All right. Good morning, everyone. We will call to order our formal session for Tuesday, September the 10th. And Madam Clerk. Please call the roll. Council member
Scott Benson.
Scott Benson I
council member Fred durhall, the third Madam President, the clerk offices in receipt of
a I was just thank you. He did indicate he will be running behind this morning. Clerk
will so No madam president. Council member Leticia Johnson present. Council member Gabriella Santiago Romero, Council Member Mary waters present. Council member Angela Whitfield Callaway council member, Comey on the second. Council President, pro tem James Tate. Council President, Mary Sheffield,
present. Madam
President, you have a quorum.
All right, there being a quorum present. We are in session, and we will begin with our invocation. We have joining us virtually. Reverend Terry minor for from Macedonia Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan, good morning. Good morning. Good
morning, Madam President,
good morning. The floor is yours to lead us in our invocation for this morning, sir. Alright,
we bring you greetings from the Macedonia Baptist Church to Madam President, Mary Sheffield and her staff. Uh, let's, let us go before the Lord in prayer, dear Eternal God, our Father, we come to you today. God, we thank you. We praise you, God for all that you do. Father, we realize, God, that you've afforded us another day. Heavenly Father, Lord, another session. God and we pray. Heavenly Father, Lord, for our leadership. God, we pray for the mayor, Mayor Mike Duggan, Heavenly Father, Lord for this city council, the president, Mary Sheffield, Heavenly Father, Lord, we're praying God that they'll lead this city effectively. Heavenly Father, Lord, that God, we ask that you would empower them with discernment to know what's right and what's wrong with wisdom. Heavenly Father, Lord, to be able to put plans into action. God, we pray for the City Council, God at large, God and everyone who represents each district. Father, I pray. Heavenly Father, Lord, that they would do it with such diligence that God that they would be in their districts. Heavenly Father, Lord, and understand the needs of the people. God, we thank you so much for the service that they render. God, and we understand that this undertaking is not an easy one. God, that it is difficult one. But God, they've been called to this heavenly Father, Lord, as servant leaders, God and Lord, we're praying God, not just for them, but God all the ones who are public servants. God all those heavenly Father, Lord, who are serving the capacity of public service, our police officers, our chief of police, God. We're praying for him as well. We're praying God for the fire department and and those EMS techs. Heavenly Father, Lord, all of those first responders. God, we're praying for them as well now. Father, bless and we shall be blessed. God, I pray God for this community at large. God, Detroit community. Father, all of the residents. Heavenly Father, Lord, we're praying that God, that they will be in good health and that they would prosper. God, Lord, we thank you so much, God. And we ask in advance, God, we give you honor. We give you praise for what you're about to do in the city. God, we're asking this in the mighty and the matchless name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. It's in Jesus name we pray amen.
Amen. Alright. Thank you so much, pastor for that invocation, and feel free to hang out virtually if you would like to. If not, we do appreciate you for blessing us this morning.
Okay, it's my honor.
Thank you so much. Have a blessed day. Yeah, you too. All right, thank you, sir. And if a clerk will note we've been joined by council member Calloway. For those who are listening and watching online, please make sure you raise your hand for public comment. After the these two presentations this morning, we will be cutting off public comment. All right, I have the absolute privilege of recognizing Miss Kendall Graves, who was with us in the audience. If you want to join us here, she is a PGA coach from Detroit, Michigan. Let's give her a round of applause, doing great things. All right, so Miss Kendall graves, you can have a seat. She and I have a privilege of presenting you with a Spirit of Detroit award. Kendall Graves is a passionate PGA coach from Detroit, Michigan whose love for golf begin at the tender age of four, she has had a lifelong commitment to breaking barriers in sports traditionally dominated by men and often lacking diversity, which we know in golf. Kendall is the 12th black woman Professional Golf Association coach in America, the 12th Yes, right from Detroit, beautiful co founder of New Age golf, Kendall is also dedicating her career to creating opportunities for middle and high school athletes seeking recruitment and scholarship by elite colleges in 2025 Kendall will open new age golf, which is a brick and mortar facility Right here in Detroit that is dedicated not only to advancing young golfers, but also their overall well being, providing comprehensive support and mental health, fitness and conditioning, recognizing that excellence in golf is deeply intertwined with physical and emotional Wellness. Thank you for that, holistic approach.
Beautiful.
In addition to her efforts with New Age golf, Kendall is proud to be a brand ambassador for the Eastside golf, where she provides coaching and support during their community day events from a student to a PGA professional to an entrepreneur, Kendall Graves is using her platform to inspire the next generation of golfers, creating a lasting legacy of resilience, purpose and progress in the world of golf. Through her work, she is empowering others to chase their dreams, go after their goals, and no matter the obstacle. So we honor you. We appreciate you congratulations for the work that you're doing in the industry of golf, and on behalf of the entire Detroit City Council, in my office, we would like to present to you a Spirit of Detroit award. And before you, before we give you, want to say a few words, yeah, make sure your microphone is on at the bottom. Yep, there you go. Guys hear me all Well, there we go.
Thank you guys for this. This
is a complete surprise to me. I thought I was here for something for my dad.
So, yeah,
they got me back there. Big Yeah, I wouldn't be here without them and my Lord and Savior. So thank you for blessing this this room this morning. Um, but yeah, that's all I have to say. Really, I feel like you covered most of it. As far as what I'm doing, um, the accomplishments that I've had, I just want to make it a safe space for other people that look like me, young kids. So I hope I can be a beacon of change for that. Alright, well, we
wish you the absolute best continue the great work that you're doing. And again, we just wanted to honor your work. Being the 12th black woman in the country is not an easy feat, and you're right here from Detroit, representing well. So thank you for representing black excellence and achieving and going after your dreams and conquering them. So we got to do a picture with you, And you got to teach me out there too.
And I didn't know you Were trees, daughter, I
Okay, ready, Everyone, 123123, are there Any other
It was like, All right? You?
All right, so we will proceed again. We congratulate Miss Kendall grace for all of her accomplishments, and we will now also cut off our public comment and proceed now to our plan Detroit presentation for the master plan of policies update. We have director Bryant joining us and several others applause.
Good morning, Council, how
are you doing? Great. How are you, sir? We're excited.
And first of all, again, another congratulations to ms graves. I got the chance to meet her a couple months ago, and I am mostly behind in my lesson, so I look forward to engaging with her in very short order. We want to thank you all for your time. Thank the public for being available to hear about one of the most exciting times we have here in City of Detroit. Our master plan, we are aware that this is something that council has been excited about for a couple of years, and we're excited to present our status to where we are right now, so we will jump into it to my left and to my right. Assisting me with the presentation. I will have Deputy Director Dara O'Byrne, as well as the project manager for this effort is Julie kanaki, and so I will be getting them involved in our conversation shortly. First slide oh, I will make sure everyone is most surely aware of our Associate Director of Legislative Affairs and equitable development, Edwina King, who was attending with us virtually and will be manning our slides. I think all of you have had the opportunity to meet Edwina, and we're really glad to have her obviously as a part of our team. So next slide, we are going to be giving our update here on what we're calling plan Detroit. That is a title for our master plan of policies. Update the master plan. This is our roadmap for future development across the city, the recommendations that will come about as a course of this particular project will help align all of our focus towards land use development policy with a shared vision for Detroit's future, and it will be intersectional across all of the topics that are known Throughout the planning world, we're going to talk about how they intersect and inform how physical development creates is created. Our primary goal is to ensure that we engage our residents in a healthy and productive dialog and combine their interests and desires with Planet expertise and best practices to produce a document that serves to create policy centering around the physical environment. Director
Brown, I'm sorry to cut you off. Just wanted to get clarity on the slides. Were these emailed to us? Do we have any physical copies that we can pass out to colleagues? They
were sent via eastcribe on Friday.
Okay, so we'll, we'll print some out to make sure, because I'm we didn't get a copy of them, so we will print them. Madam President, my colleagues all have a copy of them.
And Madam President, they were sent electronically as well on Friday.
Who that was sent from you? Edwina,
that is correct. Okay, okay, we'll,
we'll look for them now. Okay. Christy, sorry to cut you off. We just want to make sure we can follow, follow Absolutely.
Well. I'll make sure we talk slower, but we'll make sure everyone has it and you will have your Virtual Copies as well. Getting back to it, we want to make sure that the master plan will engage our residents in healthy dialog and combine our their interests and desires with expertise and best practices to produce a document that serves to create policy centering around physical environment, as originally presented to city council, we have made informed and significant progress towards developing a plan with Detroiters, allowing for development of the places we all live, work and play. Next slide.
Wanted to walk you briefly through the process and timeline that we are in. We have several different tabs on the top of the screen. You will notice that we have a master plan advisory group made up entirely of Detroiters, we had a lengthy process to call a over 250 applicants to this group of nearly 40 residents from across the district and across the city, as well as an interdepartmental steering committee that is meeting on a regular cadence. Additionally, we are having our project updates, which have been consistent over the last several months. Right now we are in the midst of analysis and early visioning, which includes our city voices tour. You'll hear more about that. We've been excited to engage residents, literally and figuratively all across the city, to be able to call their ideas about what they'd love to see moving forward in this great city, we'll begin to draft some very early processes and policies through September through the turn of the new year, and then look forward to getting closer to the final plan through second and third quarter and beginning of fourth quarter of next year, which will end with a public comment period, obviously, and then the public hearing slated for the end of 2025 next slide. Wanted to give you next slide apologies. Want to give you a brief understanding of our progress to date. As a foundation for this particular Master Plan update, we reviewed over 35 internal documents. Many of our departments have strategic plans in place. This is also inclusive of our very successful neighborhood framework plans that cover nearly 60% of the city individually, we've had a number of seven planning topics that were pulled from all of those planning studies from across the city. We've our consultant has worked with us to begin to pull together some existing conditions and the recommendations from those plans, and we're in the midst of having deeper dive stakeholder conversations with our residents to really go into a more focused conversation of what they would like to see. We have engaged over 4000 of Detroit residents across a variety of different venues, and we also that number does not include the numbers of residents that are subscribed to our newsletter, as well as does not include numbers that are looking at social media updates that we have on a very frequent basis, we've been intentional to reach a resident from across the entire city. They represent every council district. Additionally, a specific directive was to ensure that we have an intergenerational dialog with focused and ongoing efforts on engaging Generation Z as well as our elders. And so we want to make sure that we hit every single section of our Detroit Public next slide with that, I want to get into more of the technical aspects of it, and I will cede it to my project manager, Julie conecki,
thank you, Director Bryant. Next slide, please. So as director Bryant highlighted in that last slide, we are working together with our consultant on some technical components, and we want to give you a brief update on the status of that work. So they have completed a two part existing conditions analysis. This is a high level assessment of where we currently are in the city, starting with a review of all of those previous plans, we highlighted those 35 internal plans. So what they were looking for here was areas of alignment in those plans, and they started by lifting up some kind of common values and planning topics that will guide the rest of this process. We are in the process of vetting these internally and with our advisory committee and the public right now, ideally, these values and planning topics will become sort of the framework or the outline of the master plan document itself. Next slide, please. So those three draft values, they've lifted up so far, which are kind of six, are resiliency and sustainability, equity and empowerment and health and prosperity. We anticipate that these will continue to evolve and shift. We've already had conversations with folks about things that might be missing here, but the values are going to be kind of guiding principles or lenses that we'll use as we move through this process to evaluate different policies and making sure that there are always rooted in these core values. And we will be leaning heavily on our master plan advisory group to help us refine and I think importantly, define these terms. We want to be very clear what we all mean when we say equity. What does equity mean for this process? Next slide, the consultant team has also identified a number of common planning topics. Looking across these plans, you'll see here that these are the citywide plans that they've looked at as the example up on the screen, they also looked at all of the neighborhood framework plans. So the planning topics are the kind of key planning areas that we might be taking a deeper dive into all kind of relating back to land use. Of course, as we said at the top of the presentation, they also synthesize some common goals within each of these topics for further review and study, as well as gaps and opportunities for the master plan to address some of those gaps. So really looking for areas of alignment and where we go from here to build off of that previous work of our departments.
Next slide please.
They are also, we are also in the process of vetting what they're calling their community snapshot. So this is more of the data collection and analysis giving us a sense of where we are as a city, what the trend lines look like. And right now, we're in the process of looking at this high level snapshot and teasing out research questions, really digging into well, why are we seeing this? Why are we seeing this trend? Can we learn more about housing or economics or land use, so across a variety of topics? And we're going to actually be also getting some feedback from our master plan advisory group, what they're curious to know about, if the analysis so far matches with their lived experience, stuff like that this week,
next slide. So
our consultants have already identified a few areas where they want to take a much deeper dive than they will be doing in the community snapshot, in addition to the revisions that we'll be asking them to do there, I think the two biggies are the land use analysis. So really digging into what land uses are, where is that the appropriate place for them? What could, how could this change in the future, really laying the foundation for the bulk of the master plan policy recommendations? We're also looking at vacant land use and what we're calling neighborhood typologies. Can we start to look at the different conditions within neighborhoods and see what similarities there are, so we don't have to go neighborhood by neighborhood in the master plan process in order to put forward some policies that would be appropriate for each neighborhood? Just to put a point on that, it's because the neighborhood planning process is really good for in the weeds, planning parcel level, planning for the neighborhoods, but we want to make sure that we have strategies in the master plan that don't just treat every single neighborhood like the conditions on the ground are the same, because that is not the case. So the typologies are a way for us to tackle that at a higher level in the master plan. And then we're also looking at market demand and travel demand to root these land use recommendations and what the market is telling us, as well as what do travel and transportation patterns look like. And now I will toss it to Deputy Director O'Byrne to walk you through our outreach and engagement strategy.
Thank you.
I did just want to mention,
I did just want to mention, quickly, before I get into the details about outreach and engagement, that we are hoping that an additional contract, CDBG, dr, funding that we have with an additional contract will be coming before you in the coming weeks, which will help bolster our engagement as we continue down this process. We're really excited about that, and we also did receive funding from the Hudson Weber Foundation to help us again, bolster that engagement. Next slide. So our approach to outreach and engagement really is in kind of three tiers. The first is around inform. We want to make sure our residents and our community really knows what's going on. So this is our website, social media, newsletters, getting information out. And then we also want to make sure that we're consulting and having kind of what we're calling pulse checks throughout the process, where we're able to reach a wide variety of our residents throughout the process. And so this is things like our online survey, which I'll talk about in a minute, and our city voices tour, which director Bryant mentioned. And then we're doing a series of stakeholder interviews. And our interviews to date have included we've been interviewing internally all our internal departments to really make sure we understand what they're working on and their priorities are external stakeholders. And we've really targeted some of our youth organizations, our community development organizations and other groups to make sure we really understand what's going on there. And then we're also looking to collaborate, and this is where we're allowed to have kind of deeper conversations with folks. So this is our master plan advisory group, as was mentioned, where we are meeting with them more regularly and really able to deep dig deeper into specific topics. Coming in the fall and through the winter, we'll be having focus groups, and these will be open to the public, where we can dig into topic areas. We also have staff working groups like we are meeting regularly with our City Planning Commission colleagues to ensure that we're really aligned on things like zone Detroit, but just on land use policy and other policies. And then, as Director Bryant mentioned, we are working with steering committee as well. Next slide, so just really quickly, high level summary, we did do an initial visioning survey. We cast a wide net. What are the priorities of our of our community today, we had over 1800 responses, and we heard a variety of priorities, but things like the priority of walkable neighborhoods and commercial centers really rose to the top, and that's something that the master plan can really work to address through our land use policies. We also heard that transit people and housing are things that people really want to see more of, and that kind of high level online survey can really help inform the direction that we take the planning study. Next slide. Oh, next slide again. Sorry, I was jumping ahead. There we go. So the Master Plan advisory group that director Bryant mentioned this is an opportunity for us to collaborate more deeply and intentionally with residents. This is an a group that's advisory in nature. They are not decision makers, and so we're working to create a safe collaborative space for this cohort to really brainstorm and provide feedback. And the opportunity really is this kind of feedback loop where they're sharing feedback from their community with us, and then in turn, they're able to share what they're learning through the process back with their community. Next slide. So as Dr Bryant mentioned, we had over 200 people apply. The group is made up of approximately 40 people, and we really work to make sure that it is geographically representative, and that it's a diverse representation by age, by race and by experience, because we wanted to make sure that, you know, we had some of that expertise for folks that are very engaged, but then also folks that maybe haven't been engaged in a city process before, to get their perspective as Well next slide and the Master Plan advisory group really is helping to shape the update process. So giving us feedback on our city voices tour the format activities, where should we be going to make sure we're reaching a diverse group of residents? They're also reviewing some of our technical work that the consultants are doing and working to help us establish that planned outline Next slide. So the city voices tour. You've heard us mention this fits into that kind of pulse check where we are, going out to the community and meeting them where they are. So we're going to events all throughout the city, and we're really trying to make this fun and engaging, so that people you know, are willing to kind of come up to us, if they're at the farmers market, and talk to us about their vision for the future. We have a fun Jenga exercise where people are able to talk about in 20 years they would like to see Detroit be and then fill in the blank. They're also able to give us priorities for what we should focus on in the next 20 years. Next slide. So this map shows where we've been to date. We have about one more month of pop ups that we're doing throughout the city. We have engaged over 1300 people, and this was before this weekend, where we even engaged more through there was a lot going on this past weekend. And at the same time, we are making all of the activities that we're doing through the city voices tour available and an online survey as well. So if you can't meet us in person, there is an online option as well, and then I'm going to turn it over to Julie to talk about next steps.
Thanks so much so where we're going from here in the next couple of months, we're going to be wrapping up that existing conditions, the community snapshot and prior plan audit with our consultant, as well as reviewing and finalizing those deeper dive reports, as others have mentioned so far, we're going to be bringing that equity and resiliency contract before you all for consideration and approval, hopefully to bolster our both our technical work as well as our outreach and engagement work, and kind of catch that contract up to where we are in the process. And keep moving forward. We'll be wrapping up our city voices tour and begin to compile that feedback. We'll compare it with the technical analysis to date, and that will guide us into that next big deliverable, which will be to outline the plan itself, next slide. So that's all we have for you today. Just a few things I want to highlight. This is our contact information on our socials, but on plandetroit.com residents can find an online engagement option to do that city voices tour engagement that we're doing out in the neighborhoods online if they can't join us. We have a calendar of all of our upcoming events. We have an option to sign up for our newsletter. We have important documents, like our existing master plan, past presentations we've done meeting summaries from each of our advisory group meetings, for those wondering what we're talking about in those meetings, as well as a list of advisory group members. So lots of important information that we encourage people to check out on plandedetroit.com and now we're happy to take any questions.
