Good morning, everyone. I would now like to call to order our public health and safety standing committee for today, Monday, September 23 2024 May the clerk please call the roll. Council member Gabriella Santiago Romero, present.
Council member Scott Benson aye. Council member Mary
waters,
Madam Chair, you
have a quorum.
Thank you, Madam Clerk. Good morning. Given the quorum, we will go ahead with the rest of our agenda. We did receive our minutes from our last session. Is there a motion to receive our to approve our minutes from our last session? Motion? Hearing no objections. Our minutes will be approved from our last session, where chair remarks today. Just want to let the public know that we do have a 1:30pm dangerous buildings hearing today. We have about 80 properties to go through later this afternoon, at 130 I will now move us on to public comments. I have a few folks that are here in person for public comments. If you are online and you are calling in for public comments. Please raise your hands now. We will add you to the queue. I see two folks here that I have for public comments. You can go ahead and get started. Shortly, I will be cutting off public comment at 10:10am, everyone will have two minutes for public comments. And again, if you're here for public comment, please raise your hand now or do so before 10:10am. We'll begin with the folks that we have here in person. Before I turn it over online, we're going to hear first from Mike from BBK, towing like whenever you're ready, followed by Xavier,
good morning. My name is Mike rock of BBK towing. I've attended and participated in all the toll rate commissions, and appreciate all the hard work as long term police authorized over in Detroit, I ask that you approve this toll rate increase today. This is 11 year past due, while other cities and groups have received increases we suffer from inflation and expenses that are not reimbursed, including contractor bags, oil, dry, absorbance and disposals. We are professional towards the who run and train our staff with safety first and obey ordinances. We are simply very hard working Detroiters who are asking for what is fair. Thank you for approving the toe rate commission's proposals today. Thank you.
Thank you, Mike. We'll turn it over now to Xavier, followed by Mr. Foster. Make sure that your microphone is turned on. Please. Yes. Thank you. Good
morning, Council Member. I'm here pretty much, basically, to give my opinion on, I own a property that recently tore down, that wasn't supposed been tore down, and it was tore down and not receive a bill for $187,000 for lien against the property. Uh, she came to the city of Detroit with proof of funds to repair the building, contractors, blueprints and everything, and still, the building was torn down. And so I feel I could've repaired the building for less than a third of that. And the funds was shown and my question, my comment, is, why should the people the city Detroit or me, had to pay $187,000 for a tear down that could have been prevented. So that's my comment today.
Thank you for coming in, Mr. Xavier, thank you. I'm going to ask that before you leave today, that my staff take down your information when I give you a call to see what happens. This is, unfortunately not the first time that we've heard of this, but we want to get all the information to see what the process was like with you, what you experienced, how we can get better. Because I agree with you. If we have property owners, I want to save their property before being demolished. We should do that. Talk
to your aid. Mr. Reed. Riaz
Reyes, yeah, he mentioned you to come down here. Good you should, because these are good receipts for us. This is on public record right now. There are department heads listening to this conversation. There are staff, and when I say we have this issue, you coming down here proves that that we have this issue. So thank you for coming down. We'll take down your information, and we're going to talk about this with the director, but I'm really sorry to hear this, but I am grateful that you came down, and we're going to see if we can make this better. Okay, thank you for coming down, Mr. Foster, and if the clerk can, please note, Mr. Foster, before you go, go on that we've been joined. We're about to be joined by member waters. Thank you, Mr. Foster,
good morning through the Chair. First thing I say, appreciate all the work you guys are doing. I appreciate during the DNC, one of the two points that I heard our vice president Kamala Harris speak about was freedom and opportunities. And so I asked our city council to piggyback off of that and really made conscious decisions and choices to bring more freedom and opportunities to our community. Secondly, I was very happy and pleased to see that the police and the city finally partnered with a one Detroit. I think that's very refreshing to see. Is one of the things that I think as a community, we all been advocating for, not to be treated separately and not equally, but to be incorporated in every aspect and every part of city government and issues that affect us personally. So I am happy for that direction of one Detroit, and feel a lot more optimistic moving forward. I had a couple of community events this weekend. I was very happy to attend the veterans VFW 229, two posts. I personally been represented by VFW for over 20 years. So it was very happy to have one at Tuskegee Airmen there as honorary speaker. I was happy to see land bank representative Ms Smith out in the community, as always, here, out in the community, but being more vocal and active in asking questions and addressing citizens concerns right there on the spot. And so I appreciate City Council for the advocacy, because I know these things wouldn't have happened without it. Last thing, social work and social support. Our children absolutely need that in their schools. The youth perspective, we just had a youth, not here in this county, but part of it, and one of the things is our kids don't have any intent to do bad and have the intent to self preservate without information, without leadership and guidance. So I thank you all for listening. People have a good word. Thank
you, Mr. Foster, and you mentioned the campaign, the presidential campaign that Vice President Harris is running right now for the opportunity agenda. I'm sure you've heard her idea for the $25,000 payment assistance, a down payment assistance came from us. So we are very much going to keep pushing for opportunities for everyone. Thank you, Mr. Foster. Good morning. Member waters, we made a note for you already to the clerk. It is now 10. At 10am I will now be cutting off public comments. We will be going online now for our public commenters. Miss EB ronke, whenever you're ready. How many callers do we hand and who's first
Good morning? Madam Chair, we have 11 hands raised online. The first caller is black bag. Rue all
Yeah, so Gabriela Santiago Romero, why don't you tell all these fire people in the city of Detroit how you got to witness or view that allegations on the findings of voter voter fraud by unanimous citizen report on May the ninth. That's the starting off now. Scott Benson, I work for Nini. That's who asked me, I don't work for Trump. So I'm going to give you a little history 1997 I endeavor to investigate the SRT team command staff for the Detroit Police Department because they had assassinated, assassinated my aunt. That's what Frederick judge beaver did as and Yeah, after I blew through my savings in the bankroll, I turned into a whole criminal to receive, to have, get more money to finish the investigation. And what I uncovered was that then Chief of Police, bidding Napoleon was lying in federal deposition that prompted the law department to come up with a $1.5 million settlement in the matter at the death of Jimmy Ruth Feller, my I forgot I did that because she was my baby. Baby, yeah, I turned into a whole criminal, and I paid the price for it, but I wear it as a bad to honor instead of shame. So I do got that F and um, you don't have to do it no more. You did it too many times on a rating and came out to my state talking about Mr. Ruben Crowley, but I'm black bag rule for real, for real. It's no joke. And I didn't caught him cheap in elections. 2020, 2021, 20. 22 and 2024, here in Detroit, absentee ballot. Voter Fraud, election fraud, and I got the information the number 45 so he
Thank you, Mr. Crawley, hope you have a blessed day. Who was our next caller?
Our next caller is Marguerite Maddox. Good morning,
Miss Maddox, whenever you're ready,
the modern conscious members,
President,
We should make sure that it goes To the right people.
My Comment
is fix
the shy.
And this desires
to go. Somebody was working from from the ceasefire.
He did not get hurt bad, but he was stung, And he makes sense.
They around the city of Detroit. We do not need to move money over.
Thank you very much. Thank you Miss
Maddox for your advocacy. Always. Who was our next caller?
Our next caller is William Davis.
Good morning. Can I be heard?
Good morning, as you can
Okay, I like to start off by saying, I am. I think that that needs to be more done for city Detroit retirees, you know, like you have a contractor talking about they haven't got a raise in over 10 years. City Detroit, retirees haven't gotten a raise in over 10 years since we had our health care and everything stolen from us in a contrived, corrupt bankruptcy. I think at the very least the city could be holding some health fairs to assist some of the retirees that may not yet be eligible for Medicare that you know, but maybe retired and maybe in their early 60s, and especially some of us may have worked 20 or 30 years, and still, I could get Medicare, but some people can't. So the city can and should do more to help and assist city Detroit retirees and city should also do more to help seniors. In general, there's a lot of seniors that's in trouble and need assistance and need help. And I look forward to working more closely with city council to do more to help more of the residents, especially this year, and especially coming next year. But you know, we need to make this city more welcoming and encourage more city Detroit retirees to move back and encourage more seniors to stay, but often programs that make things less expensive for us, but far too often, it seems like most of the people get the biggest benefits in this city, or rich people, you know, millionaires and billionaires that really don't pay the taxes that we Pay. Thank you. Have a great day.
