Detroit City Council Formal Session
Detroit City Council
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
10:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m. EDT
Remote
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Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team
Councilmembers approved a resolution to name the transit center at the Michigan State Fairgrounds after Jason Hargrove, a DDOT bus driver who βled the call on safety protocols during the COVID-19 pandemicβ, and ultimately died from COVID-19.
Councilmembers approved a resolution to name the transit center at the Michigan State Fairgrounds after DDOT bus driver Jason Hargrove. The Coleman A. Young Municipal Center will be closed, and council meetings canceled April 22-23, due to activities related to the NFL Draft.
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07:45 AM Apr 9, 2024 CDT
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There is now a quorum; the clerk is calling the roll.
Waters, Sheffield, Johnson, Durhall present. Council member Santiago-Romero will not be present today.
President Sheffield is wearing a mask.
They will go straight to a presentation, and cut off public comment right after.
Benson said that people don't realize how much data is available at the SEMCOG website.
#1 Kary Fraiser from Detroit is Different wants to let Detroiters know about an upcoming event during the NFL Draft that will take place in Detroit. His event will take place at Marygrove Conservancy on Sun April 21st 2-6pm.
Quoting from the Quran. Now speaking to the "billions of dollars in bonds". Residents are drowning...
"the interest is almost as much as the principle"
I don't want to hear about these invisible people working for me.
Talking about seeing council members on their phones and devices during the meeting.
Concerned about the Police Department, etc.
Why are city officials following her in their vehicles? Going to internal affairs after this.
Said the council members work for us.
Has a complaint against a management company.
Calloway met a family that was staying in the cold out by 8 miles and helped with some shelter.
On Saturday, she was at a laundromat and met a woman who was washing clothes. She was in the process of being evicted.
Went to the coffee hour with Member Calloway.
Happy to hear about investments in housing and noting that residents are coming to the council to report on housing issues.
#9. Transit/ disability advocate speaking about the budget process. Talking about the low-income bus fare program that may not have been funded at all.
Said the previous calling was speaking gibberish.
Regarding the low-income fare program, there are so many other important issues. Is glad the council didn't consider it.
Why are we paying taxes we don't owe? We are still being illegally overtaxed.
Family has been around in the city since his grandfather's generation. Operated a pizza business downtown for 35 years. Advocated for community benefit agreements.
Speaking about the problem of missing black women and children. Also, manipulation of crime statistics. People may not report crime to police.
Thinks that city vehicles are getting more wear and tear leaving the city...
Not many of our dollars are staying and turning over in the city. That is not happening to the extent that it can.
Ditto to everything Mr. Foster said. Appreciated the council and was with them last night. First time going through the entire budget process. The council was there until midnight. Noticed there wasn't anything in there for community orgs and parks.
Wants to speak on administrative rules and procedures.
Residents need to know the process and procedures so they can reference and document.
#16. Virginia Park Community, saying we should have a participatory budget. Spoke about various budget priorities and also talked about homes the community was trying to purchase from the Detroit Land Bank.
Talking about women and children needing shelter.
Here's more on Marguerite from @media_outlier
Please help for everyone to get around
On Black media, we need it, we've been left out long enough.
On East Davidson, between Justine and Phelan, the traffic light doesn't work and needs to be changed, you can't get through.
On the issue of fireworks at 3am, it's unacceptable.
Appreciates the process, but black people in Detroit are left out of a lot of things.
Trying to get trees cut down and alley worked on.
Thanked council for budget efforts.
We need a participatory budget process, which is a future priority. Detroit needs a climate plan.
Inflation Reduction Act allows tax credits, creates jobs, saves lives, and saves the average Michigander $11,000 per year...
Asking council to consult with the Michigan Environmental Council and Climate Action Network.
Member Coleman Young has joined.
Has a question for Protem Tate, in regards to the NFL Draft and businesses, non-profit involvement during the draft. The draft should be participatory for residents.
Asking residents to pay water bills and sign up for the lifeline plan.
Woke up to homicide detectives and a crime scene unit outside of his house in District 3.
Speaking about applicants for the solar program, today was a bold reminder of why their application should be considered.
