why I took it upon myself to hit the state, the State's website, and pull down my own information and provided it to everybody on this council and to all of you. So I think we just have to you know, as far as I'm concerned, I'm always going to do my due diligence, and I'm not going to ever just vote for anything that comes before me. I can only speak for myself, and if it requires me to do a little bit more diligence, I'm willing to do that. I've always done that, and I'll continue to do that, but I want to thank you to all of you for listening to my suggestions and taking action, and that's what has happened in this case. And now all four contractors will have a $3 million contract. We only have one Detroit based contractor here, but I know they are excited about getting a larger piece of the pie, because they stuck and stayed in this city. And then for Westerville, Ohio, and then Athens Michigan, you know, with those small populations, I guess we're going to help to build their capacity to do the work, because I do not believe they had the capacity to do it. But, you know, they met the bidding process requirements, the requisites requirements. And I, you know, I can't argue that, but what I can continue to do is to make sure that we go above and beyond. I can go above and beyond, making sure that contractors in the city of Detroit have greater access to these types of contracts, and they're just not leaving the city the way that they do. Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you to all of you for working with my office.
Thank you so much. Member Callaway, pearlton, Tate, followed by member Young, thank you,
Madam President. So in terms of these contracts, I know Mr. Verna, you mentioned that they were making a commitment to hire 100% Detroiters
through the chair. I will, I will say first that three out of the four already have 100% Detroit residents who are inspectors in and then all of them have committed to new hires, additionally being Detroit residents.
Okay, that commitment, verbal commitment, or is that somewhere in writing, written in the contract, hold on, hold on, make sure you have the floor. So the question is, though it's one thing to hear it and it sounds good, but once the contract is executed, when we approve it, it's now long. It's no longer in our hands, and we have no additional say, so other than chirping on the outside. So where's Is there a commitment? And I know that you did submit, and I don't have it in front of me, but amended contracts does? Do those amended contracts have that language in it as well? Because that was a firm, not just from one member, but you heard that from several of us who said that that was a concern of ours, is that in the amended contracts, plural director, you saw
through the chair, yes, that is in every contract. Okay?
I don't, I don't have them in front of me, so we will make sure if this gets moved out, then I would just ask colleagues if we've not put a waiver on these to allow us to review them. Thank you, Madam President,
thank you proton member young, yeah,
thinking I was just getting ready to say, I think that you've kind of taken up my suggestions about going to labor and going to the Union hiring. So I'm prepared to support this. But I see other people aren't. Instead of moving this to the end of the agenda, would it be better? No, no, no. This not a disc. You know, it is what it is. So I don't think anyone wants to Oh, I thought he's already moving to the end. I was going to say, Maybe we should bring it back for maybe we should bring it back for a week so we can look at it really. I'm sorry. Must be wearing one piece shoes. I stand corrected. Alright, let's vote this out. It's
all fixed up. Now. Let's go. I was just made a lot of changes, a lot of good I
misread the vibe in the room. Alright, okay, that's
council member. Thank you, Madam President, and glad you all have made the amendments to the contracts. I do have two things that we talked about. Can you help me to understand quality control? How do we ensure that all of the inspectors are inspecting the property sufficiently and to the state's code, because, again, I have seen otherwise. I've seen it where
it is more subjective
and perhaps some things being done
underhandedly that should not be done. How do you ensure that does not happen with these contracts?
Absolutely, I'll start, and I'm sure chief enforcement officer Russian will want to add to this. So it starts with training and clarity on what the inspection checklist is. So we're currently piloting a new 15 point inspection checklist. We've done a lot of work to define each of the items on that checklist in great specificity to try to reduce as much as we can the room for subjectivity, as you're saying. We're also working on a photo guide to show people, not just in writing, but in actual photos, what is a passing condition look like, and what does a failing condition look like. And that's important both for property owners tenants and then also for our inspectors themselves, exactly as you're saying, to maintain quality control and that standardization of what the inspection entails. The last piece, and probably the biggest piece, is that Mr. Russians team and Jay beer, not who's our city wide rental housing safety manager, do look at the results of every inspection, and they're raising in real time. Hey, should this have been a failure? Should this have been a pass. Do we need to discuss this particular inspection checklist or how it was applied here? So we're really doing a lot of real time monitoring, especially as we stand up a new system to make sure that it's being applied evenly across the board, and yes,
through the through the chair to council member Johnson, we are requiring inspectors to take a photograph of every violation that they write, so that when we do our review, we're able to do that, and we are also going out physically to do follow up inspections to verify some of the items that were that are cited. And so we are doing spot checking as well.