Thank you. You as well.
Our next caller is Cunningham.
Brother Cunningham, your
greetings.
Hello.
Good morning, madam Councilwoman, good morning council people, 313444911431344491143134449114,
that number was made so you can remember it. Also on Facebook, expensive vehicle repairs. On Facebook, the name to find me is expensive vehicle repairs. Again, on Facebook, to find me go to expensive vehicle repairs. We've had ride alongs with the honorable Gabriella Santiago, Romero, Rashida Talib, the Honorable Council President, Mary Sheffield, just last week, those videos will be found on that page. Thank you, Councilman dirhall for sending someone to the DDOT input meeting that is greatly appreciated. The people really appreciated that. Thank you Council President Mary Sheffield for your donation of 24 hour passes, which we disseminated during the bus ride along. Thanks for writing the coaches with the activists and the advocates. As regards to public transportation, I do need donations to purchase more bus tickets. Also continuously fixing this outreach vehicle. Always, it seems like I'm always fixing this outreach vehicle. Um, but it costs money to do so and to purchase bus tickets if you want to do so, 313-444-9114, give me a buzz. I appreciate those $5 that $10 at $20 that $1,000 I've received in the past. Um, God will return it. I guarantee it, and I know he's real. There's a gentleman named Mr. Reddy. He dialed in. I tried to assist him in speaking today, hopefully he'll be able to get through besides that, thank you for your prayers. Take care and take much prayer.
Thank you. Our next caller is phone number ending in 368
phone number ending in 688-360-8368, you are up next.
Caller, phone number ending in 368 you are up next. If we don't hear from you, we're going to add you to the bottom of the queue, and we'll have to get back to you. Can you hear us?
Oh, yes, Cunningham gave me info about this meeting. I want to know what's going on with the busses while why they run it so slow and the schedules then running real bad. Catch the bus every day. Be sitting at the bus out like every two hours. Hammer 10, bus route 23 i three,
is this? Mr. Ready?
Yes, yes. Okay. You have,
you have, you have about a minute and a half left for your public comment. Would you like to share anything else with us about the bus system or about anything else really that's going on in the
city. Okay? Well, thank you, Mr. Rennie, we appreciate your comments. All
right, you're welcome. God bless you. Have
a blessed day, sir. Who is our next caller?
Our next caller is phone number ending in 124, you. Four.
Caller Indian, 124, you are up next.
Yes, good morning. Randy
heard Good morning. Yes.
Okay, well, thank you. Well, I'm glad Mr. XAVIER FORD showed up today to talk about the demolition of this building. 6600, Mack Avenue in my opinion, that was totally unnecessary. I have seen buildings owned by developers who have the connections that I would argue are in worse condition, but there's no rush to demolish their building and then send him a demolition bill. Why didn't he have the freedom to pursue his dream? Why is it? And then I Thank you. Member, Santana Romeo and everyone on this committee, please hold all these so called emergency demolitions. Sit down with the demolition department. I heard the one count say on a meeting, by the way, she makes, like $167,000 folks that, oh yeah, in hindsight, if the city bought their own bulldozers those demolitions, that would be cheaper. Well, I'm appalled at the rising cost of these demolitions, and that means that you are negligent with our money, if you knowingly keep spending it on overpriced demos and destroying Mr. Ford's dreams because he's not a Gilbert or a Penske or an illness or something like that. I mean, I don't think that Kamala Harris knows what's going on in this city. The next note, I'd like to say what Mr. Davis said, we don't have a proper health department yet. We have this charter calls for a health department, not a demolition department. So it's very disappointing to see all the time for many being spent on that when I would hopefully be building up our health department. There's a lot of people in need of grief services, and we also need a mediator for residents in their own council member offices, because the ombudsman won't help when you have a non responsive council person or persons. So please stop this demolition madness. Stop destroying people's dreams and give people like Mr. Ford a chance. And
thank you. Miss Warwick, I hope you have a blessed day. Who's our next caller? Our next caller is Tahira Ahmad. Miss Ahmad, you're up next.
Thank you for taking my call first. I would like to thank member Callaway. Member Callaway, thank you for giving me hope. I have approached this city council for years for help, and you are the only one until now who have given me hope and call me and make sure that I'm getting the home repairs or initiating help with information that you have and not just really feel loved from The City Council, all because of you. So thank you. Appreciate you so much. Also, you know, city council, we have been looted for $600 million this is almost a billion dollars taken out of our our pockets, out of our wealth. A home is our wealth, and it's been stolen from us. If there is no way this city will prosper unless you do right by its people, it's karmic. Also. 100,000 homes were illegally foreclosed. This is something that is it's tremendous that this is happening to us. We expect to be repaid. Expect for you to continue making changes so it stops happening. But we want our money, and we want it now, and it's our money. Our children would have somewhere to live, our grandchildren, we'd be renting out these homes. That money would go in our pockets. We'll be enhancing Detroit and making it richer and better living conditions here. This causes when you take people's homes and leave us homeless and hopeless, it causes blight, it causes crime, it causes mental illness. I want the council to work diligently in helping repair us by giving us our money and houses back, thank you, and have a blessed day. Be safe, everybody.
Thank you. You as well.
Our next caller is Betty a Varner,
good morning to all within the sound of my voice, I'm here today speaking as a senior and a resident of the city of Detroit. Born and raised, I am 75 years old, and proud of it and proud of the work that I do for the city of Detroit. I appreciate the council and this committee. I want to mention, I raised my hand and something said, go back and check. I went back and check, and my hand was lowered. So whoever's responsible for that part of your business, please be mindful that when we raise our hands, our hands stay raised so we have the chance to speak. I'm here advocating for seniors, people with disabilities who are not eligible for the Detroit accessibility program. I'm asking whoever makes those decisions if you would reconsider and include the population of people who were left out, who have never received Senior Disability benefits from Social Security or aren't receiving them now, and please include the city retirees. Some of us just received Social Security, some of us received a small pension, but we have been dedicated and live in the city of Detroit, and when once we pay our bills, take care of our responsibilities, we don't have monies left to do any modification to our homes to help us to be able to stay in our homes and not be in nursing homes. We want to be able to live in our homes. We need our homes modified. We need ramps. We need lifts, we need the lights. We need these services that you are offering. So please, whoever makes these sickness, please reconsider and include the population of seniors, people with disabilities, the city retirees, left out. Thank you.
Thank you. Member waters,
thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair and good morning. Miss Verna. Miss Verner, I wish it were that easy. The city does not set that criteria for income. In fact, that is something that I have been pushing since my arrival to city council asking that that income threshold be changed. We're going to need some help from state and federal government in order to make that happen, because when we use those dollars that come from the federal government there, the criteria is already set. So and that's the problem is varnish, but you know, I won't give up. I'll keep pushing forward. But just know that that is not done by the city. In fact, the housing revitalization department and everything that they do is based on on the HUD guidelines. So thank you so much.
Thank you. Member waters, our next caller is Steven Boyle. Hello. Good
morning, Mr. Boyle, you are next.
I'm wondering. I'm sorry one second. Yes, I'm calling regarding a couple issues. One, on the bus system, our DDOT Tracker app, it's been a few months now since it got updated in the sad part is, is the ability to see busses and they're on the routes that we select on the map graphically is not happening, and that makes it very difficult for people such as Mr. Ready, who was trying to figure out what was going on with the route 23 if he was able to see that kind of a map and be able to see the Woodward bus, which runs parallel to the 23 for a while, maybe he could have seemed more whether he could have walked a few blocks over to the Woodward bus. But when we don't have the busses visible on a map, we can't tell where a bus is along any of the routes. We really need this app to work. And I don't know what this update was that happened a few months ago, but it totally disabled the ability to do that, we can still have favorites on the map, and that gives us the timing to get to the things that are our favorite stops on the map, but that does not really give us a visible graphic representation of where the busses are that we're looking for. The second mayor that I wanted to bring to light is the fact that we have a aging population. The baby boom generation is definitely a preaching approaching and in in the stages of needing serious health concerns met. So as we speak more about Eight Elders, we need to look at how is, how are the pathways for elders to seek help better defined for people, because there is such a large quantity of people.
