Detroit City Council Formal Session pt. 1, 3/4/2025

    3:00PM Mar 4, 2025

    Speakers:

    Keywords:

    Detroit City Council

    youth engagement

    women in construction

    financial literacy

    public safety

    mobile gas station

    Renaissance Center

    affordable housing

    eviction defense

    community development

    public comment

    zoning issues

    homelessness

    tenant rights

    city budget.

    Renaissance Center

    DDOT funding

    transit funding

    historic designation

    community violence intervention

    solid waste fund

    ARPA appropriation

    property tax delinquencies

    city council budget

    public comment

    zoning ordinances

    recovery housing

    legal counsel

    public hearing.

    HUD Secretary

    housing problem

    resolution

    committee

    historic designation

    Renaissance Center

    demolition

    public comment

    community engagement

    development

    city council

    Detroit riverfront

    preservation

    stakeholder input

    action items.

    Open This

    test 123, Test,

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    all right, good morning, everyone. Regular section of Tuesday, March the fourth will now come to order, and if our clerk will please call the roll.

    Council member Scott Benson,

    customer friend Juha the third, present

    Councilman Leticia Johnson,

    Councilman gadriel. This has San Jose Romero,

    possibly Mary Walters, present

    council member Angela Whitfield Callaway, present

    council member Coleman Young, the second

    Council President pro tempore James Tate

    and council president, Mary Sheffield, present. We have a quorum present, Madam President,

    alright. Thank you. There being a quorum. We are in session. We will go straight to our invocation. And we have joining us, interim pastor of Greater New Mount Moriah, none other than the dynamic Reverend CJ Sampson joining us in person to lead us in prayer. The

    other one, yep, I

    would ask that, if you're able, that you would stand with me as we prepare to invoke God's presence in prayer. Shall we pray? Righteous and eternal? God, our Father, our Creator, our Redeemer, our Sustainer. We thank you now God for this blessed privilege, just to be alive. Oh God, as we come together and to begin this session, it is our prayer as we invoke your presence, oh God, that you will be with us. Open our eyes, our hearts, our spirits, to be receptive of what we shall receive today. Oh God, it is our prayer now that as we begin, that you would give us clarity of speech and collective thoughts. Oh God, that we may move in a way that is pleasing unto you. Oh God. We know that we cannot invoke your presence because you're omnipotent and all present. So now God, because you are here, we just ask that you will have your way in this place today. Oh God that lives will be transformed. Oh God, we pray now God that you would bless the president and her quorum. Oh god of officials governing this great city. Oh God, we thank You for this sacred trust. We pray now God for your presence to be with us during this formal session, that it would air all things will be done in a way that is pleasing unto you, for your sake and for your glory. It's in Jesus name we pray and we give you thanks, amen.

    Thank you, Reverend CJ Sampson, for being here and present. And please feel free to stay as long as you can, if you have to leave, we do understand, sir, but we appreciate you for being here. Okay, alright, the clerk would know we've also been joined by member Johnson as well. So no. All right, we have two presentations this morning. The first one that was scheduled on behalf of myself would have to be rescheduled due to the issues in southwest Detroit. The DWSD workers were not able to be present this morning, and so we will now move to council member durha, followed by council member Callaway presentation for the youth and Civic Engagement Task Force member, durha, thank you,

    Madam President. Good morning to you all. Today we have the pleasure to honor some of the greatest individuals here in the city of Detroit. We will be putting a resolution today for for referral for a resolution recognizing National Women in construction week. It is no secret that we have some dynamic women here in the city of Detroit, but across this country, that helps us build our cities, helps us build our countries, and we want to recognize them this week with a formal resolution again that will be referred to Committee to be approved, but today, we want to honor our own right here in the city of Detroit and present them with one of our highest esteems and awards, the Spirit of Detroit Award, which will be presented here with as an expression of the gratitude and esteem of the citizens of Detroit to the National Association of Women in construction Detroit, in recognition of women in construction week, in recognition of exceptional achievement, outstanding leadership and dedication to improving the quality of life for Detroit's residents by the Office of Council Member frederho and all Detroit city council Members, in appreciation for your invaluable contributions to both our great city and the construction industry. The work that na week Detroit has done has had a lasting impact on Detroit through community development and educational initiatives. Thanks to your efforts, the number of women in construction has grown by over 45% this last decade, now making up 11.2% of the total construction workforce, with 39% of those women in leadership roles, this recognition of March the second through eighth women in construction week stands as a powerful testament to the Spirit of Detroit and the work that each and Every one of you do. So congratulations to you all, Madam President. And I would like to open it up for my colleagues, if they would like to say a word. I know many on this panel are very supportive of our women in construction, and just wanted to open that opportunity. Thank you, Madam President.

    All right. Thank you so much to

    come down as well. Oh, I'm sorry. And yeah, director comes. She was in the back. I didn't even see her. She director Council doesn't like to speak often, but Dexter Council, if you could please come say a word, as you have been an amazing stalwart here for the city of Detroit by helping us demolish over 30,000 structures and also helping us rebuild. It's more important that you always remind me is not just demolition that you do, but it's also rebuilding our city as well. So thank you, director comes.

    Thank you to the chair. I'm very grateful for the recognition that is given this group of women. A lot of times, we often come to work, we keep our heads down, stay focused, because it's easier to get work done in that manner, but when given the opportunity to highlight what we do, we appreciate the opportunity to do so. So it's a great honor to be recognized by this body. We're very grateful, and we'll continue to go back to work and work hard and keep building the city. Well, we're going to tear down some stuff too, but we're going to keep we're going to keep working to build the city back up. So thank you again for this, this opportunity. Thank you

    so we will come down. I just also want to say thank you for all the work that you all do. I know that oftentimes we are underrepresented in construction as a whole, but you guys are leading the way and paving the way for other women to join in that industry. So thank you all for showing up being who you are. I plan on attending the build her women's empowerment summit that will be taking place over at the Northwest activity center. So I'm looking forward to seeing you all there, please. And I know you have a full week of things to celebrate women in construction if you briefly, just want to talk about that too, so people can come out and support our women who are doing phenomenal things in our city. So

    tomorrow, we're actually hosting a panel discussion with Wayne State on that information is available on our website. Thursday is the build her women's empowerment conference. That is an opportunity for us to network with some of the major construction companies, GC companies, as well as some of our smaller women owned businesses, are going to come out and network together at Northwest Activity Center. We're going to have activity center. We're going to have panel discussions there as well. Friday, we're going to have a stroll in court town. So we're going to have a little game that we're playing, but get to come out and have a little libations with with the with the ladies. And then Saturday, we are doing a walk a mile in her boots. So we're going to just take a walk along the pointer cut while we're in our work boots. Just an opportunity for us to get out, engage and interact with the community. We had the pleasure of hosting a bed build on Sunday that was held at Huber facility, where we built 25 beds for killed for kids in need. So that was a wonderful way for us to kick off this women in construction week.

    Perfect. All right. Thank you so much for all that you all do. And just also want to lift up I know council member waters host the skilled trades task force that I attend quite often, and to see women who are in the skilled trades and you all here today, I think this shows women that they can go into whatever industry that they want, and that you are setting the tone and letting women know that we can accomplish all that we want. And so thank you all so much for being here in the work that you all do. And so I know a couple of council members also have additional comments. Council member Johnson, thank you, Madam

    President, and good morning to all of you. Is great seeing you here. I am also a woman who enjoys a construction project or two. I've done a lot of work in my house, and a lot of people kind of underestimate you because you are a woman, but it's great to see all of you here. I hope that as we have development projects coming online, that you all are working on those projects as well, because we don't see you very often. And so thank you so much for uplifting the organization. I didn't know anything about the organization, but I will say that I did take the classes to get my builder's license. So a lot of people don't know that. Um, so I did that a number of years ago, and that's probably why I'm trying to be really close to development projects that happen in the city of Detroit. But would love to see your faces on these construction sites, and if any of you all have businesses, would love to connect with you to make sure that we uplift the work that you all do, because it's extremely important and to certainly know that you can do everything that anybody else can do on these job sites. So we certainly appreciate you coming out and direct accounts for uplifting the organization, and I look forward to being involved in some of the activities you all have going on this week. So thank you. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you. All

    right. Director, comes if you want us to take a picture with everyone, everyone wants to maybe come down And we could do a group, a group Photo. You

    Hi, quality,

    One, two and Three.

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    minutes.

    All right again. Thank you Council Member durha and thank you to all of our women who are in construction that joined us today, and let's give them another round of applause. We appreciate the work that you all do, and looking forward to the work ahead. And so we will proceed now to council member Calloway, who has a youth and Civic Engagement Task Force update. And we also are going to cut off now our public comment as well. Thank

    you, Madam Chair, and good morning everyone. If I can just have the members of the task force just to stand. If you're here, those of you who are present, you can stand. Yes, let's give them a hand. Thank you. I just want people to know who I'll be talking about. You can take your seats. And thank you all so much for being here. The task force, for those of you don't know, was established in 2022 and I believe communities are stronger and more resilient when you participate. We want you to know that they have a stake in the decisions that shape our city, our state and our country, and when our youth develop healthy civic habits, skills and commitment, our democracy will prosper. It will prosper. You have unique perspectives on local, state, national and international issues, if we would just give them a space and platform to express their perspectives. They have really unique perspectives, and it's genuine, is sincere, and it's just as they grow older and become adults, it continues to eat evolve, and that's why this task force was so important for me to establish that being said, I'm going to ask the spokesperson for the task force to please come to the podium. If you don't mind, Madam Chair, Doctor Chanel Hampton and all the other members, if you can stand with her, please at the podium. Doctor Chanel Hampton right there. Doctor Chanel Hampton is a product of district two. She came back to district two and is leaving a huge footprint in the space over there on West McNichols. She is taking dilapidated buildings and structures and breathing new life in them. I had an opportunity to have my staff retreat at one of her facilities last Friday, and when I went in there, I'm like, oh my god, it looked like we were in LA somewhere. It did not have that Detroit feel to it, just the decorations, the decor, the color combinations, the furniture, it was all upscale. What our people deserve. You did not just pull it together. You didn't go grab something from here and make it all mismatch. It all was coordinated and absolutely beautiful. I wanted to thank you for that, for opening your doors to me, it was just an amazing experience that being said, I want you to share what your experience has been, or whatever you want to share regarding your involvement on the task force. And thank you so much all of you for your service, because you don't have to do what you do, but you do all for the benefit of our youth, the financial literacy, the healthy, nutritional experiences they have by being engaged in the task force. And the very first thing that I did when I became a council person, I hit all of my high schools and started registering, registering them to vote, because the law is if you're 16 and a half you can register to vote. You may not legally be able to vote, and when that law passed in the state of Michigan, that gave me an opportunity to engage younger people, getting them engaged in the process early, because if you get your driver's license at 16, you should certainly be able to register at the same age, right? So that's why we go into the high schools every opportunity we get to register those young people to vote and engage them. So Dr Chanel Hampton, I'll turn it over to you.

    Thank you. Good morning.

    I'm sharing these updates on behalf of our entire task force, and I'm honored to stand here with each of them in 2024 council member Callaway revamped what was the youth and Civic Engagement Task Force and really revamped it to focus in on four key pillars, health policy, financial literacy and exposure, after rolling out this new initiative and the new pillars, we were able to sign up over 70 organizations and schools who were committed to ensuring that they were engaging young people and the work that they're doing. So if we say that we are starting an initiative for young people, if we're hosting an event for young people, young people should be at the table and engaged in forming what that looks like. Nearly 100 organizations have committed us far across the city, to council member callaways point. We also have registered over 100 young people as new voters, and are continuing to grow that we know what's at stake, and we know that we must ensure our young people are actively engaged and civically engaged. Over the last six months, we've also hosted two financial literacy empowerment programs, engaging financial institutions, community partners and university partners. Young people have had the opportunity to start bank accounts, to gain financial literacy, to begin working on their credit and reporting, and also to connect with jobs and opportunities. We know that while this was accomplished over the last nearly year, we have much more to do, but I'm honored to stand here alongside each of our task force members and share these updates. Thank

    you so much. Dr Hampton, Does anyone else want to share? You

    want to at least share what organization you represent? And Dr Hampton, if I can come, have you come back to the podium and just say the name of your organization,

    I serve as the founder and CEO of strategic community partners. SCP, thank

    you. And next, yes, ma'am,

    hi. My name is Angela Jackson Polk, and I am the Director of Operations and President for nobody areas to success. And I am proud to be here. And I want to know if we could get a picture to take back and share with our youth this evening, so that they can see how this operates. And I've attended several of the skilled training workshops trying to get our youth involved and engaged in that. And we also do a lot of litter pickup and civil participation with the San Bernardino Park Association. Thank you. Next,

    don't be shy. Good morning. I am shocked. Good morning everyone. My name is Dr Dominique Murdoch. I am the founder and CEO of black and brown abroad LLC. I'm also the Project Coordinator for the Center for Urban Youth and Family Development, and it's just a blessing and an honor to be here today. I'm so grateful to be a part of this amazing team. Thankful to robion also. I just want to uplift her as well. She is always doing the work on the back end. I just wanted to shout her name out. And thank you so much. Just for Councilman Callaway, bringing us together and revamping this project. I am new to the not new to the city. I am born and raised in Detroit, but have not been living here for the last 10 years. So it's just grateful for me to be back in this space, bringing the knowledge I've gained across the world and hopefully uplifting the young people. So I'm thankful to you all, and thankful for us for being

    here today. And before you leave the podium and you are not shy, what country? What country were you living in?

    I was recently living in Taiwan. I was also living in the Philippines, in India and Brazil, and also in a small stint in Brazil, said that. Sorry, I usually Brazil is last. That's my shine. It's covered out. So yes, Taiwan was my longest stint. I lived there for six years. So I am a mandarin teacher as well as a Spanish teacher and an English teacher.

    Yeah, she brings all of that to the youth Task Force, because you bring all of that international flavor to the task force, and we are opening doors to those students so they will be able to speak other languages, other than their own, the English language, because it's important that they keep advocating

    for themselves. Yes, most importantly, speaking about themselves and advocating for themselves. I think that's the most important thing with language, just having the tools like I'm doing right now to try to speak about and advocate for yourself.

    See, I told you more shock. Good

    morning everyone. I am Sophia Barnett. I'm the executive director and founder of making a child Change Foundation, also known as the Mac Foundation, where we're building the bridge from poverty to prosperity. We do this through financial literacy, entrepreneurship as well as job employment skills. Our goal is to eliminate the wage gap that we currently have in the African American community, starting right here in Detroit first. And it is an honor to be able to serve in this aspect. Thank you. Thank you.

    Hello, everyone. Oh, it's an honor to be here. My name is Rebecca Lumba. I'm the executive director of boys hope girls, hope of Detroit. We're a nonprofit organization who help young people in the city of Detroit receive full potential and become men and women for others. But most importantly, I'm a mental health therapist. I have been working with youth in the city of Detroit for 40 years. I'm at capacity, and so mental health is a passion for me. So in our after school program, we have incorporated mental health, social justice into a college preparatory curriculum, career, post secondary education. So we want to make sure our young people are empowered, mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, to go on to be the best version of themselves that they can possibly be. So it's an honor to be able to be in this space and be able to advocate for the young people in Detroit. Thank you so much.

    And lastly,

    good morning on a council. My name is Melvin Polk. I am the Executive Director of no barriers to success. My wife initially spoke on the group, but as the only male on the work on the task force that was here today, I want to take a second and thank you for your leadership. Thank you for your support. Council member Callaway and team, and I want to also make you aware the fact that we're one of the lead agencies for the Grow Detroit young talent program, we have 250 young people that we traditionally get each year, and on behalf of all of the other agencies that participate in that program, I want to speak on their behalf and thank you for your support. Thank

    you, Mr. Pope. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. We do have certificates here for each one of you is an award of recognition signed by myself and my and my and my colleagues. I do appreciate all that you're doing. And the last thing that I want to leave my colleagues with and everyone who's here. Just recently, we had our financial literacy summit at the University of Detroit Mercy, and it was amazing that they opened up their doors to us, and we had a very, very successful experience there with our young people, and I want to thank you publicly for all that you do, because you have full time jobs, full time commitments and families, but you have set you have carved out time from your very busy schedules to serve on this very important task force. And from the bottom of a very grateful heart, thank you. Thank you. Thank you, and God bless each and every one of you. Absolutely.

    Thank you so much. We're going

    to have the picture. Madam Chair tells us, you know, it's time for us to take our picture, right? Yeah, and that's it. I think you know, Madam Chair, if I can make a motion to allow this to serve as our annual report for the youth and Civic Engagement Task Force. Okay?

    And you also submitted a physical copy as well. Madam Clerk, I'm not sure if you have a copy. There's a motion to receive and file, yes, a report for the task force. Any objections hearing, none that motion will be approved. Thank you, Madam Chair, all right, and colleagues, if we can come down and do a picture with all of the task force. Thank you.

    That's Thank you. Thank you.

    Congrats. So,

    okay, okay,

    okay. Thank you for all you do. I think the

    open it as shown. Oh,

    and show, open it and show, ready, open and show.

    Everybody smiles, everybody.

    Thank you again. Thank you. Dr Hampton,

    all right. Thank you to council member Calloway in the youth and Civic Engagement Task Force. We appreciate the work that you all are doing. We will continue now with our agenda the Journal of the session of Tuesday, February 18. Will there be no reconsideration or unfinished business? We will proceed to the budget finance. Excuse me. Under reconsiderations. We'll go there first under reconsiderations. Council

    member Johnson, the resolution, item 3.1,

    Council Member Johnson,

    thank you, Madam President, Move for approval with discussion

    council member Johnson.