Okay, great. Thank you. And my other question is relative to what we saw happen in community when the ordinance years ago passed, relative to certificates of compliance, what are we doing as a city to ensure that as we go through this process, because we're looking for more neighbors or landlords to stand up and say, I need to now get a certificate of compliance for my rental property. In the past, we saw that it caused some level of displacement. It caused a lot of tension between the landlord and the renter and the condition of the properties. What are we doing to get in front of that, recognizing that many of the rental properties that we're talking about, I'm sure rental rates are lower, and it's providing for Detroiters that have lower income. How are we ensuring that we're not displacing lower income residents as we go through this process?
Absolutely. Thank you for the question. Member Johnson, so we we hear often about concerns around retaliation against a tenant who raises a concern about the condition of their rental home, and we take that extraordinarily seriously. So what we've done is put together a letter to property owners on their non retaliation obligations for their tenants that is delivered with the inspections. We also are working on protections through the right to counsel program, so folks may not know, but right to council can provide proactive legal advice to someone who has concerns about their relationship with their landlord. They don't need to wait until there's a potential court filing. So we want to make sure that we can identify any places of tension and make appropriate referrals to legal services. The last point I would raise is that we do plan to launch, and I have to thank member waters for leading this effort. We do plan to launch a rental escrow, a revised rental escrow program this summer, which gives tenants a really structured and formal way to withhold their rent when there is a condition issue in their home. We know, currently a lot of folks informally withhold their rent, which raises, you know, creates a complex situation in that in that home. And what we want to do is formalize, standardize and broaden access to how rent escrow program operates.
Thank you for those points. I want to be sure that we are replacing those units that are more affordable, more deeply affordable, I would say, just to ensure that if a renter is having challenges with their landlord, and whether they stay or a lot of times the the landlord will say, Okay, you need to leave in order for us to make the improvements, to get the certificate of compliance, I want to be sure that our residents have somewhere to go, and that is not outside of the city of Detroit. So if we can be focused on that and make sure that we are addressing the needs of our residents, that would be great, and I can move forward with this, with being able to sleep, because, honestly, probably six to seven years ago, that was a tremendous concern that I heard from a lot of residents. And now that we're seeing property values increasing and rental rates increasing, we could see displacement of a lot of residents going through this process, and I know that's not the intent. The intent is to provide quality housing for our residents, but we have to be able to provide quality and affordability in our units. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President. Thank
you so much. Council member Johnson, and I think proton Tate, you have a question as well. Yes,
ma'am, on a on a different item within this block here, line item, 20 point 10. I know we brought that one back at your request, but I do see that there is
we're not on 20.8 move them on. Okay, my apologies. Stop that night.
Okay, I'll wait. Thank you. Sorry.
Okay, all right, was there any other questions on 20.6 through 20.9 All right, any Well, move as amended the contracts for 20.6 through 20.9 motion, okay, any objections to 20.6 through 20.9 as amended. All right, Hearing no objections. The resolutions will be approved. Member Santiago Romero, thank you, Madam President, motion to approve. Thank you. 20 point 10 through 20 point 13. Okay, and we can move now for discussion as well. Pro Temp, thank
you, Madam President. Also looking at line item 20 point 10, it appears there's two different amounts, one in the contract, but then there's a different amount in the teta report that we have that we're reviewing. So one or two get a better understanding, which is, and I know Tita report is not the official contract, but it is based upon the information.
Before us, or $227,026
as we see in the TD report
that's provided
director,
yes, the 213,191
and 50 cents is the current i
My apologies for the
you said, 213 213
okay. So to LPD, any understanding
of how our numbers are different before we move on from this item,
good afternoon.
Yes, good afternoon. Ashley Wilson, legislative policy division, the contract, when it was originally submitted to LPD, it was submitted incorrectly, and we updated it for the pH committee report, the original teeter report that went out that Monday had the incorrect the
incorrect contract amount, and then we updated it for the committee report.
