Public Health and Safety Standing Committee

Detroit City Council

Health

Criminal Justice

Politics

Monday, Sept. 16, 2024
10:00 a.m. EDT

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This committee meeting will feature a presentation from the Tow Rate Commission at 10:20 a.m., by Auditor General Laura Goodspeed and Deputy Auditor General Mark Lockridge.

Join City Council Zoom Meeting: https://cityofdetroit.zoom.us/j/85846903626

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Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team

Live reporting by Kayleigh Lickliter

The 2024 Tow Rate Commission presented its proposed tow rate increases to the committee. Chair Gabriella Santiago-Romero said the committee would review and revisit the matter next week before forwarding it to City Council with a recommendation.

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel

Goooood morning, Detroit! ☀️ I’ll be live-tweeting the Detroit City Council Public Health & Safety Committee meeting today for #DETdocumenters @media_outlier @BridgeDet313 @freep @PlanetDetroit @wdet @metrotimes @chalkbeatDET @MichiganRadio @wxyzdetroit @DetDocumenters

09:20 AM Sep 16, 2024 CDT

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 2/66

Here is the agenda! pub-detroitmi.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?I…

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

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 3/66

The meeting started at 10:00am. I hopped on in the middle of public comment today.

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 4/66

1. Concerned about the senior solid waste fee application having limited accessibility. Encouraged others to vote.

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 5/66

2. Owner of BBK Towing. She inherited the company after her husband passed away, so she's still learning. Said this only sector that hasn't had a pay increase in so many years. Believes towers deserve it.

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 6/66

3. Concerned about absentee voter fraud allegations.

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 7/66

4. Spoke in support of the humane pet store ordinance on the agenda. Here is the ordinance: pub-detroitmi.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ash…

pub-detroitmi.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ash…

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 8/66

5. Wants to know whose appointed to certain boards like the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy.

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 9/66

6. Interested in aligning the paratransit system with the city’s climate and sustainability goals

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 10/66

7. Concerned about the lack of transit options available overnight to improve access to services and employment

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 11/66

8. Used to live in NC and the transit systems are way different. In Detroit, buses are frequently late and sometimes don't show up at all. The app is often inaccurate

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 12/66

9. Julie, from 7D’s Towing. Thanked city council for considering increasing tow rates after not receiving one for a decade.

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 13/66

10. Wants to see ordinances pass that protect the mentally ill. Said we can't have people provoking the mentally ill and killing them “in self defense.” Concerned about bias among district managers

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 14/66

And that concludes public comment!

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 15/66

Next up, a presentation from the tow rate commission. Rates are expected to increase for the first time in ten years. Santiago-Romero expects the presentation to long and asked to bring the proposed changes back next week so councilmembers have adequate time to review everything

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 16/66

The tow rate commission meetings have been very interesting. Here are live-tweets from the meeting last week. https://twitter.com/perrysylvester6/status/1833964083848045055

https://twitter.com/perrysylvester6/status/1833964083848045055

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 17/66

Auditor General Laura Goodspeed is now explaining the background of the commission. Its supposed to meet to review tow rates at least once every two years.

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 18/66

Members are appointed to the commission

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 19/66

Members are appointed by the mayors office and require certain representatives from the industry and city.

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 20/66

Explanation for the need to review tow rates

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Mark Lockridge, the former auditor general, is explaining why the commission hasn't met or reviewed in ten years. He said there was “no real appetite” to review tow rates during the city’s bankruptcy.

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 22/66

Per Lockridge, the commission has existed for over 20 years and this is the 3rd time they’ve come before city council regarding tow rates.

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 23/66

Interesting tidbit from the presentation: the cumulative inflation rate for motor vehicle insurance between 2013 and today is an estimated 97%.

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 24/66

How the commission approached their tow rate review. Goodspeed noted that some of the information wasn’t immediately available which presented challenges in benchmark comparisons

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 25/66

There are three types of tows: police-authorized, non-consensual and consensual towing.

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 26/66

Information on police authorized towing. 80-100% of police authorized towers (PATs) business is police-authorizing towing.

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 27/66

Bonding and insurance requirements for contracted tow companies

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 28/66

And here’s the licensing and permit requirements for junkyards, storage yards, etc

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 29/66

Tow fees are structured by category (cars, boats, campers, etc.) and size-based classifications

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 30/66

👀👀 Proposed tow rate changes for motor vehicles and recreation vehicles. “Second truck” means they had to call a second truck for assistance.

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 31/66

Goodspeed said Detroiters are most likely to be impacted by light-duty tow rates which include cars, SUVs, etc. The commission wasn’t able to find information about how the current tow rates were decided.

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 32/66

Proposed tow rates for boats, campers, trailers, and miscellaneous tows.

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 33/66

Storage and out-of-town retrieval fees. Storage fees would double with the proposed changes. Cars retrieved from other jurisdictions are typically handled by DPD per Goodspeed.