    Thank you. Just want to share with my colleagues that there was an amended resolution that was provided for this particular item, and I believe it's all set to move forward, and it looks like the clerk's office has received it as well. So I'd like to make a motion to approve as amended

    for line item. I believe it's 3.1

    motion has been made. Are there any objections?

    Hearing no objections. The one amended resolution will be approved for the president's report on standing committee referrals and other matters for the budget Finance and Audit standing committee, three reports from various C departments. The three reports will be referred to the budget Finance and Audit standing committee for the internal operations standing committee, a

    report from this business policy division.

    The one report will be referred to the internal operations standing committee for the Neighborhood and Community Services, standing committee, four reports from various seed departments. The four reports will be referred to the neighborhood and community services, standing committee for the Planning and Economic Development standing

    committee, five reports from various city departments. The

    five reports will be referred to the planning Pro Temp Tate. Sorry, thanks.

    Thank you, Madam President, so not line item 9.5 there's a request to remove this item from the agenda, and the rationale is because it is a duplicate of a item that we are actually going to be voting today, that is line item 18 point 17. So move to remove line item 9.5 from the agenda. Please. All

    right, Hearing no objections, we will remove line item 9.5 from the agenda. Thank you. Thank you, proton and the four reports will be referred to the Planning and Development Committee for public health and safety standing committee, seven reports from various city departments. These seven 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 by the President.

    We will call for general public comment, and everyone will have a minute for public comments. And Kayla, if you can line everyone up, so we can move forward. And we will start with Elon Shabazz, followed by Joel Hassan, followed by Zeke Williams, followed by Darren Williams, good morning. Greetings.

    Greetings. I'm Elon Shabazz,

    and it's been posted over social media that city council rejected a proposal to have to Renaissance survey to be a historic designation, ultimately allowing for the unbelievable proposal to eventually tear the Renaissance Center down. And the community would like to know if that's true. First of all, if it's true, and if so, it been an election year, we would like to know where can we find which council members voted for the rejection of that proposal to have the cert the Renaissance Center survey, so that it wouldn't be here, so that it wouldn't be torn down. Thank you. Okay,

    thank you. So that item is on the agenda today, so the full council hasn't, has not taken up the item. It came out of committee with the recommendation to deny, but the full body would take up that resolution today. Thank you. Yes. Thank

    you. Ma'am Shabbat, so it took place in the committee that I chair, Planning and Economic Development This past Thursday. Would love to give you an opportunity to review the actual hearing or the discussion that we had on it. So it wasn't just that we in the committee, moved it out of committee without

    I'm sorry. I'm not really able to understand what you're saying.

    Yes, ma'am, my apologies. So we moved it. I'm the chair of Planning and Economic Development, and it was in our committee. And so we moved it out with a recommendation to the not but I would love for you to have an opportunity not just to read the reports, but actually see the discussion that we had at the table to explain and give you more context of why potentially we came with that decision. So it's little more than just a decision. Was it a whole full, almost hour long discussion that we had that will provide some context as well? Thank you. And how will I be privy to that information? Oh, I can have some money from my team, but it's online right now. Sounds good. Thank you.

    You can go to Detroit mi gov, under city council, and view all of the former committee meetings, and if you click on the planning and development session, it was your last session. Yes, you can find it there, and we're not we're not allowed to go back and forth public comment. But if you do have additional questions, we can make sure Pro Temp staff is here to directly chat. Okay, thank you. Thank you so much. Ready.

    Good morning. I'm Joel has sheen.

    Have a community concern, concerning the station, the mobile station on MC Nichols and John C large we understand it may be opening soon, so we like to know if the community can get answers to these questions, because we understand It may have been grandfathered in and under city policy, we want to know if the new owners check for structural fire and safety certificate of compliance, certificate of occupancy, and have shown proof of ownership, we would like to city council to address that, to make sure that protocol was followed, so we hope to get those answers. Thank you. Thank

    you so much. One second, sir. Council member Callaway,

    thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you to all who are here regarding that gasoline station issue that is in district two is right there on the corner of West McNichols and the lodge, the same gasoline station where individual was locked inside the store from the inside and was not allowed to leave. He was shot by a Ira patron. And then just recently, a clerk from around the bulletproof glass left from behind the counter and chased a patron, allegedly he was stealing a bag of chips. I don't know what the item was, and the clerk left the protection of a bullet proof glass and chase the young man, and the young man jumped over the lodge to his death. So this is the same gasoline station where two black men, young black men, have had some type of contact with the gas station and have lost their lives as a result. So, yes, Madam Chair, it is in my district. It is the gasoline station that is being discussed right now. Thank you. Thank you

    so council member Callaway, you're going to work to get those questions responded to. Yes,

    absolutely. Thank you for getting the answers to those questions. Okay, all right.

    Thank you so much. We will continue

    peace and love. I'm down here on behalf of the community over there where that incident took place at the gas station. And my thing is, when we talk about the process after businesses put themselves in a position to show continued negligence in our community, the process in giving these businesses license is back to reopen, and if it's any way that once A decision is made through the law department, does City Council have the ability to appeal those decisions? And then also, I want to just talk about the community being a bit more involved in the type of businesses that are in our neighborhoods. I think that that is extremely important, like when we look at a lot of our communities, you know, we just not, not putting ourselves in that position to really,

    and just real quick,

    the city council meetings that we hear about, you know, a lot of people saying, can we move those to the evening? Because everybody, I can't keep telling to come down on Tuesdays. We at work, we at work, we at work. And everybody, you know, with other communities, I should have those. Have those, just so you

    know, we do have evening council meetings once a month in every district. We actually have one next Tuesday in council member durhaus district, in district seven, they start at 7pm so every single month, I think we may miss one month a year. We rotate to each district, and it's at 7pm so we do encourage people to come out in the evening for those council meetings. Those are open to the public. They're in person and virtually as well. So we'll make sure we get that word out with you as well. And then remember, cattle you wanted to respond yes.

    Thank you so much, Madam Chair, thank you so much for coming out to the Schultz community association meeting on Saturday, it was a huge turnout, practically standing room only. I understand your sentiments. You know that I do. You are absolutely right. We Detroiters should have the right to determine what businesses do business in our community, the same way Livonia did when they rejected the sheets gasoline station, the same way Farmington Hills did. They rejected it. And we have to be able to know that we have the power within ourselves to reject businesses that don't do good business, do Deadly Business in our district, we don't dirt. We don't deserve to die over a bag of chips or over $1 we do not deserve to die for any reason, for under any circumstances, when we are transacting business, even if it was a theft that did not constitute anyone killing anybody or anyone losing their lives. So I absolutely share your sentiments, and we, the people, not just in district two, but across this city, have a right to determine what businesses are allowed to do business in our communities, and I'm with you on that, and it's my contention that we turn that gasoline station into a community based, community owned gasoline station. But I have a statement to make after this next gentleman speaks, because I've already spoken to Corporation Council, and I like to share what was shared with me. If he's not available to speak, maybe Graham Anderson can speak to what agreement has been reached. But there has been an agreement reached, and the gasoline station has been purchased by a new owner, a new owner, and don't know if there's any relationship between the previous owner and the new owner. I don't have any of that information, but I'm hoping Corporation Council is listening and be willing to speak to you guys, speak to us before you leave, and I appreciate you coming down, but I share your sentiments.

    Thank you. And just so that same gas station led to the passage of the Carlos kettle ordinance as well, that myself and President polton The ordinance, or the ordinance that prevents gas station owners and others from lacking patrons within their establishment as well. And so just wanted to mention that that's been a lot of issues at that facility, or that

    ordinance did pass unanimously. I'd also like to add I was at the gasoline station with member waters when we shut it down after this most recent killing, and we actually put the sticker on the door member waters and I did that together. We were at the rally. But what I found most disturbing is they have no handles. You can you can't even get out the gasoline station. It has a lock, like a a dead boat lock, so once it's locked, you cannot get out. That still exists in that gasoline station, and people were complaining that there was no handle. There was no way to get out of the gasoline station, even today. So maybe under the new ownership, if it opens, will have some type of handle where people, customers, patrons, can get out right now, it just has a dead boat lock, and that's what member waters and I observed a couple months ago. Thank you Madam Chair, thank you member

    Calloway, and thank you for all you're doing over there, and looking forward to helping as much as I can to assist you guys as well. Okay, all right. Darren Williams, good morning,

    honorable Council.

    In keeping in line with the same subject, the mobile gas station, Matt Nichols and the lots freeway, we're asking the council to use Article Three, division one, section three. Dash two. Dash for the ability to subpoena. We would like for you to subpoena the records of the sale of that building, because, as a pattern of practice, it's been our understanding that names have been changed. People have sold to their family members, and their name is still on the building. Now, in order to subvert the legal department's requirements, if the name of the previous owner is on that building and land contract, then I want you to grandfather the new owner into the same stipulation as lying out for the old owner. You know, killing of Detroiters, whether black, white, green or blue, is unacceptable as a city. We're tired of it

    into our laws, and we need to uphold

    Thank you. Okay, thank you so much, sir. You

    Good morning Council. My name is Tara Brown. I am coming down here to talk about the fact that Detroit power community outreach was closed because of zoning issues. I would hope that you all would get those zoning issues worked out. You all should also look into the Zoning Board of Appeals and some of the things that they are letting pass, they are creating homelessness, but they allow things like dumping human waste in residential neighborhoods to pass, some of the things that we've seen passed out of the zoning board leaves you with more questions than answers, and to make people homeless, to make DRM and Chad Audi A Hero by Giving Tatiana Williams a house is a disgrace. The seven point plan to I'm sorry, to improve Detroit's emergency response system is not a plan. It is not going to work. There is lots of money coming into Detroit to fight homelessness and make it better. We don't know where it is going. When I asked for an audit from HUD of DRM and their practices, Chad already went on a meltdown, and he has now asked for my removal from the Detroit COC board. Again, homelessness is a problem. Please address it properly.

    Thank you. Miss Brown.

    Adam Barrett as a member of Detroiters for Tax Justice and moratorium now coalition, I just want to follow up with council on the matter that we presented to you some days ago, in regards to housing homelessness in Detroit, we ask that You declare a state of emergency around housing in this city, and we submitted a letter to council to that effect, has there been any consideration of this, the approach that council has taken on affordable housing so far, of subsidizing private developers to provide a handful of units while our public housing crumbles before our eyes cannot be continued. It's budget season, and a budget is a moral document. We have the resources to end homelessness if that's what we choose to prioritize, but it's going to require telling some oligarchs that they can't profit off of basic human resources anymore. All

    right. Thank you so much, Mr. Barrett, and as you mentioned, we're going to our budget deliberations in another week, and looking forward to, of course, addressing the issue of homelessness and housing in Detroit. So I think if you sent it to everyone, we should have received your information, and we'll make sure we address it during the budget deliberations. Okay, thank you. Okay, thank you. Mr. Barry, all right,

    Detroiters, I'm sitting in I got a her report. This is an audit report. It's not from Ramon Jackson. This is a HUD report written from Keith Fernandez over her it's a scathing report about millions of dollars that's been misappropriated in Coronavirus funds, CDBG funds. Anybody want to read this report? This is an audit report of everything going on with multiple violations. You got Coronavirus money came in of the Cares Act. You had ARPA funds. You got regular CDBG. This what Detroiters don't know. Detroiters received nine times more funds for Coronavirus and ARPA funds than all other cities that got the same population as as Detroit 600,000 nobody received close to no billion dollars. Most cities with 600,000 only got no more than $190 million y'all done had more than enough funds to address these conditions in these cities. These people need

    to be removed. Thank

    Mary, morning,

    hello,

    Council. Mahari, you, Madam President,

    we've prayed for you and we've been praying for you on we're taking 80 Detroiters tomorrow to Washington. Very excited about it. Very excited talking about election integrity and thank you so much, Councilman waters, for coming to the church. I've been thinking about the $347 million that HUD just gave to the city of Detroit in January. January 9, Mayor Duggan released those funds. We have the means and the mechanism through a black owned modular factory to be able to provide over 3000 homes to those that are in Detroit. So we believe you care about diversity, equity and inclusion. We believe that you care about the American dream. We do believe you care about that, and if you do, here's an opportunity for you to fund a black owned modular factory. So we can be able to solve this problem. We can do it right now. We're praying for you, and we're believing God for you. God bless.

    Thank you. Thank you.

    Good morning. Um, let's talk about 3426 Mac NSO, it's a homeless shelter for women. But I want to know how do they still have their license, because how can you come into this facility and you police officers and you coming in there with fake identification? That's not acceptable, that facility needs to be investigated. And that might be the reason why, Madam President, you not getting the correct information, because a lot of officers are in there under false identification. Now, when you come into a facility like I had to, I had to present my Social Security car, my driver's license, and make sure I was that person. So yesterday, I'm at the transit center. It was 115 they had to shut down, but I came in to go purchase a bus ticket passed. I seen a recruiter that's in the class. She's in my facility. It was 115 then she got on the Mac bus at 130 these are the officers that's taking up bed space from the homes. Thank

    you so much. And again, Miss Williams, if that is something that you are indicating is true. And I know we have had both DPD and others look into that and have responded that that was not actual, actually true, but we will continue to look at it if it's a specific location, like the Sheila clay apartments is what you're referring to through NSO, we will make sure we forward that over to investigate and make sure that that is not actually happening. Okay, so we'll get with you and get that information again, make sure that we look into that. Okay, all right. Thank you so much. Miss Williams,

    Miss Lyons, okay,

    my opinion, Dugan, corrupt, evil, a thief who seems to enjoy telling Detroit black residents know, even to the return of and COVID, the over $600 million in overpaid property taxes. Attorney Conrad mallet, where are you? You should be demanding an investigation, but instead you're hiding in your office to give investigation of this injustice. Are you afraid to challenge Dugan black males? You have my heart. I love you. I can't be in all women, nothing. I have to have men around me to learn anything. We need you. Women with these women announcing they are proud to be a single parent, that's not God's best man, woman and children, that's a family that's God's best you better get back on board, because it's these beautiful children that were lost. It's a shame. Shame, shame.

    Thank you. Miss Lyons, good

    morning. Good morning. I'm Adrian times, and I just want to bring to your attention again, just through my journey, I'm meeting a lot of people who are going through similar issues with housing, with these owners not addressing any of the issues, just deportable conditions that people are paying their rent, and I'm just interested, you know, to get a certain amount of people together, maybe to create our own housing trust fund, or something like that, to put a stop to this, because it becomes deadly in some situations, like the place where I'm living at with how the owners do not give a care at all of what's how they treat their renters, and they're used to getting away with doing so

    well. Thank you so much. And I'm sure are you aware of the tenant rights commission that was recently formed? And I know we'll be meeting soon at some point as well, and so I'll make sure that you get that information as well. But again, if there's any landlords or any facilities that should be reported, please let us know we will do that. Someone goes out and inspects those buildings. Okay, okay, okay, thank you.

    Mr. Foster,

    good morning through the chair, very briefly, credible messages, anything that I talk is based upon everything that I walked in life, and so it's all based upon being credible. The fact that the things that I speak on, I repeat, it should further validify the credibility of what it is that I speak on. We as a city, don't want Council or the city to address individual issues when we come down here, we are simply asking for a change of culture across the board. I wore Michigan today just very briefly, not because I have anything admonishing Michigan, but because of the people that fought and suffered there, home and young before Dei, they fought for civil rights there. The Fab Five during dei fought and played during civil rights movements. Now, who is going to be our leaders in Michigan, in the heart and the spirit of this city, to move forward and pick up those banners, is my question.

    Thank you. Mr. Foster. All

    right, I have a Lauren Evans, Miss Georgia Cole Miss Mayberry,

    that quiz as well.

    Good. Good morning, sir. Why?

    First and foremost, United States of America ain't never owned, nothing,

    no city, no state, no nothing.

    Europe started this. I started United States of America. Y'all all been fraudulent, disobedient, egotistic, demonistic.

    You will. We will proceed because we do not want to have a profanity. So we will continue. Miss Mayberry. You.

    Good morning, everyone. I'm going to thank Councilman derhoff last week for coming out and helping Anthony with our problem over there. Thank you. Came out very quickly and and helped us to clean up, but we needed do some things. I thank you for that, and want to thank also, council president Sheffield for her diligence with the Martin Luther King Memorial Park getting it renovated. I just want to know what time or that they're going to start repairing, restoring that park so that we can do things before and after to rededicate that park after 45 years, this year, on November the 14th will be the anniversary of the park of 50 years. I mean, 45 years, I'd like to thank you for all your help with that as well as I want to know about the Juneteenth flag that is going to be flown, and What day are we going to try it on,

    14th or the 19th?

    Okay, thank you so much. Miss Mayberry. We appreciate you. We'll work with you on getting some more information regarding the park. I'll make sure I get that to you, and we will follow up on what the process is this year for Juneteenth in the flag, so we will get with the administration and follow up with you on that as well. Thank you, and we appreciate you. Miss Mayberry for always coming down and for your advocacy as well.

