Detroit City Council Formal Session

Meeting is held at Coleman A Young Municipal Center (CAYMC), 2 Woodward Ave in room 1340 (Erma L Henderson Auditorium). If you plan to attend live, remember CAYMC has security procedures and list of items you cannot bring in the facility (think TSA at the airport)

Lots of options to attend if you can’t get there in person! These are all listed, along with the agenda, here 👇

dethttps://detroitmi.gov/government/city-clerk/city-council-agendas-documents

Ok, 10:04 AM–roll call with quorum and they are in session! #DETdocumenters @detdocumenters.bsky.social

Starting wit a presentation from DPD (?) … hmmm … don’t see this on agenda

Speaking about recruiting for DPD, noting outreach programs and public presentations & career fairs

Gabriela Santiago-Romero asks about numbers of DPD positions held by Detroiters…rep provides most recent numbers

They are now moving to second presentation, which is on the state of the redistricting process…do I have the right agenda ? 😆😏

Going over background of state redistricting

Points to the glorious transparency…

I missed slide on criteria of redistricting process…big emphasis on avoiding political weighting…points to lots of public input and results being mathematically very fair along partisan lines

Here is new map for house of rep elections…pretty close to City Council Districts

Partisan metrics for new house map & its proposed alternatives…still leans GOP but better the 2021 lines and is at least ‘in the realm of fair’

All the redistricting info available hear 👇
wwwhttps://www.michigan.gov/micrc

Okay, we are back to regular agenda…the presentations were apparently part of public comments🤷‍♂️. We are now having the list of the budget committees, who is reporting, etc.

Hey–I did have the wrong agenda 😆The link to correct one is below. We are at public comments and first person getting soft reprimand following her time, reminder for everyone to be polite/respectful
dethttps://detroitmi.gov/government/city-clerk/city-council-agendas-documents

Second person to speak urges Council to repurpose RenCen Towers proposed for destruction…points to beginning of RenCen hosting public/alternative education there

Both of the first speakers were upset about funds directed to restoration of old Detroit Chinatown and insist funds should be made available for same in old Black Bottom
https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2025/03/11/community-members-unite-to-redesign-detroits-historic-chinatown/

Another person addresses council regarding her letter sent to them with four proposals to update Detroit internal processes…lists them off and asks how she can get a meeting. Council notes the letter was received, suggests meeting possible

Next person asking about solar farm project and impacts on private land ownership and use restrictions up to receiving a letter from Detroit legal department threatening her losing her property…says that she reached out to Fred Durhal and matter was sent to legal department

Background on solar farm issues can be found here from article by @danaafana.bsky.social 👇
wwwhttps://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2024/09/27/detroit-files-eminent-domain-lawsuits-solar-farm-project/75378486007/

Gentleman from Warriors on Wheels speaking about upcoming event and additional events – you can learn more about the organization here 👇
wowhttps://wow4metrodetroit.com/

Next person up was invited by previous speaker to testify about his experiences riding Detroit busses…he spent lots of time in New York and says Detroit has problem with transportation workers treating riders very poorly

They move to public comment from online participants…28 hands raised!

First online person expresses disappointment with council for not fighting hard enough for retirees…says that they should have asked more probing questions during DPD presentation and says more DPD employees live outside City than in 2011

Next person starts with disappointment over recent closing of shelter over zoning issues…believe this is what he refers to
https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/detroit-shelter-forced-to-close-over-zoning-issue/

He was also for keeping the RenCen…next person concerned about proposed demolition of two RenCen towers, with environmental protection being top of mind

Person from Detroit Disability Power up to advocate for budget priorities, says organization always open to discuss specifics
https://www.detroitdisabilitypower.org/

Caller pushes back on call for civility as she feels council is not civil

Next caller seconds the push back on civility from council and notes upcoming police recruiting/awareness event, March 15, at WSU
https://detroitmi.gov/events/youth-police-chiefs-symposium

New caller expresses dismay over proposal to demolish RenCen towers; wants participatory budget (this is due to flooding issues); wants bus shelters in SW Detroit (commends Santiago-Romero for having this in her priorities)

Another caller wants all of council gone except for Angela Whitfield-Calloway

Caller from Detroiters or Tax Justice speaks for reducing library administration costs and push for real affordable housing
https://detroitersfortaxjustice.com/

Person calling in with concerns about a good neighbor plan commitment relating to, I believe, a marijuana distribution center…here is info on good neighbor plan in Detroit
https://detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitmi.localhost/files/2024-11/Good%20Neighbor%20Plan%20Informational%202024.pdf

Next caller announces press conference on 313 Day about RenCen, stating it should not be demolished, pointing that we bailed out GM

Final caller points out need for affordable housing and has some comments on Agenda item 18.14 but was unclear on specifics of what he was advocating

Okay, looks like item 17 is being tabled…some questions/uncertainty from council members and understanding they are heading to budget meetings so need to have their ducks in order

18.1–To Provide Services to Help Obtain Telecommunication Services and Connectivity for City Residents– is removed from the agenda, I believe over cost concerns but not sure

18.2 is up for discussion–To Provide an Increase of Funds to Continue Litigation Services for Reverse Conviction Lawsuits–is approved as are next 11 resolutions

18.14–Implementation of the Extension of the DROP Program for Members of Detroit Police Command Officers Association–is postponed.

Moving to 19.1 & 19.2–these are TERMINATIONS of Brownfield status, 1)Termination of the East Jefferson at Belle Isle Site within the East Riverfront District Brownfield Redevelopment Plan & 2)Termination of the Stone Soap Brownfield Redevelopment Plan

On to section 20 of agenda, Public Health & Safety Standing Committee…Santiago-Romero has 14 items, 9 blight funding

20.13 is the big one–100% PLD Decommissioning Funding – Maintenance and Repair Service of Underground Cables for PLD Assets–for $3 million. Here is info 👇
pub-dhttps://pub-detroitmi.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=207460

Some of the 14 proposals getting rejected by other members of council, request for waiver on 20.12, but will have to wait until discussion over

Asking for clarification on 20.14–contractor was chosen for cost

Very unsure which of the 14 items in section 20 of the agenda are moving forward 😆🤷‍♂️

They are now into section 21, New Business…approval for items 21.2 through 21.5…appear to deal with funding for renewals for summer youth programs. Question about why nothing on eastside…answer was no proposals had been received

Three items–21.8, 9 & 10 under Office of Development & Grants–again under Santiago-Romero. These are for FY 2025 Detroit Sidewalk Repair and Maintenance Grant, Recycling Infrastructure Grant & Safe Routes to School Grant

21.15 & 16 – Recognizing March 2025 As Developmental Disabilities Awareness and Social Work Months – both approved

They are now listing reports sent to various standing committees but I’m a little lost here as they continually are backtracking on various matters–just now Councilmember Young asking about if was too late to attach a waiver to one of the previous items

And now there are several members offering condolences to family of Luther Keith while announcing dates for budget meetings
https://www.freep.com/story/opinion/contributors/2025/03/09/luther-keith-detroit-journalism-blues-music/81955722007/

Somehow, we are at the end of the agenda, with item 31.1–Testimonial Resolution for Ms. Billie Jean Harris “Celebrating 100 Years”–approved.

And they adjourn the meeting at 12:39 PM!

Well, that was my coverage for the 3/11 Detroit City Council meeting. If anything was inaccurate email documenters@media_outlier.org with ‘Correction Request’ in the subject line.

As always, look to https://documenters.org for more coverage!