Detroit City Council Formal Session

Detroit City Council

Politics

Tuesday, April 16, 2024
10:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m. EDT

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Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team

Note-taking by Gina McPherson

Councilmembers appointed photographer Eric Hergenreder to the Historic Designation Advisory Board and professor Kefentse Chike to the Reparations Task Force. They also approved a community benefits agreement for the $396.7 million Hotel at Water Square development.

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Live reporting by Sherrie Smith

Sherrie So Ultra @SherrieSoUltra

It’s Tuesday, April 16th! I’ll be live-tweeting the Detroit City Council Formal Session at 10:00am for #DETdocumenters
@DetDocumenters
Media partners: @BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET @freep @metrotimes @Michigan_public @media_outlier @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit

08:13 AM Apr 16, 2024 CDT

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For info on different ways to attend today’s meeting:

content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIDET…

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Here is the agenda for today’s meeting. It’s also available online at:

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

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While you wait for today’s meeting to start, check out the thread from last month’s meeting here:

https://x.com/amysenese/status/1777679102289317904?s=46&t=RpYzZ1EoOiisPIGmWFspMA

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If you feel there are errors or corrections needed to these tweets or you have questions, please contact documenters@outliermedia.org

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Meeting called to order at 10:07am. A quorum is present.

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Line item 6.1 referred to the Budget, Finance & Audit Standing Committee. Info on when their committee meets pictured

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Line item(s) 7.1 - 7.16 referred to the Internal Operations Standing Committee. Info on when their committee meets pictured

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Line item(s) 8.1 - 8.4 referred to the Neighborhood and Community Services Standing Committee. Info on when their committee meets pictured

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Line item(s) 9.1 - 9.12 referred to the Planning and Economic Development Standing Committee. Info on when their committee meets pictured

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Line item(s) 10.1 - 10.24 referred to the Public Health and Safety Standing Committee. Info on when their committee meets pictured

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No VOTING ACTION MATTERS

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No OTHER MATTERS

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No COMMUNICATIONS FROM MAYOR AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS AND AGENCIES

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🗣️ PUBLIC COMMENT 🗣️ Each comment limited to 2 minutes

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In-person Commenter expressed concerns that the Health Dept is not providing a comprehensive annual report

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In-person: Multiple speakers stated they are in support of the Sterling Group and the Water Square hotel, See Line items 9.6 & 18.12

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In-person commenter spoke in favor of Line items 16.17 and 23.9

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In-person: Member of Carpenters’ Union spoke in support of the Water Square Hotel and the culture that this project will build

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More moving to ONLINE PUBLIC COMMENT, 20 callers gave hands raised

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Online commenter: One caller expressed that they would vote to oust and City Council member who voted against the Water Square Hotel project

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Online commenter: stated the Sterling Group has a great track record going back to their work on the State Fair Grounds and fighting blight in the city, excited about the pocket park connected to the Water Square Hotel

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Online commenter stated that residents are still waiting for the city of Detroit to pay back the money that was looted from taxpayers. Caller also stated that the bankruptcy was fake. “You got me for $16,000! We want our money so we can fix our homes”

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Online commenter asked for support of the DEBA Community Park and the Fenkell Corridor

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Online commenter stated that the city code requires an alternative energy sources at senior living facilities

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Online commenter, Owner of Blaze Contracting, called in support of Water Square Hotel

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Online commenter stated this agenda is full of ARPA funding being used illegally, the funding cannot be used for private homes. Referenced Line items: 18.2 & 19.1

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Online commenter stated there is a DDOT Meeting this Thursday for Community Input

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Online commenter thanked Councilmembers for their stand against robbing Detroiters via PayDay loans. Also, stated the quiet development of electric vehicle battery plant is happening without hearings. ARPA funds should be spent to keep Detroits in their homes

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Online commenter, member of Virginia Park Community Coalition asked Councilmember Sheffield to tour the Joseph Walker Williams Center

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Online commenter stated the people deserve to know what the bankruptcy deal was with the Sterling Group/Water Square Hotel

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Online commenter questioned how many rooms will be ADA universal design and if they will be equipped to accommodate people with mobility devices

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🗣️ PUBLIC COMMENT CONCLUDED 🗣️

