Detroit City Council Formal Session, 10 a.m.

Detroit City Council
Politics

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Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team

Live reporting by Kayleigh Lickliter

City council returns to Erma L. Henderson auditorium on Jan. 31

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Access council’s calendar, links to join meetings virtually, and watch previous meetings on City Council’s website:

https://detroitmi.gov/government/city-council

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Agenda: http://bit.ly/3w7LJXp

Note: select the HTML version to access documents by clicking the 📎 next to every item. The PDF version combines all relevant documents into one.

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Watch today’s meeting live on Channel 10: http://detroit-vod.cablecast.tv/CablecastPublicSite/watch/6?channel=1

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

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I’m jumping in the meeting a few minutes late.

Items under Sections 6 through 10 were referred to the appropriate standing committees

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🚨 Public Comment is starting now!

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  1. Spoke about his concerns related to unlimited tax obligation bonds and the way they were noticed/issued. He said they weren’t properly noticed and they’re being used for the wrong purposes.
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  1. Said FCA moved in and brought a lot of problems with them. Residents haven’t been compensated despite being told they would. Recommended holding back contracts until the air quality violations are addressed.
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  1. Also spoke about the way UTGO bonds were noticed. Said transportation is inadequate.
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  1. Spoke about her transportation company, Metro Mobility, and the level of services they provide.

Sheffield responded and confirmed she has connected with the procurement department

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  1. Spoke about Jefferson Chalmers Water Project. https://jeffersonchalmerswaterproject.org/index1.html
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  1. Bob Carmack said he served the mayor with a subpoena to appear for a deposition next week. Spoke briefly about lawsuit allegations against the mayor.
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  1. Said his family members’ death was improperly ruled a homicide as there were no gun stipplings found.

https://wdet.org/2021/12/23/a-grieving-mother-seeks-answers-after-detroit-police-investigation-of-daughters-shooting-death/

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Now moving to virtual public comments!

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  1. Wants illegal tax foreclosures to stop. Expressed frustration with the city over her ability to participate in home repair programs.
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  1. Feels city council looks out for corporations but not the people, citing council’s decision for Gilbert’s tax breaks. Doesn’t think the FCA issue should take thing long to rectify.
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  1. Cunningham - shared details about an upcoming DDOT meeting. Asked for prayers as he gets his vehicle fixed

http://bit.ly/3CQKFLC

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  1. Said a Downtown Development Authority report they received was missing numbers/data. Spoke about a report for the tiny homes program - said she’s heard concerns about the tiny houses not having bathrooms or kitchens.
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  1. Wants to see information provided in plain language. Asked how Mayor Duggan plans to pay for services when he takes over MDOT’s responsibilities as it relates to cleaning freeways. https://bit.ly/3WxbFqx
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  1. Doesn’t feel the city has been transparent about Right to Counsel. Asked why the city didn’t propose alternative options during the Transdev vote. Said riders’ requests have been ignored despite DDOT holding meetings. Requested updates on State Fairgrounds commitments.
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Sheffield asked that an update about State Fairgrounds commitments be taken up during Planning & Economic Development Committee

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Whitfield-Calloway asked to line item an issue regarding a building that’s being constructed in front of the Amazon warehouse (?)

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  1. Asked if the city is going to use bike lines for AI services (?). They haven’t seen the lanes being used for bikes. Also asked about rat baiting to address resident concerns in Virginia Park
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Whitfield-Calloway asked for a study about the way bike lanes are being used. Said she doesn’t see that they are and wants to know if they should be moved.

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  1. Supports receiving an update on the state fairgrounds. Wants to see the city do better with communication with the public about issues that are of importance to the community that’s impacted.
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  1. Spoke about the dock collapse and said it’s possible that contaminated soil went into an intake pipe (?) before the collapse. They still haven’t received an update. Said DPD has been “terrible” with following up on major property crimes
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16 (cont’d) Also spoke about overtaxation and thinks having a Democrat-controlled legislature is an opportunity to right the wrong that’s been done. Also concerned about mental health and trauma being left untreated in the community.

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And that concludes public comment for today!

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Items under Section 17 were approved without objections.

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17.5, 17.6, and 17.8 were sent back to committee. Johnson said they’re waiting to schedule a closed session on the matters.

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Line item 17.7 failed approval. This was discussed during a closed session before council went on recess. https://t.co/2E4rNMEXD6

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17.1 through 17.4 were approved
17.5, 17.6 and 17.8 were sent back to committee
17.7 failed approval
17.9-17.29 have been approved

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17.30-17.32 were approved

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Santiago-Romero asked if task forces have to provide annual reports.