All right, thank you so much. Miss Wilson, thank you, Madam President. All right, thank you pro temp tape.
All right. Any additional questions?
Right? Hearing? None. Are there any objections to 20 point 10
through 20 point 1213,
excuse me. 20 point 13.
All right, Hearing no objection. Objection. 20 point 1020. Point 11.
Councilmember Scott Benson
Park, with no clerk, will
So note madam president
in any other objections,
hearing, none the resolutions will be approved. Request
a waiver, Madam President, for 20 points 10 through 20 point 13,
Objection, 20 point 1020, point 11. So
motion fails for those two items, 20 point 13. Is there any objections to that one? Hearing, none, a waiver will be attached to 20 point 13 and 20 point 12, madam president in 20 point 12 as well.
Any objections,
hearing, none, a waiver will be attached to 20 point 12. From
the office of contracting and procurement. Council member young two resolutions, line items, 20 point 14 and 20 point 15. Contract number 6007050, 100% blight funding to provide paint supplies and equipment only to GSD, contractor the Pittsburgh Paints company. Total contract amount 300,000 that's for general services and contract number 6007089, 100% major street funding to provide construction equipment maintenance and repair services. Contractor, McAllister, machinery company incorporated total contract amount 450,000
that's for general services. Council
member young, two resolutions. Council member Young, thank you, Madam President, I moved to approve
line items, 20 point 14 and 20 point 15.
Alright. Motion. Has been made. Are there any objections?
Hearing no objections. The two resolutions will be approved. Madam President, yes. I
request waivers for line items 20 point 14 to 20 point 15.
Any objections to a waiver.
Hearing none a waiver will be attached to both items
from the Office of Development and grants. Council Member Santiago Romero a
resolution nine, item, 20, point, 16. Council Member Santiago Romero, motion to approve this is a transportation alternatives program grant. Hearing, no objections, the one resolution will be approved request a waiver.
Hearing, no objections. A waiver will be attached to
20 point
16
from the Office of Development and grants. Council member young, a resolution
lie, item 20 point
17.
All right. Council member Young, thank you, Madam President,
I move to approve line item 20 point 17. Motion has been made for approval. This is also a grant application for the Community Challenge Grant. Are there any objections?
Hearing? No objections. The one resolution
will be
approved.
Yes, I request a waiver from line item 20, point 17.
Any objections to a waiver?
Hearing, none that action will be taken
from the General Services Department. Council Member Santiago Romero,
a resolution, line item 20, point, 18. Council Member Santiago Romero, thank you, Madam President. Motion to approve
this is to authorize a electricity
easement.
Any objections,
carrying no objections. The one resolution will be approved.
That's the waiver line of 20 point 18, Hearing no objections, a waiver will be attached to 20 point 18 from the planning and development department. Madam President, we took that line item first. Sorry about that. That was early from
the Department of Public Works, administration. Council Member Santiago Romero,
a resolution. Line item 20. Point 20.
Council Member Santiago Romero, motion to approve this is to install banners on East Jefferson, right hearing, no objections, yeah, the one resolution will be approved
under resolutions, Council Member Santiago Romero, two resolutions,
line items, 20 Point, 21 and 20 point, 22 council member, Santiago Romero, thank you, Madam President, motion to approve 20 point 21 as a resolution in celebration and local designation of workers Memorial Day and 20 points 22 is in recognition of April as Arab American Heritage Month.
All right, any objections?
Hearing no objections, the two resolutions will
be approved.
Madam Clerk, were there anything that that was
postponed or no? Madam President, all right, for the president's report on standing committee
referrals and other matters, for the budget, Finance and Audit standing committee,
four reports from various city departments before reports will be referred to the budget Finance and Audit
standing committee for the internal operations standing committee,
14 reports
from various city departments.
The 14 reports will be referred to the internal operations, standing
committee for the Neighborhood and Community Services. Standing Committee,
three reports from various city departments. The three reports will be referred to the neighborhood and community services, standing committee for the Planning and Economic Development. Standing Committee, seven reports from various city departments. The seven reports will be referred to the Planning and Economic Development standing committee
for the public health and safety standing
committee eight reports for various city departments. The eight reports will be referred to the public health
and safety Standing Committee
under the consent agenda, there are no items. Madam President, all right, we will call for member
reports, starting with you. Proton tape, well, just we have the evening community meeting tonight in district one over at greater Grace at 7pm so look forward to colleagues joining us. We do have food for you all before and after. If you decide to come early from crab house, ribs and soul
with no hold on hold on hold on hold on
with no crab.