    Okay? Lauren Evans and Georgia Cole,

    good morning Council, and I want to thank Ms Calloway, Councilwoman Calloway, for actually coming to the meeting that I was at, being able to actually represent fully for the district that you're in. So I appreciate you. My name is Lauren Evans, and I'm a proud native Detroiter. However, I'm deeply troubled by the direction our city is heading in regards to public safety, especially regarding an agreement that we were told in our meeting about the reopening of the mobile gas station near six mile and the Lodge Freeway. This establishment has caused numerous incidents and created fear and distress within our community. It is clear that both the business and the operators do not value the city of Detroit, nor do they respect its people, despite profiting from the same community, allowing businesses to return to normal operation without accountability sends a message that the type of behavior is acceptable and condoned by city officials. How can community members trust law enforcement to protect and serve when the officials are not upholding the same responsibilities, the needs of our communities are not being prioritized, and many residents feel unheard employers of promise growth and change within our neighborhoods. However, families are still suffering from the lack of resources.

    Alright? Yep, that is your time, unfortunately. Thank you all. Yep. Thank you as well. If you have additional comments you want us to read this, please submit it to us office. Okay, thank you so much for being here.

    Okay, Miss Georgia Cole

    Good morning Council, giving honor to all of you. I want to just give honor where honor is due. And today for from representing d5 district five, want to say, Madam President, we are so grateful for you for always rising up to the occasion for us there in d5 especially from La Salle beautiful block club, you have constantly come through for us, and we appreciate you. We appreciate you. Also. Miss Santiago Romero for d6 for where our church is. And we just appreciate all of you for what you're doing. I want to let you know about an event or a organization from the rotary Detroit, there is an interact club that is helping young people and being being able to do service above self. So we have 53 young people to sign up and to come in cast tech. We have King coming up. But we also want to do Northwestern and we want this to be no. Want this to be recognized by the council. So on behalf of the Rotary Club of Detroit, and thank you for speaking there, Madam President. We love you all. Thank you. Thank you so much. Miss Cole. We love you too, and we appreciate all the hard work that you do with the sale by club and other organizations here in Detroit. So I will get with you on that information as well. All right. Thank you so much, and we will go now to all of those who have joined us virtually.

    Our first caller will be phone number ending in 169

    Hello. Can you guys hear me? Yes, we can.

    Okay, great. Um, I just want to say thank you people for praying for Cunningham. Um, he updates for the bus drivers and the bus passengers. He does not receive a salary or benefits for his good work, city council persons, clergy, power that be touched. Not God touch, not God's anointing. Neither do his neither do his servant. Cunningham, no harm. Don't let karma plague you all again. Help him. Don't, don't hurt him. Thank you for my time.

    Okay? Thank you as well.

    Our next caller is crafty Roo, all

    right, Ruben. Crawley,

    their name is crafty rule, and that's in all due respect to crafty Conrad and crafty Mike and y'all know who I'm talking about. And Mary Sheffield, you know Margaret Walker, you know Detroit power Detroit. You know about the facility over there on Chicago and Westwood, where I'm under the impression that you do know about it. He's doing marvelous work over there. That's why I decided to join in with him. That's where Fred Doha, that's where there's some special project is over in district seven, right there, Chicago and Westwood. Now we got this crafty pastor at this church across the street, which happens to be crafty comrades boy. Now he appeared in court, and we got another court hearing coming up on the 13th, he appeared in court. Everything that needs to be done for that shelter is right there under the roof of the kmac. Get busy. Get it done before we

    all right. Thank you, Mr. Crawley,

    our next caller is King burn.

    Good morning.

    Good morning. Please forgive me of that name, it should be regular burn Sanders. I forgot to change it. I would like to say that the lane, the sell the ransom, making it a historical designation. Once you do that, it will be harder and costly to develop the building. Right now the building is empty and have the possibility of being developed, but if historic, it will be harder to do so. So I would like to delay making it not making it a historical designation. Thank you all for your hard work. Appreciate it.

    Okay? Thank you.

    Our next caller is William M Davis.

    Mr. Davis, good morning.

    Good morning. Gotta be heard. Yes, you can Okay. I'd like to start off by inviting everyone to come down to Detroit, active retired employee Association meeting tomorrow at 8850 Woodward, Saint Matthew, Saint Joseph, Cisco church that's Woodward and King. Our meeting starts at 530 we're going to have some candidates. We're going to have some other discussions as it relates to us continuing push for the city Detroit to finally do right by the city Detroit retirees. Also, for those who may not know, there's going to be a city Detroit retiree task force meeting this upcoming Friday, starting at 11am it's going to be in person and on Zoom, that meeting starts at 11. It goes from 11 to 1230 or so. I like for retirees, friends and family, to be aware of that and think about we need greater support, and we need to be pushing this city council and this mayor to do something productive for senior retirees. Thank you.

    Okay, thank you. Our next caller is Darren McCluskey, good

    morning Council,

    I once again ask if you have actually read what I emailed you over a week ago, I've never witnessed a city attorney following a public comment, let alone making personal attacks. To me, it sounds a little suspicious.

    What is the city so afraid about

    regarding 19183, Exeter. I did overpay for a vacant lot, and it was primarily to get back into the fight. The sellers agreed to sell because after living in State Fair for years, they had no fight locked in them. If I simply cared about money, I wouldn't be challenging the just compensation. I'm not. I'm challenging the entirety of the project. There's stated facts that are recorded that cannot be changed after the fact, over 80 people received defaulted judgments and received much less than the fair market value due to misleading statements and contradicts sworn statements made on the city's behalf. So yes, I may have dirty hands, but it's because I've uncovered a lot of fill.

    Okay. Thank you. Our next caller is we see you.

    Good morning.

    The chair. May I be heard? Yes, you can. Yes, filthy hands. He found filth, and his hands got dirty through the chair. May I be May I be heard? Yes, Mr. Der Hall, He and Mr. Tate plan on helping these people turn the rents in into a brown field so that they can get state funding and then they can come down here. But what's really disturbing is that Mr. Der Hall, he is going to help them by going to Lansing and advocating turning those buildings into brownfields so that the developers can come in and do what they want to do. I saw that man look into the camera and tell you, negros on the on the city council, you better not do that study. And then they said, Oh, we're going to report it out. Listen, I don't know who you're working for, but you're not working for the people, because the people say, we want the rents in and we want to have a decision about what happens to the rents, and we don't want you to put it in the hands of developers. Thank you.

    Thank you. Next we have Galaxy S 22

    can I be heard? Yes, okay.

    The other the other day you got y'all had a meeting about the fumes elsewhere. When I've been coming down there for the films in District Four, for the longest when they was letting fumes out of that Chrysler plant over there and gave people a little lousy 15,000 grant to fix up their home, which wasn't about nothing. And it's sad that other people, other races, y'all race to the they race to, they side and help them out. But over here, where majority of black y'all don't give a dime about us. You say you do, but you don't, but y'all be running again for all y'all running running again for a position in the city of Detroit, and your track record is not showing me the things that y'all need to be doing. We didn't get the opera money over here, which we should have, and y'all let Duncan get away with everything. It said, Where's your backbone? We don't have backbone. We need people in position with Backbone.

    Thank you. Next we have Michael O'Connell,

    good morning.

    My name is Michael O'Connell. I'm the Training Specialist for the city's board of ethics. During the meeting yesterday regarding the CDBG, no F process, there was a discussion surrounding disclosures and recusals for public servants involved in the process. We just want to reach out and remind city council, housing and revitalization and City Planning Commission to please check to see if they have any indicated disclosures to file with the board of ethics as well. The Detroit ethics ordinance establishes the board as the entity tasked with determining conflicts of interest for public servants. We would like to be able to assist you with that. If anyone has any issues or concerns questions for the board. Can reach out at our website, Detroit ethics.org or by email, ethics at Detroit ethics.org or by phone at 313-224-9521, and we do want to thank all the public servants involved in the process who have already reached out for assistance. Thank you very much.

    Thank you.

    Our next caller is Betty a Varner,

    good morning to all within the sound of my voice, I'm Betty a barn, the president of the soda elswell Black Association. We have created a park in our area that's called the diva community park. We had purchased five vacant lots from the land bank. We took a eyesore and made something beautiful. We've had theft now, two incidents where our fence has been stolen. I'm seeking help to get boulders for our park to replace the stolen fence. We're having an event in June, and we would like our park to be beautiful. Also, I'm asking the council Yes,

    I heard him. Thank you.

    Excuse me.

    I'm also asking the council, when you start your deliberations, please allocate moneys for a program to help black clubs and associations to improve their neighborhoods with their projects. Thank you for this time.

    Thank you as well.

    Our next caller is Jacqueline Miller,

    okay. Miss Miller, good. Good morning.

    I was watching Charlie la duff and Miss Brown was on there last Monday or whatever, and they showed a a homeless shelter on Seven Mile Road that had a mother and her baby sleeping on the floor, and the baby's food was on the floor for the and there were no curtains or anything there. I don't know where the place is, but supposedly it had a orange sign that said that it did not have a certificate of occupancy. However, the owner of that place was actually asking for, excuse me, an increase in occupancy. So I would just like to know if anyone can look into that, because I don't see why babies have to eat off the floor like dogs, and that is my comment. Thank you. All

    right, thank you. Definitely. We'll look into that. If you have any additional information that you can send to us as well via email, please do so, but we definitely will try to follow up on that issue. Thank you for bringing that to our attention and for calling you.

    Our next caller is Russ. Belong.

    I'd like to first say that I hope the council does everything they can to protect the Renaissance Center and doesn't do anything adverse to the center, and if necessary, hope widely noticed public hearings, because the city Detroit taxpayers helped pay for the rent center originally, and they still have an unusually high vested interest in that body and that building. Secondly, I want to give note to the people that there is a 11am rally at the Veterans Hospital against the two man rule destroying jobs and services for veterans. And finally, I want to comment on my notification that notice that the mayor has appointed a person to the tenants rights commission who has a history of being vulgar and abusive in this chamber. Mean spirit and he can't be fair when he represents the landowner. She can't represent the tenants as well,

    right? Thank you, Russ. The line.

    Our next caller is Rochelle Stewart,

    good morning, President Sheffield and the rest of council calling again. Please double D that. I know the mayor is giving $20 million in that budget, but we still need at least 50 million more. And I want to talk because you got the right council passed in May 2022, and everybody overwhelming, and it was for households that made less than 200,200% property level. And my thing is, we need to make sure we get that fully funded at all these years. It's not fully funded for two years, three years, I want to know what are the barriers of the Office of eviction defense can remove to ensure more residents who are qualified will receive full representation. What is the 36 District Court doing to make sure that any eligible tenants in eviction court are informed about the right to counsel as much as possible. We just need how much money has the state given in the office of eviction defense and why hasn't it been released? I thank you please for these programs, affordable housing, right to council. These are badly needed,

    right? Thank you so much. Our

    next caller is Mikko a Williams, good

    morning, Mr. Williams.

    Mik Williams, you all

    right, let's come back to Mika Williams, please.

    All right, our next caller is Frank Hammer.

    Good morning. You.

    Good morning. Camera, we can hear you. We have a little echo, but we can hear you. Go right ahead.

    I'm good. Can you hear me? Now? Perfect. Yes, we can.

    I want to share a statement from the American federal government employees, local 933 workers at the John Dingell VA Hospital in Detroit provide health care to America's veterans, which is why it is so disrespectful that President Trump, Elon Musk and Doge have targeted VA workers, laying off 1400 probationary employees nationwide, including a Dingle Hospital in Detroit. After local 933 represents the VA workers there, they rallied outside the Medical Center last Friday to speak out against those firings and highlight the impact of those firings have on those dedicated employees and care and service that they provide. After he was joined by local elected lawmakers, Debbie Dingell and Rashida talie, by Hope City Council and Detroiters will join a future protest of the VA firings. Thank you very much.

    Thank you.

    Our next caller is Charles miles. You

    Charles miles, Good morning.

    Hello, good morning.

    Can you hear me? Yes, we can. Okay. Well, I was calling in today. I do want to talk about that gas station on six mile and the lodge. I was there at Tyndall center, and it was overwhelming support to deny that place being reopening. And also, I just wanted to ask you guys, we're trying to get up some type of

    some type of

    city council meeting to be at the work affairs instead of doing business hours like this with everybody at work so they can know what's going on. I did hear you say something about this once a month, but y'all make a lot of decisions every day that people know nothing about. So we need to have some type of way that the people can be heard and know what you guys are doing that that we don't agree with before you do it. Thank you.

    Thank you.

    Next we have phone number ending in 124,

    other, 124, I

    can you hear me?

    Yes, we can hear you. Hello,

    yes, okay, well, I heard yesterday.

    I'm sorry. Can you hear me? Yes,

    go right ahead. Ms Warrick,

    okay, yesterday, I heard a woman say that her hand had been lowered on Zoom, and that happened to me again today, very disappointing. Also. Mr. Holloway, I feel for you. You are a perfect example of why this city should not be trusted with the Solar Initiative. They claim they can go and use eminent domain and take people's property because they care about our health. But I have listened to Mr. Holloway come to this body for years, talking about the stellantis you and the people who came yesterday, about the truck traffic. If you don't do anything about that, then really your Solar Initiative is just, I don't know, a hookup for DTE, whose contractors go around and damage property and then they don't fix stuff. So really, you should anyway, and the rush job on the Solar Initiative was just disgusting. It's an illegal use of eminent domain, and everyone who's got the stain of eminent domain should be ashamed of themselves in doing that.

    Thank you. Miss glory.

    Next caller is Master Plan Update inclusion matters. All

    right, good morning. You

    I already spoke, I have to raise my hand on two devices so I won't get my hand lowered.

    Okay. So just to be clear, Miss Warwick, no one is lowering your hand. And so thank you so much for that, but no one is lowering your hand. So we will continue to our next, our next person. Yep, next we

    have Latoya Williams.

    Okay, good morning.

    Good morning to the honorable city council, their staff, my fellow city residents and all others in attendance, giving all honor and praises to my Lord and Savior who directs my path. My name is Latoya Williams. I sit on the board as the treasurer for Mendota black Association. We are in the process of electing a new president at the moment, former president was Miss Paula Ingram. We are located in district two, where I reside, and I am a member of high Community Association, which is located in district seven. And the President is Mr. Woody dicks. I am also very active in community, and I listen to the community. And one thing that has been on the radar is about the mobile gas station on six mile in the lodge. I'm not exactly sure what happened with the recourse has been taken in regards to the employee who discharged a

    gun endangering others, which should have never occurred that led to a man's death. How do

    we as a city continue to let the people be victims to this type of abuse and no one be accountable? The previous gas station owner should be put on the contractor not be allowed to do business with the city for at least five years and not be able to get

    Thank you. Our next caller is Kia Mathis,

    Hello, may I be heard? Yes, you can. Hello. Good

    morning. Kia Mathis would refer people's platform. I'm here today for two reasons. I'm concerned that the Office of eviction defense isn't on your calendar to submit a presentation. Don't allow them to bypass their obligation of accountability and their plans for future funding. Right to council has been around almost three years, and it's vastly underfunded. We need an explanation as to why the mayor's office stated that there were funds available still also it brings me to my next concern after hearing I mean, in the face of the federal cuts that contribute hundreds of million dollars to our annual budget, I wonder why the mayor's recommendations are not focused on stabilizing the city. These federal cuts are disruption to our quality of life, and we need our leaders plan of action to reflect that urgency in lieu of what's to come his suggestions, then specifically ask answer your questions around housing options for on House families added, and it did adequately provide affordable solutions like Community Land Trust and tiny home development and transitional housing. So I'm encouraging you guys to advocate for what you know, what is right, and fully fund everything we need right to come.

    Okay? Thank you so much. Miss Kia Mathis.

    Next we have Bobby Joe or Bobby J.

    Hello, hello. This is Bobby Johnson. One thing I want to say is that shelter that Mr. Crawley is talking about on 19327, West Chicago, that is an illegal shelter that's over in Franklin Park in district seven, Franklin Park, and the pastor that he says is tricky, Steve and Pastor Frank Jackson, they are just making sure and helping Franklin Park and the residents of Franklin Park fight against that comrade, Malet, has went to court. We have an order in their temporary restraining order and a order to shut down that facility. When we went into that facility, the radiator didn't work. There was still, there was things coming off the wall. There are still, like 13 or 14 people living there. We have had officers there. We need someone to make sure that facility stays shut in Franklin Park, and when they want to open it, they need to come to the residence.

    Okay? Thank you.

    Next caller is Tahira Ahmad,

    yes, good morning. Excuse me. Thank you, member Callaway, for all you do. Shut down that mobile gas station. Shut it down. Leave it shut down until it becomes the people's gas station. Those are the same people. All they do is switch ownership, and we need to know why you keep allowing them to open up. Are you colluding with them? Also? We want the Renaissance Center. It belongs to us, not to the billionaires. We've already given them billions of dollars. We're giving them billions of dollars. We ask for one thing, the Renaissance Center. So we got people on this council who collude with Dan Gilbert because he gave, he he gave money to their re election campaigns, and so they're ignoring what the people want. We want the Renaissance Center. We don't ask for much. We give you, give you and your buddies everything we want. The Renaissance Center. Stop trying to shut the shut it down. Uh, Mary water, stop it. You all. Stop it. We want what we want.

    And right. Thank you. Our next caller is Jamie Junior.

