Detroit City Council Formal Session, 10 a.m.

The public can access council’s calendar, links to join meetings virtually and watch previous meetings on City Council’s website: https://bit.ly/3L0qygl

To make things easier, I’ll provide quick links for todays meeting ⬇️

Agenda: https://bit.ly/3eAIYZe

Note: if you select the HTML version from council’s website, you can access relevant documents by simply clicking the 📎 next to each agenda item. The PDF version combines all relevant documents into one.

Watch today’s meeting live on Channel 10: https://bit.ly/3RVIdch

If you’re following along with me today, watch for ‘🚨’ to signify the start of public comments

The meeting is called to order at 10:03am!

All council members are present. Member Durhal joined a few minutes after they started. https://t.co/wCbTsINEd9

An ASL Interpreter is present on Zoom again today. She is not visible if you are watching via Channel 10 (using the link I provided above)

Items under Sections 5 through 10 were referred to the appropriate Standing Committee.

🚨 Public Comment is starting now! Each participant has 2 minutes.

Starting with folks in-person:

1. Ms. Jones - shared her complaints about the bus service. There’s only 3 “good buses”. Said riders just want to get to work/home on time. https://t.co/eiY3jVejPX

Also concerned about the availability of funds to shelter/feed individuals facing homelessness. Mentioned a food shortage for the homeless (I interpreted it as there’s less food being provided to unsheltered or even sheltered homeless)

Sheffield responded and said there will be a Homelessness Town Hall n October 6th with over 13 service providers. Detroit Rescue Mission will be one of them to hear from residents on the conditions of their buildings and services, etc.

Sheffield also said DDOT will also be presenting before Council in the next few weeks.

1. Charity Dean - referenced a comment by member Scott Benson about NY’s food grading ordinance. They did their research and found NY’s system didn’t have an impact on food-borne illness.

2 (cont’d) They met with the city’s health department who said there isn’t an increase in food-borne illness, it’s actually underreported. Following Benson’s comment that it’s about education/transparency, they found the city’s website hasn’t been updated since October.

2 (cont’d) - Dean said Lafayette Coney Island actually passed their health inspection which means they would have had a green placecard. Because of this, she feels the city would have encouraged residents to eat there. Requested another week to continue negotiations/research
s

1. Executive Director with Detroit Restaurant and Lodging Association - thinks they found a compromise on the food grading ordinance. A QR code w/o a color associated with it. Would also like to see more $ that ensures the health department can provide timely updates online

1. (cont’d) Detroit at Work reached out to the Association for discussion on serv-safe certification for workers. Overall, they prefer the QR code option over color-coded placecards.

1. Has questions about ShotSpotter. Asked for a report on how ShotSpotter will impact children and it hasn’t been done. Had concerns about how effective if it in preventing gun violence.

1. In support of the food grading ordinance and spoke about rodent/insect issues and spoke about the need for more inspectors to do inspections once a month.

1. Spoke about the contract for Detroit Cannabis Project. They are a student of the program and she feels they’ve been “duped” as she didn’t realize the contract came w/ heavy funding.

6 (cont’d) students haven’t received hands-on training, the person that has done training is a guest commentator, not an instructor.

Note: Whitfield-Calloway opposed the contract when it was before Internal Operations Committee last week due to a lack of #s and info provided

Sheffield said she was going to postpone the vote on this contract because she hasn’t received responses to her questions yet.

1. Spoke about her disappointment in the city’s home repair programs. She’s participated in a program for a few years now. They do a little bit, then stop. They also don’t work during the winter. Asked members to speak w/ residents who’ve received repairs to hear their experience

1. Jerry Lewis - said Andre Spivey wants the public to know that he’s sorry for accepting a bribe. Also said Scott Benson should be in prison with him.

Note: I’m not aware of the caller or their relationship. This information has not been verified or determined to be factual

1. Supports the food grading ordinance and doesn’t understand why restaurants wouldn’t want to participate in the color-coding program.

1. bad connection for the first part of her comments. Shared concerns about the lack of incentives provided to residents, particularly those who are employing people and working to revitalize the community.

1. Thanked the first caller for her input on DDOT and the 6pm service line. He has shared similar concerns for awhile now. Said there’s a community input meeting with DDOT this Thursday.

1. Concerned about 17.1 and hopes it’s not Zone Detroit (Note: it’s the East Market zoning update https://bit.ly/3RIIkYg) Feels the city isn’t doing enough to notify residents about Zone Detroit and they’re redesigning neighborhoods w/o input

1. Suggested a resolution for a ballot measure that addresses the issue of overassessments and illegal foreclosures

1. Concerned that the Eastern Market zoning update takes rights from property owners in M3 zones to open a cannabis location. Asked when this issue would be taken up.

1. CEO of Freedom House Detroit. Spoke on behalf of 51 residents and asylum seekers and asked for council’s support for their acquisition of property. https://t.co/bf3Uet9UTf

1. Feels residents were wrongfully excluded from public comment during yesterday’s committee meeting. Spoke in support of ShotSpotter and the food grading ordinance.

