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/3e7jQJN

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 currently underway. Council member Young is reading a testimonial resolution https://t.co/ULYapu2YL6

Brief technical difficulties so I apologize!

Councilmember Young presented a Spirit of Detroit Award to Mary Culler, President of Ford Motor Company Fund. After she accepted the award and talked about the fund, they played a short video. https://t.co/ykkURDj7sc

You can learn more about the fund on their website https://fordfund.org/

Amy Sovereign, Program Management Officer in DoIT, is providing an update on the status of the Erma Henderson auditorium. https://t.co/bj0SvJzCZQ

Sovereign said supply chain issues have “wreaked havoc” on their ability to obtain audio equipment. They’ll be testing the equipment they do have installed through the 2nd week of November. They anticipate they’ll have audio up and running in early 2023

The update follows questions about the Board of Zoning Appeals ability to use the auditorium, while Council cannot. Sheffield said this is due, in part, to City Council having to play their meetings over Channel 10 while BZA does not.

⚡️The ShotSpotter vote is delayed until next week.

Gail Fulton, Liaison to the Mayor’s Office, said the administration is requesting the hold so they can identify another funding source. An update will be provided ahead of next week’s meeting

Items under Sections 5 through 7 are referred to the appropriate standing committees

🚨Public Comment is starting now

1. Bob Carmack - accused the Mayor of breaking the law when he filed “false charges” against him. A little bit of back and forth between him and Council President Pro Tem James Tate. https://t.co/q4AgYcz0OF

Tate asked Carmack if he has taken his concerns about someone breaking the law to law to law enforcement. Tate said “it’s like a cyclical conversation that is never ending.” He said it shouldn’t be at Council’s table when they don’t have the authority to act on his concerns.

1. Urged Council not to expand ShotSpotter because it’s about profit, not public safety. Instead, she urged them to consider investing in intervention programs

1. Gabriel Dresner, ACLU, opposed the expansion of ShotSpotter noting the heightened police response and cities that have pulled out of their contract for the technology

1. Asked Council to stop using ShotSpotter and rescind last week’s vote to continue their existing contract. They spoke about a recent study out of Chicago’s use of ShotSpotter

1. Opposed ShotSpotter noting that residents have made it clear that they don’t want it in their community.

1. Opposed ShotSpotter regardless of whether it’s paid for with ARPA or another source of funding. Encouraged community investment as an alternative. Also asked Council to rescind last week’s vote to continue the existing contract.

1. Asked Council to vote no on the ShotSpotter contract. “Please invest in the people”

1. Resident of District 6 who said she is undocumented. “For folks like me, technology that sends more police into my community does not make me feel safe.” Questioned why the city doesn’t see the imminent threat of police violence as a threat like they do violence against police

8 (cont’d) also asked Coucil to reconsider their vote from last week.

Council member Tate said the window for reconsideration of last week’s vote has passed so Council won’t be able to rescind their vote to continue the existing ShotSpotter contract.

1. Former resident of Mercer County where they said ShotSpotter was ineffective. Discussed the for-profit concerns noting the company’s reliance on investing in their product.

1. Opposed ShotSpotter. “We can use that money over on the eastside for the funerals that we’ve been having..” He also discussed the city spending money to fix up homes to insulate them from toxic fumes.

1. Urged Council to vote no on ShotSpotter noting that it’s expensive and faulty. Has concerns that it can escalate violence for both parties. Encouraged an investment in community resources such as housing stability, mental health and crisis response.

1. Doesn’t agree with the use of ShotSpotter. Shared details from a conversation they had with someone who experienced the police responding to ShotSpotter. He said the person told him that the police ran everyone down in the area even though they weren’t involved

1. Asked council not to invest in ShtSpotter. “Folks are terrified. Period. They’re terrified to call for help because they’re afraid that they’re going to be criminalized.” Discussed conversations they had while waiting to give their public comment at last week’s meeting.

13 (cont’d) advocated for an investment in community resources and public services

1. Said no one in the community needs ShotSpotter. Noted data that indicates the technology is ineffective.

1. Urged Council to vote no on ShotSpotter regardless of how the contract is paid for. They noted data from the 8th and 9th precinct that shows it’s not as effective as DPD says it is. Asked Council to think about the success they can brag about if they invest in the people.

1. Asked Council to vote no on ShotSpotter and/or expansion of the technology. Suggested they use the funds to invest in “direct impact initiatives” that offer free schooling, licenses, etc. “We have to invest in human development, not technological development”

1. Suggested that Council penalize departments that come before them unprepared. Said ShotSpotter can hear conversations (Note: DPD previously said it does not)

1. Representing the Michigan Collaborative to End Mass Incarceration. Opposed the expansion of any surveillance technology including ShotSpotter.