    Good morning. Council cannot be heard. Yes, you can. Thank you so much. Um, I'll call in regarding three vital topics. One, I would like to ask that DDoS budget be double. We are a city a majority black individuals that face barriers to economic self sufficiency and having equitably funded and on time bus system is vital to our survival. Additionally, I would like to speak to the right to council on the Office of eviction defense. Let's make sure that those services are fully funded for individuals in need, people with disabilities, people that are being unfairly evicted and forced to live in untenable conditions are not given the council that they need. Additionally, I would like to add my voice to those. We'll say we would like to retain the rights to the Renaissance.

    Okay, thank you so much.

    Our next caller is Karen hammer.

    Aaron hammer, good morning. Good

    morning. Thank you, council person, Callaway and collaborators for working on the youth tax force. It's badly needed. The rent send I can't iconic and usable should remain, whether it's through historic designation or other means. Apartments or condos must have a mixture of incomes, with a third being low income housing. This means 40% of Detroit incomes of $40,000 or less would qualify, because the current designated affordable housing includes a median of Warren, Livonia and Detroit, $70,000 a month. We should focus on the 30% Am I making housing truly affordable? Detroiters also need fully funded right to council. I

    Okay, thank you. Our next caller is Larry Donald birth.

    May I be heard? Yes, we can hear you.

    Thank you, honorable Council. My name is Larry Donald burst. I live in district seven, and I'm a long time resident, almost 80 years of Detroit. I born and grew up here. However, I usually come before you on behalf of Detroit, fire, Storm, transit, Justice team, but today, specifically for the record, I appear as a private citizen now I would like to address specifically council person, waters, Johnson, Tate Sheffield, Gabby young

    Calloway and

    der hall

    like to say this in a quick second. Uh, Cunningham needs a new vehicle is for outreach and

    right? Thank you. Mr. Verse, our next caller is Rhonda Adams.

    Rhonda Adams, good morning. You.

    Good morning.

    I see that Rhonda Adams is unmuted.

    Just needs to speak.

    All right. Rhonda Adams, good morning,

    alright, let's come back to Rhonda Adams, please.

    Okay, our next caller is Cunningham.

    Cunningham, good morning. 31344491143134, 444911431344491143134449114,

    that number was made so you can remember it. And on Facebook, not enemy. Two words, not enemy. On Facebook, click people and put in, not enemy, and you will see a picture of my family, myself, my sister, my nephews, my nieces, we pray for this city, and I appreciate your prayers for me and I pray for this city council. I appreciate all the help that I received from the people at home. I give out bus tickets, hand warmers, gloves at the bus stops, bus tickets as well. I want to thank Councilwoman Sheffield the most recent donation of bus tickets from her office. Mr. Ray specifically in her office. We need benches all over the city at the bus stops the busses are not on time, and we need to double D dot, truly, but thank you. Mr.

    Right, thank you. Mr. Cunningham,

    next is Bernard manski.

    Bernard maschsky, good morning.

    Good morning, Madam President and members of council, can I be heard? Yes, you can. All right, I just want to echo the sentiments of earlier callers that are on transit to double DDOT and thank this body for supporting our resolutions. So we just need you to push for more funding. And it's encouraging that the administration has even listened to our call for more funding. But more is better given that the federal government is unpredictable, and with these strange rules about possibly letting ice on the bus, forbidding masks and vaccine mandates, and tying transit funding to high birth rates and high marriage rates, neither of which Detroit has, I think that should cause Alarm from this body and some resolution or some sort of statement rebuking this federal move by the President. I won't say his name. I do agree with the callers earlier as a resident, do not allow that gas station to reopen. That is a crime if you do, and I do support any way to preserve the Renaissance Center.

    Okay, thank you.

    Our next caller is Steven Hari,

    can I be her? Yes, we can hear you. So regarding

    the Renaissance Center, you know they're not tearing it all down. I would just say to do a historic designation in case they do decide to tear it all down, then I would be all for a historic designation. But we gotta know, it's an absolute property, and, you know, the current plan really will give it kind of that, you know, move it forward, so we can at least save it in the skyline. So I agree with the decision from Councilwoman waters. I think that you know, this proposal from bedrock is probably one of the only hopes of saving that but you know, we can't tear it all down, so that's if they ever do decide to tear it all down, I would say I'm all for the historic designation, um. And lastly, um, you know, I was personally attacked by it. Circle line,

    okay, thank you. Your next caller is calling user. What you

    calling user, one Good morning.

    Can I be heard? Yes,

    we can hear you.

    Good afternoon. President, I'd like to say you do more in your district, there is selling and drugs that nothing is being done within these apartment buildings, selling heroin, Sentinel but cocaine. To know when you're going to start addressing this and when you also start making a policy that when people bring 10 things like this true counsel, they will stop having to be retaliated against just for telling you and showing you with videos, pictures and audio tapes, and why haven't you done anything in your time of office to prevent this? Why do women have to go and be homeless and lose children that freeze to death and none of you all do nothing?

    Okay? Thank you so much. MS, Shay, and as always, when you send us those emails regarding apartment buildings or drugs possibly being sold out of certain buildings in Detroit, we do always get those over to the appropriate departments. I've also seen some departments respond directly to you as well via email, and so we will continue to work with you to address the various issues that you have throughout the city of Detroit. Thank you. Ms Shea for calling in. Madam

    President, that was the final caller who raised their hand before public comment was cut off. So we can go back to our two who didn't speak earlier, which would start with Nico a Williams, okay.

    Yes. Hi, good morning Council members. Damico Williams, private citizen, I would like to say, save and preserve the rinse and please give it a historical designation. The plan by bedrock is not complete. The plan by bedrock is filled with people who are corrupt. Dave masseron, is corrupt. It should not go forward. It should not be even accepted on this table. And if it is accepted on this table, it should be sent back to committee. And also, I support the other efforts in doubling d dot, restoring right to council and providing good funding. We know that city council, you know your budget deliberations. We know it's hogwash, because you're going to do what you do anyway and not consider the people, even if you have budget priorities and you have collective feedback. But we know seeing from years past, you know the people's voice really doesn't matter, but hopefully it matters in saving the Renaissance Center. Thank

    you. Thank you.

    And our final caller is Rhonda Adams,

    yes, I am so

    glad I got you here. I am representing the BMW social businessmen and women's social club of Detroit. And our community voices say also not to tear down, repurpose the Renaissance, unless there are some force you know, foreseeing harms needed to be disclosed to the community. Also would like for it to check regarding Amazon and other corporate contracts, to see, in essence, their distribution do not require them or their vendors to pay city taxes. So we need revenue in our sales taxes. I mean, you know, it's necessary, so those national contracts are not charging those for those distribution centers in our community. And what we can do is express to the state the need to leverage and foster transparency on corporate policy strategies and tax incentives, and I would like to encourage Council Review the AF, p i policy brief seven weeks last.

    Okay, thank you.

    Okay, Yvonne, do we have one more?

    No, madam president, that was our final caller.

    All right. Thank you. That will conclude all of our general public comment, and we will now proceed back to our agenda for the budget, Finance and Audit standing committee from the Office of the Chief Financial Officer.

    Council Member durha, a resolution line item 16.1

    council member durha, thank you, Madam

    President. Line item 16.1 is a resolution of authorization for the fiscal year 2024, 2025 supplemental appropriations and transfer we request Move for approval from line item 16.1, with discussion,

    right discussion.

    Thank you, Madam President. And before I turn it over to colleagues, I just wanted to kind of outline what this Appropriations is. We did discuss it in length and the budget Finance and Audit standing committee, but this report includes revenue increase of 46 point 4 million from the February 2025, revenue estimating conference. Some of the key funding requests in this include $8 million for GSD addressing inflation, $6 million for emergency flood response in southwest Detroit, $7 million for site cleanup and board up. $14 million for expanded trash hauling, 4.4 million for facility improvements. $3.1 million for electrical vehicle charging stations. $3 million for citywide advertising and close to a million dollars for community violence intervention. And additionally, this resolution will also authorize the CFO to transfer unspent ARPA funds into a new appropriation for ongoing ARPA pro projects, which is something Council has been asking for, to reprogram ARPA dollars to be able to utilize them for some of the priorities that they have. So did want to outline that of some of those things that are within this budget. Thank you, Madam President,

    thank you member durha, and just really quick on the unspent ARPA dollars that will be programmed, reprogrammed. Do we have a list of those programs that will be prioritized? Thank you, Madam

    President, it's from my understanding that through us going through this budget, when those dollars go into that new bucket, council will have the ability to make the decisions of what but these are all have to go into existing programs, ARPA programs and buckets that already exist, as we have put forth in the previous resolution. But from my understanding from the administration and the office of the CFO, council members will have the ability to program as we see fit in those existing programs that exist.

    Thank you. Do we just quick, quick question, do we have someone on from the CFOs office, just to briefly get a better understanding of roughly how much of the ARPA dollars we're talking about? And just want to make sure we're clear on that process. I know we all have various priorities that we want to see funded, so I just want to make sure we're all clear. Mr. Washington,

    yes, good morning, Madam Chair and committee, we have Donnie Johnson online, and I believe Miss dot Meyer is heading up there in person.

    Miss dotted Meyer and daddy Johnson, we will both promote i

    She's here. I

    Okay, Mr. Johnson, you just have to accept the request to be promoted.

    Oh, they're here. Both of them are here in person, if

    you can just come down with Stoudemire, please, good morning. Morning.

    Tanya Stoudemire, chief deputy CFO and interim budget director. So I can also introduce Donnie Johnson, deputy budget director, and Terry Daniels, who's the director over development and grants. So before you is a resolution, and I'm going to give you a little bit of a background on this resolution. So the city charter allows us to appropriate revenues in excess of the estimated budget. So as a result of our February revenue conference, we actually have about $72 million in excess revenues. So with this resolution, what we want to do is appropriate. 4646 point 4 million of that excess revenue. And we have identified various appropriations throughout the city where we're anticipating a potential shortfall in the current year budget, or there are activities that are going to be needed in the current year. So these dollars are for the current year's budget, even though we're not using all of the excess that's available, there's going to be another 25 point 5 million that will still be available that we kind of talk through during budget development. They'll be part of our discussions with you, so that money's still on the table and available for future discussions, but right now, we want to use a portion of that for this purpose. So one of the appropriations, the first one on the list, is $8 million which is needed for five different appropriations within the General Services Department. So they have cost increases related to repairs, maintenance, parts over time those kind of issues. So we want to get ahead of what could potentially be an appropriation deficit. So that's why we're asking for that $8 million there. We're also asking for $6 million for the flood response in southwest Detroit. $7 million is being asked for for board up and clean up of various sites throughout the city, with the expectation that there won't be demolition. A lot of these are sites where we have people living in horrendous conditions in homes that may be owned by the city. And what we do is we find them alternative places to live, but then we also clean out and board up that property. Some of those properties may need to also be demolished, but at this point, you know, we kind of it's a case by case situation. We also are asking for $14 million for the solid waste fund. As you know, we brought a contract to you a year or so ago to enhance the trash hauling contracts, and what we have discovered is we need additional dollars there this year, because the fund balance wasn't quite what we wanted, the revenues weren't quite what we expected. So now we have a shortfall there. This will be a further discussion when we go through budget development, because you'll also see, that there is a significant increase in the 26 budget as well.

    Member Benson

    questions. Now, that's fine, working to the

    end. I was gonna let her go through them, but if you want to, it's about that particular thing, I'm gonna have

    to wait. Okay, all

    right, just a few more. I'm sorry. So there's 4.4 million. This is for facility improvements. This includes 3.4 million for the Charles H Wright museum. And then the other million is for two city departments. There's 3.1 million for EV charging stations. This is actually match money for $23.4 million grant. Then there's $3 million for media campaigns. These dollars are specifically for media services. And then there's 900 Well, 875,000 for community violence intervention. So that gets us through the end of the current fiscal year, but there are dollars budgeted for this purpose in the fiscal year 26 budget. So that's everything related to Schedule A. And I can take questions now and then we kind of talk about Schedule B, which is the ARPA component. Schedule a

    member. Benson, thank you.

    And so my question is regarding the 14 million for solid waste services, something that was heavily litigated last year when it came to those contracts. So why the $14 million now? What happened? Where we didn't we had additional expenses under the contract change? I mean, we thought we had some pretty solid numbers and expectations when it came to expect expenditure

    so and we did at the time, we made certain assumptions, but came year end, we discovered that the revenues that we thought we would get from the solid waste fees was not quite what we thought it would be, and it's a good thing, and since because it meant that more people were Taking advantage of the discount that we offer for seniors, and we also offer discounts as it relates to the hope applications. We didn't factor all of that in, so we ended up having a much less surplus available. So this is kind of to rebuild that fund balance. And then there were some other technical accounting things that occurred as well. So this was as a result of the year end capper, where we got better detail on what happened with that particular fund, and we realized that we had the shortfall that we needed to either add general fund dollars for or, of course, we'd have the option of increasing our solid waste fee, which we don't want to do, so we'd rather include additional general fund dollars. Okay?

    And then do we have a handle on the expenses for solid waste next year? Will this be a short this is a reoccurring shortfall, or is a one time shortfall?

    I'm sorry, through this year, actually it's going to be a recurring shortfall. So when you see the budget for the next year and the four year plan, you'll see that there is an increase that's going to continue. So

    we're $14 million short every year, although we are increasing the cost to the residents in a bumped fashion, we're still going to see the shortfall

    through the chair. So the shortfall varies year to year. I think this is the year where it stores, but it does vary from year to year,

    okay? And then the 3.4 for the Charles H Wright is that from their original request last year, we want to split those that support in two, and is the use of these funds? Is this going to be capital, or is this operating?

    Yep, so I believe these are capital dollars, and it is part of a promise we had previously made from last year. So we're coming clean on that promise.

    So this is now closing the loop, and so we are finally providing that last payment. We split it into

    Yes, so this is the last this is the second half of that capital. Thank

    you. So I just wanted to go back to the $14 million additional costs that we did not foresee. And you're saying that the service that residents are receiving remain the same snow and not it's not an enhanced service, but there's an additional cost. Now, with $14 million I guess I'm trying to understand where that amount is coming from. That's a huge increase. And when we voted on the contracts, we were under a certain pretense that the contracts would be for this amount, and now we're seeing additional $14 million reoccurring. So can you just speak to that a little bit more. If the services are remaining the same, it's not an enhanced service. Why is there an additional $14 million that we're spending and then it's not just one time. It sounds like this is every year. It can be an ongoing expense.

    Yeah, the $14 million will account for the revenue shortfall that we're seeing in the solid waste fund.

    So you all anticipated that we would have a more of a revenue from the solid waste fee than we did exactly. That's a huge, a huge gap.

    And there were some other delinquent payments that we thought would come in at a different amount that the web payments, delinquent payments? Okay, so there were some, you know. So there were various accounting changes and adjustments that we had to make in order to make the fund hold.

    Yeah, that's a big one for me

    to have a huge $14 million gap. And I'm, I'm assuming that we took how many residents we have. We multiplied the solid waste field, we had a figure for how much we would get, and so to have a huge gap of $14 million now going to and they're, from my understanding, they are doing a good job. There is a increase in enhanced service that residents are experiencing. But an additional $14 million now, to me, is, is a concern. Um, also with the facility improvements. You mentioned that the Charles Wright, what were the other two departments that you mentioned? I didn't

    so I'm sorry. So the other two departments are the Auditor General, so they had had a shortfall in terms of the amount that they needed to complete their renovations. So I believe there's about 220,000 available for them. And then the balance is expected to go towards the HRD, where they actually have lighting, mechanical, structural issues with their space in this building. So we want to address that for them.

    Okay, all right. And then lastly, for the city wide outcome advertising that's going to the Media Services Department. Can you just speak to what exactly that is being legalized for?

    Yep, so they have various media campaigns and media buys that they do throughout the city for various departments. So you previously approved a contract, and it was a citywide contract for media services to provide media campaigns. And what occurred was every department had to identify a funding source. So if you were police and you needed to take advantage of the contract that you had to identify a funding source. Media Services, however, does not have a funding source in their budget, so instead, they were going to rely on ARPA funding. But what we're doing, and that's part of Schedule B here, is that we're saying, well, we're not going to use the ARPA dollars. They have been allocated for media services. Instead, we're going to use the general fund dollars, and then those ARPA dollars will be available for city council to use for future of our projects. Okay,

    all right, thank you. I see a couple of additional questions, and I will start with council member Callaway. Thank you, Madam Chair, you asked one of my questions, the $14 million I didn't vote for the the enhanced trash hauling contract, and I kind of predicted that the contract would be back before us and would have to be amended. I didn't know it would have to be amended as such a hefty price of $14 million not one time, as council president asked it's recurring. So we funded this year $14 million from our where do we fund it next year and the next year and the next year? I don't believe that the contract should have been entered. It's not sustainable. It's not sustainable. And now this $14 million is going to be funded by our front right, no to the chair, no Where's where these $14 million this $14

    million is being funded from the excess general fund dollars we have as a result of the revenue.

    Okay, so we had $72 million through the chair, $72 million in excess revenue, right? It would be nice to be able to hold on some of our excess revenue, but we're having to spend it. And then you said that this list that we have here in front of us, that I just got, that's 46 million that leaves us with $26 million in revenue. Is that correct? Okay, so that being said, going back to the $14 million that council president just asked about, where do we get that $14 million in the coming years? This contract, to me, should never have been entered, because it's not sustainable, and that's why I didn't vote for it. And now we're coming back for an amendment I'd like to see before we vote on this. What was the original language in agreement and the original contract, and how much was that? Because that was a huge contract, and what was the life of the contract? Because now we're back here, it hadn't even been a year, yet, barely a year, barely a year under the new contract, and we're already having to increase it by $14 million not one time

    in the future years as well.