Thank you, Mr. Boyle,
and our last caller is phone number ending in 270
caller ending in 270 you're up next.
Caller, ending in 270 you hear me? Yes, we can hear you now. You
We can hear you,
but Okay,
whenever you're ready, you
Mr. Shelton, we heard you, and then you went away. Did you still want to make your public Shelton
WP bragging about improved credit rating given to the city of Detroit by the rating agency, Standard and Poor and same. Agents were paid by the Detroit city administration, by the DUT administration for these ravens, so they have a financial incentive to give good credit rate. In fact, Moody's, as well as standard and poor, was soon by the federal justice department, the Justice Department of federal government, and they had to pay huge damages for their inflated, false and credit rating for those toxic and worthless, worthless mortgage security during the global financial crisis, y'all remember that which came close to collapsing fire financial infrastructure, So movies lie on explaining those water securities and caused this huge harm to me. Also, these 5% interest rates that ocfo, unlimited obligation bonds are way too high, especially when you keep talking about how the city's financial condition. This is the same interest rate, 5% and five point 25% interest rates that they've been putting on these YouTube show bonds for the last 10 years, even coming out in the bank. Russell, that's just telling something right there. And lastly, Councilwoman Santiago, I'm still trying to find that investigation, specific allegations of voter fraud here in the city of Detroit.
Thank you, Mr. Shelton
and Madam Chair. That concludes our online public comment callers.
Thank you Missy. Be ronke, thank you everyone for calling in. I will now move us along to the rest of the agenda under unfinished business. 5.1 this is a memo relative to signage in the Hyde Park and North Park Co Op neighborhoods. We've been asked to bring this back in two weeks. Is there a motion to do so? Hearing no objections. 5.1 will be brought back into weeks. 5.2 is a memo relative to abandoned trailer in district one. The information has been received so without objection, 5.2 can be received and filed. 5.3 is contract number 3076463, this is an emergency demo. Is there a motion to discuss? Thank you. Member waters, Mr. Washington, do we have anyone that can discuss 5.3 with us?
Good morning, Madam Chair and committee, we should have director Council line. Good
morning. If we can move our director as a panelist.
Madam Chair, she's being moved over as a panelist. Thank
you. Applause.
Um, good morning.
Oh, good morning. Director, we cannot see you on screen, but we can hear you, if you wouldn't mind, stating your name and title for the public
through the Chair. I'm not really certain. It just asked me to unmute. So there's not the normal option for me to turn my camera on. But this is lawan counts, director of the construction and demolition Department. Thank
you, Director. That must have been something on our end. This is the second time we've heard of some issues. So thank you for flagging that for us. My question is brief. It's for 5.30 we see you now. We've discussed this. Hello. We've discussed this before. I if you wouldn't mind reminding me, did you want this to be removed? This is a property that was found occupied and is currently being handled by community core wondering if we have any updates for this, or if we want to remove this until that has been addressed through
the chair we'd like to hold this again. We have not been able to get confirmation from community core services that this, this occupant has been relocated.
Alright, I will ask that this be back, be brought back. TBD, and then Director, please flag us once you're ready for this to be moved out, but in this year, yes, thank you. There's a motion to bring back 5.3 TBD, motion, Hearing no objections. 5.3 will be brought back. TBD, thank you Director, thank you moving us along. 5.4 is a memo relative to Detroit Police Department's ARPA funded projects. The information has been received so without objection, 5.4 can be received and filed. 5.5 is a memo relative to request for data on crime and vacant buildings for the calendar years 2022, and 2023, member bet, I defer to you for any discussion or if you want to receive and
file motion to receive and file discussion. Vice Chair, right? Thank you. And so have the opportunity to review the data, and some for me, just some very disturbing numbers when it comes to our vacant structures, the number of murders, the number of rapes, and then the number of bodies found in those structures. As an example, in the year 2023 24 bodies were found in vacant structures. And just these numbers just bring more attention awareness to the fact that these are neighborhood numbers. So these aren't downtown, midtown, this isn't the water fund. These are the vacant structures that people find in their neighborhoods. And so when someone calls the office and said, Hey, I've got this vacant structure next door, there are people in and out. They're having the various activities, and then you please pull up and they pull out a, unfortunately, a cadaver from those structures. It just really talks about the quality of life that people are seeing in our neighborhood still. So these numbers just bring that to light. And so when we talk about homes being demolished, this is part of why it's important and part of the relief that people are provided once those homes will come down in our neighborhoods. Thank you.
Thank you. Vice Chair, there was a motion to receive and file Hearing no objections. We will do so for 5.5 5.6 is a memo requesting sports from reports from Detroit police departments regarding response to mass shootings. We've been asked to bring this back in two weeks if there's a motion to do so. Motion Hearing no objection. 5.6 will be brought back in two weeks. 5.7 and 5.8 are both various memos. 5.7 is regarding cannabis advertising and 5.8 is regarding a resolution in support of executive order number 2024, dash four, both can be received and files, Hearing no objections. 5.7 and 5.8 will be received and filed. 5.9 is a memo relative to request for report on police chases terminating in the city from other municipalities. Member Benson, I defer to you, we have received information as well. If you would like to receive and file or any discussion. Motion
I haven't had an opportunity to review that data yet. Motion to bring back in one week, hearing
objections. 5.9 will be brought back in one week. Five Point 10 is a memo relative to data regarding the ordinance prohibiting direct fueling of ATVs at gas stations. This can be received and filed as well without objection. The information has been received so five point time can be received and filed. Five point 11 is a memo relative to targeted enforcement and legal action at 15701, East burn member, Benson, I defer to you if you would like to receive and file based on the information received, or if you would like to still bring this back.
Motion to bring back line item, five point 11, one week,
Hearing no objections. Five point 11 will be brought back in one week. Five point 12 is our toll rates commission discussion. If there's a motion to discuss motion, Hearing no objection, we will now discuss our toll rate commission. I see we have our full party here. Folks would like to join us to the front of the room. Colleagues, we did receive a full length discussion last week or presentation last week regarding the toll rates commission. I believe where we are now is to go into those questions. We've had a week now to review all the information. I know that I had some pending questions. Would like to turn it over to my colleagues as well, if there are any left, and then, just for clarity on process. LPD, I believe once we decide whether or not we support or not or have no recommendation, we will ask you to create a resolution correct based on our recommendations. Philip Keller, LPD,
yes, that's correct.
Thank you. So my hope is that we do just that today, that we figure out what we're comfortable with, what we want to move forward. As a recommendation this would go, my hope is to a full body tomorrow, to give us two weeks to be discussed in front of the full body, given tomorrow and then next week, October 1, the deadline for us to approve. I understand that, but I want to give the full body at least two opportunities to discuss this informal session, if we would like. But for today, for our discussion, I will turn it over to my colleagues first. If there are any questions from last week, I'll begin first with member Benson
discussion. Thank you. Do we have a resolution to support this? Is that? What's needed to move this forward.
Correct? Member Benson, that's what I just discussed right now, is once we decide what the recommendations are for the toll rates, LPD, will draft the resolution, and that will be what we move forward for formal session. I guess that's a good question. If we don't have it in front of us, how do we move it out? Don't know if we discussed that. LPD,
you just have to request the resolution. And then once the resolution is submitted, it could be moved out with along with the resolution. That's
a motion that we're making, and then we would see the resolution in front of us, next or tomorrow. Is, is this correct? It's my thinking.
Yes, we could. We could get the resolution by tomorrow. Uh, Vice Chair, what
are your thoughts?
I always like to see the document before I send it out. And we don't have a draft of a document, I still know what we're sending. So we'd see tomorrow with our colleagues a document that we approved without having an opportunity to review, which is my concern, is there a way to at least get a draft of what we're looking at by the close of business. We're not going to close by the close of this session, or even close of business, because we still have dangerous buildings this afternoon. We could take that up later, but I still would like to see a document with what we're proposing that our colleagues vote on prior to sending it out of this committee.
Would that be possible? LPD, yes,
with the chair, we could definitely get that by by the end of the day today. Okay,
vice versa. Clear. We have another session, not by the end of the day, by the end of that session, so we could deliberate and at least look at it and then make that motion to send it to new business.