1. Asked Council to vote no on ShotSpotter noting that it’s ineffective. “It’s not what Detroit residents want and need to keep them safe. It will only further entrench distrust between Detroit residents and the government.”

1. “ShotSpotter is an absolute waste of resources and these resources instead should be used towards other things that the people of Detroit need” Said they’re disappointed in council member Johnson’s vote last week as they personally canvass for her.

That’s it for in-person participants. Now moving to virtual.

1. Asked council to vote no on Shotspotter. Suggested they redirect the surplus funds into community resources such as mental health and drug treatment.

1. Dez, with the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion. Asked council to vote no on expanding ShotSpotter regardless of the funding source. Said they need to do things based on evidence and will bring relief to their babies.

1. William Davis, former police commissioner. Discussed pensions for city retirees. Doesn’t feel the city is doing enough to support retirees. “You could always seem to find money to do stuff for other people”

1. Expressed his “total opposition” to funding ShotSpotter. Said they’re a senior citizen and share the concerns of other commenters today about personal safety.

1. Asked Council to support DDOT’s low-income fare program. Believes it’s “necessary and urgent” to fund and implement noting that it supports those who are relying on public transit.

1. Discussed the history of corruption within the police department. They were cut off before they finished.

27, Thanked Council for their support for DDOT and the programs/initiatives they’ve proposed over the past few years.

1. Said the city should have a homeless shelter that serves strictly men and one for children.

1. Urged everyone to work together to fully fund Right to Counsel. Referenced LPD’s recent ARPA report and said she’s “flabbergasted” that only 4.7% of the funds have been spent noting community need.

1. Feels that data has told Council why they shouldn’t approve the expansion of ShotSpotter. Suggested that the funds be used to invest in police training and benefits in their contract.

1. Discussed the upcoming DDOT ARPA presentation. Said she’s pleased with the plans and efforts to engage the public and riders about how they should invest the money.

1. Thinks the issue around gun violence is due to a lack of prosecution and low bonds allowing suspects to go back into the streets. Thinks DPD is doing “awesome”.

1. Asked Council to vote no on ShotSpotter noting that it would increase police interactions and could lead to an increase in violence. Thinks there’s preventative programs they could invest in instead.

1. Agreed with the comments before her. Feels there’s a better use of the funds than expanding ShotSpotter, regardless of the source of funding.

1. Opposed ShotSpotter and said it will open the city up to more lawsuits that citizens will ultimately pay for. Supported preventative programs instead.

1. Said the way the community has come together to speak up for themselves gives her hope that “people will come in and be a part of the political system”. Thinks they need good-paying jobs to fix the crime problems in Detroit.

1. Said those who’ve opposed ShotSpotter don’t live in the most violent ZIP code in the city. “You don’t understand that it is only pinpointing where the gunfire’s coming from and that gun may be the gun that’s gonna shoot a lot more people.”

1. Said there’s no evidence that ShotSpotter significantly impacts crime or homicides. Opposed the expansion.

1. Opposed ShotSpotter noting that it doesn’t work. Questioned policy analysts that are supposed to be doing research on matters that come before City Council. Doesn’t think people should have to come down to city hall to quote data for them.

39 (cont’d) Suggested the money be used to invest in the Junior Cadet Program.

Note: During budget hearings earlier this year, the CFO’s Office explained how the budget is created and used “this-or-that” activities as an example. Most comments thus far have provided an alternative, similar to what was explained in the “this-or-that” presentation.

1. Said Bob Carmack’s life is worth more than $7 million dollars. Feels Detroit is the most callous city she’s lived in. Said City Council staff hangs up on her and Ari (President Sheffield’s office) doesn’t respond to her.

1. Said that if people truly wanted tools like ShotSpotter, there would be more than one person speaking in support of its expansion. (Yes, there’s only been one so far.)

1. Said it doesn’t matter if ShotSpotter’s expansion is paid for with ARPA or another source, the people will still say no. Asked council to think about proactive measures that create safety.

I’m about 15 minutes behind and want to skip ahead the rest of the comments to keep up with the DDOT presentation. Most opposed ShotSpotter but I will come back after the meeting to share the remaining comments. (I think there’s around 15)

Next: DDOT Presentation on ARPA

Mikel Oglesby, Executive Director of DDOT, is presenting on their plan for the ARPA funding they’re receiving. https://t.co/bTnb6aTOGq

Here’s how the public ranked proposed projects using ARPA funds https://t.co/QRLPys0hot

Some more details about the proposed projects https://t.co/fO2RjEF4Fp

Potential Projects include a mobility transit hub and improved bus stops. Hubs would meet the needs of multiple modes of transportation including e-bikes https://t.co/HzTQX5t0f3

