Detroit City Council Formal Session

Detroit City Council

Politics

Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024
10:00 a.m. EST

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Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team

Note-taking by Asha McElroy

Detroit City Council approved $210.7 million in trash hauling contracts Detroit City Council approved a new district map set to take effect in 2026

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Live reporting by Heather Alder

Councilmembers appointed Scotty Boman to the Board of Zoning Appeals; approved $210K in trash contracts and an increase in trash collection fees; approved redistricting map 6; voted to preserve the Belle Isle Boathouse; and postponed a vote on a $32K BolaWrap contract for DPD.

Heather P In The D! @HeatherPInTheD

Good Morning #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

07:15 AM Feb 6, 2024 CST

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The meeting details can be found here-
Including how to attend the meetings, more information about the city council and its members

detroitmi.gov/government/cit…

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Here is the agenda for todays city council meeting:

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

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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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It’s almost time for the meeting!!!
🤗🤗🤗

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Waiting to the meeting to start…recording is in progress via zoom—

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Starting

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Roll call..did not hear James Tate- Pres Pro Tem…all others present.

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Presentation about redistricting update-from Sherry Gay-Dagnogo-

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Sherry Gay advised Pres Pro Tem James Tate arrived-

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Some districts go across 3 counties- makes it hard for Congress person to fight for all constituents

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Auto issues- echos resolved

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Audio issues

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Redistricting commission found to have issues-

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Sherry4detroit@gmail.com for any citizens who want to get involved with Redistricting Committee meetings-

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Presentation completed- council members discussing with Presenter Sherry Gay- Dagnogo-
Fred Durhal giving thanks for her work-they served in state legislature together-

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Member Young discussing Redistricting-
When he was in state legislature lost 25% of population-
Redistricting process then was hard-more partisan than what people needed-feels upset redistricting committee didn’t stop partisanship.

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Sherry Gay-Dagnogo advised the Redistricting Committee was made of 7 inexperienced people and 1 person who they had to rely on- but person showed to try to run whole committee

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Back to agenda

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Going fast now- onto general public comments-!

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Mr Cunningham- has bus tickets and hand warmers and gloves for people-
Concerned about handicap spots during city meetings- only handicap spots blocked- should have more temporary handicap spots during events.

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Rueben X-
Detroit absentee ballot fraud massive- “all roads lead to the Board of Elections”-

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Jeffrey Jones- Hope Village Resident-
Discussing representation for his area due to redistricting-feels would be lacking if new districts
“Don’t forget about Hope Village”.

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Miss Burton-
Support Option 6 for redistricting-
Here is link to 2024 proposed maps-

michigan.gov/micrc/mapping-…

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32 callers raised hands!
Much about city district changes & a little on trash pick up

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Here are city proposed maps link-

detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitm…

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From No New Ilegal Taxes!
No taxes for trash.
no money for Pistons -Gore-they need to learn how to win a game-

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Ruth Johnson- express’s concerns of redistricting in city -
Advised of missing files on agenda for some of the line items-

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Francis- called about trash collection survey- ok with $10 yearly charge for 3 yrs but what after that?
Would love solar power in her area (Fenkell Greenfield).

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Hopeful-
Missing paperwork on agenda provided-

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Caller- Calling User 1 -
When going to introduce bills from locking people in their establishments….
Why not more announcements on evening meetings…more notifications.

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Caller Betty Varner-
Continued support of my community block club-
All maps move her neighborhood from city District

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Another caller advising many agenda items missing attachments-
Several callers advising of line by line objections and statements

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No more public comments

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On to the agenda—-

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Law dept spoke on this- stated it’s to make gift cards given to not expire and if I heard correctly, unused balances can be cashed out?
Unable to open file attached to this and it passed with all members voting for.

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Discussion on shredding contract- going to a Warren company- 1 Detroit business bid- scored the lowest-cost the highest- met with that company to get them to understand how to get these contracts.
Member Calloway said should see if can bring in house hire Detroiters.