And I say that because there's a lot of dietary
challenges that we have in terms of trying to to address everyone's needs. So but it's still good, great, awesome food. So
it is, it is, and it's available for for for staff and colleagues. Nice. Thank you. Thank you for Tim.
Tonight. Greater grace.
Oh, yep. Said it alright. I said it again three times. You can join me.
Alright, thank you. Pro Tem council member, young
crab. No dinner. Man, what? Hot dog? No, boom.
Damn, no burger. Uh, listen, I just wanted to say that everybody that showed up to cakes and bakes. It was a phenomenal success. We over 50 people. It was my honor and privilege to be in member callaways district and to host member Calloway. Thank you so much for being there, and you were like, Raymond, everybody loves you. So it was a great event. I had a real good time. I just want to thank everybody for participating and being there and to be able to speak to the constituents, to talk to them about the issues that are needed. I really appreciate you. I just want
to say thank you everyone. And with that, that will end my member reports,
right? Thank you, member Young. Member waters,
thank you, Madam President. Number one, I certainly hate that I missed it.
Yeah, Imma get on my staff about having me go somewhere else.
Okay, so, but anyway,
on Wednesday, well, that's tomorrow, from four to 6pm
at laborers, local 1191 on West Grand Boulevard. We're having a skill trade task force meeting. That is our monthly meeting. Again, is tomorrow, Wednesday, from four to 6pm at laborers, local 1191 on West Grand Boulevard. And so a couple things are happening on Thursday. On Thursday, from four to 6pm at the Joseph Walker Williams center on Rosa Parks Boulevard, on on 12th Street, the tennis rights and and colleagues. You might want to know, want to know this for sure, they're they're having their first meeting on tomorrow, on Thursday, rather, from four to 6pm at the Joseph Walker Williams center. And we certainly encourage renters to come out meet your your new commission that this body appointed, and, and then they'll be able to have an interview they can go to for for their rental concerns. The the last thing on Thursday will be next up, 313,
gathering, which will be from six to 8pm
and I like saying this is that the love building.
I like the word love.
And that says 4731, Grand River, the love building. You see, the love building is a blue building, just, you know, it kind of lights up from six to 8pm on Thursday, 4731, Grand River, so young people, come on out. We look forward to seeing you at the love building on
Thursday, from six to 8pm Thank you, Madam President, thank you. Member waters, Member Santiago Romero, thank you, Madam President, the love building is very beautiful, and it's in District Six. I encourage people to check it out. They have beautiful co working space, beautiful event space. Please do. Go look at it. It's it is beautiful for residents in District Six, we invite you to join us for our April office hours. We are going to need to cancel our bridging communities office hours this upcoming Monday, but we will resume our office hours on april 28 Monday, April 28 at Kemeny from four to 6pm please join us to continue to explore career opportunities. Share any concerns, questions you might have that we can help you with, and then want to invite residents, especially folks that live in Corktown, to the next Michigan Avenue redesign meeting happening tomorrow, Wednesday, April 16, at 5pm at the IBEW Local, 58 Thank
you, Madam President. All right. Thank you council member, member, Benson. Thank you. Just want to thank everybody who came out last Friday for the ceasefire, peace. Walk through the 11th precinct that was well attended. Want to thank everybody who came out to advocate for reduction in violence within our communities. And we had a chance to go through sojo, the newly named Public Housing Center there on Nevada. In addition, just want to continue to advocate for people to go get their wills and estate plans done by the city of Detroit. That is a free service, and it could then, on average, is freeing up $66,000 of equity
back to families within the city of Detroit. Thank you
all right. Thank you so much. Member Benson, member Johnson, thank you, Madam President. Just want to remind district four residents that in honor of Earth Day, we are hosting our annual hazardous waste and E waste drop off on Saturday, April 19, from 10am until 1pm at the Wayne County Community College Districts, Eastern campus that is at 5901, Connor again, that is Saturday, April 19, 10am until 1pm and then the following. Monday. We are hosting our monthly community meeting at impact church, located at 12844, Elmdale. We have a presentation about career readiness. So if you are looking to improve or update your resume or looking for interviewing tips, please join us at 530 on Monday, April 21
at impact church.