Another potential project is a connection corner featuring high visibility crosswalks and in-lane bus stops. https://t.co/OATxCIOETf

Back to proposed projects. Oglesby said the original low-income fare program feasibility study was pre-pandemic and before ridership numbers dropped. The study is already funded by DDOT Reimagined. https://t.co/LZLsSD32mj

Other proposed projects include enhancing Rose Parks Transit Center and new electronic air filters (on-the-bus safety) https://t.co/afmqSVDOXm

Here’s a breakdown of the funding for each proposed project https://t.co/eviF9Eiebi

And that’s a wrap on the presentation portion! Now to Q & A

Sheffield asked about wait times. She said she received questions when she was visiting a senior center. Oglesby said he looked into the specific instance she mentioned and the driver has a mandatory union meeting so he had to be pulled off the route.

Of course, when you pull a driver off a route that bus can’t run unless DDOT has another driver they can pay overtime which Oglesby said they couldn’t do that day.

Oglesby said if DDOT can get more drivers, they’ll be in better shape. They’re still over 100 bus drivers short. They’ve restructured bus routes to accommodate the lack of staff.

Since January, Oglesby said DDOT has hired almost 100 drivers. Only 30 of them are actually driving today.

“We’re getting them on board. They’re coming in and then they leave for whatever reason. Some leave because they get their CDL, they say”

Oglesby said the drivers are leaving for jobs that pay higher wages. They’re working on a document drivers would be required to sign that won’t allow them to do that anymore.

Another reason drivers have left is because they realize there’s an actual schedule involved. Oglesby said this isn’t Uber or Lyft and drivers have left because of that.

Others don’t pass the disciplinary period.

Regarding service line reliability, Oglesby encouraged riders to watch the bus tracker. Riders can look at the tracker and figure out if they need to make alternative plans. “That was the purpose of it until we fix the problem”

Oglesby said he hopes they’ll be able to add more customer service reps to answer the phone during the next budget discussions.

Santiago-Romero asked if bud riders were surveyed about the proposed projects. Oglesby said they were and Mr. Cunningham came in “very handy”

Santiago-Romero asked about the status of restrooms for bus operators. Oglesby said he thinks the issue was time, not access. Bus drivers have a list of locations they confirmed they can use.

Regarding the time that drivers have to use the restroom, Oglesby said planning staff is all over it and they’re looking at ways they can solve the problem.

Santiago-Romero asked about ADA compliance. Oglesby said part of the plan to replace all the bus shelters includes the cost of making them ADA-compliant https://t.co/j4AuHFUsT9

Staying on the topic of ADA compliance, Durhal asked what DDOT is doing to ensure buses are comparable with other cities in terms of seating, lifts, etc.

Oglesby said “we are where we need to be, as far as equipment, we have the best equipment out there”

Oglesby said the new flyer bus has the appropriate ADA-compliant ramps. He doesn’t think the issue is the actual buses rather it’s training drivers to assist individuals with disabilities. They’re doing a lot of training currently.

Durhal said he rode a bus in Virginia and he appreciated witnessing how the bus driver handled an individual who was in a wheelchair.

Oglesby said there have been unique situations. As an example, he said someone got on a bus and put their stroller where a wheelchair would go.

Oglesby said drivers are trained to mediate situations such as the one described. Overall, they handle them on a case-by-case basis.

Durhal asked where DDOT is at with paratransit. He said they receive a lot of calls from seniors and individuals with disabilities who’ve said it needs improvement.

Regarding paratransit, Oglesby said they’re going to bring paratransit in-house. They’ll be doing a presentation during an upcoming council meeting. No confirmation of when, he did say “at the next meeting or the meeting after that”

DDOT is in the process of hiring all of the necessary internal staff to bring paratransit in-house. They have a manager overseeing the process and all managers are on board. They’re looking at schedulers and compliance needs now.

⚡️Oglesby said they fully anticipate DDOT will take over paratransit services by January!

Whitfield-Calloway asked about electric buses. DDOT currently has four electric buses on the road. Oglesby said they try to spread them out along routes. They were approved for a grant that will allow them to purchase 4 additional buses

The current buses are ProTerra. They don’t know yet which provider/manufacturer they want to provide all of DDOT’s buses. New Flyer also has electric buses. They’ll have 2 additional electric new flyer buses.

Oglesby briefly discussed a pilot program where DDOT would have one ConnectTen route running solely 60’ electric buses. He said his vision for down the road.

Oglesby said they don’t want to receive money and put electric buses in just because the money’s there and then later realize they can’t perform in the weather in Detroit. They want to see how the buses perform. They’ll be running the electric buses throughout the winter.

