Detroit City Council Formal Session

Detroit City Council

Politics

Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025
10:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m. EST

View meeting details

Add to iCal

Add to Google Calendar

2 Woodward Ave Detroit, MI 48226 (Directions)

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

Remote Event Link

Check the source website for additional information

Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team

Live reporting by Benjamin Haddix

Police and water dept officials gave an update on the Southwest water main break. Public commenters spoke in support of the Right to Renew ordinance. The council approved the appointment of Todd Bettison as police chief, and with a 5-4 vote approved new towing rates.

Bhx

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

09:00 AM Feb 18, 2025 CST

Bhx @BhxDetroit 2/31

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

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

Bhx @BhxDetroit 3/31

Meeting has been called to order at 10:10.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 4/31

The agenda will proceed until someone (from BSEED?) arrives to discuss the water main break that occurred in SW Detroit.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 5/31

*Sheffield tells us.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 6/31

Public comments have started.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 7/31

Commenters (from Detroit Tenants Association, for example) are advocating for the Right To Renew Ordinance.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 8/31

Here is a link to the Detroit Tenants Association Instagram page: instagram.com/detroittenants…

instagram.com/detroittenants…

Bhx @BhxDetroit 9/31

A lot of advocacy for addressing houselessness in the city at its roots – racist infringements of tenants rights, for example.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 10/31

Sorry, *a lot of commenters are advocating for (supporting houseless people and remediating the causes of houselessness)

Bhx @BhxDetroit 11/31

Public comments have been paused for an update regarding the water main break in SW Detroit.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 12/31

Update from Detroit Water and Sewage Department director Gary Brown and DPD – they speak to meaningful collaboration and success to clearing water from the area of the break.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 13/31

DWSD director Brown indicates that while this is a situation that happens because of the deep frost line. He articulates the progress and continued, systematic work on improving the aging infrastructure (not clear if this is the reason why the break happened). …

Bhx @BhxDetroit 14/31

… He suggests this is an unusual situation because large water mains like this usually are not running through neighborhoods, but it is the case here because it is close to a water treatment plant.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 15/31

Council member Young II asks the rep from the DPD [paraphrasing]: because the city is going along with the mass deportation, how can people feel safe getting support and their claims met after this disaster without fear of being targeted?

Bhx @BhxDetroit 16/31

… The DPD rep says that the DPD is not in the business of deportation and we never will be. He says indicates that related to this concern, the number to call for claims related to this situation is a generic number (rather than having to call 911 for claims). …

Bhx @BhxDetroit 17/31

… That number for damage claims related to this water main break in SW Detroit is: 313-774-5261.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 18/31

We are back to public comments now.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 19/31

There has been a number of callers referencing that the woman who lost her children to the cold while living out of their van had previously come before council asking for help. Sheffield suggests that she does not remember this happening and that it is untrue.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 20/31

Todd Bettison is being officially appointed by the council to chief of police.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 21/31

Most items on the agenda have been approved by the council so far without too much discussion. Line item 16.4, regarding compensation for various roles with the police commission, saw an objection from Calloway (for a reason I either missed or was not stated?).

Bhx @BhxDetroit 22/31

Council member Calloway also objects to line items 19.6-19.9 after some discussion with a rep from the Department of Transportation regarding the lateness of the department seeking a contract renewal …

Bhx @BhxDetroit 23/31

… i.e. with only a week left before the contract expires, Calloway suggests the council has their back against a wall in their decision making process.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 24/31

In terms of line item 19.15, there is some discussion regarding the status of a grant from Michigan Economic Development Corporation toward Jefferson Chalmers Flood prevention. …

Bhx @BhxDetroit 25/31

…It appears that the status of the grant will be known in the next few days. The council approves, and accepts the grant worth 1 million.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 26/31

Line item 19.16, a resolution to set the towing rates and fees in accordance with the recommendation of the Tow Rate Commission, is passed with a majority, seeing however 4 objections. …

Bhx @BhxDetroit 27/31

… This is an item that had saw a couple advocates during public comments. At least one of these callers was a representative from a towing company.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 28/31

The council has voted for a closed session on February 25th to discuss with the law department a confidential communication titled: "City of Detroit Reverse Conviction Lawsuit Status Report" dated October 4, 2024.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 29/31

Meeting has adjured at 1:07pm.

Bhx @BhxDetroit 30/31

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 31/31

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

Documenters.org

View thread

Note-taking by Nia Harris

View notes

Attachments

2 attachments

Transcript and recording

By Noah, Detroit - MI Documenters Team ⋅ February 18th, 2025

PDF transcript: Detroit City Council — Formal Session, 2/18/2025

By Noah, Detroit - MI Documenters Team ⋅ February 18th, 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.