Do want to highlight the fact that, uh, we've had continued conversation, and I want to make special mention of Director Todd, who's with us right here with the City Planning Commission, has been a a timeless partner out this entire effort. So we're really excited to have them, as well as our continuing engagement with the community development advocates of Detroit. See that's been instrumental in the formation of this effort. And so we are working definitively, not only with our nonprofit sector, but also with our teammates right here in kmac. So definitely wanted to highlight that and be available for questions. We encourage all of you to go to our website and have your staff go there as well. We also have a list of our community members that are part of our advisory group as well.
Okay, all right. Thank you so much for that presentation and director Todd, did you have anything you want to share or add? Thank you,
Madam President, nothing more than this time, but to echo my colleagues sentiments and the pleasure that it has been given the councils, the commissions and the desires of many to begin this process that we're now working together to pursue it.
All right, thank you. All right, we will turn it over to my colleagues for questions. And I see council member Calloway has a question.
Thank you, Madam
Chair. Good morning, everyone. I had an opportunity to visit your resource table on Livernois on August 3 during the jazz on the app and actually filled out the survey. I didn't know anything about it until that day. I was really impressed with the information that was provided to me. Your staff was very, very professional, and that was the first time I had had contact with what you're working on today. So thank you for that, and thank you for being in the community, who is the consultant on the project? I know earlier in the presentation, you mentioned that you have a consultant who is the consultant, and how much is that contract?
So we're working with Smith's group, and their final contract is 998
998 and 998,000 Oh, okay, just shy of a million. Yes, okay. And when did that contract? Contract start?
We kicked off with the consultant team in February. The contract was approved a little bit before then, yeah. And when does that contract end? The contract ends next October? Yes,
the close of October. Okay,
and the pages, the pages aren't numbered, but I'm here where it says visioning survey. If they were numbered, I could tell you what page, but it's in the middle of right behind I think it says approach that slide, and it says 18 169 responses. Where did those responses come from? And where are the questions that the folks responded to? I'd like to see the questions. And where did the 18 169 responses come from, and how were they arrived at. I mean, was it electronic? Was it visiting someone's neighborhood? Was it door to door? Did you call them? How are we arriving at the 106 18, 169 responses? And then where are the questions?
Sure through the chair, the question we are working on pulling together a full report, including the questions that were asked as well as the responses we gave, including tracking the responses by zip code as well as the demographics that we received. The survey was primarily distributed online. This was just part of a kickoff. We're kind of continuing feedback on the same types of questions and issues through the city voices tour to get more of this initial visioning and priorities feedback. So we initially did it online. We did get a request, though, to do some dedicated outreach to seniors. So we actually set up shop at the Senior Olympics for two days and did paper surveys on the spot with some of our seniors, and reached about 75 folks that way, but primarily it was online. I don't have the numbers in front of me exactly, but we can get you a breakdown by zip code and then tracking, you know, City of Detroit residents versus any folks that responded to the survey who were outside of the city, but it primarily from the city of Detroit is where the responses came
from. Thank you very much. Thank you, Madam Chair, thank you.
Thank you. Member Callaway, Council Member waters, all
right, so thank you and good morning. Morning. Today is the first day that I got to hear about this at all. To tell you the truth, we also have a couple of council members. I thought, who has a master plan Task Force or something? Have you worked with any of them?
So I would say we have worked and presented at a number of the different task forces. I'm not aware of a specific Master Plan Task Force, but the green Task Force, and I know the equitable development task force, has been provided us feedback and you know, ideas about how best to approach this process, but I'm not familiar with a specific Master Plan Task Force. Okay,
I certainly would like to see more details as it relates to land use, because we have a lot of it, so I will want to be able to track that. And when it comes to city voices, I had some people to call me. I didn't know what to tell them. They wanted to be a part of it. They knew more than I did, frankly, and I'm an at large member, and I just I just need to know more. When people call me to ask, I need to be able to direct them so they want to know how they can be engaged, how they can get involved. And I'm hoping that you would not mind providing a list of the current ones, the 40 people that participate, and you don't have to give me their addresses, but I want to know the areas that they live in, that that would be good, because we want to make sure such a plan like this that you're working on, that we really have the charters engaged those who, who want to be, who want to help determine the future of their city, they they need to have that opportunity. So I'm hoping that that you will send that information to us. Council
member waters, I can address that, and I'll make sure our staff has a response as well. During our upcoming plan meetings with all the offices, including euros, we can provide you with the specificity that you desire. The individuals on the master plan advisory group are listed on our website. We also have some metrics that would specify where everyone is from, so we can tell you they're from this district or that district as well. We were very intentional to ensure that not only it only Detroiters, but that they are representative of the council districts in the city. Additionally, one of the things there are a number of ways for residents to become more involved, and we're looking forward to those opportunities upcoming we can provide you, and Julie will be able to outline that more definitively, but the city voices tour, we've worked with, actually every office here to get suggestions about where we should go. One of the primary directives was to go where residents already were and be able to engage our residents in that capacity. And we've had an incredible outpouring of support and engagement in every age group, which has been a lot of fun. But one of the things we want to be sure is to ensure that we're continuing along that and even ramping that up. Want to add some more there. Julie
Sure, absolutely through the chair. We definitely have information about where the Master Plan advisory groups are coming from. We have shared those in our monthly update meetings, we will definitely be able to get your office that information, because we did pay particular attention to making sure that they were dispersed throughout districts, not concentrated within districts when we talking about geographic distribution. So for folks letting looking to get involved, I would say, check out our website. That's the primary way. Or you can tell them. You know, we have social media flyer that goes out every week. Our newsletter is really great. We push out a flyer of events where we're going to be going each week. We also share that with Council offices every other week, roughly, and the Dons to help distribute that information to people. The goal is to meet people where they already are going, but we're still, you know, making sure that they're aware of where we're going to be popping up if they want to come out and participate. Like I said, we have that online engagement option as well. Those are the primary opportunities to be involved in the plan. Now, looking ahead to the future, the big opportunity will be to join our focus groups. Right now, we haven't really outlined how we're going to collect interest for those focus groups and organize them. I think that's yet to come, but right now, folks can sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on when we're going to open that up, or they can email me directly at Detroit master plan at Detroit mi gov to just ask these kinds of questions or specifically ask to be involved in a focus group coming up. So
that's Detroit master plan at Detroit mi.gov
Yep, it's the lap. All my contact information is on the last slide. I
wanted to say it for the people who are listening Absolutely. I repeated it. If you could also repeat the the website out loud so that people can hear it
absolutely. That's plan detroit.com and I can also give my phone number as well. 313-628-0221, that's 313-628-0221,
just another little question, but maybe I misunderstood. Did you also say that you had some people outside of the city part of this plan? Did you say that? Or did I misunderstand? No,
you did not say that. No, ma'am, okay, I just wanted to make sure. I mean,
yes, ma'am, the Council of the due to chair the master plan. Advisory Group is exclusively Detroiters, and we are very intentional about that.
Just for clarification, 100% All right, then, thank you, Madam President. All right.
Thank you. Member waters Council Member Santiago Romero,
thank you, Madam
President. Good morning, everyone.
I am struggling with the cold, the weather change really got to me, but it's good to see you all. I want to say thank you so much for what you've done so far and for taking our advice to count plan Detroit is a really great website with a lot of information. Really encourage folks to check it out. I did ask that there be a summary at the end of every meeting which you're doing. Thank you. I appreciate it. I feel like you are listening to the guidance, and this makes me feel better about the process, because the process matters, and that's we're going to get the information. So just kudos to you all. I do have a question, though, when the steering committee goes out into the community to get more information, how do they do that? Are they allowed to do their own surveys? Are they allowed to identify people, partners that you can go talk to? I guess. What does your role look like in real time, helping you with with your outreach,
through the Chair and thank you for that council member. One of the things we've been very intentional, and you heard project manager county begin to talk about it, was that the residents have, this is an advisory capacity, but we fully encourage them to share everything that they are discussing. Right? They are there to serve as representatives of their of their communities, and one of the primary reasons why they were selected was because everyone has an influence. Everyone has a target audience that they engage with on a regular basis. And so it is integral for us that we use the things that they have and the roles that they have to be able to inform some of the directions that we serve. And so we encourage them actively to share discussions. The primary reasons why we have that concentrated group is for us to be able to have a focused conversation during those meetings, but upon the close of those meetings, we want them and strongly encourage them to share as much as possible and as widely as possible. And because we have a very diverse group. I mean, we've got six of the members are over 65 five of the members are under 24 right? And then everybody else is in all the demographics in between. And so how a 20 year old shares are just going to be far different than one of our residents who 70. And so we really appreciate that diversity, and it's been very effective so far.
We're all really excited about engagement. Sorry about that. I just wanted to add too that what we encourage the advisory group to do is to use the tools that we already have, versus creating a new tool. Because we, at each phase, we're really working to make sure that there is always some kind of online option that they could easily bring or point their friends family to, versus them having to create a new system that then would be hard to, you know, input into the process. And the other thing I wanted to mention in terms of how we're getting their feedback, you know, for example, for the city voices tour, we really wanted to know where we should go, where do Where do you see in your community people gathering that we should be so they were all able to fill out, you know, forms, either in person, just there, immediately, or through, you know, by emailing us and saying, hey, you know, we have this, you know, everybody goes to the farmers market, or we have this big block party, everybody goes to, you should come to that, or whatever it might be. But that's one way that they're really giving us that real time feedback to make sure that we're going to where people are.
Thank you through the Chair. Thank you so much. My last comment will be, we know that this month is Detroit's month of design, and they are across the city, so I'm seeing head nods. So if you can have a table there, it's a good place where people will be. It might look different because we got folks from all over the place, coming to Detroit during this month, but it would be good to say I use your residents of the city make a stop here. But thank you for your work. I appreciate it. Thank you, Madam President, thank you. Thank you so much. Council member Johnson,
thank you, Madam President. Good morning to you all. Thank you for the update, for the presentation, and to everyone that's been involved in the process thus far. Greatly appreciate it. I know it's a long time overdue, and I know a lot of residents and individuals that have been interested in seeing this process move forward. I do want to inquire about outreach to the 70 plus year olds. How are we connecting with them? I've had individuals from other districts reach out to me because they looked at it as an initiative that I led, and they were wondering where things were. And so when you talk about the various ways to get information and to know what's happening. As far as the process is concerned, how are they being engaged intentionally to be a part of this process?
Thank you for that through the chair council member Johnson, appreciate that we've had targeted pop ups during several specific senior specific events, which include, but are not limited to project manager cited Senior Olympics. We've attended senior Friendship Day. We've attended strides for seniors. We've also attended specific events at crawl, A, B, Ford and four well community centers. Additionally, we have a seniors focus group that will be planned for future project phase of this, which will be exclusive to seniors, and we are looking for more events. We want to ensure that our seniors are involved, but we also are cognizant of the fact that they need to be engaged, different than others, right? We are cognizant. I have a mom at 75 and she doesn't sit on the internet, right, and I get it. And so we are intentional to reach them where they are in the best formats for them. Project Manager, do you want
to through the chair? I'll just add to that we are. We have heard some requests for either door knocking or getting physical materials in folks' hands. So it's, it's something we're trying to solve for, like, what is a cost effective way that we could do that? So something that we've been trying to do through each phase of engagement is track who we're reaching and who we're not, and then maybe do some of that in a more targeted way, or leverage a resource that's already going out in the mail as a way to get information in front of folks that's not quite so online. So it's, it's something that we know is potentially out there as an issue we just, we're is still in the process of how best to address it, and we've got a long way to go in this planning process. So I we're giving ourselves lots of lead time to bring folks into the process as we go. Okay,
all right, excellent. Thank you. I would like to provide a a suggestion, at least in District Four. I know that it has been shared with us that the SNFs that the planning studies were helping to inform and shape what was happening here with this planning process. I would ideally like to see pop ups in areas in District Four where there has not been an SNF or a planning study, because I want to make sure those residents feel as though their voice is being heard and that we are intentional about connecting with them. We the folks in in the SNF areas in the planning studies in District Four, I feel like they are always vocal about what they'd like to see, and I think they still will be whether or not there's a pop up that takes place in their specific area, but would love to see that, and would be happy to have conversations with you all about different events that happen In those areas where you can pop up.
Council member Johnson, thank you for that through the Chair, and I appreciate the fact that you have moles in our office listening to our conversations, because that is something we've been talking about. We want to be very, very intentional to reach out to the areas, the 42 43% of the city, it has not had an SNF process, so that has been a talking point in the office, and we will be sure to include your office and your staff and yourself in the furtherance of that goal.
I appreciate that. Thank you. And my last question is relative to the planning topics that you have listed. I see DWSD, water master plan in in parentheses, it says 2015 Can you help me to understand how that is shaping, what is happening relative to the water master plan. As we all know, there have been a number of things water related that have negatively impacted especially District Four since 2015 for certain, and I really want to make sure that the planning department is really helping to shape what, how we move forward and how we address water infrastructure to help with improving the conditions in our communities.
Absolutely through the chair. So it's, it's listed there as part of our previous plan review. So the first step is understanding what the different departments in terms of long range strategic planning, what their goals are, what projects they're prioritizing, what, what are they doing on that? Right? Because they are ultimately going to implement whatever comes out of this, this planning process. So I think we have documented high level goals. We have documented where those goals and priorities intersect with other plans, with other ideas that we'll have in the master plan process. And then we've also had kind of introductory conversations with DWSD to understand how the master plan can help us all move forward and align land use policy with infrastructure and water upgrades. I don't know how much we're going to be getting into the weeds setting policy for that department, but hopefully it's it's a conversation where we say, hey, here are the land use policies we would like to put forward. Here's how we see your role in it and work together towards solutions, but ultimately they would be responsible for coming up with the implementation side of things. So that's
exactly it. We wanted to use the existing plans as a foundation. We wanted to understand and make sure we reviewed the primary strategic plans for every department, and then use that as a launching part, knowing that the city has changed dramatically, and also the world has changed, and specific to water infrastructure as well as our climate, we know that we have to be very smart about how we move forward with that, and they and the DWD, among many others, have been a great partner in this process, and we look forward To working forward with them.
Alright, thank you. I'll make sure my team and I review what that 2015 plan says and chose, and I'm also aware that DWSD is working with the Army Corps on a study, but it'll probably be in tandem with the master plan work that you all are doing. So would love to have some additional conversation about that. Look forward to it. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President. All
right. Thank you council member Johnson and so I am also very concerned about the inclusion of our seniors in the process of this outreach. I know you also mentioned the senior focused events, but I would just encourage you all to possibly host something in each district at a senior building where our seniors typically are. A lot of them are not mobile. Sometimes Do not leave from their senior buildings, and there's a lot of energy. A lot of people in our senior buildings want to participate, and oftentimes feel excluded from a lot of things. So just want to encourage that that can be another outreach is maybe identifying a building in each district to go into conduct engagement with our seniors. Great idea. Thank you for that. You're welcome. And then also our youth. I didn't hear much about 1818, to 2118 year olds, maybe connecting with high schools to target those who are eligible to vote. We want them to vote, but we also want them to be a part of planning and getting their their voice included in this process. So can you speak about that? A little bit? We
can speak about that. I do. The chair definitely appreciate that inquiry. We've had already Two Gen Z and youth, which we include high school and college roundtables where we met with the young people. We've had targeted pop ups at youth organizations and youth focused programming, which include, but are not limited to, discussions at Adam but soul at their summer closing party, the Cody Rouge and Cody Rouge Community Action Alliance, Class Act Detroit, the downtown boxing gym, as well as urban neighborhood initiatives and those ones we've already completed, we have some youth focus groups planned for next phase, just like our senior focus groups that are planned for next phase. So we are actively looking to engage with them moving forward, as well as including, as I noted earlier, we have several of them represented on our advisory group that we meet with on a regular candidate. So that's something that we are looking to be very intentional on because not to sell Macau, but they're going to be here more than we are. So we want to make sure that our youth and young are part of any future conversations.
Okay? And you did mention of the responses, the 1800 responses, that you'll be able to break down the demographics and we can see if there's any gaps, as far as what group of residents were missing? Is that correct? Did I hear that? Yes, you did. Okay. And when we have that information to know so we can alter the planning engagement process if need be as far as our targeted approach to demographics that we may be missing, I
would say in a couple of weeks. And I'd like to also compare that against our city voices tour stop, those planning areas versus non planning areas, kind of each step of the way, like, where are gaps and where do we have to do more engagement. But we definitely, we have a draft. It's just not final yet. So a couple of days. Okay, thank
you. And then lastly, I just wanted, can you provide a little bit more information on the equity and resiliency contract that is CDBG disaster relief funding. I would like to get a little bit more information on what is forthcoming and how much that contract will be, yes.
So thank you for that question. We are actually doing our COO meeting tonight about that contract. So we have a COO meeting tonight and Thursday, and once we finalize that project, we are hoping to bring it to council in the coming weeks. That it was an opportunity to really kind of elevate the focus on and incorporate resiliency and sustainability and equity and bolster our engagement. So that contract, as published in the COO notice, is for $500,000 in CDBG, Dr funds, and it the three focus areas each kind of have a line of work. They're obviously interrelated, but will be integrated overall into the master plan as a whole. Okay, thank
you for that. Looking forward to that contract, and I know we've used a lot of that for actual infrastructure repairs throughout the city of Detroit. That's why I wanted to just make sure you know, they were utilizing that for what is intended. And I understand the planning initiatives around infrastructure, but there's a lot of work. Yes, homes and infrastructure that's needed as well, too. And
just to, just to clarify that these Dr funds are are set aside only for planning. So I just want to clarify, we aren't taking funds away from the implementation. That's exactly what I want. They are set away, set aside for planning, just
for planning, for clarifying. Yeah, thank you. Okay, never call away.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I have a question about the
yes, the Advisory
Committee. It is comprised of 40 people. It's
just actually, it's actually just short of 50.