A deceased person was found on his block today.
Talking about a proposal for a "no mow May" to encourage pollinators, other communities like Ferndale are doing it.
Speaking to various contracts on the agenda, asking why the city would spend $272,000 on a single building.
There's a whole lot of emergency demolitions, why?
We need a database to track whether these women and girls are being found.
#24 ADOS Detroit
and 16.2 Pilot programs, wants to know who pays for various services
how about the contaminated sites that Young believes she should look up.
Spoke to various resolutions under Budget Finance and Audit Standing
Parking in downtown Detroit should be made accessible for seniors. Most of the parking in the area around the Municipal Center is too expensive.
Asking about a flag that could be flown for MLK Day and Juneteenth...
Asking Siri to define incompetence. Calls in frequently with concerns and to criticize personally specific council members.
He is upset that his public comment is cut off frequently.
Passes out bus tickets east to west and north to south. There's a great need in the city. People are speaking against free fare or ticket assistance because they don't care to encounter or be in a community with people who need those services.
More on Michael Cunningham:
Resolution approved.
Durhal requests waiver. Johnson rejects, motion fails.
Resolution approved.
Durhal requests waiver, accepted.
Follow along here:
The buildings department wants the building closed because of NFL Draft traffic.
They can't close the building when public meetings are scheduled because of the Open Meetings Act.
Detroit Mayor Duggan will also be shutting down city services during the draft.
The law department is on board with these closures.
Appointing William Marquez to the Historic District Commission effective immediately and expiring on February 14, 2027.
Calloway will be a no vote on 17.2, has expressed concern already.
All 3 resolutions approved.
Tate had objections. All approved.
100% Major Street Funding β To Provide Irrigation Systems Repair and Maintenance. β Contractor: American Sprinkler & Landscape, Inc. β Location: 34567 Glendale, Detroit, MI 48150
and 19.2
Contract No. 6005583 - 70% ARPA & 30 CDBG% Funding β To Provide a Data Management & Incentive Solution Portal for the Housing and Revitalization Department.
and 19.2 approved.
Reprogramming Amendment to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Annual Action Plans for Multiple Fiscal Years.
Tate requests waiver, action taken.
is approved.
Emergency demolitions, upgrades/helicopter maintenance for the Police department, underground utility marking, and staking services.
Sheffield will postpone these items until someone from DPD can come speak to the council about it.
Calloway asked to join Benson in supporting this resolution.
Resolution approved with waiver attached.
Benson joins in support.
Resolution passed.
Here is 21.4 through 21.17
Valarie Massey is joining, they want to make sure they are approving the right amount for increase of funds for bus tires, it's a contract increase. It might be the wrong description...
Calloway is saying services remain the same, why is the city eating the cost of the increase?
Calloway is a no on 21.9
Some waivers were attached.
Extension for the Piston's Basketball court renovation project and game room equipment for Detroit Recreation Centers.
Resolution Relative To The Michigan Public Service Commission rejecting the DTE Rate Increase Request.
Calloway joins in support. No objections.
Resolution passed with waiver attached.
Calloway asking how many helicopters DPD has in its fleet?
Answer 2.
Asking if they are trying to get the ready for the NFL Draft.
Answer: yes, which is why they are asking for an extension to the contract.
and 20.4 are approved.
The resolution is for Mark Gates? I had trouble hearing the resolution.
Sheffield wanted a completion of the language, council has received the contract previously according to member Johnson.
No additional issues from the clerk.
Johnson said 19.4 should be referred to the proper committee, internal operations.
At 6pm, 490 Conner Street at Emmual Grace Church.
Member Waters: a workshop 17950 Vandyke, this Saturday April 13th, noon until 2pm.
Emergency protest in Palmer Park, seniors without access to an elevator or heat, Friday 10:30 to 11:30 at 17437 Third Avenue.
Young motions to approve 32.1 and 32.2, and action is taken.
Tate ended the adjourned the meeting at 12:45 PM.
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Attachments
Agency Information
Detroit City Council
The Detroit City Council is the legislative body of Detroit, Michigan, United States. The Council is responsible for the creation of local lawsβcalled 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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