    It's unconscionable,

    in my estimation,

    on behalf of the residents of the city of Detroit, I'm one of them to have to come up with $14 million we can't even enjoy excess revenue, because we have to pay for a contract that we've already entered just barely a year ago. So something went wrong with that contract. For them to come back and say, No, we need another 14 what we're saying? We need another $14 million not just in 2025 2026 2728 what is the length of the original contract? Because then that's going to tell us times $14 million every year. This is the estimate, estimated amount. We can do a little math here. I'm not a mathematician. I don't have a finance background. We can do a little bit of math. So what is the life of the contract. And I hope you guys are not expecting us to vote on this today, because we have a lot of questions. I have a lot of questions. So through the chair for $14,000,000.20 25 then 2026 2027 28 and so on. What is the original life, begin and end date of the contract. Does anybody know that? I don't have it in front

    of me so through the Chair, I believe it's a five year contract.

    Okay? So let's just take, if we have to increase the contract amount for the next five years, we'll just say 14. What is that?

    14 times five? How much is that

    7070? Yeah, $70

    million in addition to what we've already agreed to. So, I mean, I can't support that, but then we're not in breach. I just don't know how we how we do our numbers. I mean, how do you balance your books? How do you balance your own checkbook? I don't understand and how we can be expected to add in a $70 million to a contract that is barely a year old. We just vote. I didn't vote for it, but it was just voted up a year ago. Now they're back 14. They're not back. We're finding that we have to support it with another $14 million and it's not, as council president asked, not one time, it's going to be multiple times, times 14, and that's unfortunate, and then through the Chair, I have more questions. So I hope we, hope no one's expecting us to move this through I can't. I will just have to. And I know you're asking for a waiver, so I'll put my objection in now that I just can't do that. I see it right here on page two, you're asking for a waiver. So I put my objection on the record now in advance, but through the chair now this city wide outcome advertising, is that $3 million going to be in house? Or is that to enroll media services, consulting services, because they got, she got Don I think Crowley from Birmingham, I think she got a little over $6 million some of that was arpa. Voted against that as well. She got it, and that was for media bonds. Is that this more

    so through the chair, this is a swap. So what was was a swap? So what was going to originally be ARPA funded is no longer going to be ARPA funded instead for her group, though, this is for the Emerald media contract. Okay, okay,

    so I absolutely cannot support that. We move this forward. Madam Chair, I know my colleagues have questions, but this is very problematic for me. Thank you. Madam

    Chair, all right. Thank you so much. Member Callaway and I did support the trash collection contracts. But I definitely supported, under the assumption, that the structure that was presented was what it was, we did heavily engagement with the community, and they supported it as well, the maybe increase in the solid waste fee. And so this is a bit of a shock to see such a significant increase annually that will be a part of this contract. And so have we identified where the funding will come from, moving forward in the upcoming years to fund the increase outside from this, I know excess in funds for this previous fiscal year, but moving forward where the additional

    funds come from? So moving forward is going to be a general fund expense. It's a

    general fund which, I mean, it still shifts money from somewhere else. So again, that's a concern. All right. Lastly, before I move over to member Johnson, just for the ARPA funding, can you speak to what's the additional, surplus or additional, I should say,

    reassigned or unspent, ARPA funds that we're talking about. So

    in Schedule B, what we're requesting is to create a brand new ARPA appropriation, so that appropriation will be funded by excess dollars that we identified when there are various ARPA projects that aren't going to be completed for whatever reason. So what we'd like to do is, as we identify those excess dollars, we want to put them into this particular appropriation for council to decide on how those dollars get spent. This is part of the promise that we made back in November, right when we came and said, as we find additional dollars that aren't going to be spent, we'll put them we'll set them aside for city council. So what you'll see here is about 9.5 million that we've identified, and about 5.5 of that is related to demolitions. So we've identified, I think it's two we've identified 10 properties that were originally set for demolition with ARPA dollars. However, per consent agreement, those those properties are now going to be rehabbed or demolished by the owner of the properties. So now that we're not going to be using the ARPA dollars for these properties, we want to set these dollars aside for city council to use for other or projects.

    But then this needs to be amended then with before us, because it still shows commercial, industrial demolition resolution Schedule B, and then also has city services and infrastructure under the Mayor's Office for the second appropriation.

    So yep, so let me walk you through it. So what Schedule B is showing what appropriation we're going to have to reduce. So we're going to be reducing the commercial and industrial demolition appropriation. So we'll reduce that by the 5.5 million, and then those dollars will be placed in this new ARPA, reassigned appropriation that council have access to. And then the second item is also, is under city services and infrastructure. And this is the Emerald media contracts. And what we're doing here, I think it's actually emerald media and Alan Lewis group. And what we're doing here is saying we're not going to use those dollars for those contracts instead. We requesting to use the general fund dollars instead so that 4 million can also go towards this new appropriation. So those two appropriations are actually going to be reduced so that we can create this new appropriation for council.

    Okay, thank you. I saw Mr. Poorly, come up. Go right ahead. Mr. Poorly, you.

    Hey, Madam President, definitely city council. So I just wanted, wanted to be clear, they're indicating that if there's additional dollars, it could be used for council projects. These are not new projects, though. These are projects. These are projects that are existing. Just want to make sure Yep. Everybody understand Yep.

    And I just want to make sure, I don't know if that language is explicitly stated in the resolution, I think it does speak to

    council, essentially,

    council having input, but I just want to make sure that's clear as it relates to the excess ARPA funding, or surplus ARPA, unspent ARPA funding, that council does have the input to have deliberation and some guidance and direction on how those dollars are actually utilized to existing programs, things like right the council, neighborhood beautification grant. And I know we all have programs in mind, but I want to ensure that that process is collaborative, and that council actually is guiding some of those decisions. So I will get with you offline. I'm not sure if we're going to vote on this today, but want to make sure that I'm clear and had the comfort that I need to be able to move the resolution forward, understanding where the extra ARPA dollars will go.

    Yeah, Madam President, yeah, we're the thought is that we would follow the process that you all want us to follow as it relates to these dollars. You know, do you want a million to go to each council office, or do you want to do you know? So we're open to whatever process you all prefer to use, okay, but just keep in mind that the dollars still have to be spent by December of 2026,

    for sure. Okay, all right, Council Member Johnson, followed by Council Member Santiago Romero. Thank

    you, Madam President. Good afternoon. So I have some concerns relative to the waste hauling additional dollars as well. So when I pulled up the contract that was supported last year, it's roughly $17 million a year, so we're essentially almost doubling what's going to the waste hauling contractors. And so the concern that I have is, how do we know that these two contractors were the most responsible now, because we supported the contract based on the information that was provided to us previously, but now it's essentially doubling the costs

    through the Chair. I'm going to defer that to Donnie Johnson.

    Thank you, and again for the record, I'm Donnie Johnson, deputy budget director. So thank you for the question. Council member Johnson, I want to first clarify there are no amendments to the waste hauling contract. We are not paying these vendors any more than we're already paying them. The issue here is a structural issue related to revenues. So when we did the model for the solid waste fund, we assumed a certain level of revenue would be coming into the fund. There are a couple parts to these revenues. You have your normal solid waste fee revenue, which is just the solid waste speed. There are couple other straggler revenues related to commercial buildings and the fees they pay for pay for haulage and tipping, and then a large portion of it, of our revenue comes from what we call delinquent property taxes. So when folks don't pay their property taxes, part of not paying your property taxes means you're also not paying your solid waste of solid waste fee. Those delinquent tax bills go to the county. The county then makes an effort to collect those taxes on our behalf. After a period of time, the county gives up at a certain amount. They succeed. In some cases, they don't succeed in others, and then they pass those back to us, the uncollectibles. At that point, they're essentially considered uncollectible, and that is the gap in our revenue. Historically, we've had we've been receiving delinquent revenues at a pretty predictable level, right? So these revenues have been coming in at a pretty standard amount. This time around, when we started the process of revisiting for the revenue conference in February. We realized that when we ended fiscal year 24 and we were going through the audit process, we noticed that the fine the solid waste fund did not receive as much revenue as we expected, and it was in that area of delinquent collections. And we thought that was strange, so we began looking into it, because we had the revenue conference coming up as well. So became pressing. We looked into it, and what we determined is that the county what we call the chargebacks. It's a technical term, but the county is charging back to us these uncollectible revenues. The chargebacks are so much higher than they've ever been, the amount of revenue that gets passed back to us is considerably lower. So when we did the model for this, the numbers worked last year. The numbers worked as we finished fiscal 24 and we finished the audit, and then we moved into conversations with the county and their treasurer to find out what's happening here, what's going on with this place. We determined that there was a huge reset that had happened in that area, and that the number of delinquent taxes that were coming in were considerably lower than we expected. We also do see a decrease in the solid waste fee itself for on time payments, because we do see, because of this, honorable bodies, very successful efforts in getting folks to enroll in both hope and senior senior programs, those fees are now being paid at half or lower, depending on your exemption under hope and so as more people enroll in that, that does reduce our revenues. It's a good thing on net. I believe we all agree it's a good thing for Detroiters, but for the fund itself, that is a small reduction to that revenue stream. But structurally, this problem arises because this very technical thing that happens between the city and the county related to property taxes has changed in such a fundamental way, and so that was a big change in our model. From that we then realized we have this shortfall. The shortfall is not because the vendors are charging us more that we need to amend the contracts to pay more. We don't need to do that. We're locked into these contracts. These are the rates that we're paying. We do have unusual expenses that occur. The Southwest flood is a great example. Some of these vendors are going to jump in and help. They're going to back up our DPW crews. Well, that special work, and that obviously gets a little bit more than we would normally expect on the run rate for the contract. But these things happen, and they're expected. It's this fundamental structural change in this revenue, and there's nothing in our forecast and in our conversations with the county treasurer, that indicates that that's a blip. It indicates that this is a permanent reset, and although it will then continue to grow in the way that most of our revenues grow, it's essentially reset the floor down, and then it has to grow back again from there. And so that's what's driving this shortfall. It's not an overspend. It's not a, you know, vendors behaving badly. It is this structural revenue problem for the fund, because solid waste is not a general fund. It relies on its fees and the taxes that contribute to it, and that's how we ended up in the situation.

    Member Johnson, thank you, Madam President, thank you for the clarification. Now that's that means that roughly 82% of what we budgeted for or anticipated did not come in. So the delinquency sounds like it was over multiple years. We're saying $14 million per year is what we expect to have a short fall in as it relates to waste removal through the chair,

    sort of which I know is not a great response, the number is going to go down over time as those sort of smaller increases go but yes, we're starting at this $14 million gap in the current year. Next year we expect in the budget, I believe the general fund contribution is going to need to need to be around $17 million to backs up the fund, and then from there, you know, the revenues would start to grow and kind of draw that down over time. But as far as all the indicators we have from our partner in this, which is the county, they're the ones that kind of give us the sense of the trends they've indicated that this is the new normal, this new reset, this new base of this revenue to the fund is the new normal, and we'll build from there.

    So I really don't understand that it's going up to 17 million, and that is the annual fee. That means none of us pay our property taxes, with the waste management, with the waste removal, waste hauling fee on it. So I would really love to see a clear breakdown of how we're coming to this 14 million and expecting it to go up to 17 million, and then I presumably expecting for it to decrease over the next three years after that for the life of the contract. But I really don't understand, because it sounds like there's no one in the city who pays for the waste removal fee. If all of that is not being collected, and we're having to account for it in any particular one fiscal year, the the other the other aspect of that is, can you explain that how the county pays the city for the current years taxes and then pursues the dollars, and so what's happening there where we're not able To account for the waste hauling

    through Madam President. I am not an expert in the tax side of things, so I will not attempt to wade into those waters too deeply, but I know that you know treasure Patel could probably explain it far better than I but when we are unable to COVID, when property taxes go uncollected, the county takes on that collecting responsibility for us. They then remit to us what is collected, minus an amount that stays with them for their trouble. And then after a period of time, they stop trying to collect, as I guess, not to call the county collections agency, but same principle, right after a period of time, the debt is just considered uncollectible. And once that occurs, they transfer that those accounts back to us, and then we have the choice to either continue attempting it or essentially putting them into the delinquent category of uncollectible revenue to the city. So that is very high level how it works, but that is the extent of my detailed knowledge about that the specific interplay between the city and the county in that particular tax realm.

    Thank you.

    Madam President, Mr. Corn,

    amen president, customer Johnson, so when you look at the mayor's presentation last Friday on the proposed budget, they are including an additional $13.7 million

    general fund

    contribution to the solid Waste fund for this process.

    Thank you. Mister Corley, still think I'm trying to figure out this calculation. But if, if we can get some greater details to better understand the $14 million the increase to 17 and how we anticipate seeing the decline and that that will be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President.

    I'm going to go to other members as well, but we're definitely going to bring this item back. I think there's still a lot of outstanding information that we need before we're comfortable in moving us forward, Council Member Santiago Rivero, followed by council member waters followed by council member Callaway. Thank you, Madam President. Wholeheartedly agree with the questions regarding waste management, but I will focus my questions on the flooding response $6 million wondering if anyone has any ideas what these funds will be used for, because I have a list of issues that are happening right now. Would love to get some kind of sense what the what the funds will be used for. So

    through the chair, those dollars are going to be used for lodging, food, transportation, the cleanup, debris removal and the hallway.

    Thank you. And any idea of how long this will take us to I know what you said, six weeks. I know the city is working very hard, what we're hoping to, at this point, clean out 10 basements a day, which is pretty aggressive and incredibly grateful. But just wondering, how long do we think this will sustain us

    for? So these dollars were budgeted anticipating a six week to eight week period. So

    okay, thank you. And I've been in communication with the administration and city staff every single day, very grateful for the work that they're doing, and have encouraged the administration to give more daily updates on what we're doing. Many of us are being tagged on the issues, and I don't think that we're doing enough to share how we are addressing them, because I know that we are. Just wanted to make it very clear to residents in southwest Detroit that the city is trying with with the meetings that we have, and we're building the ship as we go. And really encourage anyone, if there are any issues, please reach out to our office directly. I have shared this to the multiple folks on social media who are tagging me. I don't have time to be on Facebook all day. Please email or call our office. We are directly responding to these issues as they arise, and that is the best way to share for us to address them. Thank you, Madam President, thank you Council Member. Member waters,

    thank you, Madam President. And so good afternoon. So the $8 million for general service department to cover inflationary pressures of fewer parts and services, that is that, and in anticipation of what's going to happen with tariffs,

    I thank you for the question. Council member waters, yes, partially, we are seeing prior to the current uncertainty over the last few months, even before that, we have seen extraordinary cost inflation. Auto Parts are 40% higher than they used to be. Our run rate on fuel is higher than it was as we have more folks out doing work as we staff up positions. Um, one of the things that GST struggles with is its vacancy rate, so they're having to burn a lot of overtime to keep our sort of parks, getting the parks up and running for the spring, and doing a lot of the work that they do because of such a large number of vacancies in positions, and so, yeah, it's, it's a mix of cost inflation. We certainly do not expect these tariffs to help. I mean, that that is for certain. This is our best guess of what the impact may be. You know, they've only gone into effect, I guess, as of midnight. So, you know, we don't quite yet know, but we've been trying to prepare as best we can with what we know of previous efforts in this regard and things

    like that. Okay, thank you. Now the $7 million to board of houses, of these city owned properties, or they land bank. What are they

    through the chair, yes, most of those are city owned properties. Like, what percentage, I think about 90% of them are city owned properties. Some of them are land bank. Well, when I say city on I mean land bank owned. Well, remember, we were told

    that

    land bank owns these property that the city doesn't that they gave them ownership. I need to understand that, because I'm still confused about that. Who actually owns all of those vacant properties? Is it the city? Was it the land bank? Who owns it?

    So through the chair. So these particular properties are usually land bank homes. Sometimes they are private properties, but these are homes where we have people who are potentially squatting in these homes, and the conditions of those homes are not safe. They're very unhealthy, sanitation issues in these homes. So what we do is we actually reach out to the people who are staying in those homes, provide them with assistance, but then at the same time, we clean up the home and we board those

    up. But you You still didn't tell me who owns all of those vacant properties. Is it the city? Was it the land bank? I mean, I just kind of need to understand that once and for all, because I don't know where the ownership lies.

    I just don't

    and through the chair. So at one point when there were more vacant properties, most of them were land bank owned properties versus private properties. But now there does seem to be, as we are able to sell more the land bank homes, there are more private homes that are now vacant throughout the city. So it really is a combination. So when we are trying to address the issue, it can vary in terms of if it's a land bank home or city owned property, but at the same time, if there's a if there's a resident who is staying in an unsafe situation, we want to address it, regardless of who owns it?

    You didn't answer my question, but maybe somebody down when I can answer it at some point, because I need it carved in stone. I need to know who owns all of those parcels of properties, land and so forth. Is it the city, or is the land bad? And I haven't been able to understand that yet, because I don't know what transpired some years ago. I'm still trying to understand it so but here's what I want to say, Oh, Mr. Whitaker, you're going to tell us.

    Mr. Whitaker, Director Whitaker,

    Madam President, yes.