Okay, I thought you said it's a 40. So it's 4050 it's 46 how were those through the chair? How were those folks selected? Because I would have wanted some of my association presidents to serve. I was never contacted. I don't know when you're in district two, I have, I host events all the time. I'm having a big senior picnic at Palmer Park on September the 21st you're welcome to come. But how do I know what you are doing, and how were those 40 folks selected? I may want to, I may have wanted to recommend someone, and if it's not too late. I still like to do that. We have a lot of block club presidents, Community Association presidents were made. They know where people gather in our community through the
Chair. Thank you for that council member, Callaway. We do have representatives from district two. I feel pretty confident that some of them are staunch representatives of the district. We were intentional to make sure that we had not only representation from every district, but wanted to ensure that we had different age groups represented, as well as ensuring that we had a mix of those that had been a part of a planning effort before, as well as those that have not. We think it's very important that we're able to hear from residents that, quote, unquote, often are not heard, but definitely represent a significant amount of the populations in that district. And so there was extensive review of all of the applicants. The application was open for, I believe, nearly two months, and we had advertised it through the offices as well as through our Department of neighborhoods, and we spoke to the offices to ensure that we got recommendations and encouraging people to apply. And as we said, we had nearly 250 people from across the city apply for this, and so that's what led to a group that's over 42 which was originally going to be only 30. So we can definitely look forward to working with you to ensure that we're reaching even more district two residents, but we definitely were intentional and how we canvassed and chose the residents that are serving currently, right now,
through the Chair. I'm just curious how they were selected in my district. I don't know about my colleagues, but I want to know how they were selected in district two, and I would love to know the 46 people who are serving, but I'm very, very curious in terms of how they were selected in district two, because I have folks who have been serving in that district for a number of years, and perhaps they may have wanted to have an opportunity to apply. I can't say that I saw anything. I'm sure you probably sent it to my office. I personally did not see it, but I do want to know who is, who was selected, how, what was the criteria for them to have been selected to serve in district two. So also, Julie, do you live in Detroit? You the chair? I do you do and I know you do. Antoine, what about you? Ma'am, do you live in Detroit?
I do not.
Okay, okay, I'm
always curious about when you come before us and we're planning with what happens in the city, whether or not you are a stakeholder. And you mentioned through the chair, what is an external stakeholder in this process? Because you said internal, Julie and external. And that'll be my last couple questions through the chair. So what is an external stakeholder in this process, and what is and I think you mentioned Julie earlier that the internal stakeholders that you've spoken to our department heads, because a lot of them don't even live in the city, so I wouldn't want what they have to say about what happens in our city. We have some living in Chicago. So I hope you didn't talk to that person, because I don't consider them big. Now, they could be classified or categorized and as an external stakeholder, but I'm hoping, because what I've read in the newspaper, close to 70% of the department heads don't even live in the city, so I don't consider them internal Yes, ma'am, through the Chair.
Thank you. Council member Callaway, just to define what we meant by internal and external stakeholder. So the internal stakeholder were kind of interviews that we were having with departments, and so they often included multiple staff people that represent, you know, the housing department or economic development teams, or, you know, all the different departments within the city, that's what we were counting as internal just based on their expertise and the day to day work that they do to make sure that we understand what the priorities of the other departments are that may influence policy within the master plan. So we're not kind of recreating the wheel, or, you know, going against things that we're already doing successfully within the city. For our external stakeholders, we were looking at organizations that are outside the city, but that clearly have an influence on what happens within the city. So organizations like the DGC, the M EDC, the Michigan Economic Development or we just met with semcog. So they have that kind of regional perspective. What are the regional priorities that may be influencing the future of the city? I'm trying to think of others we met with, we obviously met with our CDO organizations, as Antoine or as director Bryant, mentioned our C dad and other community development organizations, and we met with the downtown Detroit partnership to see if there's things happening specifically downtown. So they aren't internal to the city, but they're doing work that really you know is important for us to be aware of and to incorporate into our kind of background analysis that we're doing at this phase of work.
Thank you, Madam Chair, thank you. One
last thing I'd like to add to that council member. Do want to reiterate that all of the candidates that you had cited, they are represented and listed on the on the website. I do want to bring in our Associate Director for equitable development, Edwina King, had some quick responses as well so she can have access to the mic. That'd be
great. All right. King,
go right ahead.
Thank you, and thank you for your question. Member with a Calloway, I just wanted to also add that many of the communication related to both outreach, any aspect of outreach, whether it was soliciting members for the Master Plan advisory group, pop ups, even down to today's presentation, all of that communication would have come from me, and I make it a point, because I understand more than Most, making sure that everyone is engaged and informed, but also understanding the partnership, because this is how the department views this as a partnership with not only, of course, our executive branch, but more importantly, our elected officials, those who represent us in the community. And so as someone who, again came from Council, lifelong Detroiter for more than 100 years. I want this to be for us and by us, and so part of that is making sure that your offices, everyone's office, including your staff, understands what we're doing, providing those updates, both during our plan meetings with your respective offices, but also through written and in some cases informal oral communication to make sure that everyone knows what's going on, and more importantly, making sure that in addition to you knowing what's going on, those that you represent understand what's going on. And so it's sharing those anything that we've sent out, we've encouraged everyone to share that. And some offices have been more than great well, actually, all of the offices, I would say, have been very great at making sure that we get that information to you. And again, on that note, we look forward to presenting at your Monday evening meeting as well. All right, thank you. Thank
you so much. All right, that will conclude our present. You got a question? Member young, alright? Council member Young,
thank you, ma'am. Chair,
Director, Brian,
your team. Welcome. Good to see you guys here. I just want to ask you a couple questions here, um, I'm looking at the issues of vehicle availability, and it's talking about the percentages of terms of no vehicles or one of vehicles. I just wanted to ask you, how does that correlate with 1530 minute neighborhoods in terms of all the services being available to somebody within 15 or 30 minutes? So if I wanted to go shopping, if I need to police, fire, emergency services personnel, if I wanted to go to dry cleaners or daycare center or school, all those services would be available to me within a 15 or 30 minute trip. Is there any sort of planning that we're doing towards that at all, and what kind of progress we made towards that,
if any? So through the Chair and thank you for that council member. Young greatly appreciate not only the inquiry, but also the forethought in that, as we stated very beginning, many of the topics we're looking at are intersectional and how we relate to the development of the physical realm. Excuse me, one of the reasons that it's intentional that we look at transit and mobility infrastructure is that, as you well know, you know, over 33% of adult Detroiters do not have access to a car, and it's something that we are intimately aware of. And so taking that into note we it does help inform not only how we develop, where we develop, how dense should we develop? What should the proximity be in land uses that you described from how we live, work and play. So all of that serves as a lens for us to look at creating policy for residential and for commercial development. So it is an active part of our conversations. It will continue to be so, because you cannot have a truly informed discussion about physical development without thinking about mobility. So it is something that we're really taking a keen eye towards, and will be definitely something we delve deeper in, in some of our deeper dive conversations.
And I also think the grocery store aspect as well. Now just to turn just have access to also fresh food as well. So we're talking about reducing food insecurity, which is like 69% city, Detroit, somewhere in that mark. I honestly just want to ask you, just on two quick questions. One, I want to ask you, has there been a discussion all about crime reduction Through Environmental Design? And then secondly, I wanted to ask you a question about single family housing. I think right now it's like 45% of the homes in city Detroit are like single family housing. The reason why that's important is because they did when these houses were first being designed, during the $5 workday and the great migrations of African Americans go fleeing terrorism from the South to come to the North for the $5 workday, they made these houses single family, to make them more expensive make it harder for black people to be able to live there. And so I just want to know, has there been a discussion all, are there any sort of designs in terms of reducing that to mixed use? And do we know what number we need to hit to reach maximum affordability within the city? HR, and is that broken down demographically at all that? That's
a great question. Council member. We are not there yet. We're still there very early stages of engagement as well as analysis of existing plans and studies those kinds of granularity, we will definitely lean a bit on our housing department. So I want to be very clear about that, but from a macro perspective, when we look at how we develop and how we put together policy for the infrastructure for new housing, whether it's residential, single, family, multifamily, or any of the typologies in between. We're looking to really ensure that the policies will allow for this city to house people the very best way. Agree with all of the data that you just presented, and love to have a deeper dive with you outside of council about that. But I think from a policy standpoint, we're really, really at the beginning stages, and we'll begin to have more draft policy. Further on, maybe
we have a discussion about crime Through Environmental Design. So
it's interesting. No, no, no, I appreciate that. Again, a lot of the specifics around that we will see, obviously to our police department and other entities, I think that conversation definitely touches on how we develop a city. From a physical standpoint, there's a real growing debate about the viability of septed, and so we, I'd like to again, have that conversation with you, because it has a racial overlay as well that I think we have to be very cognitive. But from a policy standpoint, we will definitely defer to our the the experts in the police department to really begin to drill down on some of the granularity they're in. Have there
been any discussion about No, I swear it's my final question. Has there been any discussion about smart cities at all, in terms of, you know, from you know, whether it be using artificial intelligence in terms of public housing. The reason why I say this because if I have the information in public housing, I can know whether or not the air is clean in the building quicker. I can know whether or not the building is falling apart faster, and that way, I could be able to make those repairs before it becomes untenable or unmanageable. For a lot of people. I've been reading, you know, time off through certain concerns about people that have had debris and infrastructure fall on top of them because the buildings are not where they need to be. And if I have the information ahead of that time, I can make those repairs quicker so my residents don't have to deal with that type of burden. If I have the information in terms of agricultural in this I can know whether or not the soil is conducive for me to be able to plant food so I could deal with the issues of food insecurity, because I know where the soil is that make that planning for urban farming, or agrovoltaics, we're talking about in terms of solar farms. If I have the information for artificial intelligence determinants of the water infrastructure, I can know whether or not the water is clean faster. I could be able to update residents through the folds quicker, so they can know as well if there's a boil advisory or things of that nature. I could also know whether I need to expand the capacity of infrastructure and of how and how much that's going to cost. Faster, are we having those kind of conversations at all? So
do the chair internally? No. So let me, let me be very clear, artificial intelligence, quite frankly, is revolutionizing the way planning can look at infrastructure and look at a city, and so that's something that we talk about at the national level, and hope to inform some of our decision and policy making here at the local level. I think everything you're saying is incredibly accurate. We are well aware of the fact that last figures, I saw, over 65% of residences in this city across all price points are over 50 to 60 years old, right? And so we're very aware of that particular phenomenon, and what that means for how we develop moving forward. And so we want to be very, very intentional to look at policies to make sure we are developing a smart city and make this the very, very best Detroit that we want it all to be. Thank you, sir.
Thank you President. All
right. Thank you member, young council member, waters,
thank you. Just a quick question. Someone just sent me a message asking, how can they be a part of the advisory committee? Could you please share that? I'm sure they're listening.
So through the chair, the advisory committee selection process is closed. So we have so we have determined. We've actually convened two meetings already. We have a third this week, so that group is set. We anticipate maybe that group can fluctuate over time. Life happens. We just heard somebody moved out of the the city, so she said, Please remove me from the advisory committee. But we would be back filling from that list of over 200 applicants who really wanted to be on the advisory committee, who we'd have to say no to first before we go to other folks. My response there would be the advisory group is not the only way to be meaningfully involved in the planning process, and we are constantly reevaluating how we do that for folks through the outreach and engagement plan we're putting together the focus groups are another really great opportunity. If people want to be collaborative with us, they want to sit down and have in depth discussions. We have city voices that's going to be setting the plan framework going on right now, and there will be other opportunities down the line to give us input. So the Master Plan advisory group, I don't want this to be all, end all for folks. And I want to let people know that their voices are going to impact the process, even if they're not in that room.
Let me just respond to you, and by saying that I'm not sure how you obtained that 200 the list of the 200 members, and I don't even know if they're even on that particular list, but I will probably say that they probably did not know that they could, they could apply and and that's my concern, that they did not know because I didn't know. I probably would have sent it out to to folks myself, had somebody said, Do you know? You guys said to me, you know, can you reach out to some of your constituency to see if they want to participate in this process here? Of the categories, ask them to complete these applications or whatever? I mean, that's the kind of engagement I'd like to see, because we work with people on a day to day basis, and I just feel like I don't have any answers for people that are asking me. So anyway, I just wanted to share that with you all.
Thank you, Madam
President, thank you.
So just on the advisory as we get ready to close, if you can just clarified Council's role in selecting some members. I thought council at one point had a process, and I think I mean for clarity, because it seems to be a lot of confusion and maybe lack of transparency about the total process around how the advisory board is functioning and working. But what was Council's role in some of the members? How many members did we select? And then I think just as a follow up, it would be helpful to maybe just do a writing on when was this process open, who selected the members? I just a thorough, you know, review of the process. But can you clarify this council have members sitting on this advisory that we appointed?
So to the chair, we did not do an appointed process for this. You should have received communication from our office very early on, asking you all to recommend folks to the advisory group. Those recommended, we sent personal invitations to submit an application to us, but we felt that we wanted this to be an open, competitive process. We didn't want people to feel like somebody else was appointing without it being available to any Detroit resident to apply to. We are happy to give more information, perhaps not in this setting, as a follow up to this meeting about how that process went and how we applied, how the selection criteria worked, more of that information, but I don't know if director Bryant wants to add to
that. Yeah,
I don't recall it. I remember Council. I think we did a resolution that spoke to the advisory committee itself at one point in time. But the actual follow through, as far as members being recommended, I'm guess some members did or did not receive that, but it sounds like they just went into the general pool of everyone, and then ultimately, the group here selected who sat on the advisory committee. Is that correct? They didn't get preference.
They were, they actually got, we received and took note of all the nominations and suggestions by council members, and we did look at those and take those very, very seriously.
So how many of them have that were recommended? Are actually on the advisory committee? I'd have
to look. I don't have that in front of me right now, but
we can find that out for you. Okay, so yeah,
we don't. I mean, we can ask more questions now, but I would love to just follow up in more detail about this whole Advisory Committee, because I think it should be as transparent as possible to how decisions were made regarding members that are sitting on it, because it's very important. President pro tempore, thank
you, Madam President, and I just want to make sure is very clear. I saw an email that went out to council members offices, actually about two of them, if I'm not mistaken, there was numerous conversations from my staff and planning to ensure that we submitted names to individuals. I don't think we got any special treatment. I mean, it was a busy time of the year. This has been a very busy year. So we miss email. It happens all the time, but I will. I you know, Edwina King is very thorough in the information that she provides, and I don't want her to be in a situation where it appears as if she may not have sent out the information to all offices, and it was literally, as a matter of fact, one of the emails, if I'm not mistaken, had a commentary from Council offices back and forth regarding this situation. So I just want to make sure it was very clear that I personally saw an email that was sent out to all offices, and there was commentary between offices in that particular thread of emails that that went through. And I just again, want to put that on the record I am interested, and we can talk about it later on as we move forward. For instance, brightmore, we have been having the framework plan that's going on over there that's not actually going always the way we wanted to go, because change is always a bit challenging all sides. But my question would be, not for today, but at a later date, how these framework plans will be translated into the overall master plan, especially seeing that we are knocking on the door, if you will, to the end of this particular framework. And I'm sure there's others that are going on as well. So that's a question that I have, and I believe we're going to have someone from your team at our next district one monthly meeting on the fourth Saturday of this particular month. So again, shout out to Ms King, appreciate you sending that information out, and just wanted to make sure we put that on the record. Thank you.
Okay, so yep. And again, aside from just Council's recommendations, just more clarity on when it was publicized to the general public, because I think there's still some clarity that needs to be addressed there. When that was open for the general public to be made aware of the advisory committee Director Todd. Thank
you, Madam President. Just wanted to add that when it comes to this particular issue, the advisory group, our colleagues, certainly have been very experienced with the work that has been done for almost nine years now, with the framework plans, but certainly this structure that they have implemented is quite similar to what we've done with the zoning ordinance. Of course the name plan Detroit echoes the same structure with zone Detroit being our effort for zoning, and we have a zoning advisory group, and it was approached in the same way back when it was put in place, back in 2019 we came to city council. We sought each offices input, and we did a broad solicitation in order for that group to be determined. Of course, in that case, members of the City Planning Commission also weighed in, in the review and selection, and we did some consideration of potential conflicts of interest, etc. Even though it is not a public body, we were very thoughtful. And again, our colleagues at PND embarked upon a very similar course. So there would be consistent structure with the leadership between the two efforts. So it would be leadership, I'm sorry, but the input steering committee as well as an advisory group. Okay,
all right. Thank you so much. Director Todd
and man, for just one more quick waters,
the are the meetings open to the residents. I heard you say a little bit earlier that some of those are not open to the public. Some are. You know, can you address that? I think they should all be open to the public, but can you kind of explain it, please? So
thank you through the chair council member water, so the Master Plan advisory group are closed meetings because we are working to create kind of a safe, collaborative environment for that group. But as we mentioned, on the recommendation of this body and kind of best practice that we report out on all of the notes that come out of that, and it is not nothing in there is secret, but we want everybody to feel comfortable. There are a lot of other meetings where the general public is allowed, but because it's already 40 people, and as you know, you know, having collaborative discussion, the bigger the group gets, the harder it is to accommodate that. So we wanted to keep the group so that the size didn't get too large, so that we could have breakout sessions that are facilitated and really have robust dialog while still being able to communicate everything that's said in those meetings out to the general public. There will be lots of other opportunities for, you know, bigger public meetings, but they're, they're kind of a separate process where we can have different format that works for bigger groups. So
City Council want to send a representative to each of those meetings. Is that allowed?
So your councils are, your council district is represented in the master plan advisory group, because the the each district has a minimum of five representatives.
No, I'm talking about staff.
If I Oh, I apologize, you want staff at the master meeting just
to sit in, take notes? Listen? No,
we even talked about it, but Sure. Why not? They can't tell us, come on down.
