Detroit City Council Formal Session

Detroit City Council

Politics

Tuesday, July 23, 2024
10:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m. EDT

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Join City Council Zoom Meeting: https://cityofdetroit.zoom.us/j/85846903626

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Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team

Note-taking by Ambirr Momon

Councilmembers postpone a vote on solar. Outside attorney Todd Perkins recommended reviewing his findings regarding the solar initiative in a closed session. Councilmembers scheduled the closed session for Monday, July 29 at 2 p.m.

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Live reporting by Heather Alder

Heather P In The D! @HeatherPInTheD

Hello #Detroit
I will be live tweeting the Detroit City Council meetings @ 10am today for #DetroitDocumenters @DetDocumenters & media partners: @BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET @freep @media_outlier @metrotimes @MichiganRadio @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit
#bethereorbesquare

05:11 AM Jul 23, 2024 CDT

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Here is the city council website with information on meetings past, present & future as well as links to each members bio and ways to attend the meetings

detroitmi.gov/government/cit…

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FYI…Zoom may be down for the city as reported yesterday

https://twitter.com/detdocumenters/status/1815394964224069796

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Here are our #Detroit #citycouncil members-

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Be back in a couple hours!

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Oh yeah!
Here is the councils agenda for the day

pub-detroitmi.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?I…

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IMPORTANT ::::If you believe anything in the coverage this morning is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@outliermedia.org with "Correction Request" in the subject line.

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Clicked on zoom link just to see if it was working..seems to be recording …heard some voices…and saw Pastor Jacqueline Nelson
Love that blue on her!

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And waiting for the session to start.

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They have started…zoom is working…unable to hear all members due to the zoom meeting 2 speakers at same time (could hear interpreter).
There is a forum- heard Sheffield, Tate, Waters, Durhal.
Will see if others made it.

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Presentation by BSEED (Building Safety Engineering & Environmental Dept) & FEMA

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Presentation on an award from FEMA to provide a 15% discount on flood insurance for all residents-
Due to work of BSEED and flood plane managers Crystal Rogers & others getting FEMA award for it.

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Pres Sheffield ? How people can get the discount- was advised call your insurance company and ask them where it’s at…should be automatic.
Sounds like some great work!

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Already referring reports to committees!

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Public comments!! About 56!!!! Limited to 1 min 30 sec

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Young and Calloway have joined the meeting.

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Detroiters For Tax Justice have 3 speakers detailing the New Hudson Site and why they owe the tax incentives given due to them not meeting the incentive guidelines-

detroitersfortaxjustice.com

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Speaker mentioned cement mixing plant being build w/out community notific by a Moroun company at Conant & McNichols-asked they help with dangerous dust.
I Noticed the change from houses to empty lots to this plant over the past few years.
Didn’t know neighborhood wasn’t advised.

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Many speakers advising they are pro the solar energy initiatives in the neighborhoods- so far 7 for and none against-
Including Tuskegee Airman Bob Tillman

loc.gov/item/afc200100…

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Member Santiago-Romero is at the meeting.

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In person comments done-
Support for the solar panel initiative is overwhelmingly more than those against today-
NOW
online comments- 45 raised hands.

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More speakers advising of their approval to solar.
Speaker Karen Winston speaking against the neighborhood solar initiative siting the fact in lower income areas.
Here is the city’s website information on their Neighborhood Solar Initiative.

detroitmi.gov/government/may…

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Virtual Public comments continuing-
Others against the solar panels in neighborhoods state it is criminal-
Needs more transparency-
“you are dangling money in front of very desperate people”-
Some residents compensated for land.
(Detailed in above website).

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Speaker Alan- says his mom lived over by I-75 & McNichols for years…he lives (lived) there-said there isn’t anything there but prostitutes/drugs/suburban dumping
“buy us out”.
Feels it’s “awful” in that neighborhood and there will never be anything there.
For the Solar Panels.

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More public comments-
Curtis Williams is for the solar panel initiative in his district (7).

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Public comments done- onto the Standing Committee Referrals-

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Correction- Standing Committee Reports—-

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City council discussing with attorney Whitaker the documents received from the attorney hired to review liability of the Solar Panel Neighborhood initiative-
attorney feels should be discussed in a closed session.