Thank you, Madam President. Thank you council member Johnson, member Calloway, thank you, Madam Chair. And good afternoon, everyone. I like to extend my sincere thanks to council member at large, Mary waters, for joining us yesterday in district two at our monthly coffee and conversation. We hope that you enjoyed yourself. It was well attended, and we had very engaging, thoughtful discussions with all of our residents and all of those folks who were there from the different departments. We are having our district two community webinar on Monday, April the 21st from 530 to 630 and you can call my office at two to 445 35 to get the webinar ID and the pass code. Again, that is Monday, April the 21st our district two, community webinar virtual call, and that it that again, will be April the 21st and you can call my office at 224, 4535 to get the webinar ID and the pass code. Then the people for Palmer park for Earth Day cleanup on April the 27th from 10am 10am to 3pm you don't have to live in the Palmer Park area to come out and help, where it's open to the public. You can register at Palmer people for Palmer Park on Eventbrite. If you are interested in coming out to volunteer, we just want you to register, and we will be at our District Two office, which is located at 99 mural place odds, right over there, near the park that again, that is April the 27th on Earth Day, we'll be cleaning up the park area from 10am to 3pm and again, you can call my office if you want to register, or you can go on to eventbrite.com Lastly, the Detroit historic designation advisory board will host a public meeting on Tuesday, April the 29th at 5pm at Greenfield Union School, which is located at 420, West Seven Mile Road, to share updates on the Arab and Chaldean history project. It's a very, very important project that used to be Chaldean town right there on West outer drive around, I'm sorry, West Seven Mile Road in the John R area, and we just want to bring attention to that rich history over there. What's left of it? We're trying to revive it, and we're going to have a wonderful meeting on Tuesday, April the 29th again, at 5pm at Greenfield union. Everyone is invited, and that is located at 420, West Seven Mile rule again to share updates on the Arab
and Chaldean history project. Thank you Madam Chair.
Thank you so much. Member Callaway council member der Hoff. Thank you, Madam President. And just want to send a special shout out to everyone, all of our partners, employers and attendees who made our second chance employment and resource fair this past weekend, very powerful. It was powered by our returning citizens Task Force and our citizens co chairs of the task force, and it was just a great way to connect our residents to resources and jobs and everything that they need. So looking forward to continuing to push forward with our returning citizens Task Force to help some of our most underserved population here in the city of Detroit, and want to make sure they get everything that they need. So shout out to everyone for that. Please join us for our coffee and conversations on Friday, April the 25th from 9am to 11am at the end harmony cafe and suites. The address is 12041 Dexter. Again, 12041, Dexter. And that's taking place a Friday, April the 25th from 9am to 11am at the end harmony cafe. This is a wonderful time to get updates on legislative policies as well as our budget wins. And also have some coffee along a alongside a fellow resident and share ideas, and we'll be there answering your questions in real time. So look forward to seeing everybody Friday, April the 25th
from 9am to 11am at the end harmony cafe. Thank
you all right. Thank you so much. Yes, Council Member Young, I'm sorry to do this, but I forgot. I am also excited about the Easter celebration that we are having at butzel Family Center on Thursday, April 17, four o'clock. That's the Butz Family Center. Thursday, April 17, four o'clock, Easter celebration with Coleman Young but soul family center. Thursday, April 17, four o'clock, you want more information in the RSVP go to 313224424831322442483132244248,
bustle, Family Center. Thursday,
April 7, Easter celebration with COVID on the second Thank you. One o'clock, got it all right. Thank you so much. Council member, young. And just a reminder, due to our recess, we will not have formal session on next Tuesday. So just a friendly reminder, yeah, a surprise friendly reminder for the public and everyone here again next Tuesday, we will not have a formal session. So just wanted to make sure that was the FYI, for those who are watching and we will see everyone, this evening at council member Pro Tem taste district. Evening council meeting. I have no member reports today and so we will