    Member waters, you have given us a host of questions to answer regarding the land bank, we will include the the definitive answer to that question in those

    answers. Well,

    well, thank you so much. I appreciate that, because I've been waiting for it. And okay, so. But in that case, are you able to the $7 million to itemize what's the land bank own and what city own? Are you able to do that based on what you're recommending here? And because for those that are land bank owned, I mean, they make enough money, they bring in enough they generate enough revenue to board up their own houses, and I just don't want us putting money in there. I'd like to know what, what percentage would be on the board of their houses,

    through the chair, so I can reach out and see if we can determine in the past, when we've when we've done this program, what percentage of those were land bank homes versus privately owned? So maybe we can look at historically what the pattern has been, okay, but to a large extent, you know, we're doing this as the need arises. So we haven't identified necessarily a complete portfolio of the homes,

    but I can see if we can provide you with some historical data.

    All right then. Well, thank you, Madam President, thank you. Before

    I go to you, member Benson Callaway was next, and then I come to member Benson. Member Callaway,

    thank you, Madam Chair. Real quick question at the bottom of the document dated February 21 it says, In addition, this resolution authorizes the CFO to establish ARPA appropriation, 22 zero, 20 dash, ARPA reassigned and transfer unspent ARPA funds as they become available, right? That's what it says. These funds will allow the city to amend contracts for existing ARPA projects. So if we say yes to this, do you have to come back to the council when you are we're if we sign off on this, it's authorizing the CFO to make all these decision. Does it come back to the city council, or am I misreading this?

    So through the chair? So what we are asking is that as we identify additional dollars, we will put them in this appropriation. We won't be amending contracts. We will just be putting those additional dollars into this appropriation. So versus, you know, if we find, you know, $10,000 here, versus coming back to you, we would just put it in that appropriation so that you would have that visibility and transparency.

    Okay, through the chair. My last question, thank you so much. When you find that $10,000 will you alert the council? Or how does that work? What's that process when you find money? Or dollars, how do we know that you found them? Because we may have projects. For instance, I have

    a program that I would love to see get some funding for.

    It is founded by Dr Mona Hanna and co director of Luke Shaffer for leading this program. It's a program where children, unborn babies, rather their parent, the mother, usually the mother is given like a stipend, $500,000 a month. It started in Flint. Now it's in Kalamazoo, and it's called our ex kids, and it's very popular, and I'm hoping we can bring it here. I'm hoping we can find some funding for children. But with this program, and I'm going to talk about it later during the budget, the parent, the mother, gets 500 to $1,000 per month for the first year of the baby's life, and it has seen remarkable outcomes for the family and the children. So I'm hoping that we here in Detroit can adopt a similar program, partnering with Dr Mona Hanna. She's the doctor who brought the lead poisoning of the residents of Flint to the forefront. She's the one who discovered it testing children and saw high levels of lead in their blood. So I'll talk about this later during budget but thank you for bringing clarification to that one provision down here. I'm just that concerns me just a little bit. Thank you, madam chair that completes

    my through the chair, though, I do want to clarify that we can't add new projects. So what you're describing, we would have to see if it fits within the scope of some of our existing contracts. Yeah, but we're not able to add new projects. Okay? So through the

    chair, you're not able to add new projects. That's what you're saying, correct? Okay, so we'll just have to find funding for this particular program. Is that what you're saying? Because if there's leftover money through the chair. Then why wouldn't we be able to take that leftover money and maybe squeeze this particular program into another program, like a sub program under a program? Is that a possibility? A sub program under a program

    probably be a sub program through

    the Chair. I'm going to defer to Terry Daniels, okay,

    through the chair, Council Member Calloway, under the ARPA regulations, after the 1231 24 obligation date, we are not able to fund any new programs under the ARPA funding. We can look at existing contracts and see if that project would fit into any scope that we have. But if we cannot find a contract that that could, that could fit that service, then we won't be able to create a new program under our

    Okay? Well, it's worth discussing. I'll be bringing it up again for my council to take my colleagues to take a look at. But it's called our ex kids Detroit. I have a statement I'm going to share with my colleagues, but it is saving babies lives. It's giving them a chance to advance and to get beyond three and four years old, right? And to have a healthy start and have a better outcome. That's what this doctor did in Flint Kalamazoo, and we're hoping to bring it to Detroit. Our babies deserve the same. Thank you so much. Thank you, Madam Chair,

    okay? Thank you Mr. Crowley, then I'm going to move Vincent. President.

    Thank you so much. So just make it clear again, if Council does approve this appropriation and they find excess dollars and other contracts, when they add any program, any monies to a existing program, they have to come back to city. Contract has to go for that, right? So I just want to make sure you're clear about that. So when you're adding from this appropriation, the excess dollars, and they want to add some dollars to an existing program, they will have to come back to city council.

    Okay, thank you so much. Member Benson,

    thank you. It seems that there's a lot of information that needs to be discussed with council before we move this up to a vote. Motion to postpone vote for one week.

    Okay, we will in any objections to postponing the vote for one week

    discussion on the motion very quickly. Remember duha, thank you, Madam President. And is just hoping that when we come back, we can have some of the information asked by council members. I know again, the breakdown from the county when we talk about the collection of those, those fees that we that were to be expected revenue. And then also just more clarification, just for members, on the process, I know, again, we articulated that it is going into existing programs that were already contracted to, and just for you guys, even put on a record even more explanation that anything that will come in front of us that need to be contracted also goes through a procurement process. So but I'm looking forward to that as well, and having that information specifically on solid waste. Thank you, Madam President,

    right? Any objections on postponing line item 16.1 hearing none item 16.1 will be postponed for one week, and looking forward to meeting with you all and receiving all of the information from our discussion today. Thank you. Okay. Thank you all. Moving along to the internal operations standing committee from the Office of contracting and procurement.

    Council member Johnson a resolution noting that line item 17.1, was postponed from last week formal session. Contract number 6003874, dash, a, three, 100% city funding amendment three to provide an extension of time and an increase of funds for legal counsel for immigration, employee sponsorships, contractor Clark Hill PLC, total contract amount 205,000 that's for law. Council member Johnson, thank

    you, Madam Clerk, Council Member Johnson, thank you,

    Madam President, Move for approval with discussion. Okay, just want to let everyone know that the tax clearance has come in. I do know that there were also outstanding questions from last week, and wanted to open up for discussion. To have that discussion.

    All right, so we have received the amended or the updated tax clearance for this contract, which is good. Any additional discussion for this line item for 17.1 hearing, none. Council member Johnson has moved 17.1 for approval. Any objections?

    Objection, objection. On calwork,

    okay. Line item 17.1 the clerk would know. Clerk will So note. Madam President, are there any further objections? 17.1

    Madam President, for a point of clarity. Member Benson, did you adjust as well? 17.1 or no?

    Okay, thank you.

    Okay, hearing no further objection. 17.1 will be approved from the law department.

    Council member Johnson, seven resolutions, line item 17.2 through seven, 17.8

    council member Johnson, thank you, Madam President, Move for approval online. Item 17.2 through 17.8 these are various requests for lawsuit settlement and request for legal representation and indemnification.

    All right, any objections.

    Hearing, no objections. The seven resolutions will be approved

    under resolutions council

    member Johnson on behalf of Council President Mary Sheffield, two resolutions, line item 17.9 and 17 point 10.

    President Pro Tempe, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Member Johnson,

    thank you, Madam President. Move for approval. All

    right. Thank you. Line item 17.9 is the resolution extending the Detroit reparations task force until June the 30th, 2025, line item 17 point 10 is the continuation of the city council Task Force on homelessness and affordable housing. Are there any objections? Discussion,

    yes. Discussion

    Question 17.9 is there a request for additional funding as

    well? No,

    they came before us last Tuesday and indicated they have no intent, and do not need any additional funding this time only. All right, Hearing no objections. The two resolutions will be approved from the Planning and Economic Development Standing Committee under unfinished business council

    president pro tem James Tate, an ordinance note in a roll call line item 18.1,

    pro temp tape, Madam

    President, I move to take from the table and ordinance to amend chapter 50 of the 2019 Detroit City COVID zoning to clarify the permissibility of high medium impact manufacturing or processing use in b2, local business and residential in b4, general business zoning districts as limited to certain furniture making facilities by amending article seven, excuse me, 12, use regular regulations. Division Three, specific use standards. Subdivision F, manufacturing and industrial uses. Section 50, dash 12, dash 362, high medium impact manufacturing or processing facilities laid on the table. January 14, 2025

    Hearing no objections that action will be taken. Pro Temp Tate, Madam President,

    I move that the ordinance be placed on the order of third reading and considered read,

    Hearing no objections. That action will be taken Pro Temp Tate.

    I move that the ordinance be passed as submitted. There being

    a roll call required with the clerk. Please call

    the vote. Council member Mary waters, yes. Council member Angela Whitfield Callaway, Council Member Coleman Young a second Yes. Council President Mary Sheffield, yes. Council member Scott Benson, yes. Council member Fred der Hall, the third Yes. Council member Letitia Johnson, yes. Council member Gabriella Santiago Romero, yes. Council President, pro tem James Tate, yes. Nine yeas, That motion passes. Madam President,

    the ordinance is

    approved. Pro Temp Tate. Madam President, I move the title of the ordinance be confirmed,

    Hearing no objections that action will be taken.

    Madam President, before we get to the next if I made my item 18.7 is listed as an introduced however, that line item should be moved to unfinished business. The public hearing was previously held on February the 20th, and I'm requesting that we move this item under unfinished business and remove line item 18.8 for setting a public hearing which that is no longer required.

    Okay. Thank you so much, Madam Clerk, soon as we get to 18.8 will remove that item. Is that correct? Yes, Madam President, unless you wanted to move it, we can do that. Any objection to removing line item, 18.8

    Hearing no objections, we will remove 18.8

    Thank you. Thank you.

    From the office of contracting and procurement, Madam

    President, so you want to move the 18.7 which is the ordinance under unfinished business.

    Oh, she wants to do the ordinance. Okay, I'm okay with

    that. Okay,

    okay, so we will go now to 18.7

    Yes, and that would be council president pro tem James Tate, an ordinance noting a roll call my item, 18.7

    proton tape, Madam President, I move to take from the table and ordinance to amend article 17, Section 50 dash, 17. Dash 41 district map number 39 of the 2019 Detroit City Code, Chapter 50 zoning, to show a B for zoning classification, where A, p1, b2, zoning classifications are currently shown on one parcel, commonly known as 6181, casual road and generally bounded by Harper Avenue to the north, casual road to the east, burden Street to the south and Harvard Street to the west, laid on the table, January 9, 2025

    Hearing no objections that action will be taken. Pro Temp Tate, Madam

    President, I move that the ordinance be placed on the order of third reading and considered read.

    Hearing no objections that action will be taken. Pro Temp Tate,

    I move that the ordinance be passed as submitted. There being a roll

    call, please call the

    roll council member Comey. You on the second

    yes Council President, Mary Sheffield, yes. Council member Scott Benson, Council Member Fred Doha the third yes council member Leticia Johnson, yes. Council member Gabriella Santiago Romero Yes. Council President, pro tem James Tate, yes. Council member Mary waters, yes. Council member Angela Whitfield Callaway, nine yeas, That motion passes. Madam President, the

    ordinance is approved. Pro Temp Tate. Madam

    President, I move that the title of the ordinance be confirmed, Hearing

    no objections that action will be taken.

    Moving back up to line item 18.2 from the Office of contracting and procurement

    council president pro tem James take five resolutions line items 18.2 through 18.6 noting that all contracts are from the Department of Housing and revitalization. Contract number 6006937, 100% opioid settlement funding to provide assistance with operations and expansion of recovery housing for individuals receiving substance disorder. Sud services contractor, marinas, in total contract amount, $498,528

    next item, Contract Number 6006950,

    100% SLB, a black grant funding to provide dw, SD, sewer and may water main modifications for junction and McGraw contractor, major contracting group incorporated total contract amount, $2,999,999

    next contract is line item 18.4 contract number 6006951, 100% opioid, opioid settlement funding to provide assistance with operations and expansion of recovery housing for individuals receiving substance disorder, SUV services angling Location contractor, Detroit rescue mission ministries. Total contract amount, $1,368,267.38 $1,267.38

    cent. Next contract is contract number 6006952,

    100% opioid settlement funding to provide assistance with the operations and expansion of recovery housing for individuals receiving substance use disorder. Sud services East Grand Boulevard, location, contractor, Detroit, Detroit rescue mission ministries. Total contract amount, $1,387,067.38 cent. Last contract is contract number 6006954, 100% opioid settlement funding to provide assistance with the operations and expansion of recovery housing for individuals receiving substance use disorder. Sud services, West Chicago. Location, contractor, Detroit rescue mission ministries. Total contract amount, 1,368,004 million, $368,267.38 cent. Council President, pro temp, take five resolutions.

    Thank you, Madam Clerk, pro temp. Tate

    President, I move approval of line items, 18.2 through 18.6 please,

    right. Are there any objections on these items? Hearing, no objections. The five resolutions will be approved.

    President, yes, request for a waiver in lineups, 18.2 18.4

    18.5 and 18.6 please.

    Any objections to a waiver

    hearing, none a waiver will be attached to those items. Thank you from the City Planning Commission

    council president pro tem James Tate, an introduction of an ordinance. Line item 18.9, we skipped them.

    Around 18.9 Correct.

    Madam President,

    thank you. Madam President, I move that the ordinance be read twice by title, ordered printed and laid on the tape.

    Hearing. No objections that action will be taken from the City Planning Commission, council president pro tem James Tate, a resolution set in a public hearing, line item 18 point 10, pro temp

    President move approval of line out of 18 point 10 for day to be determined,

    Hearing no objections. The resolution will be approved for the scheduling of a public hearing for the foregoing ordinance amendment

    from the City Planning Commission.

    Council President, pro tem James Tate, a resolution, line item 18 point 11.

    Pro Tim Tate. Madam President, I move approval of line item 18 point 11.

    Right. Any objections? Discussion, Madam Chair, yes. Discussion, Council Member Callaway, thank

    you so much, Madam Chair. Do we know what these signs are going to look like? Because I was at RIS world and Michigan Avenue, and I took pictures, and I'll send it to everybody, and I got my card and stood in the middle of the street and took pictures of this huge mural of a Caucasian woman holding a Caucasian child, and it says, and I wrote it down. Took a picture. It says, own, the dream, and it's Rocket Mortgage. And I kind of found it just, I just found just a slightly offensive so I want to know what signs is he putting up now? Because I just want to make sure that you know they're inclusive, because this signs has this white woman with the white baby looking at houses that she is going to own in our city so they can own the dream. But there's segments of this city that is helping to fund those dreams with our tax dollars and our tax abatement. So we have to be careful with these subliminal messages in these murals that we are allowing to pop up. And I know it's privately owned, but we also help him remove graffiti officer off of those, some of those privately owned buildings, him that Ilitch owns and Gilbert owns. We have to be real careful. So we rule the graffiti. And then this was on there. So I want everybody just go by there. I think it's on the side of Cadillac square, but it's facing like Michigan Avenue and Griswold. Huge mural, huge and it says all the dream. And then it just brought I mean, I'm just thinking this happened a couple years ago with these murals popping up, not reflecting our community, because that does not reflect our community. We gotta, you know, be more inclusive, and it needs to reflect more diversity. And that is not the only group that wants to own the dream. We all want to own the dream. We just don't want to be the ones funding it. So I had to say this. I like to know what these signs entail. Okay, thank you for salt. We have pictures. Thank you,

    ma'am. Thank you. Pro Tem, yeah, Madam President, we did have renderings of the photo of the sign is very meek sign very small. So I'm not familiar with the mural that you're referring to, but we did have the signage that was shown in committee was submitted to council members as well. So, yeah, I mean, it's a small sign, so it was, it was shown in committee, so had nothing to do with that mural that you're referring to, but it was a very small sign that said that, and

    I'm sorry, through the chair, what did the sign say?

    Okay, I'm going to send all my colleagues a picture of what I described earlier with the mural, and I'll send you the location as well. I'll send that right now. Thank you, Madam Chair, thank you pro channel,

    okay, and I'm assuming that was on a privately owned structure, but I just want to understand what I mean our ability to even have any say in some of these larger murals that are coming up on privately owned structures, yeah,

    but, but to your point, Madam Chair, but we may not have a say so because it's privately owned. But then why are we as a city paying to have graffiti removed off those same privately owned buildings, for sure, and we also $200,000 paid to have mural I don't know if we paid it off, but we were being charged $200,000 to put on murals on privately owned buildings that Mr. Ilitch and Mr. Gilbert on. So that argument probably won't work, you know, satisfy my curiosity or my concerns, because we we regularly remove graffiti off privately owned buildings, and we regularly pay for murals to go on privately owned buildings. So whether it's private or not, I mean, it still does not represent the city well. It's very offensive. Yeah, it really is. And even

    if not, I mean, those entities do business in the city, they are part of our, the fabric of Detroit, and so those conversations should be held just to ensure that no one is offended and that everyone is included and feel just part of the marketing and approach to the Detroit So, okay, Council Member young you're good. Okay? Council Member durhau, thank

    you, Madam President. And I will say to member Callaway, I saw that two through you. To member Callaway, I saw that yesterday as well, and I kind of have a similar concern. But then I looked at there are some other buildings as well. There's an Asian American family on where on one, and there's an African American family on one. I just drove around to see if there were multiple ones, but I did want to put that for on the record. I did have a concern when I first saw it, but then I saw there are multiple ones in the downtown area. So did want to tell member Callaway that one as well. But I did see it, and I had the same concern, but I saw other buildings as as well, Asian American family and African American family on different buildings. Thank you, Madam President.