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Line items for the solar panel initiatives include 20.1 & 20.2-
Some want to hold longer than others-
Member Durhal feels motion to bring items back wouldn’t be “fruitful”.
“There has been ample amount of discussion”- he would object to being brought back after recess.

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Member Johnson had concerns on zoning of the areas in and around solar areas.
Supportive of postponement.

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Member Young against postponing session until after recess.

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Member Santiago supports closed session on Monday if possible

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Pro Tem Tate for postponing until after recess to allow council to review reports and talk with more residents.

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Postponed for 1 week line items 16.4; 17.1; 20.1; 20.2; 20.17

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Unto reports from Internal Operations Standing Committee

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17.2-17.4 approved with no objections- contracts for generators and lobbyists

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17.5-17.11
Approved 2 objection from Member Santiago-Romero on item 17.7

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Correction 1 objection not 2

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Neighbor& Community Services team the 1 line item resolution approved.

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Planning & Economic Development items 19.1-19.5 passed no discussion.
with discussion Member Benson thanked committee for care of this Childcare ordinance.

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19.7-19.18 approved no objection-from the DETROIT BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

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19.19-19.24 approved no discussion or objections.

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Public Health & Safety committee reports (besides 20.1, 20.2 & 20.17).
Contracts for demolition and construction, but breathing apparatus, hoses and repair, extraction devices and uniforms for fire departments, public lighting, street improvement projects,

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20.3-20.7 passed objections from member Santiago-Romero

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20.8-20.10 passed no objections

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20.11-20.12- Member Calloway - 20.11-public lighting -would love to know where the work is taking place once it begins- was advised will get document showing where work is taking place-
No objections- passed.

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20.18-20.24-
Approved no discussions l

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20.25-
Member Calloway-
In Support of Senate Bills 567 and 568 and House Bill 5098.
Ensures students showings signs of illiteracy are given resources to support their literacy-
Approved no objections-
New Business

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Line items 21.1-21.12 for various city events that have dept approvals-
All approved-
Including the University of Detroit Mercy’s “Bicycle Tour” Sept 13th

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21.13-21.18-
Approved-
Including contract for pavement and Law Enforcement Water Vessels

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21.19-21.23 including Blight clean up, youth camps, fire truck repair, dog park improvements…approved no objections discussion on 21.23 regarding IPA funding.

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21.24-21.27-
Grant applications-
Approved no objections or discussions

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21.28 approved- acceptance of a $500,000 from the EPA

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21.29 approved no discussion or objections-same for 21.30-

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21.31 support house bills to support historic museums to be able to be sustained with mileages.
These would include the Charles H Wright museum and Detroit Historical Museum.
No objections approved.

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New Business special events- 8.1 Arab Chaldean Festival 7/27-7/28 & 25.2 Cody High Alumni Picnic 7/27 approved.

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Vote for resolution for closed session meeting for discussion on findings of lawyer on solar panel initiatives- roll call all approved to be held Monday Jul29th @ 2pm

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Member reports

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Members detailed various community events. Including Coffee W/Coleman 19180 Grandriver 7/26 11a-1pm

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That’s it!
Meeting ADJORNED!

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That does it for this weeks # Detroit city council meeting coverage.
For more coverage of your cities government meetings go to

Documenters.org

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Again—-/
IMPORTANT ::::If you believe anything in the coverage this morning is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@outliermedia.org with "Correction Request" in the subject line.

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Transcript and recording

By Noah Kincade 7/23/2024

Agency Information

Detroit City Council

www.detroitmi.gov

See Documenters reporting

The Detroit City Council is the legislative body of Detroit, Michigan, United States. The Council is responsible for the creation of local laws—called ordinances. Additionally they pass resolutions, motions, and the proposed city budget. The full-time council is required to meet every business day for at least 10 months of the year, with at least eight of these meetings occurring at a location besides city hall. The council may convene for special meetings at the call of the mayor or at least four members of council. Areas of responsibility for the Budget, Finance and Audit Committee include, Budget, Finance and the Auditor General.

City Council members are elected on the same cycle as the Mayor and will be elected in 2021. Seven members represent the seven council districts, while two members are elected at-large.