Detroit City Council Formal Session

Detroit City Council

Politics

Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024
10:00 a.m. EST

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Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team

Note-taking by Craig Notte

Councilmembers approved an almost $5.6 million contract to repair fountain at Hart Plaza; agreed to cost analysis on repairs to fountain at Palmer Park. Councilmembers and DPW discuss the costs associated with proposals for more frequent bulk trash and recycling pick up.

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Live reporting by Heather Alder

Heather P In The D! @HeatherPInTheD

Happy Snowy Tuesday #DETROIT
I will be live tweeting the Detroit City Councils Formal meeting @ 10am for #DetroitDocumenters @DetDocumenters media partners: @BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET @freep @media_outlier @metrotimes @MichiganRadio @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit
C U Soon!

07:26 AM Jan 30, 2024 CST

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The agenda is long!
Read up!

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

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#Detroit Council meeting page

detroitmi.gov/government/cit…

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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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“Recording in progress”
And Rev Carnel Richardson is on screen but can not be heard-

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Finally able to hear …called to order

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Prayer

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Didn’t hear several members when roll call still empty 2 just showed up…
Public comments

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Public Comments- Mr (?) concerned about Belle Isle boat marina shouldn’t be rebuilt cost too much and not for most of Detroiters..also dogs in seater. Market sheds.
Next Miss Betty (?) demanding over paid taxes paid back to her…upset with Duggan and Gilbert..”WANTS $ IN CASH”

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Miss Moore- moved her to hotel with move and roaches and messed up plumbing…put her in “more harms way”.

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Mr Shelton- ARPA payments- direct payments to residence negatively impacted by COVID 19 in other cities-

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Public comments continued-Mr Cunningham ..thanked people for prayers and love while having issues sleeping…has bus passes for anyone ..discussing transportation meeting tonight- thanked Councilmember Young and his mother.

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Edith Ford- discussing reparations fund- family had been forced to move by govt…thanked them for setting up reparations committee.

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Mr Foster- red tape - 5 block radius of shootings in his community…asking for resources…”can’t punish and criminalize poverty”.
Construction is everywhere but can’t get abandoned building in area.

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Public comments virtual- 19 hands raised!
1st- D2- “state took over Belle Isle” shouldn’t be on our agenda-
“Who’s getting $ from recycling?”

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Next Hopeful (Miss Hughes)
Asked them to explain 16.1 & 17.11.
ARPA $ being used for properties we don’t own.
? Who owns Hart Plaza?
Member Calloway also wants to know who owns Hart Plaza

Heather P In The D! @HeatherPInTheD 17/63

Speaker “Michigan Governor Ignores Black People”- state overtaxed Detroiters 100,000 people illegally lost their homes-
“Pay us back our $600,000,000 “

Heather P In The D! @HeatherPInTheD 18/63

More Public Comments- Stephen Hawking- opposition of tearing down Belle Isle boat house-
Historic

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Betty A Varner - asking for continued support for Fenkell corridor-
More senior funding for ramps & walk in showers/tubs.

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Linda L city if Detroit retirees-
Hoping they can do something for retirees…10 yrs we overpaid taxes now they want more taxes for higher house assessments

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Member Young advised him and his office secured millions for retirees

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Candice Jones- how can she get free rents and foods like other people?
Wants in on the program free rent free utilities..how can I get in on that?
Pres Sheffield asked her to give her more details on programs she is talking about.

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Ruby Riley- senior needs roof done- no one has contacted her- Scott Benson is her council member- “all this $ coming into the city, I know I can get a roof.”
Been in my house since 1977 needs some assistance-
Mr Benson- “we have Miss Riley on speed dial “.

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Meeko Williams- Reparations Task Force- Miss Anita Bell leaving.. “ Keith D Williams needs to be removed or resigned”..recommend Edith Ford to head task force.
“Detroit will rise from the ashes”

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Public commented completed-

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Agenda—-going thru resolutions

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Unto INTERNAL OPERATIONS STANDING COMMITTEE contracts-
Asking 17.1 postponed for 1 week..got more ?? This morning so want to get answers before vote.
Postponed 17.1 1 week

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LAW DEPARTMENT- many lawsuit settlement request no objections

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OFFICE OF THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER/OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENT AND GRANTS-
Member Johnson ? Backlog for 17.11

pub-detroitmi.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ash…

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Member Johnson ? Use of funds—-advised Overtime, AI in courts, self help court..
Motion approved no objections.