I'm just, I'm just saying they said they're closed. I needed to clarify member Callaway, um, you know what I'm saying? Yeah, they can't tell us. No, well, watch him.
I thought you meant the general public, but yes,
I know I did initially, that's what I got. But then I thought I would ask about the rest of us. Council
members like staff to come, that'd be fine.
Yeah, pardon me if you want
staff to come, that'd be fine. Council member apologies. Okay?
Thank you. All right, Madam President,
thank you. And so you'll send those over to us so from all of our offices, if you want, can attend those meetings. All right, thank you all for being here. Thank you for that presentation, and we're looking forward to the work ahead. All right, thank you so much. All right, and the clerk will note we have dura Tate and Coleman Young have been here. I'm sure you've already noted that clerk will So note, Madam President, we will proceed now with our agenda. The Journal of the session of Tuesday, July the 16th, 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
submittal of a memorandum.
The memorandum will be referred to the budget Finance and Audit Committee for the internal operations standing committee
four reports from various city departments
before reports will be referred to the internal operations standing committee for the Planning and Economic Development, standing committee, six reports from various city departments. The six reports will be referred to the Planning and Economic Development standing committee for the public health and safety standing committee, 35
reports from various city departments,
the 35 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, all right, we will call now for our general public comment, and everyone will have a minute and a half for public comment this morning. We do have two closed sessions this afternoon, one starting at three and one starting at 3:30pm All right. Stephen hanschew, you will be first, followed by Cheryl McKinley, followed by Perry Columbus, good
morning, honorable council members. It won't be any surprise to you that I'm here to talk about conditions at the hemelho apartments. And I'm I am very saddened to say to you, you're used to Esther Galvez coming to talk about hemelho. Esther is recovering from a concussion that was caused by a piece of the hemelho building falling on her head from the sixth floor in the alley between the door and the sidewalk. We should never have been forced to use that door. Never we need to have the door that we have not been allowed to use since the new owners took over, American community developers, the one on the sidewalk. So there are two things involved in this near tragedy. We're lucky she's still alive. Unfortunately. One is the deplorable condition that they are allowing the building to descend into. It was in pretty good shape before they took over. And the other is the fact that they force us into an alley because they don't want their theoretical customers theoretical because that door isn't being used by anybody. Since they stopped us from using it, they haven't rented the prop the retail space. So thank you so
thank you so much to Mr. Hands, true. And I did receive, I know you sent out the email, I think, to all council members keeping us abreast of what's taking place over there. And I know council member you've been working on this as well as your district council member, Santiago Romero, thank you, Madam, and thank you, mister.
Did I exhaust my time? Council Yes,
unfortunately, we only doing a minute and a half today. Okay, but I'm going to let Council Member Santiago Ramiro would like to respond, go right ahead. Waters, too. Good morning. Mr. Hansche, good to see you. Thank you for coming down. Just wanted to let everyone know that we are very well aware of what's going on and working together with our residents at humble health apartments. Member waters, as an at large member, has also put a lot of her staff time to making sure that we're solving for this as well. We have looped in HRD that's working together with the company to ensure that they are meeting the list, quite frankly, that they are addressing the list of concerns that have been lifted by residents. So we are very well aware encourage residents to continue to let us know, because, as residents know, the developers come to us for for for resources as well, for support for their business. I want to thank Pro Temp Tate, who's been very adamant and his committee, to make sure that before we do support our businesses here, that we're making sure businesses are good neighbors, good stewards of their places. So thank you, Mr. Hanshu and all the residents that continuously advocate let us know what's going on. My staff is on top of this as well. Remember water's office, and just really grateful for pro time for also holding this down until we make sure that all of the issues are addressed and Homo Hulk before we're able to continue to support their development. Thank you, Madam President, thank you council member waters, I may, Madam, yes, go right ahead. Thank
the entire council, and particularly the committee that this matter has been before for your assistance, because none of the things that that my council person just spoke of would have been happening without the combination of us bringing it to you, but you responded, and that doesn't always happen. Um, we're very grateful. Thank you. Thank
you. Thank you so much. Um, member waters,
thank you, Madam President. And so it wasn't that long ago that we were down at him Aho, and we did a press conference with them, outlining some of their their conditions, the maggots that were running around in the hallway, the fact that they could not utilize a door to keep them safe, all of those issues, we managed to outline, and we had attorney Tanya Phillips there with us to talk with members who were being retaliated against because they were they were speaking, speaking out today. I hope that BC can hear me within the sound of my voice, if they're listening. I need you all to go over there right now and inspect that building, make sure that people are allowed to use a door that keeps them safe. It is, it is just so ridiculous. And we also need HUD to do their part as well. We'll continue to work on this, madam president, we've been working very hard to bring them some sort of relief, and it makes no sense that our seniors have to continue to come here to us and beg for help. We have got to do something and and something needs to happen right away. So thank you, Madam President,
thank you so much. Thank you Mr. Mr. Hands true and everyone for your work at that building. And all of us are aware to be cautious moving forward, if until the issues are addressed there. So thank you for coming down. Uh. Cheryl McKinley, yes, you are next, ma'am, I don't know. Make sure your microphone is on. Miss McKinley, just press the bottom. There you go. I
don't know where to go or what to do about this. I'll come down here. About the Michigan tribunal group. I end up paying them a little over $900 they said that I owed that because I didn't stay in my house from the year 2000 to 2003 I lived there. Mm, that's where I reside. I'm I need my money. I'm retired on a set income and paid the money, but I want my money back. Okay, so I don't know what to do. Okay,
well, while you're here, let's reach out to my team. Can reach out to Mr. Horn or Mr. Downwell to try to see how we can assist you while you're here today, to get some answers for you. Miss Cheryl, so we will definitely work with you, along with council member water's office as well. Yeah. Okay,
she I think. Man, she just mentioned she went to the Michigan tax tribunal.
I didn't go. You did not go. They didn't send me a date for a court date, but I did get a email telling me when they had the court date and that they were dismissing the case and I wouldn't be getting a refund.
Looks like maybe she overpaid something. Yeah, maybe over you saying you pay something that you should not have paid, right? Related, almost
like we have to involve her state legislator as well. That's
fine, but while she's here as as mentioned, we like to connect and try to get as much answers for you as we can thank you, and we will work with member water's office as well too. Okay, thank you. So if you don't mind just stepping aside, we'll get you information and try to get some answers to figure out what exactly is going on. Okay, thank you so much. Miss Perry, Columbus, yes,
thank you for having me. I am here to speak about the Detroit land bank. But before I start, I did want to read a definition from the Cornell Law School of legal information the Institute. The definition of racketeering is a set of legal activities aimed at commercial profit that may be disguised as legitimate business deals. Racketeering is defined by as a coordinated effort by multiple people to repeatedly earn a profit. So I bought a house from the land bank two years ago. I am a disabled veteran. I served in Iraq. I fought for 15 years to win my 100% disability. I have PTSD. I have severe anxiety, and I have panic attacks when I purchased my home from the land bank. I made all of this knowledgeable. I let them know about all of this, and I asked for accommodations, because I have episodes. I go through things where there are long periods of time where I I cannot get things done. I let them know. I ask for accommodations. With my home, they have the policy where you have six months, you know, where you have this certain amount of time to get things done with your house, my issue is here. At this point, I feel like it's clear that the land bank knows that six months is not long enough for the average citizen to complete this checklist, but it continues to require Detroiters to sign these specific documents, because that's where the profit lies for the land bank, and that's my issue, and that's why I'm coming before you, because I fought for my country. I was homeless. I got my money, I fought for 15 years. I got my money, and I bought a home for myself from the land bank, and I let them know all as a veteran, and I asked for accommodations, and I did not receive them. They came out to my house and reconveyed it and plexiglass it while I lived there, while I was away from my home, I have been harassed and intimidated. They have come out and spoke to me and told me I should not be there. They have constantly caught me and texted me, I have a brother who's a ex Navy SEAL veteran who bought a house across the street from me, and he gave up, right? He gave up. This is crazy. What the land bank, I would say, reach, but it's overreach, what they're allowed to do, how they're allowed to treat us.
Mr. Columbus, thank you for being here and thank you for your service. Just be a relaxed we don't want you to get too worked up. Um, so from my understanding of the land bank, if you you know if you're showing progress to the property, sometimes they do allow extensions, as long as you're showing that improvements are being made to the property. So we'll get to know what exactly district you're the property, lots of documents, District Four, so then council member Johnson staff will work with you and work with member waters can give me, okay, no, I know you get she gets worked up about that land bank. Member waters would be there as well with her team to ensure that they're supporting you. You You know, as a veteran and as a homeowner here trying to do right. So thank you for being here, sir, and we will remember Johnson staff, along with member water staff will work with you. Okay? I appreciate thank you for your service to our country. Thank
you. Member Callaway,
yes, thank you, Madam Chair. I have a question, is there anybody on from the land bank. I know about the six month extension, but we give million dollar developers decades to start projects. We give them tax abatements, we give them tax incentives. And there, there's one project that we approved 18 months ago, and they have done nothing, and they don't even have to request an extension. It's automatic. So if we can give them that type of liberal
extension, we should do no less for our residents. So if there's something in the land bank that we can change, people should have an opportunity to take as much time as they need, not going beyond a year or so to make some of because some of the properties that people are buying, they need more than six months to make them habitable, and they have to even come up with the resources. Madam Chair, so is there anyone from the land bank? We need to talk about extending that six months, because we do more than extending to our developers. And again, we have one developer, I'm not going to say their name, 18 months, and they've done nothing. They've done nothing, and that happens quite often in certain parts of this city. So if we're going to give them that type of extension, they don't even have to ask for it. They just automatically get it. We should do no less for this gentleman who served our country and his brother. We hope, hopefully the house is still there, sir, I know you're in District Four, but this impacts is just not your situation. This is happening with other people. You're you just happen to be the voice today I'm
speaking up for a lot of people. Yeah,
yes, you are.
Thank you, madam. That's why I said. I've
seen in some cases where, if there is progress being made on the home, you know, they will extend that time frame, but they have to show proof that they are making investments in the home, because most people can't reach that timeline in six months. We can dig into because, again, it's case by case, and we don't know which situations the land bank is approving with situations. They're not. In this case, we will hope that they would have moved forward with giving him time. But
my point, Madam Chair, is and that is correct. I know the land bank will give you beyond six months, but a lot of people don't know that, and they walk away. But we don't require that of our developers. Our developers get multi year extensions without even having to ask. So we need to change that as well. Thank you, Madam Chair,
so we would definitely look into that member council member waters and
and I'm so glad that you guys brought this up, because that MOU that memorandum of understanding is still before us. We have an opportunity to amend, amend that and make sure that those extensions will be in there. We can certainly do that. And just Saturday, Friday, remember dear hall and I were here in our task force meeting, and somebody else brought paperwork where they had purchased a home, got a mortgage on the home and everything, and the land bank said, Well, you don't own the home. It's our home. Well, how in the world is that something like that happen?
You see?
So there are some things that that have to be worked out. They continue to come before us time and time again. We have got to do whatever we can to protect our residents. I want people to be able to purchase those occupied homes and so forth. Come on, we're all talking about generational wealth. I don't want it to just be a buzz phrase. I want it to truly exist. So this is our opportunity. Let's amend that MOU Thank you, Madam President. Thank
you member waters. Member Johnson, thank
you, Madam President and member waters took the words right out of my mouth. I know our last session before we went on recess, there was discussion about this MOU that is still not solidified. I attempted to hold it up in ped as long as I could, as we all had our individual discussions with the land bank, or to talk about how to amend the MOU and we all need to come together to figure out what that looks like, sir. Thank you so much for coming down. I wish you had reached out to my office prior to now, because that is so disheartening for me to hear that you worked on the property and then to have it taken from you, and for the land bank to do that clear view, with the intention it sounds like of providing that property to somebody else. My team member is standing right by the door. She will get your contact information, and would love to connect with both you and your brother to work on how we get these properties back in your hands, because the last thing that I hate to see is, number one, that you've invested time, energy and money into rehabilitating this property, and then to have it stripped from you, recognizing the challenges that you personally have. So thank you for coming down. We will do everything we can to ensure that you get these properties back in your hands. Everyone knows that my team and I are focused on repopulating District Four. We're looking to increase our population. We've held numbers of events with the Detroit land bank to help those who purchased houses from them to actually complete the project so that they can have ownership of that property. So I'm all about affordable housing, about home ownership and making sure that Detroiters can stay in the city of Detroit. So just make sure you get your information to Miss Jackson, and we will certainly connect with you ASAP to address your situation. Thank you for coming down.
All right, Mr. Columbus, thank you, sir. You have a blessed day now. Russ bellant,
good afternoon. I coming to present to you in person and in hard copy this report called the billion dollar tax loss this report documents in the last 10 years, $516.8 million has been tax captured from our public institutions, as you know, the schools, the libraries, city services, city debt, school debt and special needs children and other public services, and none of this is documented and reported in a public way which the Constitution requires. Additionally, for the first time, were we documented seven years of tax abatement losses to these institutions from these practices where the money is gifted. You know, it's a one way street. They don't pay it back. The money is gifted to the super rich investors, and rich and super rich investors, they pay nothing back. And the school district alone has lost $347 million the city services $333 million our library has lost the equivalent of one and a half years of its budget during the years that this was occurring. Um, special needs children. 40 million as special needs money goes also in part, to our school district. We need accountability. We would like each office to contact us to set up one on one meetings. This is too much to cover in 90 seconds. Thank you for your time.
Thank you. Thank you as well. Mr. Madam Chair, yes.
Member Callaway, yeah.
I can only speak to thank you, Mr. Belan, I can only speak to yes through the chair to what's happening in district two, I had the opportunity to go to my local library, the Sherwood Forest library on West, on West, Seven Mile Road near Livernois. I don't know if it's black mold or what. And Senator Mallory McMorrow was there for her coffee and conversation, and I participated. I was one of the guests sitting in the back just looking around because it had been closed since the pandemic. They should have kept it closed. And everybody was looking up every vent. I counted six vents in the ceiling surrounded I don't know if it's black mold. I still have not heard back from the director of the library. I told I was going to mention it today that needs to be fixed, that needs to be repaired and cleaned up, whatever they have to do. But all of the six vents could be more the ones that I went through the library to count and count. It was about six black dirt all around the vents, I believe is black mold. It needs to be addressed. So every dollar that's supposed to be earmarked for the library needs to get needs to make its way to the library. Amen. It needs to make its way to the library post haste. That's what the voters expect, and that's what I expect. So when we have the through the chair, when we have these millages that come up before us, I'm always so apprehensive and reluctant to vote in favor them, because the money never goes where it should go. So we vote for these millages. And I'm just saying it because I just had this experience last week at that library. We want our libraries and our schools taken care of. That's why we vote on these millages. But the money is diverted. So any money that's earmarked for Sherwood force, I wanted to make its way over to that library and get that Black Mold or Black dirt around those six events that I counted addressed. Thank you, Madam Chair, thank
you so much. Member cow, attempt to address it as well. Thank you.
All right. Thank
you so much. Adam Barrett,
yeah. Adam Barrett, Southwest, Detroit, so we just had another revenue estimating conference. They said that, among other things, prosperity isn't equally distributed in Detroit. They listed the spend down of ARPA money as a downside risk for the first time, ARPA was what we were using to plug that hole where the money that's now in Dan Gilbert's pocket should have been the money on this report, our raggedy schools still can't issue bonds to pay for maintenance projects because their millage is getting fleeced by the DGC, and we're only counting what's been looted since about 2014 it's been going on much longer than that. They had to cancel the first day of class this year due to heat because they don't have air conditioning in all the schools. I think the private schools have AC financing people with money to come in and use the infrastructure and services of our city while not contributing back to the millages, is economic. Jim Crow. It's economic Jim Crow. And I wish I had two minutes today, because that's what I had planned for. But I want to reiterate, Mr. Boance, request that all members of council reach out to us and attempt to set up a one one on one meeting. And I want to thank member Calloway for responding to him. I think that might be the first time we've gotten response from Council on this topic. Thank you
all right. Thank you so much. And I think we have responded, for sure, yeah, I think. And just in all, in all fairness, I think we all whether it's what you want to hear or not, but we have, and I talked to Russ Belan all the time. Whenever he I see Mr. Belan out, we always engage Mr. Bilant. Can you? Can you agree to that? Okay, thank you, sir. And so, you know, I think we just all have to figure out our views and how we approach this topic. But thank you for being here. All right. Lauren Lincoln, Okay,
hi everyone. I'm a lifelong Detroiter, born and raised in Detroit, and I'm currently a resident of district five. I'm old enough to remember Detroit's public schools and Detroit libraries in the 90s, before they were decimated by the Detroit bankruptcy charter schools corporate giveaways and the pandemic. In the last 10 years, the city has taken 516 point 8 million from Detroit schools and libraries through tax captures, taking money from children and giving it to corporate investors and developers for downtown projects, as we all know, education, which is the basis for our democracy support, social engagement and development and the right to self determination, what kind of future Are we giving Detroit's children if we allow these tax captures to continue. Detroiters for Tax Justice urges this council to stop the corporate welfare stop approving the tax captures. We call on you to create an environment of transparency and publicly report all tax captures in accordance with the Michigan Constitution, Article Nine, Section 12,
thank you.
Okay, thank you. Deborah, Howard,
good morning. You
all. I was born and raised in Detroit as well. Constantly I stay in Detroit. I'm a city employer. I'm about to retire from ground maintenance, GSD, I came because if I don't pay my property taxes, you take my properties and land away from me. Give me three years, and it's gone. These millionaires, they pay taxes for over years, and they don't take you don't take their property taxes. How do they come in and build and do you don't they don't have to pay property taxes. That mean that's a bill that the resident has to fall and fight. I think something should be done about this. They don't stay in Detroit, and they don't care, they just want to come in and take what we build. Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you so much. Miss Howard, right. Thank you so much. Ms Howard, and I just want to say to the coalition that and Mr. Belan, you know, I have sponsored resolutions, and I will publicly state today that I do support the removal of our educational institutions from tax captures. I have sponsored a resolution that has urged our state legislature to remove not just our libraries and DPS, but Wayne County Community College District is also has indicated some concerns about captures as well. And so I have authored resolutions, and I vocally have stated and will state again today that I support the removal of our educational institutions from tax captures as well as our libraries. However, that will take changes in state law to accomplish, and that work will have to continue. So thank you again. Yes, Mr. Mr. Corley, thank you,
Madam President. Good
morning City Council is to remind the Council of Public under state law, test capture from the DDA will no longer exist when after the citizens voted for the renewal of the library millage. That starts in 2026 and that's about $3.5 million plus a year at the library will be able to receive because that capture no longer exists, because
under state law. So I just want to remind
everybody, okay, thank you so much for that. Mr. Corley, all right. Mr. Shelton, yes. Waters, yeah.