Whitfield-Calloway asked how old someone has to be to drive a bus. Oglesby said he think it’s 18 but he’s not sure. “I’ve never been asked that question because I’ve just hired anybody that’ll come up to me”. A department within DDOT will tell them if they can drive or not.

Whitfield-Calloway said she thinks they’d have recruitment outreach in high school because a lot of students aren’t interested in going to college right away and could use a gap year to start a career. She suggested they start doing outreach in that way.

In response to Benson’s question about a regional transit detail in one of the PowerPoint slides, Oglesby said they need to ensure all transit providers are on the same platform to create a fair replacement program.

Benson asked what they’re doing to make transit a first choice rather than a last resource. Oglesby said “DDOT Reimagined. We’re in the process of doing it right now.”

Oglesby said they hope to have a preliminary report sometime in November and a plan in place by the first quarter next year.

Regarding the low-income fare program, Oglesby said the current program is old and outdated. The fare study will help ensure they have the most up-to-date data to determine costs before implementing a new program.

Oglesby briefly discussed rapid transit. He said it requires a dedicated lane where vehicles actually share the road with vehicles but there’s some signal prioritization or something similar. They would have to work with MDOT on that.

Part of DDOT Reimagined looks at how they can implement rapid transit.

DDOT has a CDL program and they’ve been talking to DESC about the Skills for Life program. They haven’t merged the two yet.

And that concludes DDOT’s presentation about their proposed plans for ARPA funding they’re receiving.

Council is now discussing a request for an NEZ certificate. There were questions about the size of units which are only 400-750 square feet. Sheffield requested this item be brought back so she had time to ask questions.

Here’s more info: https://bit.ly/3e6dCty

Sheffield said she is not in favor of the micro units. She thinks they need to be attracting more families to live in the city which isn’t going to be a 350-square-foot apartment. They’re also costly.

Microunits are intended more for younger people that may be leaving college and are seeking housing in an area near their job and public transit.

The NEZ was approved. Whitfield-Calloway, Tate and Waters voted no.

Now under Section 14. Council members are discussing whether or not to postpone their vote on the ShotSpotter contract.

Santiago-Romero said she doesn’t support postponing the vote. She noted that over 40 people attended their meeting today who voiced their opposition regardless of the funding source

Santiago-Romero: “DPD and the administration had a whole campaign claiming that ShotSpotter decreased crime until they finally admitted last week that this technology does not.”

Santiago-Romero said she’s asking Council to vote down the contract to expand ShotSpotter today and begin working towards solutions that will prevent crime.

Whitfield-Calloway said she’s also opposed to postponing their vote. Her mind hasn’t changed regardless of the source of funding.

Tate requested Council postpone the vote for one week to allow the administration to swap out the funding source. He noted that council members are out engaging with the community on the issue and hear all sides of the debate.

Tate said he’s not sold on ShotSpotter being a preventative tool. He said fear is being tossed around on both sides and their job is to sift through all of it and decide what’s best.

Most of the discussion has been around the conversations they’re having with residents outside of city council meetings.

⚡️City Council formally postponed their vote on ShotSpotter. Santiago-Romero, Waters and Whitfield-Calloway voted no.

⚡️⚡️Council member Waters motioned to have Chief White come before the city council “to address the police behaving like a firing squad and killing a man that needed help and not execution.”

Water said “we need answers” and shooting a guy who needed help 30x is unacceptable. She wants Chief White to explain to council and the public what happened.

Here’s more information about the incident courtesy of @detroitnews
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2022/10/03/fatal-shooting-knife-mental-illness-detroit-police-officers-on-leave/69536990007/?gnt-cfr=1

⚡️⚡️⚡️Detroit Police will be holding a press conference at 3:00pm to discuss the recent officer-involved shooting that left one man dead.

Whitfield-Calloway asked why the taser didn’t work and if the department is buying defective equipment.

https://twitter.com/kayleighrenel/status/1577349106556702720?s=20&t=5Qn9GlZOV_oND3Q4h-Lqlw

Mr. Whittaker, Legislative Policy Division, said it would be best if council addressed their questions about the officer-involved shooting through the law department as there’s no doubt the family has retained an attorney to represent them.

Regarding the question about defective tasers, Mr. Whittaker advised Council that the proper department to address their questions is risk management.

There were a handful of questions raised and requests that council members have been directed by LPD to submit in writing.

With the exception of the ShotSpotter contract (postponed until next week), the remaining matters under Section 14 were approved.

Items under Sections 17 through 21 were referred to the appropriate standing committees.

Members reports were suspended for today. With nothing further on the agenda, the meeting was adjourned at 12:23pm.

This concludes the Detroit City Council Formal Session meeting on Tuesday, October 4th, 2022.

For more meeting coverage, check out http://documenters.org 🎉