We can certainly do that.
Okay, all right.
Thank you, Vice Chair, that's a good flag. Appreciate that. Any other questions
answered last week around the numbers and around the recommendations of those numbers, so I'm comfortable with those, as long as the Auditor General is making those recommendations, the tow commission to this body, and it seems fair to increase those if you've been working for over a decade on the same numbers. I would also, if I was doing that here, like a an increase in my salary as well. So this seems fair to me.
All right, thank you Vice Chair. Member waters,
no. Member Benson took the words out of my mouth I was looking to our general myself based on on her recommendations. And so thank you, Madam Chair,
thank you. Member waters, thank you all for the work that you've done. I do have just a few questions. This is for DPD regarding not sure if you have this information in front of you, but it would be good to know, because we constantly get comments regarding police authorized tolls versus all the other tolls that we have going on in the city. Would you have the number of police authorized tolls completed in the previous year? And give us a breakdown of those categories? For us to see the usage of the police authorized toes.
I can't provide that right now. It would take a little bit of data analysis. The numbers are quite large. I believe in 2023 we had around 31,000 records of toes, and so it'll take a little bit of time to produce that, but I can provide that to the council. Okay,
thank you. My next question would be for probably LPD or for the Auditor General, the recommendations that we're going to be approving as a body. Will it be just one resolution, or will we be able to approve the fee separately? Would either of you know the answer to that question?
I believe it would all be contained in the same resolution. That seems to be the way that the ordinance language is set up. Okay,
thank you. Once the toll rates are approved. If the toll rates are approved, do we know when the new toll rates would begin
through the chair, Laura Goodspeed, Auditor General, I believe the ordinance says that it has to take place before they won't go into effect until the next fiscal year. And perhaps that explains why in the 2020 12. Although the rates were submitted prior to the deadline from the Commission, they weren't actually approved until April, and I'm guessing during the budget year, because it they may require some budget discussions for the police department and and in particular. Okay,
so it'd give them a year to become re calibrate everything, but
I would defer to LPD for their opinion and interpretation of the ordinance as it relates to whether or not those rates could be put into effect prior to that, also recognizing that it would require an amendment to their current contract if the rates do change. Okay,
that makes sense. Thank you. The next question I have here is, so we've got both trailers and campers that we sometimes pick up that have been abandoned. Who usually pays for that? Is it the city that ends up paying? Do we find the private owner who ends up paying for those toes?
I'll defer that to Commissioner Adams. Okay. Good
morning again. The abandoned vehicles are towed to the city lots, regardless if it's done by a police authorized tour or DPD. We store those, and then we're also responsible for the disposal of them, as well recycling of them. As far as these are fines that go to the owner. The owners are ticketed. But to my knowledge, we do not look for cost recovery for the process of having to dispose of and total vehicles. Okay?
Understood, I guess the question, what do we do about getting campers and boats abandoned in the city? Is it an ordinance change? I know that's not allowed already. It's just an enforcement issue that we have currently, just just the the the amounts that we're seeing and the lack of enforcements that we have currently. This is a question just to understand.
I think our enforcement works well. I think the biggest issue is the boats and trailers and things that are disposed of from people outside the city, right? That would be something more for the city law department to go for cost recovery, for the expenses that are incurred by the department and the city to dispose and recycle those. But we have the abandoned vehicle Task Force and code enforcement that focuses on abandoned vehicles. Our neighborhood police officers do an amazing job. It's, I know it's something that's come to light here recently with the abandoned vehicles, but we are aggressively addressing the problem. And a lot of the issue that we have with the citizens with the van and vehicles related to that is resolved informally, and so sometimes it's a matter of a conversation or education that a boat can't be stored on the grass or a trailer can't be stored on a public street. And it's really important to know that it's not just about enforcement and finding it's about educating the public on how to properly store their vehicles, and that's something that all three do, the NPOs, our code enforcement and abandoned vehicle Task Force,
okay, thank you. That's helpful. Okay,
I'm reading here. I'm sure that has to do with the discretionary program that you have as well that you're supporting the Oh no, that's something else. Sorry. I'm reading my notes are that wasn't the right note. I believe that's it for my questions. Great. So those were all of my questions, given that there are no other questions or recommendations, is there a motion done to we need to ask LPD to draft the resolution with these proposed fees? Motion? There's been a motion to request LPD to draft a resolution with the proposed fees that are in front of us today, Hearing no objections. That resolution will be drafted. We expect to see it before we close dangerous buildings today to send it over to new business tomorrow, Vice line
item, back to dangerous buildings for final disposition.
Hearing, no objections. Five point 12 will be brought back at the end of dangerous buildings for a final vote. With that, I believe we are all set for five point 12. Thank you all so much. Thank you. Thank you through the Chair.
I just want to thank you all, and I want to thank again the member the commissioners who did a great job and working together to get you these proposed rates. Thank you, of
course, thank you guys.
Discussion. Vice Chair, I just want to say thank you to the auditor general's office. This is something that hasn't happened in well over a decade, and so just having the diligence and the willingness to do this and in the towers and the Commission as well as the police department to make this happen, thank you.
Thank you. Thank you. Vice Chair, thank you. AG, thank you to my team. We were very scared to do this, but we did it. Good job. You guys moving this along to five point 13. Five point 13 through five point 15. These were all various emergency demolitions that have been brought back for remaining questions from member Calloway, is there a motion to discuss five point 13 through five point 15? Thank you. Member waters, Mr. Washington, do we have our director on with us to ask her a brief question regarding 513 through 15?
Yes, Madam Chair, I do believe she's still online.
If we can move her over as a panelist, i
Good afternoon. Good morning still. Lawand counts, director of the construction demolition department,
good morning, Director. Just wondering if you know what the issues are related to five point 13 through five points 15, these have been held back by member Callaway regarding some questions, and they've been in committee now for at least a month, about a month now, wondering, should we leave this in committee? Should we bring these back TBD, or what the issues are with these contracts?
Through the Chair I'm not familiar with.
So I can talk. I can speak to five point 14. I that one was the issue with the way that it's denoted being 7601 Michigan. And change order. One council member, Calloway, had issue with the change orders for backfill, and we were supposed to be providing a well investigating a possibility of how we move forward with not knowing where the back fit or the basements would be located in emergency demolitions for commercial properties. So we're in process of still trying to figure out that, as well as implement this outreach to the owner to possibly identify those basements the properties the other two residentials. I'm not I can't recall what the issues are with those. Okay,
thank you. I appreciate that. So sounds like these are being addressed, but might take some time. I'm going to ask if we can bring these, these items back, five points 13 through five points 15 in two weeks, if there's a motion to do so, Hearing no objections. Five point 13 through five point 15 will be brought back in two weeks to give some time to address these concerns. Thank you, Director. Five point 16 through five points 21 these are all various requests for vacations and easements if there's a motion to discuss five point 16 through five points 21 motion, Thank you. Member waters, I do believe we should have a another, a group of folks online to discuss this item as well. Mr. Washington, who do we have on your end to discuss five point 16.
Yes. Madam Chair, we have Luke Paulson online.
If we can add Luke, I do believe we should also be joined by Sam Butler. And do we have Kevin from the dibc as well? Yes, we do. Madam Chair, if we can also add Kevin as a panelist. I don't believe there's anyone else that we should expect mr. Washington to you. No.
Madam Chair, that's correct. That should be all Thank you, morning,
Madam Chair and Committee, it's good to be with you.
Good morning, Luke, thank you for joining us.
My pleasure. Madam Chair. They've all been added as panelists. Thank
you. Missy beranke, I will ask, as folks join the panel to please introduce yourselves with a name and title for the public
Madam Chair. You all be glad to go first. My name is Luke Paulson. I'm a senior executive of the city of Detroit Mayor's office. I'll hand it over to Sam.
Good morning everyone. My name is Sam Butler with the Hubbard Burchard resident Association,
and good morning. This is Kevin kelsinski with the Detroit International Bridge Company.