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Line items 16.1-16.3 were APPROVED with waivers

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Line items 16.4 - 16.13 were APPROVED, they are various lawsuit settlements

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Line item 16.14 was APPROVED

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The Council passed out ballots and voted for the Appointment of Eric Hergenreder to the Historic Designation Advisory Board. APPROVED, Line items 16.15-16.16

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Line item 16.17 appointing Dr. Kefentse Chike as the District 1 representative to the Reparations Task Force was APPROVED

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Line items 18.1-18.2 were discussed as to why item 18.2 was City Funding and Housing and Revitalization Department (HRD) representative stated line item 18.2 is actually grant funded. Line item 18.1 was APPROVED while 18.2 was POSTPONED until HRD can clarify funding source

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Line items 18.8, 18.9, 18.10, and 18.12 moved for DISCUSSION and representatives of Sterling Group and Visit Detroit present to answer Council questions re: Community Benefits

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A few discussed Community Benefits:
100% union contractors in the construction
~30% local businesses
$500k to People Mover Upgrades
$250k scholarships to residents in the district
$100k donations to charity Unhoused,
$100k to women’s program
$100k to GDYT,

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Here are some pics of the Community Benefits Agreement, see the full Project Report:

detroitmigov.app.box.com/s/zjvhnbngecxw…

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Multiple Councilmembers expressed positive thoughts about how the Sterling Group has handled this Community Benefits process

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Line Item 18.12 was APPROVED

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Line items 18.10, 18.9, and 18.8 were APPROVED, in that order.

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Line item 18.13 was APPROVED to exclude Wayne County Community College from Tax Abatements and Tax Captures

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Line items 19.1-19.6 were discussed. Councilmember Calloway questioned if the properties in line item 19.1 were all included or just one. Nicholas Payne confirmed only one property is included in the $219,700 amount and it is owned by the City

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Council President Sheffield asked how line item 19.5 qualifies for ARPA Funding use to purchase furniture. It was stated that the funds are for 3 locations that are going through extensive renovations but have no furniture. The item was POSTPONED

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It was stated that ARPA funds are being utilized for the renovations/construction as well.

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Line item 20.12 was discussed, this is in addition to the previously approved funds. Over 7,000 requests were made, 523 trees were done to date. President Pro Tem Tate stated that he was told 800 trees had been addressed with 1,200 surveyed

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Line items 20.8 - 20.14 were APPROVED

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Line items 20.15-20.16 were APPROVED

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Line item 20.17 recognizing April as Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month was APPROVED

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Line item 20.18 recognizing April 11-17 as National Black Maternal Health Week was APPROVED

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Line item 20.19 In Celebration and Local Designation of Workers was APPROVED

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Line item 18.2 was brought back with the correct funding source and APPROVED

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Line item 22.3 moved to NEW BUSINESS. The Council changed $37 million of the Mayor’s Proposed Budget, the Mayor chose NOT to veto the Council’s changes. So it’s being asked that technical changes to the budget schedule B be made. This was APPROVED

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Line Item 22.4 requesting that an ongoing funding source be found to fully fund the Tenants Rights Commission was moved to the Planning and Economic Development Standing Committee. This item was APPROVED

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Councilmember Santiago-Romero questioned line item 20.14 if it was a new service. It was stated that this is a new vendor but the service is one we already have but the previous vendor held the contract for 15 years. Line item 20.14 was APPROVED

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9 Reports referred to Internal Operations Standing Committee

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10 Reports referred to Neighborhood and Community Services Standing Committee

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CORRECTION: Line Item 19.5 will be brought back in two weeks

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20 Items referred to Public Health and Safety Standing Committee

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D7 City Council Charter Mandated Evening Meeting TODAY! 7pm at Kadesh Baptist Church

lnks.gd/2/2vJWZbB

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Monday April 29th at 6pm, D7 Policy Meeting at Edison Library

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Line item 30.1 was received and placed on file

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Meeting adjourned at 1:02 PM

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This concludes my live-tweeting of the Detroit City Council Formal Session for 4/16/24. For more meeting coverage, check out:

detroit.documenters.org

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By Laura Herberg 4/16/2024

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.