I just want to say, you know, we have a corporation here in the city called marathon, and they decided to sue the city because they were over assessed. They took it to the Michigan tax tribunal, then they took us to court. And so you do have some of them that feel as if they are paying too many taxes that they were over assessed. So I want us to also keep keep that in mind. Marathon is one of those corporations who did exactly that. Thank you. Thank
you so much. Member waters, Alright, Mister Shelton,
good morning. Marathon is a whole another can of worms. I could speak on that for a while, but anyway, this is specifically directed to Scott Benson and Gabriella Santiago and FRED DURHAM Hall. They do a lot of chuckling when some of the residents of this city bring up the specific allegations and charges of voter fraud. I'm not talking about what Trump did or the lawsuits that he filed. I'm talking about specific incidents documented of voter fraud, over 50 instances that have been uncovered and been documented here in the city of Detroit, out of a pool of approximately five to 600 voters, 50 was found. I've seen them. I've looked them over. And so what I would like to get an answer to from the three Council persons that I just mentioned, since they like to chuckle about it, since you saying that it was that these specific incidences of voter fraud were debunked, I'd like to know where I can find access and read as Well as well as the public and the taxpayers of the great city of Detroit, can read where these specific charges were debunked. Where's that document at?
Thank you, Mr. Shelton, and anyone from Councilwoman to respond, Madam President, yes, I would like to ask the clerk if we she would let us use the Excel share that with the public that we all received with the about about 20 or so, 15 or so allegations that the office had received that they did research on. So that's a document that came from the clerk's office, if the administration is listening, if you can connect with the admin, with their office, to see if we can share that publicly, because they are doing the research. And quite frankly, I do find it just a little while that we continue to bring this up just to confuse the public. No, that's that's not wise. Mr. Shelton is laughing. We're trying our very best to debunk the false the false accusations that there is voter fraud. If there is voter fraud, we will look into it, and it will be called out. But currently there is not. And what there is is this, Mr. Shelton movement to really disgrace people from voting in the first place, which we all should be encouraged to vote. So I would ask the administration to help us connect with the clerk's office, and if we can share the Excel, I say we put a PDF, we put it on the website, and everyone has access to it. I was just getting ready to say to the clerk's office, that information, can we add to the City Clerk's website? Possibly to the clerk,
Madam President, I will take that information back and have that done, but I don't definitely have access to that today, right now, this moment, but that's something that I could make sure that that does happen. Okay, alright,
perfect thing, right? Thank you. Alright. Miss Leela Howard, yes,
how are you good? How
are you ma'am, I'm
doing just great. I'm here today to be a voice for the law enforcement that I believe is serving us well, and I don't want to see them go down with a sinking ship, because this ship about to come down because of the corruption that has grew to a humongous scale. I think chief White needs to know more than what he's being told about our communities. I live in a very hot spot, which is Dexter and Finkle, and they want to cover it up. It's not that people don't hear about it and know about it. It's covered up. Miss the the house, firm, pharmacies, they got me on, you know, trying to threaten me, intimidate me, because when they block my drive, which I feel is illegal for them to do, they'll come and try to attack me. So what's happening on Dexter and Finco? We have a businesses that don't serve us well. They part of the problem also, okay, I'm praying that they be removed. But as far a lot, I feel, like a lot of our men and women in blue, they're fighting up against their own. This is a battle. It's not going to be won easily, because the corruption is within I shared with a cop. Don't think y'all your enemies out here on this street. They right in there where you working at they right out here on this street. They part of this house pharmacy. They got the mental ill out here, selling their drug, pushing, other things, using these people, and then they lock them up, put them in an institution, and the rest of them go free. Another thing I want to say is about the land bank. Miss land. I want to get my one minute.
Yep, you just you spoke for your time, unfortunately, but if you want to stick around, we can make sure we get the remaining of your comments, okay, but that was your time, unfortunately. And we'll also connect you with the board of police commissioners. I think I've been connected to that one path, okay, well, whatever you have, we'll make sure we get that to the appropriate people. Okay, appreciate it. Thank you, ma'am for coming down and thank you so much. That was Miss Betty. Pastor. Joyce Branham, oh yes, hi.
Bless everyone. I'm so happy to be here. God bless you for all the work that you all do for the city. We know we have a lot more work to do, but I just want to say thank you all for coming out to fun city now gun city. This is our fourth annual fund. City. Now gun city. Thank you. I won the Spirit of Detroit award the councilman door hall two years ago. And our our mission is to bring down the crime in Detroit. And I think I work with the district Sabbath force Detroit and all of them, and this is our first carnival. So we're asking people to come out September 21 it is free to the public. I need support. We're looking for the rides. I have two. I want three more. So if you know anyone that would like to partner with this movement, I am a 501, c3, and our consciousness is to bring down the gun violence and tell the young people to enjoy life. Hallelujah. You know, I'm a preacher's I don't want to preach all y'all, but I just thank God for this movement and anyone who would like to support so I'm opening up to all districts. We looking for over 1000 people to show up and have a good time and enjoy their life. Fun city, not gun city, you know, I'm Harriet Tubman at the hood, and I have to end with my signature.
Alright, Pastor, thank you so much. We appreciate the work that you do, and we'll get a copy of that and make sure all of our colleagues here get a get a copy of the event. Okay, thank you for being here. Um, Ruth Johnson, oh, I'm sorry. Miss Betty Lyons was next, followed by Miss Ruth Johnson. Over six, can you hear me? Yes, we can hear you.
Okay, over $600 million of overpaid property taxes belonging to Detroit residents, stolen by satanic Dugan and Dana Nessel, refusing to return to us what is lawfully ours to Attorney Whitaker of law, who is supposed to uphold and represent justice, sits quietly, refusing to offer assistance to the Detroit residents who are due justice, as Dugan brags about, Romero and Mexican town flourishing, Dugan proudly watches as Detroit flounders, Giving Dan Gilbert millions of grants and requiring Detroit seniors and retirees to qualify for loans. That's crazy, which is an insult to people who stayed in Detroit and remain loyal to Detroit and has not been included when Detroit rises. So he needs to do something or get out of office, and if y'all going to hell with him, it's up to you, because he's definitely wrong. And I thank you, Miss Callaway for bringing out things first before anybody. When noone spoke up, you spoke up for many topics, and I appreciate that. And I appreciate you. Thank you so much. All right,
thank you. We appreciate you. Miss Lyons. Yes. Council President pro tempore, I just want to
personally thank Mr. Whitaker for the work that he has provided this body and has done so for a number of years, and look forward to any additional assistance that he's able to provide us legally, as well as as a mentor and a professional. Thank you.
Thank you so much. Pro Temp Tate council member young, yeah, I
just want to say, and I respect everybody's right to say what they want to say here. I just want to personally say, especially during this time, that the success of one community is not the exclusion of the success of other communities. And so I just want to make clear that from our policy here, we want to make sure that we're doing all we can so that we can have a successful and inclusive city across the board. And I also just wanted to say this too, I think particularly now, when we're having the issue involving, involving migrant communities. I want to make sure that we are respectful and aware of one the fact of what the contributions have been of the Latino community in the 1940s with the Becerra program, keeping our farming agricultural system alive during World War Two. I also just think that we need to be respectful of people who are coming here and their differences. We could agree or disagree on immigration policy. I think a lot of that has more to do with illegal gun trafficking, but I think we need illegal gun trafficking and our drug policy. I think we're funding and fighting a cartels that we're supposed to we're funding an army of the cartels must be fighting at the same time. But the reason why I'm saying this is because I just want to make sure that we're respectful of people in other cultures, in other communities, and that there's enough success for us to go around that government is not a pie, it's a bakery, and there's enough of us, there's there's enough dough, enough materials for all of us to be successful in it. I just wanted to say that make that point clear. Thank you.
Thank you so much. Council member young, very well will say. Member Santiago Ramiro, thank you, Madam President, to you through you to remember Young. Thank you so much. Member young, and just another learning moment quickly, Southwest Detroit's is not the only neighborhood in District Six and southwest Detroit is incredibly diverse. We have black, brown, new native Detroiters in southwest Detroit. District Six encompasses the original southwest Detroit over in 42 1171, of the oldest, blackest neighborhoods in the city of Detroit. And our office makes sure that we go to every single zip code that we are investing money in every single neighborhood, and I completely understand member young as you mentioned, the conversations and the narratives around race and immigrants and new folks and old folks. And we are very intentional to make sure that we are reaching everyone. Our office is making sure to invest one point something, million dollars in four to one seven, another million dollars in four to 10 where I grew up, more an avenue where they feel completely ignored. So thank you, member, young and just to the public, I try very hard to reach and serve all of my residents, and District Six is so much more than southwest Detroit. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you council member. All right. Miss Johnson,
good afternoon. Ruth Johnson, community development advocates of Detroit, it is my privilege and pleasure to invite you to see dad's annual Community Development Conference. That's September 25 and 26th it's for council members, their staffers, anyone you know hearing this, whether in person or virtually, it is open to the public. The price is $50 if you're a member, and $75 if you're not yet a CDAD member. Breakfast and lunches included. For two days, we'll have 16 sessions. The two sessions I'm most interested in is the two that I've coordinated on equitable development and community land trust. We're going to have some great speakers, some great keynote, some great information, practical information that you can use. Now, if you want more information or to register, you can go to our website, C, dad, hyphen, O, online, dot, O, R, G, but then the day before C, dad is working with the National Community Community Reinvestment Coalition and the Detroit coalition to host the just economy summit that would be on September 24 here downtown, at the Pontchartrain. Yet there's more. There's a fourth event, Community Development Awards is Thursday evening. You can get information about all these great activities, opportunities to learn, to network, to do the things that we're continue to do, the things that we are set to do. We'd love to have each one of you send one of your staffers, or if you can come again. It's two days, 16 sessions. Lots of fun.
Thank you so much. Miss Johnson. Mr. Foster,
good afternoon through the President. First Name, familiarity, breeze, contempt. Um, I'm a citizen here. I don't work for nobody. Nobody's staff have no unfounded authority over Mr. Foster, and so I encourage you all to have your staff have some sensitive training and understand that I'm a sensitive regardless of how often they see me and will not disrespect. Mr. Foster talk inappropriate anytime. Second thing, when it comes down to community planning today, I think that is a good direction. I encourage you all to strengthen up the next we cannot continue to have all these advisory councils that are filled with government employees already. I, in particular, had a conflict or interest with a commissioner in the same district, in District Detroit, and so those things have to be reevaluated. And who goes on these committees, and that they be very exclusive to community to represent. Thirdly, I'm just very, very disappointed today, this young man, I did not even know him, a combat veteran here I've been advocating for the last three years, and I don't hold anything back. It was one of the individual staffers in which I was deprived of that had the attitude today and talked to me a little reckless in the hall while I was in the moment of passion. But we have to do better for our veterans. Period, it's evident, and we're tired of begging. This is a federal election. Stand up for our veterans. Thank
you. Thank
you so much. Mister Foster and Cindy Dara,
yeah, I will stand up for our veterans, but I'm standing up too. There's a watch party tonight for the debate and and it it starts before nine o'clock, but the debate starts at nine, and that's at daybo. And there's other watch parties. That's the one I know about, a daybo on Wyoming, close to or Grand River close to Wyoming. But I just want to say, if the nine year, what is it structure restructuring or something for the master plan that those people, I wish you'd give as much time to let them not just come one on one to you, but these taxpayers should be able to sit at your table and have a long discussion, and you ought to read all the material they've published so far, because they're right on and there, I just think if you would announce that there were openings to the meeting on Tuesday, maybe some of the people that come on public comment on a regular basis, they would apply to get on those planning things. But if you plan when I work, I work, and then I modify my work because I learn as I'm going and this whole idea of having these plans, you've got to get down to the neighborhood level and quit demolishing structurally sound housing like you've been doing since I came to Detroit, and that was in 1967 to study social Psychology and a group of optimal small group, not 50 and so broken down at a neighborhood level, we need some cooperative housing, public housing. When we pay into section eight, the public gets no equity. It goes on and on, and these investors are buying up all the houses and getting section eight money. Thank
you, Miss Dara. We appreciate you for coming down money, but
we don't we lose our housing stock to investors.
Appreciate you, Miss Dara, as always. Thank you for taking the time to come down. All right, we're going to turn now to those who have joined us, virtually.
Good afternoon. Council President, our first caller online is Tahira Ahmad, okay.
Good afternoon. Thank you for taking my comment. In the last 10 years, City of Detroit has tax captured $516.8 million in our property tax dollars, and handed it over to investors, primarily to downtown development projects. Meanwhile, our schools, libraries and other public agencies lost the funding they desperately need. It gets even worse. In the last seven years, these same public agencies were denying additional $500.5 million half a billion dollars in tax revenue, revenue because the wealthy property owners were told they don't have to pay property taxes for up to 35 years. If we fall back for paying our property taxes, we lose our homes, they're foreclosed. Thus we have the $600 million property tax, illegal property taxes, and 100,000 homes have been illegally foreclosed in Detroit. Wrap your mind around that, why we don't have affordable housing, because it's being stolen. So the Coalition for Property Tax Justice and Detroiters for Tax Justice are partnering and trying to remedy these problems and to put pressure on our elected officials to no longer go along with the program and Councilwoman Callaway, you are a treasure. Thank you for your voice and thank you.
Alright, thank you so much. Miss Ahmad.
Our next caller is William M Davis, good afternoon. Can
I be heard?
Yes, we can hear you. Mr. Davis, okay, great.
I like to start off by saying, I think it's criminal that the fact that y'all doing clawbacks from the city of Detroit retirees, but yet, y'all want to claw back none of the broken promises from these fantastic, enriching deals that a lot of these corporations and projects get in the city of Detroit. You know, you know, because you know you have, you know, during the last 10 and a half years or so, over 25% of the general fund legacy pensioners have died, especially during the, you know, the pandemic, but no relief for us. But yet, I won't call back them. You know, I know, I think that you know, the schools, the Wayne County Community College, the libraries, all should get 100% of their money that people vote for. I think also 100% of the debt millage she go to paying off debt. You know, that will put the city in a much better shape. You know, it seems like this is a Have and Have Not city where, if you poor or black or Hispanic or what have you, you know, you get nothing, but if you rich and white, you get any and everything you want. You know, things need to change. Hopefully things will start changing soon, or we may have to change a few people next year. Thank you.
All right. Thank you. Mr. Davis,
next caller is election integrity room.
Alright, go right ahead. Mr. Crowley,
good afternoon, everyone, everyone in the room, everyone within the sound of my voice. Gabriela, Santiago Romero, you made a comment on public record Senate, you received allegations on the findings of voter fraud by anonymous citizen report by Janice won three on May the ninth well, actually may the 22nd I supplied that report, that report to Councilman young Fred durhaus, staff member and Leticia downs uh staff, and that was uh May the 22nd they hadn't received it. Now on May 20, I contacted several uh members of Council's staff, yours included, and they hadn't received a report yet. So how is it that you saw it on May the ninth? Um, I find that very, very precarious and suspicious that you said, May the ninth. Now, Mary Sheffield, it was April 25 2024 at the Detroit Election Commission held on NFL Draft Day. You weren't in attendance, but Conrad Malik was sitting right next to Janice Murphy when she told the lie. That's the city Corporation Council when she told the lie. Lie, cuz she hadn't sent anybody to report. To the best of my knowledge. All
right, thank you our next caller, please.
Next caller is phone number ending in 211211,
the floor is yours. You.
Caller 211
I see that they are unmuted. They just need to speak.
All right. Caller, 211, okay, let's come back to this. Caller, please. All
right, we will move on to demanding election integrity.
All right. Good afternoon. You.
Demanding election integrity. Good afternoon, good
afternoon. And through the Chair, may
I be heard? Yes, we can hear you.
Yes. Council President, it is not if or when you respond, it's how you respond. You respond by ignoring the needs of the people. Miss Gabrielle Santiago, you you say that these people in the HEMA Hall, they are in your district. So do you not care for poor people? They have maggots, they have a woman who's been injured. What more do you need? But I, oh, I know we need Angela Yee to bring in an apartment where she has affordable and she wants to get rid of the 99 year low income. That's what a lot of we of. What we need is low, low income housing. So, so you want to exploit the remainder of the poor people in the district and Mr. Young you and your 15 minute neighborhoods, that's part of an evil agenda. And I know the Do It is getting lots of money to utilize surveillance on us and building a electronic fence to keep you in these 15 minute neighborhoods. And I want to know 16.1 is very I mean, I'm sorry, 6.1 is very disturbing to me, how council member can say she's for the people and the residents when she's advocating for giving property incentives when they owe the residents a bill. All
right, our next caller, please. I'm sorry. One second. Yvonne member young, yes,
I just want to say for the record, always good to talk to you. One, I am not evil. And secondly, there are no electric fences in the proposed 15 or 20 million neighborhoods. I want to assure everybody that's out there, there are no electric offenses. Understand one more time, there are no electric fences being proposed in the 15 or 20 million neighborhoods. Always good to see you, and I hope look forward to talking to you more in neighborhood, community standing committee. Thank you, Madam President, for your patience.
Thank you so much. Council member, young and our next caller, Yvonne,
our next caller is Vanessa sterno, all
right. Good afternoon.
Hi. Can I be heard?
Yes, you can.