Sheffield said yes, per council rules an annual report should be submitted to the clerk’s office

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Now on Section 18.

18.1-18.3 were approved https://t.co/pbU1ed9g1L

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Whitfield-Calloway said she’s interested in providing contractors an incentive for completing contracts on time, similar to what the state started doing. She’s concerned about contractors “nickel and dime-ing” the city.

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The remaining items (all grants) under Section 18 were approved.

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19.1 is an amendment to the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance that would establish specific requirements for housing developments that receive ARPA funding. (20% of units would have to be affordable, etc.) https://t.co/INdp3zKC3T

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Note: To my knowledge, the only development that has received ARPA funding so far is Lee Plaza.

http://bit.ly/3WlZwV0

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The Inclusionary Housing Ordinance amendment was unanimously approved

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19.2 is a zoning ordinance amendment that reclassified auto-related establishments and creates spacing requirements.

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Durhal said this is related to the mayor’s moratorium on auto-related establishments due to their proliferation to auto-related businesses and scrap yards. The issue has been an issue in his district as well as others.

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Here’s a presentation that provides more info on the new zoning requirements: https://bit.ly/3GOy5gO

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The Law Department clarified that the ordinance amendment before council today is not the “reconciled” version which reflects the “market” ordinance. The updated version will be submitted to the legal news and doesn’t change the language

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Note: the Law Department’s clarification was a little confusing 🙃

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The zoning ordinance amendment was approved

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Santiago-Romero asked if the two vendors for the below contracts can come before council to provide updates on the progress. https://t.co/A2o3OYByhk

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There was a request for more info about the affordable housing navigator that is supposed to assist residents in locating affordable housing.

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Keegan Mahoney, Program Director with HRD, said the site is live. The website is http://homeconnect.detroitmi.gov

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There are currently 160 affordable housing developments listed on the site. They’ve been getting the word out during block club and community-based meetings. They’re looking to do a full marketing plan.

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There’s a range of units with various availability statuses. Some have wait lists, some are still under construction, etc.

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Residents can sign up to receive notifications when units become available.

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Waters asked about the status of a call center that was supposed to roll out. Mr. Mahoney couldn’t provide info on the status but said they anticipate the site will be used by housing counselors to assist residents in locating housing.

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re: the need for an amendment - Mahoney said when they drafted the initiative, they expected to bring on a team of software engineers but the budget didn’t allow enough room for them to do so. Ongoing maintenance/engineering is being done through a software firm.

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19.1 through 19.24 and 19.26 were approved(including the contracts discussed above)

19.25 was sent back to committee

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Now discussing the Auditor General’s appointment. The appointment expires February 21st. More info: https://bit.ly/3QIu8Pv

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The discussion has mostly been centered around the process for appointing a new auditor general. A motion was made to have LPD, “or whoever’s responsible”, post the position.

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If a selection isn’t made by February 21st, the Deputy Auditor General would serve as interim.

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Whitfield-Calloway expressed concern about the lack of notice, noting that Council President received a letter dated January 13th notifying her of the upcoming expiration.

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Sheffield said she doesn’t want to put the burden of responsibility solely on LPD because they’re all elected officials and should be aware of when appointments expire.

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A motion to have LPD post the Auditor General position was approved.

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Councilmember Tate said that DPD was holding a press conference about the murder of Tracey Golden during today’s council meeting. He thanked everyone involved in getting the suspect off the streets.

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Tate also asked about the process for redrawing city council districts.

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LPD said one of the problems they’re encountering is the “numbers”. They said census data is “somewhat up in the air” and they want that issue to be settled before moving forward.

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LPD said they plan on moving forward with the process sometime in March, or right after the budget settles. They anticipate City Council districts will be redrawn ahead of the next election

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The process for redistricting council districts isn’t outlined in the city charter. State law doesn’t provide dates but it does provide parameters for doing so.

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Whitfield-Calloway wished her sorority sisters a “happy founders day”

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Waters gave condolences to Ms. Golden’s family.

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Sheffield thanked council members who’ve submitted their recommendations for the Reparations Task Force and reminded those who haven’t to submit theirs.

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👀 Sheffield said Benson, Johnson, and Tate have submitted their recommendations for the Reparations Task Force. Her goal is to hold interviews and have the positions seated by the end of February

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⚡️ Council is planning to hold formal session on January 31st in the Erma Henderson Auditorium! 🎉🎉

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And with nothing further to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 12:37pm.

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This concludes the Detroit City Council Formal Session meeting on Tuesday, January 17th, 2023.

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

Note-taking by Roseann Micallef

City council returns to Erma L. Henderson auditorium on Jan. 31

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.

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