Good morning everyone. Good to see you all. We are getting close to the end of this chapter, excited for the next one, but we do have some questions regarding these easements and requests. I know in ped there's been a lot of discussion around a community agreement that was established with the hubby Richard resident Association, along with the Detroit International Bridge Company. And today we are seeing the requests to make a lot of those happen, I would like to go through each one just so that the public is aware of what these are. This is going to be heavily impacting residents so and I know that we already have a lot of questions about what's going to actually happen and how are things going to look. So want to make sure that they have a good picture of what's coming down the pipeline. So for five point 16, this is a petition for a request of vacation with a reserve of utility easements of the north south alley and a portion of Lafayette Boulevard bounded by the vacated bonded by vacated with an easement portion of Howard Street, Lafayette and st Anne Street. For folks who don't know either Kevin or Luke, what would this approval entail?
Thank you, as you like Luke,
did you want to take it? I'm happy to take it.
I'll be glad to take it, Kevin. Madam Chair, through you and I invite Kevin to offer any additional details, but for the benefit of the public, I'd be glad to explain that, as regular observers of this committee, I'm sure are aware a vacation of a public right of way is a process by which city council takes a public street or alley which is otherwise held in the Public Trust, and by acts of city council, vacates it so that it can become private property and cease to operate as a public street or alley. There are vacations requested as part of this project, relatively limited in scope and confined to streets and alleys that would be inside the proposed footprint of an as expanded Ambassador Bridge Plaza. So once the perimeter of that Plaza is expanded, the limited streets and alleys that are within that footprint would be vacated, would cease to operate as public streets and alleys, and would be interior to the plaza. If I may, Madam Chair, I'd be glad to continue and explain what the new 16th construction means in relation to those vacations, or stop and speak only to the vacations, and then sequence that discussion later as you please. We
are discussing all the items now, and they all connect to one another. So would love just the overview, so that folks see how this all works. So that was first that was for 516 just briefly, I will read out the rest, and we can discuss them as they connect to the project. 517 is the request for vacation and reserve for utility easements at the street bounded by Lafayette Boulevard and fourth streets. 518 the petition to request to dedicate land from the parcel commonly known as 2300, West Ford streets, for right away purposes of the extension of 16th Street, as has just been mentioned. 519 is a request for encroachments for part of the West Jefferson Avenue adjacent to the parcel, commonly known as two 781, West Jefferson, adjacent to the parcel known as 2114 West Jefferson, within the portion of the west east of the East West public alley bounded by 21 first, Fourth Street, Saint Anne Street, West Jefferson Avenue. This is for the installation of a below grade pipe the final two, five points. 20 is a request for vacation for conversion of utility easements and 521 is petition for vacation with the conversion of utility easement for st and streets bounded by Lafayette, four streets and 18. So Luca, back over to you to see how all of these will connect and what the public can expect at Hubbard. Richard,
thank you, Madam Chair, through you, I think for the public's benefit, I'd be glad to continue with an overview. And asked Mr. Calvin ski to pull up a diagram of the footprint of the plaza so that it can be illustrated. But to continue down the line in terms of how these various approvals fit together, Madam Chair and committee in addition to the streets that would propose to be vacated, there is a dedication as well. And a dedication refers to a process by which Council receives land to dedicate a new piece of right of way, a new street or alley. So in this case, there is a proposal to construct a new section of 16th Street that does not currently exist, that would connect the neighborhood through a block which for some time has been occupied by a structure breaking up neighborhood access. And so there would be a 16th Street where there does not currently exist between fort and Lafayette. And as Kevin's diagram will demonstrate, one of the reasons for this new right of way is to create and preserve the same amount of access that the neighborhood currently has via st Anne Street, running between fort and Lafayette, but that road would be proposed to be closed as part of the plaza expansion. So in so many words, it is a new 16th Street where there currently is not one, and the vacation of st Anne street between Fort Lafayette in the same block. Lastly, Madam Chair, you mentioned an encroachment. Encroachment is a process whereby a private piece of infrastructure is permitted to be located in a public right of way. In this case, it would be a civil engineering requirement for the stormwater management requirements on the plaza expansion, and there would be a pipe that would run through Jefferson Avenue to support the stormwater needs of the plaza facility. So that is Madam Chair an overview, and if With your permission, I'll hand it over to Kevin to describe the project and hopefully pull up the diagram.
Yeah. Thank you, Luke. One second, Kevin, so sorry. Madam Clerk,
yes, through the chair for 5.19 I heard you say 2114 that's 2714 just wanted to make that correction. Thank
you, Madam Clerk, that Kevin, I do believe Miss CB Rocky, we can make sure that they have sharing capabilities, just in case they have a diagram they would like to show. Kevin, apologies. I can now turn it over to you,
sure. Thank you, Luke. Thank you for that explanation. That was certainly better than I would have done for the public overview of it. But in terms of the specifics, I can do it. But right now I can't share my screen, but if I'm allowed to do that, I could pull up the diagram and
I just go into sharing capabilities. Thank you. Missy. B Rocke, Kevin, you should be all set. All right.
Okay, can you see that? Yes, okay. And can you see my cursor moving around?
I
know if you're moving it around, we cannot see it. Okay, yes, we can see it well. Vice Chair can see it. So, yes, okay,
okay, so very good. So two of the items that Luke mentioned were the closure of St Anne's with easement. This is visually depicted right here this line. And he also mentioned the opening and dedication of 16th Street. And I think this was largely viewed by the parties as sort of an exchange and opening of an access into the neighborhood as a closure, as the closure of st Ann's, to allow the expansion of the plaza into Plaza expansion B area right here. So effectively, what is occurring is the IBC is constructing a new 16th Street, and we'll be dedicating this new 16th Street to the city manager. Reason
ask for discussion is make this more clear. Sorry. So I am having a difficult if you could just also just geographically, detail where your cursor is and make it easier. So when you say the expansion of 16th Street, we can see that when you talked about the easement on Saint Anne, easy to see. We talk about Plaza B, easy to see when you talk 16th Street, where is that on the map?
It's this yellow hatched area right here. Again, I'm not sure if you can see my cursor or not, but it's between Lafayette and fort in between parcel one and the new berm. It's a yellow hatch strip. That's the new 16th Street.
Okay? And there's nothing there. Now
it's it currently, is it is property that we own, but as part of the process and part of the approval process, we will, and we are in the process of constructing this road right now, and one of the items that you're being asked to recommend for approval to council is the acceptance of the dedication of this new 16th Street right here. Okay,
and vice chair to your question, this is currently being built right now. And yes, cursor,
and I referred earlier to the closure of st Ann's and that, again, not sure if you can see my cursor, but that's right here, again, between West Lafayette and and Ford.
Okay,
so Madam Chair, and I'm directing my questions to the district Councilwoman the chair, just to get your feedback. And so, and I know there has been a community agreement in conversations, and so that is in keeping with the conversations with the community. Okay,
okay, yes, sir. And then we have also Sam Butler here on as well, who's been a part of this. And really, this is the crux of it. This is the protections, is making sure that whatever we agree to is what is sets moving forward. But that's why I would like to go through these at least, to make sure that each approval is connected to this project, to ensure that the of the protections that the residents are asking for. But if you were to go down there right now, the Greyhound building is gone. They are they are working on the 16th Street. This is for the approval of that but to your point, want to make sure that we're moving forward, they are fine that all the information is ready to go in this sets because it's it's any further expansion that residents are nervous about. And
then question looking at 16th Street going north, that is a very long block that's correct, with no curb cuts, or not mistaken, on the east side of the street, I'm not sure what the northernmost boundary of the blue line is. What street the East West Street there
at Bagley. That's Bagley at Bagley. Are
there going to be any improvements to 16th Street between? Was that fort and Bagley
there, as far as I know, vice chair there will be because of the advocacy of residents, I will turn it over to whoever would like to answer the question of, is there any protections on 16th streets?
I think I can address that. And Sam may have a few things to say. I think all three of us were involved in this process as it relates to 16th it is called out in the agreement that we are to dedicate that new street and build it. That is what dibc One of the things dibc is supposed to do, as soon as the agreement was signed, we undertook the process to get the new road permitted. We did, and then I was contacted by Mr. Paulson, who said that the community had some concerns about the design of 16th and asked for some traffic calming measures to be implemented in the design. Thereafter, we interacted with Luke, we interacted with Sam and the hrra. That resulted in some changes to the design. We resubmitted our design with the new traffic calming measures, which are really, I've heard them referred to as bump outs, bump outs at Fort and new 16th, and bump outs at 16th and Lafayette, which is really just bringing in the curb and making the roadway here and here a little bit narrower in order to, you know, reduce the speed through which people will move through that new 16th Street. So those design changes have been implemented, and they're now part of the design. I hope that's responsive to your question, and I see Mr. Butler has his hand up.