1. Supported the Freedom House acquisition. Noted that they’re one of two full-service asylum agencies in the country.

1. Supports scooter regulations. Spoke about bicycle riders pulling out and being hit, and questioned whether a bike speed limit would help that issue.

1. Spoke in support of ShotSpotter and used the last few seconds of his public comment time for a moment of silence to honor fallen officer Loren Courts.

1. Spoke in support of Freedom House and its social/economic impact on SW Detroit.

1. Asked Council to consider a QR code in place of the color-coded place card (food grading ordinance). They want the code to take users to the website where they can find the latest health inspections from the city/state as well as the last 2 years of inspections.

1. Midtown resident. Their car was stolen over the weekend and he was informed this morning that Wayne State Police/DPD were able to recover the car. When he went to the DPD Grand River lot, he said it felt like he was “revictimized”.

22 cont’d - There was no sign outside directing him where to go. He was then yelled at when he pulled in to go outside the gate and park in a no-parking zone. There were dogs that tried to chase him out while a security guard laughed.

22 cont’d - They were then told there was no power so they needed to come back. They argued w/ the officer to allow them to retrieve their items so they can move forward w/ their insurance claim. Feels he was treated like he stole his car.

22 cont’d Questioned why DPD would spend $9 million on ShotSpotter if they can’t even power their abandoned car lot to assist victims of a crime.

1. Employee of Freedom House and District 6 resident spoke in support of Freedom House.

1. Said anybody that has concerns/complaints about bus service lines should attend this Thursday’s community input meeting with DDOT. Said they’re very open to taking comments and making changes. Also supports Freedom House

1. Social equity application and student of the Detroit Cannabis Project. She has had a valuable experience but doesn’t feel it’s enough. Asked that Council require performance metrics in the contract as milestones haven’t been met and there’s limited time for applicants.

1. Opposed the food grading ordinance as it is. Supports the QR code amendment.

1. Spoke in support of Freedom House and its efforts to expand capacity.

1. Supported the Detroit Cannabis Project and feels students have been provided a valuable educational experience.

1. Supported the Detroit Cannabis Project and shared details about some of the components and material provided to participants

1. Also spoke in support of the Detroit Cannabis Project and various components of the program.

1. Supported the food grading ordinance.

1. Supported the food grading ordinance, the color-coded system specifically.

1. Spoke in support of the Detroit Cannabis Project as a student of the program, Feels the advanced learning classes she’s planning to provide would be valuable as well. A lot of participants are social equity applicants.

And that concludes public comment!

Moving forward on the agenda👉

Council member James Tate is presenting a testimonial resolution to honor retired Director of the Office of Contracting and Procurement, Boysie Jackson

Read the resolution: https://bit.ly/3xhWaZK

Council members are now going around the table to thank Mr. Jackson for his work and service to the City of Detroit.

Mr. Jackson was present to accept the award from Council. He encouraged council to continue the great work they’re doing https://t.co/BT29ignS4h

Items under Sections 15 and 16 were unanimously approved. This includes 2 NEZ certificates for new residential housing development/rehabilitation projects.

The contract with Detroit Cannabis Project was postponed for one week.

Sheffield submitted her questions in a memo and is still waiting for a response. https://t.co/6hx2TqH1YZ

Line items 16.2 through 16.24 are approved.

Young voted no on 16.2 and 16.23.

The remaining items under Section 16 were approved.

Council member Tate read 17.1 which establishes the Market District. The vote for this is postponed until after 17.5

17.5 is unanimously approved. This amends the Master Plan to move forward with zoning.

Now back to 17.1. Council member Young had questions about the inclusion of cannabis businesses in the district.

Marcell Todd explained that it wasn’t part of the Market District discussions but it has been included in the marijuana ordinance.

Young expressed support for marijuana businesses being an allowed use in the Eastern Market District, particularly because it’s agricultural.

17.1 through 17.5 were unanimously approved.

This was approved with a waiver which waives the right to reconsider the vote

^These were*

All items under Section 17 were approved.

This includes Freedom House’s acquisition that received support from several people during public comment.

Now under Section 18. These are matters that passed through the Public Health & Safety Committee.

18.1 is the food grading ordinance. Council member Benson has spent the last 6 minutes defending the ordinance. In particular, he’s spoken a lot about the benefits of the color coding system.

Benson said the color coding system was a compromise from a letter grade system.

Despite a public comment saying Lafayette Coney Island would have a green place card, he said they wouldn’t have and hopes the Health Dept will speak to that

Benson said the color-coding system is consistent with best practices for quality reporting. Regarding NY’s system, he said data indicates sanitation violations have decreased since the enactment

Regarding QR codes, Benson said he understands not all residents have access to a smart phone to be able to use the code.

Another issue that supports Benson’s opposition to QR codes instead of color-coding is the functional literacy and the ability to read and understand complex information.

Benson said 47% of Detroit residents are functionally illiterate which means 47% of residents won’t be able to comprehend data in a health inspection report. Therefore, color grades would be the solution he supports.