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Was advised by department- member have over 5,000 boxes- Member Calloway advised department spokes person was from Colorado and may not have confidence Detroiters can do that job-ARPA $ buy equipment-
Doesn’t want our $ going to Warren, MI and mentioned how they treat Detroiters

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Member Pro Tem Tate speaking on members decorum.
Member Johnson asked Mr Hamont (?) Detroit companies they reached out to. explained the need of document shredding being a particular size.
Wants to get company names in Detroit so they can reach out to them &talk thru process.

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Mr Hammont (?) advised wants the lost for the city- been in. Michigan since 6 weeks old-
Member Calloway apologized.
Members Waters & Calloway nah on shredding contract (member Calloway also no vote on contract for a Troy company-).

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Resolutions-
Appointing Scotty Boman to the Board of Zoning Appeals. - law department advised potential of conflict but that doesn’t mean can’t hold both positions-
Law department advised no conflict- approved.

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Support to not demolish the Belle Isle Boat Club-
Explore other avenues besides demolition.
Passed-by entire council-

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Discussion on Public Health & Safety reports and procurement request-
Pro Tem Tate has ? About process for demolition and collections.

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Member Calloway suggested garnishing with tax liens on property owners if they own other properties to pay for their demolition cost.

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Member Calloway asked Lajuan Counts how many privately owned properties for demolition on items 17.2-17.18…
Was advised they were provided that over the weekend- Member Calloway request for the public to hear, as they don’t have access—

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Lajuana’s Counts response was reading the item # and how many in each item was private or public…Member Calloway request possibly creating 2 list- Private and Public prop demo list-

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Member Benson advised supports demo due to blight and safety-
Mentioned study that showed 30-40 rapes/murders could have been prevented if blighted buildings demolished . Vote for demolition.

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Objections 17.1-17.8 from Members Santiago-Romero, Tate and Calloway.
Still passed

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Discussion on BolaWrap for the Police Department. – Contractor: Wrap Technologies, Inc. – – Contract Period: Upon City Council Approval for a Period of One (1) Year – Total Contract Amount: $32,083.44.-
Public comments discussed-
Detaining device- disabled community concerned-

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Member Pro Tem- Tate said he saw it used and said he wanted to see what it felt like. “I personally believe this is without a doubt a step up”.
Understands concerns while trying to improve-

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Member Durham advised he is chair of disability task force-
Out goal of to use lethal force-
DPD working with us in task force to work towards training for dealing with people with disabilities.

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***********Member Durhal

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Member Johnson request postpone while she learns more about it as she wasn’t aware of these Bolawraps.
Wants to meet with police.
Councilman Young—-
“A Bolawrap is better than a bullet.” Advised he recommended to the police.
Ok with postpone while other members learn more.

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Member Benson said ok to postpone BUT would rather have this brought up during committee than postponing again.
PRO Tem Tate ok for postponed- no objections-

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Numerous resolutions setting up meetings to change vendor contract dates and some
Easement request.
All passed

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New Business!

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Trash contract discussions-
Postponed for more outreach last week-

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DPW chair Brundidge -advised 2nd survey for public support of weekly trash/recycle/bulk pickup-
Most want & Responded 72% supportive of modest increase-
Got responses from all zip codes in city-
(Audio issues due to Chair being too tall for microphone).

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Discussions continuing on services and improvements needed, senior discounts & Ways to improve citizen awareness.

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With some rejecting, the waste proposals have passed-

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Discussion on the $10 per yr increase to get weekly pickups

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Member Young had several comments against the additional fees-
DPW disputed some of those comments.

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Passed-

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Council is voting on their map proposals-
Scoring them - options highest is score of 3 then next highest 2nd and next highest 1

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Map 6 is the one for the resolution 8 members voted for

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Council quickly going thru the rest of the agenda

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Meeting adjourned

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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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For more local government coverage go to

Documenters.org

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Enjoy this shiny afternoon #Detroit

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Attachments

Transcript and recording, part 1

By Noah Kincade 2/6/2024

Transcript and recording, part 2

By Noah Kincade 2/6/2024

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.