Yes, thank you, Madam Chair. So to give, to give some extra context, as we were knocking doors around this community agreement and the expected changes in the area, one of the loudest pieces of feedback we heard was from residents on 16th Street that expressed concern that if 16th connected all the way to Fort, then 16th Street, you know, would become sort of like a drag racing throughway. So to compensate that, as Kevin mentioned, we worked with them to install the curb bump outs, which will help constrict the intersections and slow down traffic. We've also been talking with the city through Mr. Polson around installing speed bumps on 16th Street North of Lafayette, and I believe additional speed bumps will be coming our way, and I'll turn it over soon as well,
Kevin and then Vice Chair.
I think Mr. Paulson had his his hand up for an addition first, yes,
go right ahead, Kevin.
I don't have anything to add to what Sam said.
His hand up. Sorry. Thank you,
Madam Chair, through you. I also wanted to acknowledge City Council under the chair's leadership. In his closing resolution indicated that this was a priority, especially along 16th Street, and that too was an important part of the back story around community engagement between the Department of Public Works and the Harvard Richard resident Association, not just on the design of 16th between Ford and Lafayette, but also the length of 16th between Bagley and Lafayette and then other streets in the neighborhood we were reviewing and finding common ground around not just traffic calming measures, but other deficiencies in the pedestrian infrastructure in the neighborhood, mapping that out and trying to knock them out one at a time. So wanted to acknowledge that 16th Street is a point of focus, but but frame out that the community conversation is bigger than 16th Street as well. Thank
you. Thank you. Luke. Vice Chair,
I just wanted to get confirmation from the city. Has there been a commitment to investing in that infrastructure request from the community as far as traffic calming?
Madam Chair, through you to member. Benson. Vice Chair, so far, the the the commitment we've made is to replace the current speed humps on 16th between Lafayette and Bagley with speed bumps, having reviewed that with DFD to confirm that that is an appropriate upgrade from a fire safety routing standpoint and and we also, thanks To the community's input, came to appreciate that the spacing of the speed humps and their present location was was not ideal, and there was a space and sort of the length of 16th Street that enabled cars to gather more speed than anyone would like. So it's more a function of correcting the misplacement of the speed humps that are currently there and upgrading them to speed bumps, or speed cushions to speed humps, rather on 16th so at present, that's the commitment we've made so far, but we're reviewing other requests around the neighborhood area,
and then the commitment is also coupled with a funding source with those improvements. And what is that funding source?
The speed humps, general program funding, nothing incremental, just in the general operating and capital funds of DPW,
okay, all right. Thank you.
Thank you, Vice Chair. I believe it would be very helpful with this diagram still up, just to go through each of these items, point them out in the diagram, and then have just one final question, and I believe will be all sets for this committee. So for 516 having you seem ready to let us know what what this easement will look like, or which one this is?
Yeah, I unfortunately, I don't have the agenda in front of me, but I know we've talked about the dedication of 16th and the closure of st Ann's. There is a another road vacation right here on 17th. So this is actually part of existing parcel. One parcel one is the property that is going to be conveyed to the community. And there's a vestige of 17th street that exists here legally. So one of the things that is before you is the closure of 17th this will endure to the benefit of the hrra, in the sense that closing 17th here will, you know, properly extinguish the interest of the roadway that I think came through this part of parcel one. That's one of the items on your agenda. So we talked about, talked about the dedication, we've talked about the closure of St Anne's. We've talked about the closure here at 17th. The other one is actually an oversight. This is property that's currently on the plaza, and I'm trying to put my cursor over it, but I believe it's in this general vicinity. There's a alleyway, and then there's part of West Lafayette that is right here, and this alley that goes north
Madam Chair. Difficult time seeing these, these, can we just get another verbal location to help identify where?
Sure I can, I can do my best to do that. Council member Benson, there is a part of West Lafayette that extends West onto the current Plaza. So this is land that is currently on the plaza is still denominated as part of West Lafayette, and when we were going through this process, we identified that as something that ought to be cleaned up, ought to be brought before Council, and that part of the road vacated. So if you just follow West Lafayette West past that blue line, there's a little extension of West Lafayette on the plaza that we're asking to close as part of this process. Then now still on the plaza, heading north from, you know, imagining West Lafayette coming on to the plaza. That part is to be vacated. And then there is a city alley that is on the plaza as well that has never been vacated. So that part heads north towards Howard Street, that alleyway that is one of the items on the agenda. It's the closure of the alleyway that runs between, effectively West Lafayette and Howard on the plaza, and it's combined with the closure of the imaginary extension of West Lafayette onto the plaza
discussion vice chair,
and those seem to be more housekeeping items, correct?
I would classify, I think that is a fair classification council member, Benson,
all right, Kevin, I believe those were all of the items. Member Benson waters any other questions regarding these easements, and are these requests? Member Benson discussion
just knowing, and I'm sure this has come up with this body just recently, having approved the establishment of the solar farms and now moving to generating more green energy, in reducing fossil fuels and really working to improve our air quality. And so those solar farms are improving by 16% or reducing negative air and particulate matter by 16% how is the extra? Is the expansion of the queue, waiting area, truck use, hurting or improving air quality for the community, and has that been discussed that specifically as public health and safety, that's our charge. So it's wondering how we're impacting people's health with this expansion,
if I may, Madam Chair, I think I could take that one of the core functions of this expansion will allow us to establish two new primary inspection lanes on the plaza, and The establishment of the two new primary inspection lanes should result in a efficiency increase in the in the order of magnitude of about 10% the efficiency increase directly translates into reductions in queuing and lineup and therefore In emissions that are emanated from trucks and cars that are on the plaza. So there's a direct correlation between enhancements to environmental issues arising from the proposed Plaza expansion that is before this committee and before, hopefully before Council tomorrow.
And correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure that Vice Chair, if you see where b is, there's supposed to be no active idling trucks there or cars there. It's just for parking. So talk about more buffering between residential and active idling cars. As far as I I'm aware there's not going to be any Eileen cars there and parcel B, correct,
yeah, if I may, Madam Chair, that that is one of the provisions in the community agreement that no truck traffic would be allowed in this expansion area be the expansion area A allows for The geometry that's nesible necessary to establish the two new primary inspection lanes. Allows for a curving of the traffic through here, but there will be no traffic to the east of of the purple line that you see there, that represents a portion of Saint Anne's
okay. And then just through yourself, madam chair to the administration, you concur with that assessment of the improvement of public health.
Madam Chair, through you to Vice Chair. Benson, I do concur, and I don't want to speak for Mr. Butler, but I do believe that the throughput enhancements the bridge processing facility here is is something everyone is excited to see, because, in addition to the fact that the wall that would be bumped out into the area Mark crosshatch and mark a would be 20 feet tall, the expectation Is that the wall height from a noise and and air quality standpoint, and the increased efficiency of the throughput would be superior to the status quo. And this project has been about with that end result in mind, that positive end result. In mind, what is the the additional community benefits and protections that the residents want to need to see in order to support the expansion understanding that the efficiencies are indeed better than would mitigate issues currently associated with the the operations of the bridge Plaza,
then discussion on bump out alpha 20 foot wall, any design standards to make that more of an amenity than just a huge wall, just based on some of those housing values, if I was A homeowner in that area and saw my home value increase to the level where it is now, I want to make sure that any major infrastructure improvements in the area are in keeping and help support my home value. What is being done to ensure that that bump out on the 20 foot wall becomes more of an asset and a visual asset to the community.
