Detroit City Council Formal Session

Detroit City Council

Politics

Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025
10:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m. EST

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2 Woodward Ave Detroit, MI 48226 (Directions)

ERMA L. HENDERSON AUDITORIUM, Coleman A. Young Municipal Center

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Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team

Note-taking by Christiana Beckley

Detroit City Council heard calls to address the housing crisis, and approved procurement reforms aimed at simplifying the process and increasing opportunites for Detroit-based businesses.

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Live reporting by Benjamin Haddix

Detroit City Council heard calls to address the housing crisis, and approved procurement reforms aimed at simplifying the process and increasing opportunites for Detroit-based businesses.

Bhx

Hello! I’ll be live tweeting the Detroit City Council formal session meeting at 10:00am for #DETDocumenters. Media Partners: @DetDocumenters media partners: @BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET @freep @metrotimes @Michigan_Public @media_outlier @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit

08:59 AM Feb 11, 2025 CST

Bhx @BhxDetroit 2/27

Here is a link to today's agenda: pub-detroitmi.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?I…

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

Bhx @BhxDetroit 3/27

The meeting has been called to order at 10:09.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 4/27

Presentation honoring the Cass Tech football team, who won the 2024 Division I State Championship.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 5/27

*…is happening now.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 6/27

And now the Council is hosting a presentation from RacquetUp Detroit. An organization that braids Squash (like racquet ball?) and academics.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 7/27

Here is a link to their website if you re curious: racquetup.org

racquetup.org

Bhx @BhxDetroit 8/27

I had never heard of RacquetUp but it seems pretty cool. If for no other reason than to recenter the body (and exercise) in how people learn – – as opposed to being forced to sit still in a chair for 8 hours every day and there's something wrong with you if you can't do that.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 9/27

Public comments have begun.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 10/27

There have been a number of comments from public commenters disparaging immigrants (sometimes specifically illegal immigrants), suggesting that the only immigrants are Mexican, and additionally suggesting that the council prioritizes immigrants over black Detroiters.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 11/27

… This is a theme that has grown in public comments over the past few weeks.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 12/27

A lot of discussion in the public comments regarding houseless Detroiters access to safe housing and shelter – specifically related to the recent death of 2 children who died from the cold while sleeping/living in a van.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 13/27

A number of public commenters calling for more funding be assigned in the new budget toward DDOT and broader public transportation infrastructure.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 14/27

Public comments have ended.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 15/27

Some discussion regarding micro-purchases by the city (like catering for city events, for example) and how the city can prioritize Detroit-based businesses. Specifically an amendment to fund an e-bidding system for the city to find suppliers and contracting businesses.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 16/27

… And the idea is that the e-bidding system would be more accessible for Detroit-based businesses (because of its design, not necessarily because of the technology).

Bhx @BhxDetroit 17/27

So some clarity, this is an ordinance, line item 16.1, that would, with certain requirements and redesign efforts, prioritize Detroit-based small businesses for city contracts. It was approved.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 18/27

Continued conversation with the city's procurement for Police uniform tailoring. This is related to a conversation last week, and is related also to this broader conversation regarding where the city is granting contracts (and whether it is local to Detroit or not).

Bhx @BhxDetroit 19/27

Benson suggests that the council needs to be careful not to bring black, Detroit businesses to the table only to then hold a bidding that structurally favors big companies over small local businesses.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 20/27

This discussion about the tailoring contract for the DPD is related to line item 19.5. The contract is currently with Sonya DZines Custom Couture out of Eastpointe, MI.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 21/27

*or rather the proposed contract would be with that company.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 22/27

Santiago-Romero will host an info session about the city budget and how to advocate for what you'd like to see. Tomorrow, 6:00-7:30 @ UAW Local 22, 4300 Michigan Ave.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 23/27

Others on the council discuss opportunities to learn about the city's budget planning and to advocate for changes to the budget. Here is a link to the city's event page where you can find more: detroitmi.gov/Calendar-and-E…

detroitmi.gov/Calendar-and-E…

Bhx @BhxDetroit 24/27

… And a specific event offered in District 2 by Calloway regarding the budget: detroitmi.gov/events/navigat…

detroitmi.gov/events/navigat…

Bhx @BhxDetroit 25/27

Meeting has adjourned at 1:55pm.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 26/27

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@outliermedia.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 27/27

This concludes my coverage of the [meeting title]. Learn more about our coverage of local meetings here: Documenters.org

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Transcript and recording

By Noah, Detroit - MI Documenters Team ⋅ February 11th, 2025

PDF transcript: Detroit City Council — Formal Session, 2/11/2025

By Noah, Detroit - MI Documenters Team ⋅ February 11th, 2025

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.