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Sent back to committee
17.17
Johnson, reso. autho.
Appointing Harvey Santana to the Board of Zoning Appeals. (AWATING RESOLUTION)
To make certain Mr Santana had the time needed

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17.18
Johnson, reso. autho.
Appointing Scotty Boman to the Board of Zoning Appeals.
Confirming no conflict of interest- hold vote for 1 week no objections

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member Waters ? If out of $ has heard complaints of people not getting paid-
Terri Weems - advised to receive the stipends there is a checklist and everyone who has filed information and is receiving their stipends-if not let us know.

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18.1-18.2 approved

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Continuation of approving resolutions-
Now 18.7-seeking to send back to committee sent to council in error. Approved

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Unto the next -PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY STANDING COMMITTEE

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Lots of $$$ from ARPA funds being used for recreation center improvements and safety.

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Discussion on 19.12-19-13 waste removal- member Santiago - residents want weekly trash/recycle/bulk pickup-
Possible fee increase-

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$240 to $300 a yr cost for residents possibility—this proposal is less-proposed general fund paying 72% residents pay 28%_ increase waster fee for $10 this summer & each year for 3 yrs. Put in summer taxes with the $240 current fee.

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Members Calloway and Young concerned about residential price increase.

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Currently residents get Weekly trash removal and bi weekly bulk and recycling removal- at a cost of $240 on our tax bills.

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Pro Tem Tate said he can’t support Waste Management . Residents complaining…his bulk (a suitcase) not being picked up just yesterday.
His personal experience.
Asked if it would be picked up or should he just take it in the back. He was advised hit was picked up today.

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Member Santiago wants items sent. Ack to committee and asks other members to reach out to her for any concerns to be worked on together instead of just the chair of the committee.

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Survey was sent out to residents who already receive text messages about waste pickup.
They will redo survey to Reach more people.

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This was the text we got

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Here is the current questionnaire

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Santiago request survey to add zip codes of respondents.
Was advised can’t back track to surveys already received to get zip code but can be added.

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They are moving these items back to committee Monday.

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President Sheffield asks for a cost analysis of moving services back in house.
Member Calloway added to request.
Member Santiago likes that request.
She doesn’t want in committee but working at will of colleagues.

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ARPA $ being used for demolition of commercial buildings- member Calloway wants to go after building owners & stop using $ to help them and not residents.

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More postponements…
Yet no objections for emergency demolitions listed.

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19.43 member Santiago has ? For
Construction and Demolition director Counts-13500 Foley Street, Detroit,
Waiting on DTE to clear- moved back to committee

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The @FirebirdTavern is having an Opening day celebration April 5th for our @tigers ! Approved
"Firebird Tavern Opening Day Tent" located at 4419 Monroe St. on April 5, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

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@FirebirdTavern @tigers 20.3 repair fountain in Hart Plaza- Calloway is a no due to Palmer Park fountain built in
Young asked if Calloway if motion to fund analysis of cost to fix Palmer Park fountain..she said why doesn’t he. He said it’s her district, she said your council at large! He agreed

Heather P In The D! @HeatherPInTheD 55/63

@FirebirdTavern @tigers Morion passed

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@FirebirdTavern @tigers 20.4- Calloway ? Funding being city and not grant purchase…on agenda says city funding.
They have paperwork changing it to grant funding and will update to show grant funding not city.

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@FirebirdTavern @tigers Calloway no vote…approved

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@FirebirdTavern @tigers 20.9 we are
Getting 5,000 trees! Approved!
Thank you @GreeningDetroit !

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@FirebirdTavern @tigers @GreeningDetroit Member Reports-
Members Advising of numerous meetings in the community…member Young shouted out @MikeBonner2010

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@FirebirdTavern @tigers @GreeningDetroit @MikeBonner2010 President Sheffield- Neighborhood beautification grant funds now available for block clubs up to $15,000

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@FirebirdTavern @tigers @GreeningDetroit @MikeBonner2010 Meeting adjourned

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@FirebirdTavern @tigers @GreeningDetroit @MikeBonner2010 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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@FirebirdTavern @tigers @GreeningDetroit @MikeBonner2010 Enjoy the snow!
In 10 days it will be 50 degrees!

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Attachments

Transcript and recording

By Noah Kincade 1/30/2024

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.