Thank you so much. I'm calling on behalf of the community of core city today, y'all are voting on the down zoning proposal today, as a community, we were sorry. I'm speaking for core city, strong core city neighborhoods and the Grand River block club to say that, please vote for this approval, core city has had no intensive industrial operations for the past three decades. Because of this, residential, nonprofit and commercial developments have blossomed, and an estimated $80 million have been invested in core city to develop houses, shops, restaurants, nonprofit centers, parks and green spaces. Our our current development has attracted many peoples and families to build homes on or close to the lots in the proposal. Currently, these folks, including long term and new residents, of course, city, live in fear about who will who will propose what next, and how they'll react to our concerns, especially around industrial intensive industrial development, which the current zoning calls for. I'm not sure if folks remember, but we've had to fight a concrete question that came that was proposing to come into our community that was quite literally environmental racism in plain sight. According to the current City Planning Commission guidelines, there isn't enough commercial buffer space surrounding the current intensive industrial lots.
Thank you so much. Next Caller, please.
Our next caller is phone number ending in 299.
Caller ending in 299. You have a minute 30. General public comment.
Good afternoon to everyone, to the city of Detroit, to all council members and accountant and Madam Chair. My name is Joyce Moore with the Virginia Park community coalition within the boundaries of the Virginia Park community. I'm here for three issues. DTE, we talked about it before, where an SDR, which is a state emergency release, a person, should get a 30 day hold on their on their DTA account once that application is approved, that will give them enough time to find funding to have the bill paid. Number two, Detroit Water sewage department, they have a tier one of $18 a tier two or $43 and a tier three or $56 is not enough. What's happening now on my block alone is that almost 80% of the people who see the disconnect know is based upon the overages. So that means they need to go back to the program and reevaluate it. I'm not saying remove the program. I'm saying we need to reevaluate the amount of money so that people don't have to pay any money toward overages or whatever master plan. Great discussion today. I was going to bring it up. So the first thing is that residency, I am not hearing residency. I guess I'm looking at least 80 to 90% of any for the committee, advisory committee, focus committee, any kind of committee, should be at least 80 to 90% of the people the city of Detroit to be on any of those communities. Now you're talking about the master plan, because I don't believe that I can go and sit on Southfield Royal Oaks plan, Master Plan, and say I want to have input to it. So therefore it should be strict, excuse me, it should be constrained or constricted to old east, any Detroit residents. And so given that I don't understand how they could take, take 1800 69 nine.
Thank you. Miss Moore,
our next caller is Marguerite Maddox and Scarlet.
Good afternoon. Miss Maddox.
Sparingly.
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that's
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might Be healthy. We By the way,
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there another thing.
Listening to listening, so please make sure that You are listening. Make sure that these drivers, um,
thank you very much. Thank
Okay,
thank you. Thank you so much. Ms Maddox,
our next caller is calling user one.
Call in. User one Good afternoon.
Call in. User one Good afternoon you.
Okay, Yvonne, can we please come back to this caller? Please? Yep,
the next caller is phone number ending in 124,
caller, 124, good afternoon.
Yes, good afternoon. May
I be heard? Yes, you can.
Okay, thank you. First
of all, it would be nice if the report that allegedly debunked these specific election concerns could be made available to the public to give people here more faith in the integrity of the elections and the willingness and thoroughness of any willingness to investigate, and thoroughness of any investigation. I want to thank member waters for asking why Detroit residents cannot attend the Master Plan advisory council about the master plan itself. The survey that's on the website doesn't ask the person who fills it out where they live. So how would that input be translated to a master plan of a particular area? So I think that survey is lacking, and the city could always do improve on community engagement. Mr. Antoine Bryant says he approaches this with intentionality, yes, and apparently they're intentionally not allowing residents to attend the master plan. What was the excuse provide a safe environment? Are you saying that residents are dangerous? I find that a bit insulting. Like, where's the transparency if this is about us, and I don't have a lot of faith in the planning department, because they secretly planned along with HRD the land bank, a development plan for my block and purposely included the would be most impacted residents, almost all of them, except for one who cashed in on the deal. So please, I see no
All right. Thank you. Miss Warwick, our
next caller is torah Brown,
good afternoon, Council. My name is Tara Brown, and Sherman Butler was a murder. Was murdered by a 36th district court bailiff on July 12, 2024 the family and the public demands the release of the DPD body worn video camera. We also demand to know how our DPD officers dispatched to Mr. Butler's home prior to the 10:53am, 911 call. Also we would please like to know is bailiff Craig Gregory, a current or former DPD officer back in 2001 there was an officer named Craig Gregory on the DPD police force on the 911 call of Sherman Butler regarding Sherman Butler's murder on the 911 call, the operator mentions that she heard arguing, quote, arguing and shuffling. I want to know was Mr. Butler physically assaulted prior to being shot by bailiff Craig Gregory. Also, there is a portion of the 911 call where the operator is advising shots fired. And somehow, during the course of this call, you can hear Mr. Butler still being shot in the background, I have been able to find more information about Mr. Butler's murder from my home sitting at a computer than what the city of Detroit and DPD has released to the public. That is not good. We need some answers on this. It feels like a cover up and we are not being heard. That video should be released to the public, and if Craig Gregory is a former DPD police officer, the public has the right to know. Thank you Council,
right. Thank you so much. Miss Tor Brown,
our next caller is phone number ending in 061061
caller, 061 Good afternoon.
Hello. Could I be heard? Yes, you can, sir, yes. This is James Ford speaking. I'd like to say hello to Detroit City Council and Councilwoman Mary Sheffield. God bless everybody. I just want to let everybody to know that Fred has a drag racing and red light running problems. My phone number is 586-918-3061, and we're going to Lansing Wednesday, September 18, to try to ask legislators to enhance the old laws and make new laws that will help us. You can view what I'm talking about on YouTube, on Detroit Red lights, and we can gotta stop this total disrespect and loneliness that's going on in the city. The bus is leaving Burt's warehouse September 18, at nine o'clock. Tickets are $35 if you want to ride the bus. However, you can drive to last you try to get an early start. We need 1000 people up there. The program will start at 12 o'clock sharp. Speakers will be Theo broaden, Maxine Willis, Mister Aaron dome and myself. People that Detroit has 156 people killed a year. That equals three or four a week and the numbers are escalating. We're asking you to go to Lansing, to stand up for red light running, stand down for red light running and drag racing. Ask your legislators to show you some respect and vote. Get new laws and enhance you know the old laws and stop this reckless alright.
Thank you so much.
Next caller is Joyce e Jennings,
right, Miss Jennings Good afternoon.
Miss Jennings Good afternoon.
Good afternoon. How are you? And to the full body, today is Tuesday, September the 10th, 2024 for the record, I would like to report that on September the sixth, 2024 I finally received the police report number of 240-905-0287,
in the interest of the property located at 136, 100 Van Dyke that was owned by Saint James Missionary Baptist Church, also known as Shield of Faith Ministries. Officer Hill from Detroit Police Department, Office of Inspector General confirmed that the property was illegally transferred um to the current congregation that is in there, or group, rather, that is in their frat night of Notre Dame. I am praying for the protection of Officer Hill, as well as Eric Sabri, who confirmed the illegal transfer, as well as my daughter and myself, who live in the home. I also ask that there be an investigation into why, when I made the initial report back in on July the second third of 2018 why Detroit police did not investigate. Praying for the protection of all who stand up for righteous justice. Have a great day.
All right. Thank you as well. Miss Jennings.
Next caller is Betty a Barner,
Miss Barner, good afternoon.
Miss Barner, good afternoon.
Good afternoon. Sorry I couldn't unmute Good afternoon to all within the sound of my voice. I'm Betty, a barn president of DeSoto Ellsworth black Association, inviting all within the sound of my voice. This Saturday, we are going to have a special meeting, and it's my association meeting, but we're going to have a short meeting because we're going to have the City Fire Department. They're going to come out and they're going to talk to us on how they're using drones to assist them with their work, and they're also going to have a pilot available who's going to demonstrate the usage of the drones. We're asking everyone to bring their chairs to come out to 6439, deba community park and enjoy yourself. Get your questions answered, get some snacks and just enjoy our part. So come on out, and I want to say a special thanks to William Davis for mentioning me and my organization and being supportive of the work that we're doing in my community. I'm excited about our Finkle corridor. I'm looking forward to our next meeting, so please look out for the flyer I'm going to ask my deputy or the district manager.
Thank you so much.
Next caller is Miko a Williams,
Hi, good morning, good afternoon. Council. Damico Williams, I want to give a public notice to the city of Detroit residents and community. Bob Carmack will be having a public memorial as of Tuesday, September 17, from six o'clock to eight o'clock pm, at the Nazarene Baptist Church on Oakland on the north end. We invite everybody to come out. Bob was a warrior for Christ, and Bob definitely deserves a home going and a well deserved respect from us for all of the work that he's done in the city of Detroit, advocating for us. I also want to say that it's important for everyone to get into the easy pay program with the Detroit water and sewage department, you need to call them immediately and get on that plan. It's only $10 down, and you get fixed rate payments a month so that your water doesn't get shut off. It's getting ready to get cold. You feel that air. And then also with the Lifeline program, yes, you must recertify. You need to call Wayne Metro immediately. You need to reach out to them and recertify yourselves before October 1. We just got out of the meeting with DWSD last week talking about this, and they put the inserts in your water bill. So look out for that. Use the QR code, use the information to recertify ASAP before October 1. So your water, they'll get shut off. If you do that, your water will not be shut off period. Thank you so All
right, thank you. Mr. Mika Williams,
next caller is iPhone,
right? IPhone, good afternoon. You.
IPhone, good afternoon.
All right, good afternoon. Yes, I was having trouble with my phone. This is Robert showed Okay. Represent justice for Ben District Four. I was calling in to let you get well, not necessarily give you guys an update, but try to you know, first something as far as getting you guys back into what's going on with this air quality situation over here on beneco, speeding on the east side of Detroit. And I was curious as to, you know, if you guys have any more plans, I know you guys did a resolution, which was great that the mayor didn't support it, but that's basically the biggest thing I was calling about. If you guys had any feedback from me or anything, you could let me know. And also, if there's any monies that the city of Detroit had anything to do with, as far as it's the largest facility, I would like for you guys to put something together to start pawing back at that money. And that takes care of you for me. Thank you.
All right. Thank you, sir.
Our next caller is Cunningham.
Cunningham Good afternoon.
Cunningham Good afternoon,
313444, 313-444-9114, can you hear me? 31344491143134449114,
that number was made so you can remember it and on Facebook, expensive vehicle repairs. On Facebook, expensive vehicle repairs. I want you, residents at home to ride the busses and talk to the people. The bus system is at its worst after 6pm and on the weekends, this is where your tax dollars are going and see how well it is going. Don't be shy or as a ditty, when you get on the busses, talk to the people, they'll tell you the good, the bad and the ugly. Bring a notepad if you'd like to ride along with me. No matter who you are, call me at 313-444-9114, also go to social media and look up Detroit Department of Transportation on their Facebook or social media, there is a DDOT meeting, input meeting upcoming this month, Madam President, I'm looking forward to a bus ride along with you as we spoke again. You've done it before, and I do appreciate you and my colleagues ain't gonna like this, but I appreciate Councilman Scott Benson for saying very kind words towards me during the Tru meeting.
All right, thank you so much. Mr. Cunningham, our
next caller is Stephen Harring,
can I be her?
Saharing, yes, we can hear you,
alright. Um, so, you know, it's pretty obvious, you know that that voter, it's not LV, it. What it is is it's attention. You know, these people who come here, they want attention, so they make it up. There's no evidence. It's just all made up trash. And, you know, you shouldn't have to waste time trying to, you know, debunk it because it's proven obviously not to be true. You know, it also, of course, there was a lot of misinformation from the same typical people that come you know about cats captures and how they work. You know, definitely a lot of regarding the city's master plan. I just really hope that, you know, it includes public transit and just a whole new, you know, master level this to really, you know, get the city, you know, going, you know, currently we have the transit system the city that probably would have 100,000 or 50,000 probably for a city the size of Kalamazoo. But you know, what we need is a transit system similar to Pittsburgh Miami. I mean, obviously we don't have beneath Chicago or New York, but you know, at least Miami and Pittsburgh or Cleveland, you know their systems 10 times wide. They actually have rapid transit, so that should be in the plan.
All right, thank you so much, Mr. Hari,
our next caller is Bernard manski.
All right. Bernard manski, good afternoon.
Hi, good afternoon. Can I be heard?
Yes, you
can Hi, Good morning, madam. I
mean Good afternoon, Madam President and members Council. I'm a resident of the city of Detroit, District Six and community organizer with Detroit people's platform. I just want to thank this body for your consideration, and also sent literature to each and every one of you about our proposal for clean paratransit vehicles and conversion to zero emission fleet, just to match the city's sustainability efforts with fixed line, and also conversion of this entire fleet. In that regard, paratransit passengers do deserve clean energy. Deserve to be part of this climate change solution, and I just want to thank off of the administration, and I want to report out to you all that the administration seems amenable to this as well. Was able to speak to the mayor during the district seven council meeting, and we thought it was a good idea to have these talks and considerations for converting our paratransit fleet, because these are regular vehicles. These aren't municipal vehicles, and you know, if we can create a couple of solutions in terms of ensuring that we have clean emission vehicles also, I think it's important that we also have Ada and wheelchair accessible vehicles that are for public safety and emergency as well too, and I'm looking forward to discussing that with all of you on just making our system that much better. Thank you.
Alright. Thank you. Renard, alright. He was our final caller to raise his hand before public comment was cut off, but we will go back to call in. User one,
alright, calling. User one, good afternoon. All right. Calling user one, going once,
can you hear me? Oh, yes, we
can hear you. Ms, Shay, good afternoon.
Good afternoon. I would like to know madam president, why hasn't this light been put up at this gas station light pole that affects the students from Northwestern High School who have to catch the glass now that it's going to be getting darker, more earlier, it poses as a safety hazard, and we've been asking for a year, and they still have not gotten this light put up so it reflects more light for the children. Finally, I'd like to know what is going to be done from the council's office to stop intensive drug spelling, um, selling from this apartment building that's selling to the children of Northwestern High School as well as those that live in the area. And nothing is getting done about it. When you call Detroit boys, nothing is really done. I'd like for you to get something done. I've been sending pictures these weeds is back up on the lots that you had gotten cut before you all left. I sent pictures this morning and yesterday to confirm it, no council member staff has reached out to me, and I also would like to add, if you can get something done about, you know, this building having unsanitary
thank you so much. MS, Shay, we will continue to work with you. And Yvonne, was that our last caller? Yep, that was our final caller. All right, thank you. All right, we will proceed back to our agenda, understanding committee reports for the budget, Finance and Audit standing committee from the law department.
Council Member durhall, an introduction of an ordinance. Line item 15.1,
Council Member durhaus,
thank you, Madam President, and this is for the procurement ordinance. I move that the ordinance be read twice or printed and laid on the table,
Hearing no objections. That action will be taken from the law department.
Council Member durha, a resolution set in a public hearing. Line item 15.2,
Council Member durha, thank you, Madam
President, I move that we set a public hearing at a date to be determined.
All right, any objection to scheduling a public hearing for a date to be determined. All right, hearing. None that action will be taken from the Office of the Chief Financial Office, Office of the assessor.
Council Member durha, two resolutions, line items 15.3 and 15.4
council member durha, thank you, Madam
President. Both of these are pilots. Line item 15.3 is for a resolution of authorization for 20119, Wisconsin limited dividend Housing Association payment in lieu of taxes. And this is an order to develop a multi family housing development known as the Higginbotham school, which will consist of two newly constructed walk up buildings and rehabilitation of historic school building with a new elevator totaling 100 units. And this project is is in the area bounded by Norfolk Avenue on the north, Wisconsin Street on the east, Chippewa Avenue on the south, and Indiana Avenue on the west. And then the second pilot is for the Martin gardens of Detroit living in limited dividend Housing Association. This is a pilot as well. And this project includes a 32 unit one eight unit and one six unit building known as the Clark apartments, Vernon townhomes, Barton apartments and house respectively. The area is bounded by Toledo Street on the north, 24th Street on the east, Fisher freeway on the south, and McKinstry Street on the west Move for approval for both line items, 15.3 and 15.4
any objections.
Discussion, Madam
Chair. Discussion council member Callaway, thank
you, Madam Chair. Line item, 15.3 the Higginbotham project is in district two, and I'm really proud of the young man, Rob Hardeman, my Morehouse brother, who is the developer on this project, and all the work he's done, he's done extensive community engagement on this project, I'm really excited about it. The residents are excited about it. The school has been vacant for a number of years, so just shows us that we do not have to tear down our schools, which it takes sometimes years to build in the mid 1900 in the mid 1900s so I'm just excited about this school being preserved and being used for housing. It's a beautiful structure. It is historic, and a lot of our schools are historic, but a lot of them are being demolished, and they don't have to be, and this is a prime example of how we can use our schools for housing, since we know in the city we have a housing issue. So thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you so much. Council member. Callaway any further discussion. A motion has been made to approve these two items. Are there any objections? Right? Hearing, no objections. The two resolutions will be approved. And
has been requested. Any objections? Hearing, none that action will be taken.
Request a waiver for line item 15.4 as well. Madam President,
Hearing no objections, a waiver will be attached to 15.4 from the office of the city clerk, City Planning Commission.
Council member durhall, two resolutions line items, 15.5 and 15.6
member durha, thank you,
Madam President, both of these are any z certificate applications. The first 15.5 is for the rehabilitation of a building at 8823 and 88 29/3 in the Herman Keefer neighborhood, any z area. This has been recommended for approval by the CPC as well as committee and line I, line item 15.6 is a NEC certificate for three newly built duplexes and the Woodbridge estate subdivision, generally located south of west Canfield and west of M 10 recommended for approval by the CPC and committee as well. And just to know, these units are 1361, Canfield unit 1743, 38 Lincoln unit 1843, 26 Lincoln unit 1943, 22 Lincoln. Unit 2043 12, Lincoln. Unit 21 and 1360, Calumet unit 22 Move for approval for line items, 15.5 and 15.6
any objections? Discussion, discussion council member Johnson, thank you, Madam
President, just wanted to confirm that. Confirm that we indeed received the information regarding 15.6 as it relates to the application for the Nez, if it was received prior to the work being done
to the administration, to mr. Washington. We have someone on.