    Okay, all right. Thank you. Any additional questions or concerns for 18 point 11? Okay, hearing none. Pro Temp Tate has moved 18 point 11 for approval. Are there any objections? Carry no objections. The one resolution, resolution for 18 point, 11 will be approved

    from the historic designation advisory board

    Council President, proton James, take an introduction of an ordinance. Line item 18, point 12.

    Proton tape, Madam President,

    I move that the ordinance be read by title, ordered printed and laid on the table,

    Hearing no objections that action will be taken. Pro Temp, excuse me from the historic designation advisory board Council,

    President Pro Tem James Tate, of resolution setting the public hearing, line item 18 point 13. Proton tape, president

    I move approval of line item 18 point 13 for day to be determined.

    Hearing, no objections. The one resolution for the scheduling of a public hearing will be approved

    for the planning and development department.

    Council President Pro Tem James Tate, four resolutions, nine items, 18, point 14 through 18, point 17.

    Pro Temp team, Madam president I move approval of line items, 18, point 14 through 18, point 17.

    All right. Emotion has been made for approval. Are there any objection? And these are various property sales hearing, no objections. The four resolutions will be approved.

    Under resolutions, Council

    Member waters a resolution, line item 18, point 18.

    Council member waters 18. What 18 point 18? This is your resolution.

    That's 18 point 17. I thought, Is it 18 point 18? Okay?

    Madam. President, yes, I defer to pro temp tape, okay.

    Pro Temp tape. President, we have this item in our committee. There's a request to send this item back to committee for further discussion and addressing Okay, so the motion I moved to send line of 18, point 18 back to committee.

    Okay? Member young, discussion. Member young, I'll

    go say we have to take up this item at all.

    Excuse me, let's have this conversation. What

    going back to the minutes, the motion on the floor

    discussion, I'm done.

    Okay? A couple of discussions.

    So you did you member waters, thank you. I want to understand what he said. What does it mean? Please, through you, Madam Chairman, not him, not not the protest. I'm talking about number one, right there. Honestly

    funny. I'm trying to that's my that's my poor attempt to dry human right now.

    Okay, remember Benson discussion.

    Just yourself through

    the chair. Can we share any other discussion? Why we want to send this back? And

    I'll vote on it. There was not enough discussion that took place, and hearing from colleagues, there is a desire for that to happen. More of a conversation. More conversation about this resolution. Correct.

    Thank you. Madam Chair, member COVID. Is there still opportunity to discuss what we're

    discussing on the motion to send it back to committee right now? Correct? Doctor powers. That's where the conversation should be. Okay?

    All right, so I do just support the resolution to invite the HUD secretary to the city, because we need HUD dollars. We need every dollar we can get because we have a housing problem. So I don't care who's in. I don't care if it's a Republican or a Democrat. We need money. We need resources. We need funny so I have support Secretary coming. So I just wanted member waters to know that for the record, thank you, Madam Chair.

    Okay, all right. Thank you. So we will hopefully see this resolution again at some point, but it's going back to committee for discussion. I just want

    to make it very clear I did not mention any partisan you know details as it relates to this. Just just to be clear, there are some additional conversation that colleagues mentioned that needed they wanted to have input on this. This item did appear in committee. There was not enough conversation based on the feedback that I received, and I make the request to the sponsor of the resolution, and she graciously approved, agreed to do so, so there's, I don't think there's any issue with additional compensation, but that's my motion to send back to committee.

    Okay, all right, and if there are no objections, we will send this item back to committee. We have

    something member waters.

    What? No, I know what. I keep my word. It's

    hard. So we're discussing now, but we're in the middle everybody. You're okay, remember what? Yeah,

    I'll live with it, I guess.

    Okay, so we will continue with the vote to send this back to committee. Um, are there any objections in doing that?

    Okay, okay. Objection,

    two objections, the clerk would note

    purpose. So note, Madam President, that motion passes.

    If there's a force of a vote, let's vote, right? I mean, that's what folks want to do. Let's go ahead and vote. I thought that was a conversation, and I'm trying to manage this in the best way, but if folks want to do that and bring to the table, let's do

    okay. So member waters, I know this. You're the sponsor, so we sent it to committee, but I'm assuming we can pull it out of the committee as well with the two thirds vote. So if there is a desire by sponsor of the ordinance, who originally I thought, indicated that she was okay with sending it to committee. Now it seems as if they may want to vote on it. I'm sorry, it's a little confusing.

    So if, if you want you with the issue right now, I

    Okay,

    okay, okay, thank you. Yeah, Councilman waters, did you

    Is there time for discussion? Go right ahead. All right, so there, there, there are some members who, who, who says that, because the entire council has to vote on this resolution, they want an opportunity to put together a plan. Now, I can probably already say that. I know that the HUD Secretary will be coming. Now. We need so I mean, we can pass a resolution or not, but I've actually done the work. I just thought, and I don't mind having an entire plan from city council. I believe that we should all do that, and we should all pull the plan together, and we should have it ready when the Secretary arrives to the city of Detroit, I don't know how long such a plan is going to take from various members, but I don't want to be the one that says, Well, I don't want to any input from my colleagues, because I do. So

    that's why I agree with pro tem asked me, and now he's mad at me.

    So, I mean, so if, if folks, if you all believe this, does anyone have any input that they want to offer discussion

    proton, before I go to member Benson Pro Tem. Thank

    you, Madam President. So you know I was again, trying my best to make this as clean as possible. I just feel that if we are inviting folks into the city, regardless of who it is, whether it's hood or someone outside of the country, someone from another state, someone from another city, we we invite them to come to the city for what, to take a tour. We should have a plan. We should have something before an individual, we have not again, talked about, I think sometimes we we act as individuals, and there's no disrespect, but we fail to remember that we're a body, and as a body, it makes sense for us to have a plan, a what we're moving for, what we're what we're seeking as a body, and we have not talked about that. So to for me to say we're going to invite again whoever it is, without having what we want them to actually do and see and what an outcome looks like to me that puts the cart before the horse. And we have, not as a body, had that discussion. We have emotions, we have feelings, we have thoughts, we have, you know, certain goals, but we have not put it all together collectively with nine different members who may have different ideas about how we get there. But I just think that it's always better for us to have those conversations before we invite someone into our house, into our city, so to speak. And again, regardless of who that is, individual, entity, federal, local, you name it, we are a body in having conversations, I think is very fruitful in advance of these type of items.

    Thank you. Thank you. Pro Tem member, Benson,

    all right, thank you. And I'm hoping that Julie Snyder, the director of HRD, will be part of any conversations. If we're going to be inviting the secretary of Hudson City, Troy, and that invitation is actually accepted, I'm hoping that we will be including HRD, who is the banker as well as the planner for the entity that actually deals with housing. I'm hoping CPC staff will be invited, as well as PDD staff, to that type of conversation that can have a huge impact on any type of support or non support the city gives. I'm hoping that we're prepared and able to have this conversation. I support the invitation just based on good governance, not based on politics, but I am hoping that we're going to be strategic in our thinking and how we engage with all the entities and stakeholders within the city government to make sure that that is a productive meeting and invitation. Thank you.

    Okay. Member Calloway, yes, and

    I support with member Benson just said it's just a resolution, just inviting him. We have put the invitation together. It's just a resolution so we can move forward inviting him officially. Then we will lay out the plan. This is not the plan. This is merely a resolution. It's just the door. It's just the knob for the door to open the door. We don't know what's on the other side of the door. We can plan after we get past the first step. This is her resolution. I support. I think we all should support. It's just moving forward with an invitation. This is it's a resolution to invite him, but it's not the actual invitation. There's no language in the invitation that she hasn't even gotten there yet, but this is just the knob on the door. So I hope that we will move this forward with the recommendation to approve, and then we can all, as a body, figure out what we're going to going to do after the first initial step that that's, that's all I that's all I'm supporting right here. It's just the not the actual invitation, but the resolution to send out an invitation that hasn't even been designed. We had even contemplated it, but this is the very this is not even the this is an initial step to the first step, which is the actual invitation that I hope we all take part in. And I commend you members, and I hope you allow me to join the resolution. Thank you, Madam Chair.

    Thank you member Calloway, Council Member proton tape, followed by member Durham.

    Thank you Madam President. I just simply want to say that when we speak as a body to resolution and we invite someone that is an invitation, whether it has my name on it that says, this is an invitation. This is how this is what we're doing. We're speaking as a body and and inviting. So I'm not sure what else is needed. This is an official document. It is officially if approved, this is what this would be an invitation. So I'm not sure what other documentation needed for to fit that category of invitation. Again, we can disagree. I just think it's always more productive for us to have these type of conversations in advance of because we're a body, because we're about Madam Chair, thank you member,

    we're convenient. Is convenient to say that we're a body that's like out of convenience, because we're not always a body up here. We're not, um, so it's a body when it's convenient, but it's not a body when it's not convenient. That's my, that's my that's my perspective. But the resolution is not the actual invitation. The resolution is indicating that we would like to invite him out. It's just like, can we move forward? Because I'm hoping that we would have a beautiful invitation, something formal on city letterhead of some sort. I mean, that's that. Maybe I'm looking at it wrong, but the resolution is just saying just, we're going to invite him officially, but it's not the actual invitation, so maybe I'm missing what this resolution represents.

    Yeah. I think the result, yeah,

    Madam Chair, I still support it. I still support it. Thank you, Madam Chair. Okay, thank you, and I hope I can join Thank you council member, duha, thank

    you, Madam President, and I respect all well, all our members are saying their thoughts about it. I think we are taking a lot of time on this resolution, really unnecessary. So I move to call the question,

    so do

    we even have a motion right now on the floor? I don't. There's no motion on the floor right now. We're just talking, okay, so he's in a debate. Okay, okay, okay, so there is a motion to in debate.

    Any objections to in debate?

    Okay, hearing none. We will in debate. And there's no additional motions on the floor at this moment because we already sent this to committee. So we're going to move forward with taking it up today. There'd need to be a motion to reconsider. Exactly, that's what I just stated. So if there, if we want to take it up today, there will need to be a motion to reconsider. That motion reconsider, okay, reconsider. Okay, there's a motion now to reconsider sending the item back to committee. Is there any object, objection in the reconsideration hearing? None that action will be taken. And so now Dr powers, member waters, needs to make another motion to approve it. Motion to approve all right, this is a resolution officially inviting the hood Secretary Scott Turner to Detroit with discussion.

    I it's just that I believe some members wanted to join,

    yeah, are you? Do you want to put it on behalf of the council, I don't even know? Broken, okay,

    yeah, whoever, whoever wants to join.

    Council member Kelly would like to join. Okay,

    I would like to join as 18 point 18,

    any other people who would like to join on the resolution?

    All right, hearing no further people who would like to join. Are there any objections to the resolution? But we already voted for the reconsideration, then she just moved for approval. Thank you. Okay, the clerk would know pro temp. Take an objection to 18, point 18. Any further objection? I

    Okay. Objection, member Johnson, Objection, potentate any further objections. All right, hearing no further objections. The one resolution will be approved,

    and we will proceed

    under resolutions,

    remember President Pro Tem and council member Johnson, were two objections. Madam Park, is that what you have that is correct? Madam President, okay, hearing no further objections that resolution is approved

    under resolutions, Council

    Member Whitfield Callaway, a resolution noting that this line item was reported out of committee with recommendation to deny line item 18 point 19.

    Discussion. Madam Chair, yes, thank you. Madam Chair, I did watch the PED discussion on this matter on Thursday, and I watched the presentation, and it's wonderful. I am not anti

    development.

    I grew up in the city. I enjoyed visiting the towers. I enjoyed how I would call it a maze. It was kind of hard to navigate. I remember Elias brothers being in there. I remember Gantos being in there. I remember the men's store being in there. We go and get your shirts monogrammed on the sleeve. I remember all of that. I remember the movie theater. I remember it, and there's no reason why we cannot preserve it or preserve as much of it as possible. Sometimes I see us just allowing demolitions to occur. This was built by the Ford family and COVID young. The first was there, and I remember writing him a letter. And when I was 11 years old, he had just become mayor, yes, sir, I did. And there was a McDonald's coming at Shaffer and Grand River. And I was too young. He sent me two applications, and I gave it to my sister and my neighbor. And this is part of your dad's legacy, the Renaissance Center, it absolutely is, and all the wonderful things that he did. And so I am just hoping that this iconic building a central part of our history, and in this city, we demolish a lot of our history,

    and without historic designation,

    properly install on the site. That whole area is historic. It does qualify. Brown broke in 1973 that's 52 years ago.

    So it does qualify.

    And I'm asking that we just allow the people to speak. When I was listening to ped 18 people support the Renaissance, as much of it as possible, being preserved, saved, not demolished. And two people called in and said, demolish it. I took notes.

    Nor the the Norman, um

    Portman, Mister Portman, the architect also designed similar buildings in LA and Atlanta, where I went to college, and I worked in that building. It is still there. It has been modernized. The one in it in LA has been modernized, designed by the same architect. So all I'm asking us to just pause and not be so quick, to go with new developments without really looking at what we can preserve with new development. With new development, I don't think we have to demolish to build, I really don't I think we can preserve and build at the same time. I think they can coexist. And I've watched with a broken heart, all of our buildings be demolished, and then what's being built, not downtown, are Lego style buildings. They don't have any kind of architectural flavor or design, they are all cookie cutter box cookie cutter designs. They look like Legos blocks. And if you go downtown, that's all you're going to see. And if Midtown is the same design, we are destroying our history. Those that Skyline will be forever destroyed if we allow a developer. And I'm not saying these anti trees absolutely isn't love Detroit just as much as the rest of us, but why can't we at least look at ways of modernizing some of those structures, the way they've done in Atlanta and the way they've done in LA and I just want the people to have an input and to shut them down and make a decision without having a public I'd like to see a town hall meeting with anyone who comes to come. We can hold it at Huntington place. Let's call area see if we can hold it in Huntington place. Whoever wants to come, if it takes all night, let's listen to the people we're so quick to make decisions on behalf of developers, and sometimes we're not listening to the people. And I just want us to pause and listen to the people and Madam Chair, to throw yourself to Mr. Todd. Mr. Todd, this is what I like to see happen. Mr. Todd, what did they do in LA and Atlanta to modernize their buildings is they're designed similarly, designed by the same architect. So through yourself to Mr. Todd and Mr. Whitaker, what is it that we can do to find out what those two cities did to save their historic structures all built around the same time, 52 years ago? So I don't know if that's a motion for an assignment, but Mr. Todd, I'd like for you through the chair to take a look at what they've done to market modernize similar structures in Atlanta, in LA, designed by the same architect. So that's, that's, that's my take. I know it was sent to formal session with a recommendation to nine. That was very, very sad, and it just eliminates all kind of discussion. And so Madam Chair, I still believe, and based on what the our own historic designation Advisory Commission has said, they said it does qualify for historic designation, and if it prolongs the development. So what we don't have to rush we got a lot of development still in the works that should have been done a long time ago. Lee Plaza and district Detroit, those are still in the development. They had deadlines that they missed. They missed them. So I hope we just don't rush into demolishing when we can maybe modernize and preserve as much of the structures as possible. And that's my requested through the chair to Mr. Todd to see what they've done in Atlanta and La sir, to preserve their similarly designed structures. Thank you, Madam Chair,

    yes, no, no motion. Right now we're discussing, okay, remember, okay, there's a motion for an assignment for Director Ty any objections to that assignment, and you'll put it in writing as well. Member Callaway, okay, Hearing no objections. That action will be taken. Council member,