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 34/66

The administrative fee would remain $75 under the proposed rates. The fee goes toward services provided in the towing and impound process, including staffin, GovTow software, LEIN, etc

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 35/66

Other considerations including the hardship policy that allow fees to be waived for certain circumstances.

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 36/66

There's some brief discussion about waivers for stolen vehicles. Here’s @BridgeDet313’s recent article about residents who were charged to retrieve their stolen vehicles from city impound lots bridgedetroit.com/detroit-said-a…

bridgedetroit.com/detroit-said-a…

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 37/66

@BridgeDet313 Fees are waived for victims of violent crime (I.e. carjacking), and residents can fill out a waiver application if they're experiencing a financial hardship. Victims of auto theft can fill out the waiver if they don’t have proper insurance coverage.

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 38/66

@BridgeDet313 Re: disposal fees, the commission doesn’t have the authority to set those fees

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 39/66

@BridgeDet313 And that’s a wrap on the presentation! 💃🏼Onto councilmembers questions

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 40/66

@BridgeDet313 Note: the proposed rates will come back before the public health and safety committee next week. It will not be moved to formal session for a vote today.

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 41/66

@BridgeDet313 Police-authorized towing doesn’t include private property towing or anything requested by a private citizen through their insurance company. There are 5 PATs that are contracted with DPD right now.

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 42/66

@BridgeDet313 Re: predatory towing - some private companies drive around looking for towing opportunities and will go as far as approaching private citizens who are involved in accidents which is against city ordinances.

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 43/66

@BridgeDet313 Captain Jason Adams who serves as DPD’s Tow Monitor and oversees tow operations says identifying and investigating these instances is a challenge. Here’s some background on predatory towing in Detroit - bridgedetroit.com/price-gouging-…

bridgedetroit.com/price-gouging-…

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 44/66

@BridgeDet313 Adams said DPD doesn’t take a position on the fees but the $75 administrative fee covers the cost of salaries, software, etc. DPD tows 20% of all police-authorized tows so the department would realize a revenue increase based on those tows

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 45/66

@BridgeDet313 And that concludes the discussion about the proposed tow rates! ⏩

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 46/66

Items 6.1 through 6.5 were sent to formal session with recommendation to approve

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 47/66

6.6 is the proposed pet store ordinance and will be brought back in two backs. 👀 pub-detroitmi.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ash…

pub-detroitmi.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ash…

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 48/66

6.7 and 6.8 are memos/reports that were received and filed.

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 49/66

6.9 was removed from the agenda because it’s in the planning and economic development committee

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 50/66

7.1 through 7.16 will be brought back at the end of the agenda.

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 51/66

7.17 and 7.18 were sent to formal session with recommendation for approval

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 52/66

7.19 Discussion regarding upgrades to a 15-year old surveillance van used for illegal dumping and graffiti. The upgrades include new tech and communication capabilities. The contract was sent to formal with approval recommendation

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 53/66

7.20 through 7.22 were sent to formal with recommendation for approval

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 54/66

7.23 through 7.29 were sent to formal with recommendations for approval

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 55/66

Now discussing various matters related to the Detroit International Bridge Company.

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 56/66

These items are in accordance with the company’s agreement with the neighborhood, according to Luke Polcyn with the mayors office. The proposals make way for an overall project whereby the company plans to close St. Anne Street between Lafayette and Fort St.

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 57/66

The company is also constructing a “new 16th street” to create another route into the neighborhood. The former Greyhound site has been/is being demolished which the company hopes will put fears to rest re: intentions to expand the immigration plaza.

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 58/66

All of these items will be brought back next week. https://twitter.com/kayleighrenel/status/1835712665106215008

https://twitter.com/kayleighrenel/status/1835712665106215008

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 59/66

7.32, 7.33, 7.37, 7.38, 7.40-7.42 were all sent to formal with recommendations for approval

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 60/66

And we’re circling back to 7.1 now. This contract is related to an air quality monitoring program the city is implementing whereby there will be 19 air quality monitors in addition to those EGLE installed.

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 61/66

Data from the monitors will be available on a portal for the public to review. This work will complement air monitors the county installed with JustAir.

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 62/66

More info on the efforts to monitor air quality in the county. bridgedetroit.com/wayne-county-t…

bridgedetroit.com/wayne-county-t…

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 63/66

7.2 was removed at the request of the administration

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 64/66

7.3 through 7.15 were sent to formal with recommendations to approve. 7.16 was sent to formal without recommendation

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 65/66

And that’s a wrap! The meeting was adjourned at 12:35pm.

Kayleigh Lickliter @kayleighrenel 66/66

That concludes the Detroit City Council Public Health and Safety Committee meeting on Monday, September 16, 2024. For more meeting coverage, check out 🎉 Documenters.org

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Detroit City Council

www.detroitmi.gov

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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.