Mr. Washington. Can you hear us? Not quite. Can you repeat yourself? Let's try it again. Yes,
I'm sure.
Um. CBC, I believe.
Okay. Mr. Gulak, you
Good afternoon. Madam Chair, Chris Gulak, City Planning Commission staff,
all right. Good afternoon. Were you able to respond to whether the in the Z certificate was submitted prior to the building permits being pulled for this project.
Yes, Madam Chair, we did email that to the committee after the meeting last week. They did submit the application to the clerk's office back in February 2022 unfortunately, they submitted the wrong application. That's what caused the confusion. But they did send an application of a stamp by the clerk. Stamp by the clerk's office, but the clerk stamped at Homestead instead and was sent to the wrong department. So there was, I'm not sure if the air, it appears the air was on the city side. But they did submit something back in February 2220 22 it'd be up for the state of Michigan, kind of to sort out if everything is okay with that application, but for now, we're comfortable recommending approval.
All right, thank you. Mr. Gulak, any additional questions or comments for these two items? All right, Hearing no objections. The two resolutions will be approved. Madam
President, I will request waiver for line item 15.5
any objections to a waiver. Hearing, none. A waiver will be attached to 15.5 for the internal operations standing committee from the Office of contracting and procurement.
Council member Johnson, a resolution line item 16.1 contract number 6006208, 100% ARPA funding to provide data and event monitoring for cyber security contractor, CDW government, LLC. Total contract amount, $2,747,985.38
cent. And that's for do it. Council member Johnson, one resolution.
Council member Johnson, thank you, Madam
President, Move for approval.
Motion has been made. Any objections? Discussion? Madam session, yes. Council member Callaway, yeah. I
had a few questions regarding this contract. I was not in the session last week, but I did have questions. I haven't gotten those answers to those questions, so I would ask that we not move forward with this contract until my questions are answered. I will state one for the record right now. Is there a connection between the CDW, government, LLC, and CrowdStrike? I hear there possibly could be. CrowdStrike is the company that had the meltdown with their IT system. Back in July, I was stranded in Florida for three days because of the IT DOWN meltdown with delta. So I would just want to know whether or not this company has any association with CrowdStrike before we move forward with approving it. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you so much. Member Calloway, and so is there a motion, if colleagues are okay, to postpone this for one week? Yes,
ma'am, that's my motion to postpone it for one week. Any objections to
postponing this for one week to allow member Callaway to receive our responses, hearing, no objections that action will be taken. Thank you. Member Callaway from the law department. Council
member Johnson for resolutions, line item 16.2 through 16.5
council member Johnson,
thank you, Madam President, Move for approval on line item 16.2 through 16.5 these are various lawsuit settlement requests and requests for legal representation and indemnification. All right. Are
there any objections? Discussion,
Madam Chair, yes.
Discussion member callow, as
I also had questions about line item 16.2, this is related to a police officer driving a marked Scout car causing an accident. And the settlement is 17, $17,500 we had during this most recent budget approved $2.7 million for DPD and safety training. Madam chairs, there is dp I'm sorry, Deputy Chief grant Hall available to answer a couple of questions because I won't ask it to be postponed, but I would like answers to my questions regarding the $2.7 million so we approved in the most recent budget regarding DPD and safety training.
Okay to mr. Washington, do we have someone on? Please,
madam chair, unfortunately, okay.
Are you able to
bring someone on? If we move this to the end of the agenda,
I can respond
to the response, okay,
so we'll just, there's no objection. We can just move this to the end of the agenda to see if someone can come on to provide an update. So we'll move 16.2 to the end of the agenda and any further discussion on the remaining items? Okay, hearing no discussion. Any objections on 16.3 through 16.5 Hearing no objections. The three resolutions will be approved from the office of the city clerk. Council
member Johnson, a resolution line item 16.6
council member Johnson, thank you, Madam
President, Move for approval on line item 16.6 this is a petition for Detroit triple T Foundation, a Breast Cancer Foundation seeking a charitable gaming license,
right. Any objections, Hearing no objections. The one resolution will be approved from the Human Resources Department Benefits Division council
member Johnson, a resolution nine, item 16.7,
Council Member Johnson, thank you, Madam
President, Move for approval. This is the 2025 medical and dental plan rate schedules for City of Detroit employees.
Any objections? Hearing, no objections. The one resolution will be approved from the Human Resources compensation and classification division. Council
member Johnson, two resolutions, line item 16.8 and 16.9
council member Johnson, thank
you, Madam President, Move for approval on line item 16.8 and 16.9 line item 16.8 is to amend the official compensation compensation schedule for the executive second secretary three and line item 16.9 is to change the Transportation District Superintendent From step Code A to step code D.
All right, thank you. Council member Johnson, any discussion and any objections, Hearing no objections. The two resolutions will be approved from the Human Resources Labor Relations Division. Council
member Johnson, a resolution. Line item 16, point 10. Council
member Johnson, thank you,
Madam President. Move for approval. This is for the implementation of the 2023 through 2027 labor agreement between the city of Detroit and the employees represented by the Municipal Association of Public Employees. This is for the board of police commissioners, investigators.
All right, any objections, hearing, no objections. The one resolution will be approved moving to Planning and Economic Development under unfinished business council president
pro tem James Tate, an ordinance noting a roll call line item 17.1,
President Pro Tem Tate,
Madam President, I move to take from the table an ordinance to amend chapter 50 of the 2019 Detroit City Code zoning by amending article 17, zoning district maps, Section 5017, dash 26 district map number 24 to establish a b4, zoning classification where a b3, zoning classification currently exists, for the partial part, excuse me for The parcel identification numbers 1700118, 70011831700118217001181170011801700117917001
11700117817010006 and 17001100 Commonly known as 7700 Harper 7724 Harper 7730, Harper 7738, Harper 7746, Harper 7760,
Harper 6401,
Van Dyke and 7844, East Edsel Ford on land generally bounded by Harper Avenue West, excuse me, Van Dyke Avenue East, Edsel Ford, service drive and Baldwin Avenue laid on the table. July 2, 2024
Hearing no objections that action, discussion, yes. Council member Benson, thank
you. Just want to say thank you to those involved. This is right across the street from Akiba long village, and this will be a welcome investment into the third district. We are seeing new investment. DTE has made investment in the infrastructure and beautification. Akiba long village is now redeveloping homes and has sold its first redevelopment home. You'll see the Burrell trail is part of this, and this will be another great investment to the area to add to the synergies in the third district. Thank you.
Thank you. Council member Benson, and Hearing no objections, the that action will be taken. President Pro Temp Tate,
I move the ordinance be passed as submitted.
I do Third Reading So
Madam President, strike that I move that the ordinance be placed on the order of third reading and considered read,
Hearing no objections that action will be taken. President Pro Temp Tate president,
move that the ordinance be placed, excuse me, be passed as submitted and
there being a roll call required, Madam Clerk, please call the roll.
Council President Pro Tem James Haight, yes. Council member Mary waters, yes. Council member Angela Whitfield, Callaway, yes. Council member Coleman Young a second Yes. Council President Mary Sheffield, yes. Council member Scott Benson, yes. Council member freddo hard the third council member, Letitia Johnson, yes. Council member Gabriella Santiago Romero, yes, eight yeas, zero nays. The motion passes,
the ordinance is approved. President Pro Temp Tate, madam,
President, I move that the title of the ordinance be confirmed, Hearing
no objections that action will be taken under unfinished business
council president pro tem James Tate an ordinance noting a roll call line item 17.2 prototype.
President I moved to take from the table an ordinance to amend chapter 50 of the 2019 Detroit city code zoning by amending article 17 zoning district maps section 50. Dash 17, dash 46 district map 44 of the Detroit city of the Detroit zoning ordinance to show an SD, zoning SD two zoning classification, where an M for zoning classification is currently shown in the area generally bounded by West Ave West Warren Avenue, the Jeffries freeway, Buchanan Street and Grand River Avenue, more specifically depicted on the map, included the proposed map amendment is being requested in order to bring the subject parcels into conformance with the city's master plan of policies, and to protect the health, welfare and safety of the surrounding community by reducing intensive uses that are Currently permitted laid on the table. July 16, 2024 I
Hearing no objections that action will be taken. President, pro temp Tate,
madam. President, I move the ordinance be placed on the order of third reading and considered read. Discussion,
all
right. Discussion, member young, excuse me. Member Benson,
thank you. Just want to say thank you to those who supported and submitted this. Is another down zoning to protect the health, safety and welfare of our residents, when people have spoken up in the past and say they do not want noxious or super intensive uses in their communities that have but residential directly and so this is another example of that. So just want to say thank you to those involved.
Thank you so much, Council Member Benson, and we will move now to Hearing no objections that action will be taken Pro Temp
Tate president, move the ordinance be passed as submitted
and there being a roll call required. Madam Clerk, please call the roll
council member Angela Whitfield, Callaway Yes, Council Member Coleman au on the second
Yes. Council
President Mary Sheffield, yes. Council member Scott Benson, yes. Council member frederhall The third. Council member Leticia Johnson, yes. Council member Gabriella Santiago Romero, yes. Council President, pro tem James Tate, yes. Council member Mary waters,
yes.
Eight yeas, That motion passes. Madam President,
the ordinance is approved. President, pro temp Tate.
Madam President, I move that the title of the ordinance be confirmed,
Hearing no objections that action will be taken. Madam President, discussion yes. Council Member Santiago Romero, thank you. Madam President, just want to say just want to say congratulations to core city. They were the organizers that worked really, really hard to make sure that we down zoned this, this area in in District Six. And really want to encourage other community organizations. This was strictly community led. They came together. They came to the city, they came to the administration. So thank you. As member Benson said that this is really hard work from community, and it's possible, it's possible to organize and to see these changes happen. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you so much. Council member, all right, from the Office of contracting and procurement. Council president
pro tem James Tate, three resolutions. Line item, 17.3 through 17.5 noting they are all contracts. First up is contract number 6005289, dash, a one, 100% slba grant funding. Amendment One, to provide an extension of time and an increase of funds for blight remediation and site readiness, program management services. Contractor is the manic and Smith group incorporated total contract amount $1 million that's for housing and revitalization. Contract number 6005951, dash, a one, 100% opioid fund funding, Amendment One to provide an increase of funds for drug use intervention, counseling services, Quick Response Team contractors, families against narcotics Incorporated. Total contract amount $1,733,335 that's for housing and revitalization. Last contract is contract number 6005993, dash, a one revenue contract amendment one to provide an extension of time for lease of City of Detroit on land for vehicle parking. Contractor is invest Detroit foundation total contract amount 24,000 less for Planning and Development Council. President, pro tem Tate, three resolutions, all
right, thank you, Madam Clerk. President, pro temp Tate President,
I move approval of line items 17.3 through 17.5
please. Any discussion on these items? Discussion? Madam Chair, yes. Member Calloway, just
real quick on line item 17.5 is it better for the city in terms of how we are generating revenue on leasing this property? Is it better to lease it or just outright sell it to the sell it to this foundation so we can get out of the leasing business and just it'll be their responsibility. If I'm reading this right, it says that they're leasing this parking lot from the city for their vehicle parking. So would it be better if we, you know, maybe look into the possibility of selling this to this foundation.
So I know for this particular site, because this is in district five, there is for the construction of a building at 950 Seldon street. So they're only using it as temporary staging for the construction of that property.
Thank you for the clarification. Okay,
thank you. Member Callaway, yes. Ma'am discussion yes. Council member Benson 17.4
looking at the use of HRD funds for drug use intervention. Can we talk about why this is an HRD contract versus a health department contract you made from the administration for
yourself? Okay? Mr. Washington,
yes. Madam Chair, if
we can promote Andrea Taberna as well as Elizabeth Ayana Johnson,
okay, we would promote both of them.
Thank you so much for the question. Councilman Benson, can you hear me? Okay, yes, we can hear you. Thank you, Madam Chair. My name is Andrea Taverna. I'm the policy director in the mayor's office. My colleague at HRD, who has been leading this effort is out of office today, so I'm here to speak on her behalf. This is part of the city's overall opioid crisis response strategy in which the health department is a very critical component alongside HRD, the fire department, the police department. It's really a true multi agency effort. For this particular contract, this team will be providing follow up visits and counseling and Engagement Services with Detroiters who may be struggling with substance use. A lot of the referrals that we're expecting to the team will come from hRdS outreach teams that work with unhoused Detroiters. The other major source of referrals to this response team is expected to be EMS runs. So the contract is for a nonprofit group who will follow up with these Detroiters, talk to them about whether they're interested in substance use treatment, and try to get them into long term treatment. The contract runs through HRD because we are expecting a lot of those referrals to come from their homelessness outreach teams, and then also just because HRD has a very robust contract management function. So we thought that they were well suited to manage this contract, sir. All
right.
Thank you very much. It's very helpful. All right. Thank
you. Member Benson, any additional questions? All right, hearing, none. A motion has been made for approval. Are there any objections? Hearing none. The three resolutions will be approved. Present pro temptation
as a request for a waiver online item 17.3, please
any objections to a waiver 17.3 Hearing none that action will be taken, because we rely on 17.4 All right. Any objections to a waiver for 17.4 Hearing none that action will be taken. Madam President,
yes, ma'am, since
we're on waivers, a waiver for 17.2 please. I don't believe we asked for one. Okay, any objections to a waiver for 17.2 this is the core city, strong rezoning hearing. No objections. A waiver will be attached to that item as well. All
right, thank you
from the Office of Development and grants, pro temp Tate
resolution. Line item 17.6 sorry about that. Microphone was not on Pro
Tem
President, I move approval. Line item 17.6
please. Motion has been made. This is accepting and appropriating the fiscal year 2024 certified local government grant. Hearing no objections, the one resolution will be approved. Present
pro tem, of course, for waiver online item 17.6 please.
All right. Hearing no objections, a waiver will be attached to 17.6 from the planning and development department. Council
President Pro Tem James Tate, five resolutions. Line item 17.7 through 17 point 11.
All right, pro tem Tate,
Madam President, to move approval. Line items, 17.7 through 17, point 11.
All right, a motion has been made, and these are all various property sales. Any objections? Hearing? No no objections. The five resolutions will be approved, and we will move now to the new business portion of the agenda from the mayor's office.
Council member young, 21 resolutions, nine items, 18.1 through 18 point 21
council member Young,
thank you, Mayor, President. These are various events, so I like to move to approve line item 18.1 i One and the 18.1 through 18 point 21
All right, any discussion on these items,
really quick for discussion for 18 point 21 regarding heart Plaza. And I'm not sure if this was discussed in committee regarding the restrooms at heart Plaza. We had, I got a couple of emails regarding the cleanliness of the restrooms, regarding events that are taking place. Do they have porta parties that are used outside? Is there a restroom? Just to get clarity, because if we got a couple emails regarding the ability for patrons who are using Hart Plaza, or, I should say, residents or people who are visiting, how are they using the bathroom out in Hart Plaza, and the cleanliness of that? Not sure. Has that been discussed in committee
at all? Well, the discussion, I'm making the assumption that's what they have. They have, they have the porta potties out there, and I'm assuming they're clean. But you know what happens when you assume? So I would like the administration to be able to further
and if there were porta potties, from my understanding, they were very disappointed at the cleanliness of those. And so I don't know mr. Washington, just if we, and we're spending a lot of money in the fountain and just investing in heart Plaza, but basic things for people to use, you know, the bathroom is important as well. Thank you. Mr. Washington, Yes,
Madam Chair, if we can promote your chemo. Fife, perfect. I
Good afternoon.
Good afternoon.
Thank through the Chair. Thank you for that question. Each event usually has their own contract with a porta Potter company or a portage on as they call them. They're not the same company that supplies the equipment to each event. So if there's a complaint of them not being sanitary, then they are provided by different companies. There is a representative that we have at heart plaza that I can get in touch with, to get closer contact with, in regards to making sure that they're clean, or taking a look at them when they're unloaded for the event, and keeping a watch close on them.
Okay, most definitely, because this individual was down there, had a great time. I was very disappointed when he came to the port of Johns, they were totally in violation status, as recommended by the state for port of Johns at public venues. So I'm not sure if you said that they change often for each venue. I just want to make sure we're keeping up to speed as it relates to because this was multiple emails I received from this particular event about the port of Johns in Hart Plaza.
Okay, yes. And through the Chair, I'll also reach out to the Health Department.
And then she also mentioned that the toilets were and I don't want to go into deep detail here. So are there toilets at heart Plaza for public to use
through the chair? I am not sure. I know. I always see a row of Portage lines kind of spread out throughout the throughout the event. I know there are restrooms, like in the office area, but I have not seen any open to the public, and I may have missed them, yeah, because
I, when she mentioned that, I couldn't recall if there were actually actual public restrooms for for residents to use. But we will follow up offline, just because we want to get an understanding of the schedule of, you know, maintenance of cleaning the restrooms for the public when they're attending these events, as well as how we are monitoring the safety and sanitation of these companies that are providing the port of Johns for these big, huge public events. Because in this situation, these these residents were happy to be there. They enjoyed themselves, but were very disappointed when they couldn't go and use the bathroom at these events. So just want to put that out there. Thank you, ma'am.
Thank you.
All right, so any other discussion on these items, and we're going to follow with memo to add to your committee regarding the Okay, is
it too late for your
request waivers or Nope, we're going to move for approval first. Okay, all right, any objections to the 21 resolutions? Hearing no objections, they will be approved. Council member Young. Thank
you, Mayor. President, I like to request waivers for line items, 18.1 18.6 18.7 and 18 point 10, which are special events,
carry no objections. A waiver will be attached to those items. Member Callaway,
Thank you, ma'am, line I'd like to request a waiver on line item, 18 point 1318. For health expo at Palmer Park, splash park for senior citizens, this petition of Saint Patrick Senior Center. Thank you.
All right, Hearing no objections, a waiver will be attached to that item as well.
Where's the waiver at 18.2 118,
point 21 yes. All right, Hearing no objections, a waiver will be attached to 18 point 21
Madam Chair, yes.