    duhoff, thank you, Madam President, and I just want to clarify a couple things, because I did make the motion in committee to send it out with a recommendation to deny. And one of the reasons why is the first thing that comes to mind when we even talk about historical designation, even with buildings that have a significant amount of historical activity or history attached to it. We do not own the Renaissance Center. It is not owned by the city of Detroit. I would be in agreement with you if I thought the whole thing was going to be demolished. I have said that on the record, if I thought it was going to severely change our skyline and that we would not have the ability to see the Renaissance Center in some form, I would be against it. And I say that on the record. But when we talk about two towers that exist, that one are underutilized. I think it's 62% vacancy or 70% vacancy. Folks don't even come in and out of there. And when we talk about having the opportunity to expand one of our other most underutilized assets, which is the Detroit riverfront, I am all for plans that do this to your point, member Through you, madam president, to member. Callaway, yes, I remember the rotary phone, but now we have cell phones. I remember the analog TV with the bunny ears on top that did not work, and you had to put the aluminum foil on there to make it work, and now we have digital TV. And I don't say that to be facetious or be funny or obnoxious. I say that because in a city that we are and everyone sitting at this table was looking to make this a world class city, there are opportunities in which we must evolve. And when we talk about some of the progress that this very body has made over the last three to four years, whether that's the Joe Louis Greenway, connecting folks throughout our parks, even to Ralph C Wilson that is getting built that's going to come all the way down our riverfront. We have to take those opportunities seriously. We have to look at what is going to be in for the future to come. And I hear you. There are folks that come down and talk about public comment and talk about the Renaissance Center, maybe 18 today, but then again, if someone contacts 18 folks who supported 18 other folks are going to call that's just the reality of what we do. You're never going to have someone who is 100% for everything. But what I do know, even from folks in my district who I've had the conversation with, I've asked them when the last time they've been down to the Renaissance Center, and some told me the early 2000s right? And we're talking 20 years ago. So when we talk about the opportunity to build something that's greater, I think even with those towers that will still remain, I'm with you member Callaway, then we drive the discussion of affordable housing, which I hear, and there's an attempt to do mixed housing in there when we talk about the opportunity to create more hotel access, because we are behind other cities when it comes to hotel and hospitality, you know, we're all for that, and so it was not personal when we recommended it to deny or to kill the voice of anyone but members of that committee who had the opportunity to view the presentation, to go through the discussion and live with, again, the folks who privately own that building. That's their building, not the City of Detroit's building, and their intended use. I think at least for me, it was very clear I don't want to see that Skyline change, and I don't believe taking two of those towers out will do that. We look at cities close to us and our region, and I mentioned that there's no other city greater than the city of Detroit, by the way, even in our forum now. But to become more competitive and attract the talent and attract the population that we need, we've got to do things a little bit differently. You look at Chicago on their riverfront, beautiful, absolutely beautiful Navy Pier, opportunities for museums, planetariums, aquariums, all of that great stuff, we got the opportunity to create that here in the city of Detroit from this very table. And finally, I would say, talking to a lot of friends that I know who are planners. In fact, some folks who are developers. They say the Renaissance Center, when it was first built, was a nightmare, a planning nightmare, because it really has been built right next door to where we are right now, so everyone can have the ability to look at the river. But it was built in a time, and I know you appreciate this Through you, madam president, to member Callaway, it was built to be a city within the city that exists to keep folks locked away from the other folks that lived in the city that might have been of a different demographic at the time, to be honest with you. And so when we talk about just that, having the opportunity now and over the years, we saw the walls come down, the big platform come down the berm, the huge 12 foot berm, or however, concrete burn, we saw that come down allow more access. Wouldn't it be great to have more access throughout our communities, flowing, connecting our communities, and having the ability to enjoy the riverfront? So yes, I put that amendment forward. Was not personal, but it but it is my belief as well, just my core belief, whether we like it or not. Sometimes, if someone privately owns something, they also had the ability to change it, if that is in their purpose. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you, Madam President. I want to make it very clear for me, at least, I don't base my decisions on this council on public comment. Public comment doesn't is valuable, but I host three community meetings every month, and I have a lot of engagement with the community, not just those who call in. And we know we have some of the same folks who call in. We have some new people as well. But part of the way I operate is I reach out to as many people as possible, get as many opinions as possible, not just relegated to public comment because, as member door Hall indicated, I can have people call solely for this particular reason, those who may not care about anything else they care about this one thing that's when they're calling and they're calling because I asked them to call them, Not because they necessarily may have a policy position on I think we've got to be very careful, and it's unfortunate that a member chooses to feel that because we did deny this, we're, all of a sudden silencing the voices of Detroiters. That language, I think, is appalling to me. This is what we do. What we do is we have discussions about items that come before us, whether we agreed or not. I think when we start poking our agreeance or opposition to something, poking it as silencing the people it turns it into, really feels personal, because I would never silence my community over something that is this important. It's important to the city that I implore people not to just watch this hearing of folks who are just wagging their fingers and providing comments that may be adverse to what I believe is a productive for a body, but I would invite everyone to actually watch the actual session, and you'll hear, and I was one who also supported the the motion to deny a recommendation to deny this provides us, as my colleague indicated, I wanted to preserve as much as possible, nothing in this denial does that. It does not now give a green light to a total demolition of the Renaissance towers plural. There is no even the proposal that came before us. It still keeps the skyline with the one main tower in the middle and the two on the side granted. There are two that will potentially be demolished, but there's funding that is necessary for the state as well as the city, so there's multiple discussions that has to happen prior to that taking place. And then even if there's a request to demolish there, there has to be approval to do so. So there's a lot of steps that has to happen, and you know, again, to minimize the actions that we take and turn them into or transform them into us, trying to silence Detroiters. I think you know to me that is, that's personal, and it's unfortunate that a colleague wants to take it in that direction. We may disagree, but I would never say that someone is trying to silence the community simply because they don't agree with me. And so I'm looking forward to this item coming for us as we are now about to vote on it. And I will

    deny the this, but I will say before we go forward, I would ask for Director Todd. Director Todd, if you can come forward, please, sir, I know we did have conversation in the event that this item is denied. We did talk a little bit about some opportunities that the city has to ensure that total demolition doesn't happen and that we do still have control over what is demolished what is not demolished. You can share that, because I think it's important not to just talk, but also get that information from those who have information to provide us.

    Director Todd, thank you, Madam President, through your chair to member, take to this honorable body as alluded to. And I will take the opportunity to elaborate on my remarks from last Thursday, consistent with what the council president pro tem has indicated, historic designation is one of the tools that is available to this honorable body, through state law, through federal law, and but it is not the only the property is zoned PD planned development that puts alterations to the property under the purview of the commission and this honorable body, we anticipate, at least, as has been discussed part of the presentation, that there may be a community benefits agreement in order to advance this one so that will once again put an opportunity To bring aspects of this proposal before your honorable body, and opportunities for agreements potentially to be crafted that could go beyond or even compliment zoning, that could achieve in a different way, some of what could be achieved through historic designation, Certainly again, leave it to to Director Chapman and to the staff of the advisory board, to historic district commission folks, once we have the opportunity, as this proposal advances, to even look at other possibilities through along with bedrock and General Motors and the city where there may be some other tools that could be employed, what I recall when General Motors first made the decision to purchase the building and in fact, address any number of the concerns that were rehearsed last week in terms of alteration to the design, In part to the point of council member, Calloway, it was a comprehensive and a broad public private effort at that point in time, under the arch administration to do so, so I would look forward hopefully to the same sort of open participation of city agencies with the private entities who are involved and the state to whatever extent those processes, processes may also be required. So again, I do think that it is early. We've had the initial proposal Garner all sorts of understandable reaction, but I think we're still at a point where we and they need to understand fully what it is that they want and need to do, and what is, in fact, possible. Lastly, again, as I stated last week, it was these efforts that ultimately gave way to the riverfront that we now benefit from it was General Motors making this move and beginning to help lead the discussions to give us now the Detroit riverfront Conservancy and all of these open opportunities that we now have to further transform our riverfront and certainly, I would like to Be optimistic that we can preserve and continue to transform again if people are willing to work together. Okay, thank

    you so much. Director Todd, pro temp Tate, Thank

    you, Director Todd, and I just want to say that I'm I have not given my blessing to the proposal that's came before, but what I am looking for are, what are the options before we tie our hands? What are the options that we have before we tie our hands. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you pro

    tem. Madam Chair,

    member Calloway, followed by Member Santiago. Thank you. Thank you. Callaway the member waters, okay. Thank

    you, Madam Chair, thank you, Mr. Todd. I'm hoping this Chapman can chime in as well through the chair, Miss Chapman, this is just a study, no decisions. All I asked was a study, a mirror study, and if it is privately owned, then I hope they'll use private dollars to demolish and build. To your point, member, durhall, through the chair, you said it privately on the city doesn't own it. So hopefully those private owners will demolish, using private dollars their own, and build develop, since it's privately owned, without coming to the taxpayers for a dime, since it's privately owned, but through the chair is Denise Chapman available, because it's just a study, and it's probably going to take a year or so to even conduct the study. All I wanted to know is the details of a study. What are the possibilities? How does historic designation look for that area? Could it just be the district? Does it have to be the actual buildings? That's all I was asking for. It's just a study through the chat. Chair, the study would take probably a year or more, and then the council would have an opportunity to vote on whether or not they wanted to adopt the study, move on, the study, take pieces from the study Incorporated, but that that doesn't look like it's going to happen, but that's still my desire, and I'm hoping that Miss Chapman is available, because she's the expert. I'm not. Thank you, Madam Chair, right,

    mister,

    Miss Chapman,

    good afternoon. Janice Chapman, the director of the city sister organization advisory board, and that was being brought in. So my understanding, is asking about, and if you can repeat the question as to, I guess I'm giving an overview of what the study period involved. Is that the question being asked of our office, of myself,

    Yes, through the chair, yes, ma'am, actually, you know, what does the study entail? What time frame

    will it take

    to conduct a study, and after we get the study, does Council still have an opportunity to look at the study? Adopted or not? It's just a study. So that those were a couple of the questions and inquiries. Miss Chapman,

    thank you. Through the Chair to answer Councilman callaways, two questions and concerns. Yes, the study itself is a takes about a year to conduct. Ad hocs are appointed to during the study period, this is usually a property owner and someone from the community just to serve as voting members of that study committee for this in this case, it would be for the Renaissance Center up on which our office will be asked to draft a preliminary report. That preliminary report will be presented to our board, and they will either and make recommendations to either to hold the first public hearing, that first public hearing, which takes place the following month. So month one would be the review of the draft plenary report. Month two would be, excuse me, month three, because we did 60 days between asking for a public hearing. So it will be 60 days later. So two months later, we would have a public hearing. That public hearing would be conducted and chaired by the Advisory Board, we would then present the preliminary report, as well as documentation the boundaries of that district could be altered. So if you if there was a discussion to to remove maybe even the two towers, if that was part of the discussion that could be part of the the ask. We would do a study with all of the towers initially, but those are the kinds of things that might be considered after that public hearing. There is our board would direct our our staff, to do a draft, a final report and ordinance. And the ordinance basically describes what that proposed district looks like at the time of the of the proposed designation. So they would include a description of the Renaissance Center. It's towers and

    as well as,

    as well as time to, I mean, as well as just a quick, you know, an overview of everything, setbacks, materials used, that kind of things that are part of the ordinance. Once that is presented to our board, our board makes a recommendation, either to approve the fire the report and ordinance and to send it on to the law department for approval as to form as well as to engineering to make sure that our boundaries are corrected and are legal. Then it goes to City Council, to the planning and economic standing committee to set a second public hearing that second public hearing would be held before the planning economic standing committee, and it gives a second opportunity for the public and the owners to speak to to the proposed designation. Again, that process, because we will probably need at least a couple months to do the stuff, just to do the study, to put together the report. We're talking a year, at least a year to do the to do the study. So we're not talking about this happening within even the next few months. It would be probably before it's completion, probably a year from now. At the point that it gets to the planning economic standing committee, they can decide to approve it or send it on to the formal with a denial, as they did for you know earlier, and the final vote is taken by Detroit City Council, by your honorable body at formal and you can either approve the the designation of the proposed district, in this case, the Renaissance Center, or you can deny it, so in the end, the city council still has the final say as to whether or not this becomes a locally designated historic district. I don't know if there's any additional questions that council members may have in regards to the process.

    Thank you. Member Callaway, are you done? Yes. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Chapman, Thank you. Member. Santiago

    Ramiro, thank you, Madam President. I am someone that fully supports historic designations, preserving our history and our properties, but I also really appreciate process, and as far as I know, the rents and is not eligible for historic designation, given the time, and the other need for it to have cultural significance, because it never really met its full potential, and really grateful for member durha Bringing up, also the racist history of the REN Zen that we are forgetting to acknowledge and to bring up, and how difficult it is to navigate and to utilize. As the council member that represents the rent said, I have been in communication with the developers and asked for a confirmation that we work together with residents as we imagine what the next phase of this property looks like. I love engaging residents in these processes, it's important that we hear their ideas, what they want and what they want the space to look like. But process wise, if moving this forward, conducting a study to tell us that it's a stretch to make the runtime historic because it doesn't technically, actually, it's not eligible. Currently, I would rather us work in ensuring that Detroit Detroiters are part of the process. I am happy to work with the developers to me to create those town halls. Member Callaway, I completely agree. We should be at the forefront. We should be working with them, sharing plans. We should be getting updates. And we've seen that happen for Michigan Central, in southwest Detroit and cork town, they have been very, very good at working with our residents and helping them be a part of the design, helping them be a part of the work. We have a long way to go, I know, but for me, I am much more interested in doing what we can do to get residents to be a part of this process. And for me, this this study, isn't going to get us there. It's going to prolong any kind of development conversations. It's at the end of the day. I don't believe it's going to be eligible. So can we work towards what we want here, ultimately, and that's residents to have a say in the property. Have them be engaged in the process. I am more than happy to work with residents into to make sure that we are part of the development of the ransom. But for me, this, if it's not going to hold the rents and eligible for historic marker, then I would us be focused on what we have to do now to engage residents in the process.

    Madam Chair, all right, thank you. Are you done? Member, remember, yes. Thank you. Miss Chapman, address what she said, because it does qualify one second.

    Remember, not. Member, Miss Chapman,

    thank you, Madam Chair, and through you to answer Council's question about the eligibility, the Renaissance Center does meet criteria G, it is eligible. And I will again read what criteria g is. It's properties that are eligible for having achieved significance within the past 50 years and have exceptional importance. The Renaissance Center meets that that criteria, it is the same property. The similar property in Atlanta, the peach tree, is already on the National Register, built at the same time. So it so the eligibility question again, you know, I just Just a point of clarification that based upon criteria G the National Park Service,

    it does meet that

    criteria, G qualification, so just just to point that out. And the other thing is that the part of the history of the Renaissance Center, and you are absolutely correct, is a part of the racism that exists, and that's part of its history, and that's part of the things that is documented. Anytime that we are right, we tried about right, a complete history of our resources. You know, I don't believe that history is good or it's history, and part of that history tells that story and is, you know, it's not always, you know, peaches and cream, you know. So I just wanted to, you know, kind of make those two points as points of clarification. Thank you, Madam Chair,

    thank you. Thank you. And just to date, I have not and I know there's one organization or one developer who I've had a opportunity to talk with who is interested in possibly preserving but there has not been anyone else I've seen to date that's interested in preserving this site, and we're talking about a massive undertaking of what the future of the rinse and will look so I just want to be realistic as well in our discussions. And for me, some of my concern is just what a historic designation will move to the would mean to the progress of whoever develops the site. And so I just want to be clear on that. You know, for me, as I have not seen a woodwork of developers coming out or people who want to preserve the building today, if they're around, I would love to hear from you. Again, I've heard from one entity. I've sat down and met with them about what they would want to do with the site, and actually connected them with the the entity that's proposing to redevelop the site, to see how there can be some synergy there. But you know, my concern again is what a historic designation would mean at this moment, as we are trying to move forward with the future of the rents would look like. So I saw a couple of more hands member der Hall. Thank

    you, Madam President. And what I would say is, I want to articulate this is more than just a study. When you read through the resolution, first of all, it's talking about the possible creation of board, and then in the resolution, it is talking about the possible or creating an interim designation, historical designation, for the REN sin and so which would also have implications, and just for members of the public to know that if anything through this process that could possibly be done to the Renaissance Center could be held up, even in the terms of somebody who is coming in that maybe not wanted to change any of the towers, but through this process, decided to buy the whole thing and said, We're going to revitalize the Whole thing. There's a possibility going through this study, that that could be held up. The other implications that could happen, I think, are a little bit deeper. When we talk about what we want this to become, whether you were talking about totally rehabbing it or revitalizing it, conversations of what this means when we talk to Lansing, when we talk to our state legislators. And it is a firm belief of mine that even coming from this own table, and I think kind of articulated earlier to Tim's point, we want to make sure that we are all coming as one voice, and so we are looking for even assistance to be able to have this quote, unquote, relic that we have even developed in its current form, there's going to need to be assistance from the state, and if we are putting out different messages coming from the governing body of this city, of what our intent is For this site? Okay? Because I've talked to some state legislators that say we don't care if they blow it up, we want to send a concerted message that this is important to us, but we want to find a better use that benefits our residents for decades to come. And finally, I would just say on the the the racist aspect of how it was built and the intent when it was built. I am all about preserving history, but in a lot of our southern states, particularly in the past few years, where the Confederacy was they didn't leave the statues up

    to preserve the history. They took them down.

    And so what I would say is times change. Things change. We'll be dealing with something three to four years from now that we all talk about 375, and maybe a little bit sooner than that of black bottom when folks were displaced there, and now we want to come in and put dirt air and fill it back up, because there were 60 years ago. I mean, or more than 60 years ago, folks were put in a difficult position. I think we have to understand that moving forward also means taking a time to heal and to realize that we'll do something different for the generations to come, and have them observe how we're making history right now the right way. So I did want to put that on on the record, but I don't want the misnomer to be that this is just like a study, like some regular report that we send to LPD, and they send it back to us and we listen to in committee. That's not what this is. This is a study that has a process that's attached to it that has implications that could affect further develop development while this process is going on, and again, could send the wrong message to some of our regional partners and the state that we need to continue to do development here and move our city into the future. Thank you. Thank

    you so much. Okay, so So thank you, Madam President. I've been pretty vocal about this issue this last week or so. Frankly, I have and a few things come to mind. One, if the if the owner wanted to play some sort of historical marker there, we could probably get them to agree to it, just like they did with the cancer center over at Henry Ford when they built the cancer center there, and that church was there. The

    other question that comes to mind,

    which is what I've been saying publicly, can this, whatever it is that we want to do, withstand a cost benefit analysis. I mean, what does that mean to this city? When I think about the Renaissance Center, you see, I wake up every morning I can look out the window and look at I never felt as though I belong there, that that place belong to other folks, not people here in this city, I am I don't think about black bottom or Black Wall Street. That's not what this Renaissance Center has meant to black people throughout the years. It was isolation

    and exclusion. You ion.

    That's what has been all this time, I never felt welcome. When I went there, none of that just didn't fit on, and I live in an area so I could go there anytime that I that I that I wanted to but I just it was.