Madam Chair, through you to Vice Chair. Benson, I'm glad you asked, and that was, of course, a huge focus of the three party discussions between the neighbors, the bridge company and the and the administration and and council. Frankly, invite Madam Chair, for you to chime in. I know you were personally, really down in the weeds with us around what what was an appropriate level of vegetative buffering and what our design standards were for the wall, summarizing them rather broadly, Mr. Vice Chair. First, the esthetics of the wall itself is for it to be context appropriate, and so it will be brick stamped and reflective of the general historic esthetics of the neighborhood and of Saint Anne's Church. Secondly, the placement of the wall and the public right of way enhancements adjacent to the wall. The designs of that work are such that the there's an underground of overhead utilities along st Anne street, so being undertaken at the bridge company's expense, that will enable the planting of taller trees as part of a vegetative buffer running between the wall and the sidewalk and and the same context appropriate wall design would also characterize the area around Plaza expansion area B, although that wall need only be 10 feet in height, because there will be no truck traffic in that area, as mentioned earlier. And similarly, a planting program will will also improve that section of the plaza perimeter and and again, the the design and placement of those right of those right of way enhancements in the public realm are we're a huge point of detailed consideration as part of the community
agreement. Okay, thank you. Thank you,
Sam, I do want to ask you similar questions regarding the expansion these permissions and your thoughts on protections, on the public health and safety of residents there, I know that this process was to ensure that we had that in place, so want to also hear your thoughts regarding the process and where We are now.
Sure. Thank you, Madam Chair, the process with was lengthy, I think, as we've stated many times, you know, the major fear of the community is that this expansion would just lead to further expansions, and that, you know, this would just continue the way this has happened over previous decades. The whole reason why we signed the community agreement is because we wanted assurance that this would be the last time that the plaza would be expanded. And, you know, to kind of put that question to rest. And so the protections that are in place, as this body knows, include the non acquisition area, which is the area in blue. And for the the sake of explaining what that is to the to the public, the dibcd is prohibited from acquiring property within that blue area. And then the other major protection, I think, includes the donation of parcel one, which is on your map between the new 16th Street and 18th street to the community. So if you know, if the community controls that piece of property right there, then it can ensure that the plaza expansion does not go past area B, right there. Because this has been a long held community concern that the bridge property that they own along 14th and 16th to our eastern boundary. And you know, it kind of creates this U shape, this horseshoe shape, that the bridge company would just try and connect all that property together. And so us breaking up that horseshoe with parcel one is extremely important. Okay,
thank you. And would you have, do you have any idea what you're trying to do with parcel one as a community?
So we, the short answer is, we do not. I mean, I we fully intend to continue to engage our neighbors and to go through some sort of community led design process and ped they are looking at whether they are considering, and it's before this, you know, the council the consideration of rezoning that property to SD two. So I think the community would love to revitalize that property into some sort of mixed use someday. However, there are some challenges to that site, one being environmental environmental remediation, which will probably be very costly. But then also, we are not quite sure what is happening with parcel two next door and the 14th assemblage next to that, as well as the properties on the other side of sports street. So I think our ability to activate parcel one is somewhat dependent on what happens on those adjacent parcels Understood.
Thank you. Final questions, folks, and then we can wrap up here talking about those plans. Kevin, does the ABC have any idea what it plans to do with the with your properties that you have here in the impacted area
on 14th street, and I assume that that's what we're referring to, which is the assemblage there, that's to the east of 16th we call it the 14th Street property right now it's in it has a current use, and that current uses is a legal, permitted use under the zoning. There's really two principal uses there. One is a a truck terminal that the terminal there supports central transports operations. We store what's called salvage freight at that facility. Recently, in the last, I don't know, 18 months or so, we sought approval for and received permits for a a repair facility that's to the northern part of 14th street. That's the current use. It's, it's legal, it's permitted. We've, you know, I haven't heard complaints about the operations in that area. It's not to say that there haven't been, I'm just telling you I haven't heard any in terms of what the long term plan is. I mean, we recognize the property for what it is. It's a it's an assemblage of property. When you assemble that amount of property, opportunities present themselves. But at the moment, we don't have anything that is concrete different from the current use that you see there today,
understood Thank you. And I know we've discussed potentially down zoning some of the parcels that you all own in this area as well to think about as you mentioned, other opportunities that could look like mixed use, could look like green space, could look like many other things, correct? So thank you for sharing where you are right now and agree that there could be other opportunities in the future. Speaking about opportunities, my final question that I have is something that was brought up I believe during ped we all understand that it's not just about making sure that they are protection set in place for residents in the impacted area here with the expansion of the Ambassador Bridge footprints, this also has to do with years, decades of distrust and, quite frankly, fighting and we're really trying to fix that. We want to have a better relationship. That is really my biggest hope out of all of this, was so that there really can be a working relationship between hubba Richard and the dibc, you are neighbors with that. There are still concerns, quite frankly, what I consider trauma with Han within many of the residents in hubris shard, there was a public comment mentioned, I believe, during ped about what seems to be thought as as a promise. Uncut. Kevin, this is a question for you, and if you wouldn't mind helping me figure this out, but there is a supposed 1991 deal that was made between the dibc and Coleman Young. We have a few articles of information that I can share with you, but I think we have an opportunity here to address this, what seems to be a deal that may or may not have already been actually completed, but Kevin, if you wouldn't mind working with me today to review This information, see whether or not the dibc has actually completed that promise, because it's a it's $1 million that's at the at the table that can be fulfilled, completed, or might have already been fulfilled and completed, and we just need to have that come to light in front of the public. I think we have an opportunity here to say yes, we've completed that deal, or yes, we're able to complete that deal. And this one, because I think at the end of the day, the biggest concern, which is just what is known, what has been known of the company, is that promises that have been uncut and really, really want to change that. I see you all doing that, and which is why I'm asking you here at the table, because I believe that we can address the concern or make it right. But Kevin, have you heard of this deal? Is this new to you? Would you mind working with me today to see whether or not this is something that can be addressed?
Madam Chair, I'm happy to work with you. I'm happy to work with you, and I'm happy to work with Sam. I think making a relationship is certainly, from our perspective, an important part of the endeavor that we undertook here. That's number one. Number two as it relates to the present moment, I would tell you that I think we do view this as a historic agreement, in the sense that this, to my knowledge, is the first time that we have done something like this as a company, that we've sat with the community, that we've gone through a process, that we listened and that we interacted, and that there was what I would call good faith negotiation by both sides, and I think it culminated in a wonderful agreement for the community and and a good, strong agreement for us as well. So we're proud of that. I think it's an opportunity for us to make promises and keep promises, and I think you're seeing it already with the work that we've done as it relates to the demolition of the ground. We said we would do that. We've done it. Said we would build a new 16th Street. We've said we've done that. We're moving forward with all of those things. I would also point back to 2015 and land exchange agreement. You know, this is something that isn't talked about a lot in public, but it's really through the land exchange agreement that Riverside Park was turn was revitalized, enhanced, expanded. It became a bigger Park. It received a $5 million donation from the Maroons. And what you see there today is largely the result of that land exchange agreement, which I would say is another promise kept. We're trying to build a track record in that area, and it's important to us that we do. And you know, I've, I've been heavily involved in this process, and I'm committed to making sure this process comes to fruition in the way that the parties expect I do. I don't want to ignore your questions about a 1991 agreement. I will tell you that I graduated from high school in 1991 so I was not with the company at that time. I prior to that public comment that you're referring to council member. I had never heard of anything like that. I've never seen an agreement from 1991 but you know, what would I tell you? I would tell you that if there's information to be shared, we would certainly take into account the information that's provided and we would react appropriately to so if there are newspaper clippings, or there's some, you know, other documents or things that you think that the dibc should look at, I'm here, and I'm more than willing to take a look at Whatever is provided.
Thank you, Kevin, I appreciate that. Then let's take this conversation offline to address those questions that we hear from the public. Because to your point, for me, this is an opportunity for us to do things differently and to move forward differently. I have no other questions before I ask for a motion for approval, seeing no questions from my colleagues. Mr. Butler, before we approve these, want to leave you for any other final questions or comments from the community.
Thank you. Madam Chair, no. I mean, I think the the questions for the community, as I mentioned before, I mean, really do relate to the future use of this area as vice chair Benson mentioned right like Hubbard Burchard is changing property values are rising. We really view this as one of the most vibrant, walkable, and, you know, one of the best places to live in the in the city of Detroit. And the only thing that I think holds us back is surrounding industrial property. And and as, as you know, the Vice Chair mentioned, to some degree, the related pollution resulting from leaving so close to a major international crossing. So I mean, to whatever degree that we can work with our city and with the dibc and this, like new and blossoming partnership that we have to turn these properties into active, non industrial use that would be welcome by the community. I think we're all very excited by the future. Yeah.