Thank
you. Waiver on 18 point 20 This is the petition of Renaissance High School to host their homecoming parade on West outer drive. Thank you. Madam Chair,
Hearing no objections, a waiver will be attached to 18 point 20. All right, we will proceed now to the Office of contracting and procurement. Council Member Santiago
Romero, a resolution line item, 18, point 22 which is contract number 6006406, dash a one, 100% bond funding. Amendment One, to amend terms for the interlocal agreement for the operation maintenance and management of public lighting contractor is public lighting authority. Total capital amount for this contract is $23,672,171 and that's for public lighting. Council Member Santiago Romero, a resolution.
Council Member Santiago Romero, thank you, Madam President, motion
to approve
any any any objections to this resolution, hearing none the one resolution will be approved. Waiver. Madam President, all right, any objections to a waiver carry none that action will be taken from the Office of contracting and procurement. Council
member young five resolutions, nine items, 18 point 23 through 18 point 27 first up is contract number 6003643, dash a two, 100% city funding. Amendment two to exercise a renewal year for municipal parking department to support electronic parking. Application. Contractor is kale America Incorporated. Total contract amount is $5,399,747.83 cent, and that is for municipal parking. Next contract is contract number 6006436, 70% percent M, EDC funding and 30% MD in our funding to provide site work construction for Joe Lewis, Greenway segment, zone M, dash P. Contractor is major contracting group Incorporated. Total contract amount is 25 million. That's for general services. Next contract is contract number 6006372, amended 100% ARPA funding to provide four residential and commercial alleys, Bailey Park, North End, Burrell trail and yellow brick road contractors, major contracting group incorporated total contract amount $1,943,450.30 cent. That's for general services. Next contract is contract number 6006486, 100% city funding to provide ornamental plant plugs throughout city of Detroit public spaces. Contractor is Germania C Company. Total contract amount, 450,000 that's for general services. Last contract is contract number 6005849, dash a one, 100% city funding. Amendment One, to provide a change of scope for fiduciary and program management for city walls and ACE program contractor Space Lab development incorporated total contract amount 2,660,000 that's for general services. Council member young, five resolutions.
Thank you, Madam Clerk. Council member Young, thank
you, Madam President, I like to move to approve line items. 18 point 23 through. 18 point 27
Alright, any discussion on these items? Discussion?
Madam Chair,
alright. Council member Calloway,
um, thank you, Madam Chair, I recently served on a panel for some muralist, and was quite eye opening for me. I would want to know if someone is available from General Services to let me know when we say these opportunities are for local artists or Detroit based artists. And I learned a couple weeks ago is there two different things. You can be considered a local artist, but not reside in the city. So I want that distinction to be explained to me in terms of whether or not these local artists have to actually be Detroit based, or just have a studio, or have attended the College of Creative Studies. So I want to know whether or not it's for Detroit based artists or local artists who live outside of the city. Thank you, Madam Chair. If anybody can come on and answer that quick question. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Okay, before we go to Mr. Washington, yes, Council Member Brian, yeah.
I don't know if this is going to answer all the questions, but I just want to make sure the Blight abatement residency artist program, or the B AARP intends to empower Detroit artists with stipend, supplies, budget and professional support. So I think and under the guidance of city walls program. So I think that part is for Detroit residents. I think the issue you asked about residency or things, I can't directly answer this on what the administration, that's another assumption on my body, but I think, I think that's what the intention is for. Got
you Okay? Thank you. Councilmember, Councilmember, Washington, Malika, Washington.
We have Lorraine Smith online.
Okay? We will promote Mr. Smith. You get the name Paris. Can you repeat the name? Mr. Washington?
Yes. Madam Chair, larae Smith,
I believe she's under Smith. Le, okay.
Okay.
Good afternoon,
good afternoon. Callaway, were you able to hear member calloways Question? Yes, ma'am. Okay, great,
so I believe the question is whether the preferences or whether we're geared toward Detroit based artists as opposed to like local artists. Am I correct in that? And that's what you were specifically asking. Yes, pretty much, yes, ma'am, yes, our preferences, and we do preferred Detroit based artists, and that's how we how we go about making our determination, okay,
through the chair. So a Detroit based artist doesn't necessarily have to live in Detroit. They can just have a studio in Detroit, and you consider them Detroit based, because we're talking about 100% city funding. These are not grant dollars. This is taxpayer dollars. So I wouldn't want my taxpayer dollars going to artists who lives outside of the city. And I learned that a couple weeks ago, when I served on a panel that Detroit based artists doesn't mean they necessarily are a resident of the city of Detroit. Is that a requirement? Because this is 100% city funding.
So to be honest about answering that question, I'm not 100% sure I can reach out and find out how that's determined. I'm not sure if we are able to actually get that information based on if we do Detroit based business. I'm not sure how we would go about making a specification that you have to be actually Detroit resident as well. I'm not sure if we can make that determination, but I will reach out and find out through
the chair. I think we probably can. If this was federal dollars, grant dollars we're talking about, if it's listed right? This is a 100% city funding so we can require that they live in the city of Detroit. Because what I've realized two weeks ago, Detroit local artists are not they just have an office or studio or may work out of a building, but they live in Sterling Heights. Perhaps that's just me saying Sterling Heights Macomb County. So we can, we not restrict our city dollars. It says 100% city funding for local artists who actually reside in our city.
So to answer your question, I will reach out and find out how that determination is made. I'm not 100% sure, but I also want to note that this particular item that's coming before you is the ability to allow space labs to manage like the awards of these grants. And so I will try to get an answer to your question.
Member Callaway, did you want us to possibly hold this to get your questions? Yeah. Thank
you, Madam Chair, I like to hold this because I want to know whether or not you know these are local artist, because when you say local, I thought two weeks ago that that meant they lived in Detroit, and residents, I want to support our artists, who actually are based in Detroit, and our residents of the city of Detroit, since we are using 100% city funding, that makes that makes a big difference to me. Thank you, Madam Chair, and yes, I like to have that question answered before we proceed. Thank you, Madam Chair.
All right. Thank you council member Young. Thank
you Madam President, through the chair to Miss Smith. Hey, listen, I just wanted to ask you really quick now I understand that the Supreme Court decision, I think, is Richard B croson of 1989 talks about the banning of city set asides for contracts. I think this is a little bit different, because you're talking about the hiring, not the actual contract award itself, but the hiring of people locally that's associated with the contract. I don't know if there's any wiggle room. I would assume there is, but again, you know what happens when you assume so I just want to say that might be something you might want to, you know, ask, you know, when you're when you're doing that. I also want to pose that question to the law department, you know, is there, is there any room to do that, or does that still fall under that Supreme Court decision?
There's a chair, Graham Anderson law department. I'd want to take more time to look into that, more detail, to give you a more expansive answer council member young because, because,
I hope that it, it doesn't mean I don't want to be proven right about this. I just want to make sure, I'm assuming that's what the hesitancy is, is because of that, and so I'm thinking, I just want to make delineate there is a difference between the usual business of the contracts that we talk about in this because we're talking about the actual hiring member, Calvin, can correct me if I'm wrong, we're talking about the actual hiring of the artists themselves, rather than the awarding of the contract to the company. And so I would just think that because of that, there could be a little bit more freedom in terms of hiring directly that would usually be prohibit, prohibited to do otherwise.
Okay, all right, so there's no objections. We can allow a week to get some additional information regarding this contract and see what we can do regarding more information on Detroit artists for the city was program. Are you okay to make a motion
for them to No, not just for the week, but don't even make a motion to the law department to make a motion for that? Yeah,
that'd be great.
What the chair just did was unanimous consent. Okay,
it's all good. You're fine. That's why I made the big bucks. Thank you. Appreciate you.
Alright, great. Alright, so is there a motion to postpone this item for one week? Motion, all right, Hearing no objections. 18 point. 27 will be postponed for one week. And any additional questions or concerns for the remaining items? Yes. Member young, we haven't moved them yet. All right, there's no additional concerns or questions, any objections. Hearing, no objections. The five resolutions will be approved. Excuse me, the four resolutions will be approved, and we postpone one of them. Member, Young, thank you,
Mayor, President, I would like to request waivers for line items 118, point 2318 point 24 and 18 point 25
Alright, any objections to a waiver. Hearing, no objections a waiver will be attached to those items from the Office of Development and grants
Council Member Santiago Romero, for resolutions, line items, 18, point 28 through 18 point 31
council member, Santiago Romero, thank you, Madam President, motion to approve.
These are all various grants.
All right, any objections, hearing, no objections before resolutions will be approved. Request a waiver. Madam President, for all items, yes, okay. Waiver has been requested for all of the grants. Any objections, hearing, no objections. Waiver will be attached to all four resolutions. Under resolutions.
Council Member Santiago Romero, four resolutions, line items, 18 point 32 through 18 point 35
All right. Council member, Santiago Romero, thank you, Madam President. 18 point 32 is a resolution requesting that MDOT conduct a road diet study for Ford streets. This has been something that is desperately needed in 42 and 718. Point 33 is a resolution implementing the ground emergency medical transportation program in Michigan. This is a resolution to support the passage of House Bill, 5695 which would provide more resources to the city. 18 point 34 is a resolution in support of National Hispanic Heritage Month and 18 point 35 as a resolution recognizing September 13, the 22nd as welcoming week motion to approval items. Madam President, oh, excuse me, and I'm forgetting 18 point 36 as a resolution recognizing September 9 through the 13th as construction suicide prevention
to approve all
madam here, we actually stopped at 18 point 35 so you were fine. Thank you. Madam President, yep. All right, so a motion has been made to approve the four resolutions and Hearing no objections before resolutions will be approved. Press the waiver. Madam President, okay, and a waiver has been requested for those items, Hearing no objections that motion will be approved. And under resolutions, Council
Member Whitfield Callaway, a resolution, line item 18, point 36
council member Callaway,
thank you, Madam, Madam Chair, this is a resolution recognizing September 9, 13th as construction suicide prevention. And I'm proud to recognize and support this Prevention Week with over 200,000 construction employees in the state of Michigan, addressing the mental health challenges they face is critical. The construction industry, unfortunately experiences, experiences one of the highest suicide rates in our state, largely living driven by long hours, demanding working conditions in a culture that often discourages seeking help. I urge all employers to prioritize the mental health and well being of their workers by providing prevention training and educational resources. Madam Chair motion to approve the resolution.
All right. Motion has been made. Any objections, Hearing no objections, the resolution will be approved. Thank
you. Chair,
yes, Council Member Vincent.
I'm not sure if a reconsideration will be needed, but like to join Member Santiago Romero on line item 18.3,
35 Madam
President, are you happy to have them added? I think we just let the clerk know. If you wouldn't mind, please. Thank you. Okay, the clerk will know.
Clerk will note. Madam President, perfect.
Madam Chair,
yes. Member Callaway,
thank you. Ma'am. From request a waiver online item, 18 point 36
Alright, Hearing no objections, a waiver will be attached to 18. Point 36 Thank you. From request to speak before Council. Council
Member Santiago Romero, a resolution, line item 19.1,
Council Member Santiago Romero, thank you, Madam President. This petition. Have a question, wondering if it should be under iOS, or if this is specifically for PHS, or if this is the proper process, because this is the first time that I'm moving forward a request to speak, but this is a request to speak before Council, right? I'm not sure why.
Madam President, through YouTube Member Santiago Romero, with the petition process to speak before Council, they when they come to the clerk office, they're turned into a petition, and they are automatically placed on the agenda through us appropriating whatever the issue is concerning. So you approving this is approving this item to go before your committee. We're not approving it, for it to be an approved item, is this is just a way that these petitions appear on the agenda. Understood past practice, we used to put them on as an outright referral, and then that process get changed to putting them on this way
to do an actual vote, vote right for the full body, whether or not we even want to take up the petition to be referred to Committee. So that's what we'll be doing today. Yes, Dr powers,
Madam Chair, there's a step that's definitely missing in the clerk's description, because in the rules, it specifically says that the body as a whole has to vote to approve someone to speak before Council. Then, as has suddenly become the tradition, it then gets referred to a committee, right? But right, I'll stop talking there. And this
is not under a committee. It's just under request before Council. I think Council Member Santiago Ramiro was asking why she's moving it, per se. I think, yeah,
I think that, Madam President, the thing is, because this issue for this Petitioner resolved through BC, was right. It's on through Santiago Romero as a vote for the the entire body. If it's approved, then this petition will go through the PHS committee. Right?
I understand what you're saying. I understand, but I think before us, though, we need to vote yes or no first whether we want to take up the issue, and then if we want to refer it to PHS, that's what we will also vote on.
Number one, I'm not sure that, technically it should be under Council Member Santiago Romero's name. It, it probably should have come from internal ops, someone from internal ops, or Mr. Tate Okay, nonetheless, that's, I guess, a minor point at this time. But the only thing before you right now is, do you want to listen to this individual as a body? Do you want to approve it? If you want to approve it, there's nothing here that says anything about referral. It can it can be approved, and then you want it can be referred next week. If you want to refer it this week, you can, but first off, you have to decide whether or not you even want to hear the individual
Correct. All right. So that is where we are today. This petition is pretty loaded. There's a lot of lot of issues in this particular complaint. We were still hoping to maybe get a little bit more time to kind of understand the issue and work with the petitioner. But I'm not sure, colleagues where you are are with this. If we would like to allow the approval of this petition to be referred to public health and safety for this petitioner to speak discussion, yes. Member Benson,
I'd like to find out about the conversation between BC and the petitioner, have they had an opportunity to resolve the issues? Yet?
I don't think they have. Member Benson, and that is why this complaint has been filed. Because, I mean, this goes back to 2015, some of the allegations and things that have been going on, but if my colleagues are okay, we can, if everyone's okay, maybe postpone for one week to allow us to kind of research this a little bit more, and then have, you know, bring this back next week for further discussion. Yeah. Motion, okay, all right, so we will postpone this for one week for line item 19.1, and we will try to reach out to the petitioner as well to see what can be done. Yes, President,
to you, would
you happen to know which district she lives
in? Um, she, I don't see an address on here.
Okay,
thank you, but that'll be helpful for us to figure out during this time. Thank you. Okay, most definitely. Okay. Any objections to a postponing for one week? 19.1 right hearing. No objections that action will be taken. All right, for the president's report on standing committee referrals and other matters,
Madam President, before you want you did bring line item 16.2 to be brought back.
Okay, Mr. Washington, were we able to get anyone on for 16.2 regarding the training for DPD
shell online,
I'm sorry we
have Curtis shell online.
I believe he's under C shell,
C, shale, yes. Chapter,
good afternoon.
Good afternoon. All right. Member Callaway had questions regarding the budget approval for training. Member Calloway,
Yes, precisely. Thank you, Madam Chair. Just want to know where we are, or where the DPD is, with respect to the $2.7 million that this council approved for for safety training for our officers, because we are coming, we are seeing lots of lots of settlements because of safety issues, and sometimes the officers are at fault, and that's why we approved the $2.7 million for the safety training. So have we started that safety training
through the Chair? I just had a conversation with my deputy chief, Deputy Chief bliss, and he confirmed that we never received that $2.7 million in our budget.
You've never received the $2.7 million that the council approved. Yes, ma'am
or correct.
Okay, all right, so I guess I have some inquiring to do, so I'll reach out to DPD and take it from there. So thank you Madam Chair,
thank you member Callaway. And this is for line item, 16.2 correct. Okay, I thought I should say 16.1 Okay, so there was a motion to approve. This is a lawsuit settlement. And are there any objections to 16.2 Hearing no objections that one resolution will be approved, and that's it. Madam Clerk, yes, that's it. We will move now to referrals for the internal operations. Standing Committee
three reports from various city departments.
The three reports will be referred to the the internal operations committee for Neighborhood and Community Services standing committee, seven reports from various city departments. The seven reports will be referred to the Neighborhood and Community Services standing committee for the planning and development standing committee,
six reports from various city departments,
the six reports will be referred to the planning and development standing committee for the public health and safety standing committee eight
reports from various city departments.
The eight reports will be referred to the public health and safety standing committee council member Young.
Thank you, and this might be more appropriate in neighborhood community service standing committee, but I'm looking at for referrals. Line item 22.2 and line item 22.4 we've already approved potential. Let's do that. Line 2020 24 Excuse me. Line 22.2 we've already approved the petition for an event like this, they have different dates on it, but that they also have is basically around the same area. The only difference is this is Campus, marshes Park and Cadillac square, and the one we just approved was the one at for DDP Detroit 300 conservancy was the one at Campus. Marshall Park, beaky Park and Grand Circus Park. I just want to know, is there a reason why we're approving both of we're separating these two events. This is basically the same event.
I think the one, this one here, that's being referred is for 2025 right? So is this one? What was the one that we just approved? As you refer this, this
was January. The dates are different. It's January 15, and this is for Conservancy, fall, winter and parks, right? But then this one says request for DDP, 300 winter events and programming, basically is it's a little bit of difference, but it's slight difference. Basically the same titles, the dates are a little bit different, from November 6 through March the second, 2025
okay, it may be different programming those different events, I
don't know. I just want to make sure are they basically the same event? Well, this
is being referred to your committee, so, right? You want to just wait till it gets to your take that up. I was wondering,
was this on this? I just want to make sure this wasn't. Sure this wasn't a mistake, like this was something that had to be taken up with the thing we took currently. This is a different event. I just want to make sure that's a different okay.
Alright, so mister Washington, if you're listening, if you want to clarify, if 22.2 that's being referred needs to be voted upon today, or is that okay to go through the normal process? Line item 22.2,
yes. Madam Chair,
I believe it's fine to go through the normal process. I do believe it is a separate program for this one.
Okay? Thank you so much for that clarity. All right, and we will now move under the consent agenda.
There are no items. Madam President, all right. For member
reports, move to suspend member reports. Madam President, okay. Is
there any objection to suspending member reports? Objection The clerk will note so no. Madam president under adoption without committee reference.
There are no items. Madam president under communications from the clerk, a report of approval of proceedings by the mayor.
The report will be received and placed on file under testimonial resolutions and special privilege.
There are no items, Madam President,
all right, that will conclude our agenda for this morning, and we do have a 3pm and 3:30pm closed session. Everyone enjoyed the rest of your day and we'll see everyone back in one hour meeting is adjourned.