Benson does not think QR codes would support transparency, education or accountability, which he’s repeatedly said are the goals of the ordinance

Nicole Sherard-Freeman, Group Exec for Jobs, Economy and Detroit at Work, said she’s directed Detroit at Work to set aside 100 seats for serv-safe training. They’re still working through allocation. Many of those seats are for managers

Sherard-Freeman said Detroit at Work needs to ensure they’re providing services that fit the needs of small businesses, as well as the work of the Health Department. Program design is currently underway.

Detroit at Work proposed a pilot that takes 25 of the 100 seats they’d provide training for and running a pilot program. The class size should be kept to around 25 to ensure participants have the best experience.

Scott Withington said Lafayette would have received a white or green place card at their inspection in May. Based on the health inspectors findings which is the subject of recent media reporting, they would have been given a white place card

The most recent article about Lafayette:

https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/dining/2022/09/09/detroit-lafayette-coney-rally-health-violations/68112648007/

A public complaint doesn’t trigger a color grade, but it does trigger an inspection.

There are 10 food inspectors in the Health Department. They’re working to fill vacancies which would bring them to 15. The additional 2.5 approved in the budget for the food grading ordinance would bring the total capacity of the Health Department to 17.5 inspectors

There are approximately 1,700 food establishments in the city. This doesn’t include food trucks. (170 establishments per inspector

The health department doesn’t inspect establishments that report being temporarily closed.

Regarding education and serv-safe training, food establishments are required to have at least one serv-safe certified manager. Certified managers are then responsible for ensuring all employees are trained on food safety.

Durhal has a noticeably frustrated tone as he talks about digital and functional literacy.

He said “That’s something that kind of irritates me a little bit.”

Durhal referenced the 47% statistic Benson relied on earlier and said “So let’s just throw some colors on a restaurant. No, that’s not the educational component that we need”

Responding to Benson’s remarks that 47% of Detroit residents are functionally illiterate, Durhal said “Maybe we need to address and put funding towards getting more Detroit literate so they’re not ‘functionally illiterate’, since we throw that percentage around”

Durhal also noted that the color grade doesn’t tell residents why a restaurant failed inspection. He recommended making the program voluntary. He described it sort of like a special certificate they could post

Much of the discussion today has been around the educational component. Council member Johnson thinks the most important thing they can do is education the community on what health inspection reports actually say/do.

Johnson questioned whether she trusts the Health Departments processes if Lafayette Coney Island failed 3 routine inspections in a row and wasn’t shut down by the Health Department.

Council member Tate said he will not support the ordinance as it is today based on his conversations with the business community in District 1

⚡️ The food grading ordinance was sent back to Public Health & Safety Committee for further discussion and negotiations.

18.2 (major street funding contract) was approved.

Moving forward 👉 Section 19

19.3 and 19.9 will be brought back next week. 19.10 was sent back to committee. All other items under 19 were approved.

Santiago-Romero spoke about her resolution designating September 9th-18th as Welcoming Week which is annual celebration “to honor the unity that brings neighbors together across Detroit”

You can read her resolution here: https://bit.ly/3DjaGnB

Items under Sections 21 through 24 were referred to the appropriate Standing Committee.

Member Reports ✍️

Durhal: special shout out to Detroit and Dearborn for coming together to hold a community block party over the weekend.

More on the block party: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/wayne/2022/09/09/detroit-dearborn-block-party/68055243007/

Durhal: also attended the “Fun City, not Gun City” event held in District 7 which had great turnout.

September 17th 9am-2pm “Team Up to Clean Up” event with the Obudsman’s office.

September 20th 6pm - virtual community meeting

Benson: spoke about a community meeting for the mural at Farwell Rec Center and is looking forward to the painting being finished at the end of October

Johnson: September 19th 5:30pm - virtual community meeting w/ presentations from DWSD about the water affordability plan and Community Health Corps

September 20th 6:00pm at Samaritan Center - partnering with DEGC for a tax incentive educational meeting. In person only.

Johnson: September 27th 7pm at Grace Community Church - Evening Community Meeting

Waters: Listening session with Grassroots Community org this Wednesday to hear their thoughts about developments and other things they want to see in the community

Water: this event will be held in partnership with the Planning & Development Department.

September 20th 1pm Campus Martius - “Pink Out” event to raise money for women to access health services like mammograms. Waters is a breast cancer survivor herself. Wear pink!

Santiago-Romero: meeting with Coalition for Property Tax Justice this Friday at 3:00pm to hear their proposed tax reforms and robust discussion around the issue.

Young: October 18th 6:00pm at Northwest Activity Center - Charter-mandated City Council meeting. He and Member Waters will both be there.

Sheffield: There will be a Committee of the Whole meeting on Thursday at 3:00pm on the topic of property tax reform.

Conversations with the President will be in-person this month. Next one is next Thursday 6:00pm at Durfee Innovation Center w/ DLBA who will answer any questions

And that concludes member reports.

There are a few testimonial resolutions under Section 29 and all were approved.

With nothing further on today’s agenda, the meeting was adjourned at 1:20pm.

This concludes the Detroit City Council Formal Session meeting on Tuesday, September 12th, 2022.

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