Thank you, Sam. I appreciate that, and agreed. I very much hope to be able to continue this relationship, moving forward and working with dibc and Hubbard Burchard to be able to continue to develop this area together with that given no other questions. Do have a quick question, I guess, for Luke, if you wouldn't mind confirming ped moved their items out so they would be everything would be in front of us tomorrow. Correct for a vote, Yes, Madam Chair. Okay. So with that, is there a motion to approve and to send to new business, five point 16 through five point 21 motion Hearing no objections, five point 16 through five point 21 would be approved, sent to new business with them with the recommendation to approve. Thank you all for joining us.
Thank you. Thank you
moving us along to new business under the Office of contracting and procurements. 6.1 this is contract number 3076601, utilizing 100% city funding to provide payments for fiduciary services contractors black family developments, the they are here in Detroit. The total contract is for 57,586 with 70 cents. Is there a motion to approve or discuss 6.1 motion to approve, Hearing no objection. 6.1 will be approved, sent to formal with the recommendation to approve 6.2 it's contract number 3077608, utilizing 100% sitting funding to provide payments and release of further claims for services rendered. Contractor is coherence RX, located in Troy. The total contract is for 1,330,857 with 40 cents. Is there a motion to discuss 6.2 motion? Thank you. Member waters, Mr. Washington, who do we have to discuss 6.2 with us.
Madam Chair, if we can bring this item back to the end, at the end of the agenda, I do not see my representative online. All
right, with that objection 6.2, will be brought back to the end of the agenda. 6.3 through 6.6 are all various emergency demolitions. 6.3 is contract number 3077599, 100% city funding is being utilized for emergency demo at 50 818, Dubois with a basement backfill contractors adiamo, located in Detroit For 268,839 with 82 cents, 6.4 is contract number 3077875, utilizing 100% city funding for emergency demo at 5505, East Davison contractors, inner city In Detroit. Total amounts is 196,386.5
is contract number 3077940, 100% city funding for emergency demolition with basement backfill. Inner City contracting for 187,361 with five cents and 6.6 is contract number 6006429, utilizing 100% bond funding to provide a prop and a trash out release group I 20 for 24 properties. The contractor is infrastructure environmental services located in Shelby township for 87,987 with 14 cents. Is there a motion to approve or discuss 6.3 through 6.6
motion to approve? If there's
been a motion to approve, are there any objections? I will be an objection for 6.3 and for 6.6 hearing no other objections, all of those items will be approved, sent to formal with the recommendation to approve. 6.7 is contract number 6006493, utilizing 100% grant funding to provide furnish and bus. OEM parts contractor is Munis reclamation and supply company. They're located in munis, Indiana. The total contract is for five years, and it's for 4,042,746 and this would be for transportation. Is there a motion to approve or discuss 6.7
motion to
a motion to approve? Are there any objections hearing nine? 6.7 will be approved since a formal with the recommendation to approve 6.8 is contract number 6006590, utilizing 100% major street funding to provide salts and rock bulk on a required basis. Contractors Detroit salt company located here in the city for 1,723,974
with 20 cents. Is there a motion to approve or discuss 6.8
motion to approve hearing, no
objection 6.8 will be approved. Since a formal with the recommendation to approve, I'm sure
motion to send a new business hearing, no
objection. 6.8 will be sent to new business with the recommendation to approve under the law departments. 6.9 is a placeholder regarding advertising banning for marijuana on billboards. And six point 10 under the departments of appeals and hearings. Is our buildings findings and orders for August 16, 2024 Is there a motion to receive and file both items? Motion hearing, no objection. 6.9 and six point 10 will be received and filed under the Office of Chief Financial Officer, Office of Development and grants. Six point 11 through six point 15 are all various grants. 611 is a request to accept and increase a supplemental Family Violence Prevention Services grants. Six point 12 is a Detroit Public Safety Foundation accepting Department of Neighborhood specialist grants. 613 is to accept and appropriate the Michigan brown field redevelopments program grants. 614 is to submit a grant to the US Department of Homeland Security for the swift, repetitive loss grants. In six point 15 is an authorization to submit a grant to the homeland security for the swift reserve, repetitive loss grants. Is there a motion to discuss six points 11 through six point 15?
Motion?
Thank you to the clerk's office. Just want to ensure six points 14, two, these are two separate items. Yes, they are. I just answered my own question. Sorry about that, Madam Clerk, is there, are there any discussions for these items, or is there a motion to approve? Motion to approve
this in the new business
Hearing no objection. Six points 11 through six points 15 will be approved since new business with the recommendation to approve that brings us to the bottom of our agenda. I will bring us back now to 6.2 mr. Washington. Do we have anyone to discuss 6.2 with us?
Yes, Madam Chair, we have Christina Floyd and Jim Glavin online,
if we can move them both over as panelists and Madam Chair, yes, Mr. Washington,
when we can, can we also move item 6.7 to new business,
to 6.7
this is the furnishing of bus parts. Is there a motion to send 6.7 to new business? Motion, Hearing no objection. 6.7 will be sent to new business with the recommendation to approve.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Washington. Is there a motion to discuss 6.2 motion? Thank you. Member waters, if you wouldn't mind sharing your name and title with us for the public
Excuse me. Jim Glavin, Office of contracting and procurement, good morning. Christina
Floyd, Deputy Director of Public Health for the Detroit health
department, good morning. Do have some questions for this contract? Wondering it does look like we are settling. If we could just please get in a brief overview of what happened with the contract that we have one in the first place, and if we did what, what was, what were they authorized to perform? I
to the
chair. This particular contract was for call center activities during covid And so they were tasked to do scheduling some reporting, ensuring that, obviously, patient information is kept confidential, as well as some other items as related to covid, scheduling for our clinical services. Okay, ended, oh yeah, roughly ended around 2022, 2023,
to the chair. We had purchase orders and contracts with this vendor. They were originally known as patient education genius or peg and we at beginning of covid, they were brought on board. We had looked at a number of companies, got close from number of companies, and was decided to go with this company. And they were our vaccine scheduling firm. They would send out the text messages reminding you your appointment, things like that, that's what they're used for. The contract ran out. It wasn't renewed, but services continued, and services, you know, ended, as my colleague said, in 2023 and they submitted a final bill that we've been looking at and negotiating for the past, literally, the past year,
understood, but so we're negotiating for performance work performs, it sounds like we did have a contract with them, or was it an open contract, and then they just sent us the bill afterwards with with the services rendered from them to the chair.
Combination, okay, there wasn't there was an actual contract with this company, a number of contracts, number of purchase orders, and the contract expired. It wasn't renewed, but services continued after the expiration. So this release and settlement is to pay them for their final services under the contract, and then the services that they provided post having a contract with us
understood, and now the 1.3 million is the is to pay for the services after the contract
to the chair, as I said, it's a combination. There's some under the contract and mostly after the contract, they initially billed us roughly 1.7 3 million, and we reviewed and reviewed and reviewed and came to an agreement that we could accept the 1.3 million on this purchase order as being legitimate and being something that we asked for and that they provided. The other half a million dollars was things that they did without authorization, that we were not going to pay for,
understood, assuming this is not best practice, because now we have to pay a bill with services that we did not ask for, although we understand that they're being performed Correct. Yes, yes. And moving forward, are, do we still have a contract with this company? Or how do we make sure that we are sticking within our contracts, within our means
to the chair? Services have ended Okay last year, and there's no, assuming we don't have another pandemic, there'll be no need for additional services from them. So there has been no services, and probably, and my colleague can confirm, probably a year, year and a half now,
yes, over a year through the chair. Okay.
Okay, those are my questions. Any other questions for 6.2 hearing, none. Is there a motion to approve and to send to formal motion? Hearing, no objection. 6.2 will be approved since a formal with the recommendation to approve. Thank you all for joining us.
Thank you,
Madam Clerk. I believe we are all set. We just need the resolution for five point 12 that we will look at when we come back for dangerous buildings,
correct.
Thank you hearing nothing else to come before us. We are now down to member reports, Vice Chair. Anything else do you want to share member waters.
And before my colleague, run off I want to remind all city.
