Detroit City Council Formal Session, 10 a.m.

Here’s the agenda for today

https://pub-detroitmi.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=9a4e98c7-4a1c-4561-9ef9-ada6c44ea83e&Agenda=Agenda&lang=English

There are multiple ways for the public to attend, including in-person See the top of agenda for instructions to attend by phone, or visit city council’s website at http://detroitmi.gov to obtain the Zoom link.

If you want to watch but not participate, you can also tune in to Channel 10 to watch live

http://detroit-vod.cablecast.tv/CablecastPublicSite/watch/6?channel=1

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

The meeting is called to order at 10:05am!

Santiago-Romero will not be here this morning. All others are present.

Invocation is by Fred Brown this morning! https://t.co/5UMJt4jmxN

Angela Whitfield-Calloway said Pastor Brown is the reason she wants to start a “blight patrol.” She said he drives around and reports blighted properties

Items under sections 6 through 10 on the agenda were referred to the appropriate standing committee.

🚨 Public comment is starting now!

1. Russ Bellant questioned why a council member proposed taking $15M out of the library’s budget to use for other purposes

1. Mike Essian, American Community Developers - addressing concerns related to the Himelhoch building. They requested that rental assistance for Himelhoch be directed to Brush Watson, a new development.

The time expired for public comment but Sheffield said she would allow Mr. Essian to continue as they intended to have him speak on the issue

Essian said that HUD’s many regulations are confusing but if approved, residents of Himelhoch will have 3 options.

1. Stay at Himelhoch and they’re advocating for tenant protections through HUD
2. Move to Brush Watson
3. Move to another development the resident chooses with “tenant protection vouchers”

Essian said half of the units at Himelhoch are set aside as affordable for residents making 30-80% AMI. Regardless, they intend to ensure residents of Himelhoch will be able to pay income-based rent

Another meeting for Himelhoch residents will be held in April. They also held a meeting in December.

1. Resident of Himelhoch said the HUD vouchers have NOT been approved by HUD.

1. Another Himelhoch resident said they were informed nine days before Christmas. She said the situation has changed since residents came to city council with their concerns.

1. (cont’d) “When the city was abandoned, when everybody left, the seniors kept the community, downtown and the neighborhoods going.”

Whitfield-Calloway responded to residents of Himelhoch apartments and said she remembers when the apartment was designated for seniors, giving them the ability to live, work, and play downtown. She supports residents that want to stay.

5 and 6 both addressed overassessed residents and the state of evictions which threatens the stability of residents.

1. Spoke about city officials hiring family and paying them high salaries

https://www.freep.com/story/news/columnists/ml-elrick/2023/04/02/detroit-officials-give-jobs-to-relatives-nepotism-debate/70061511007/

1. Auto mechanic with Local 229 - has concerns about being paid properly and the lack of raises. Sheffield said she addressed this during budget deliberations and they’re looking to fund a one-time stipend for city auto mechanics.

1. Resident of 65 years and with Detroit action. Said she was fortunate to have a program that helped her pay her property taxes when she was at risk of losing her home. Wants to pay back by advocating for assistance m for others at risk. Also supports mental health funding

1. Advocated for funding for Right to Counsel and Office of Violence Prevention, said they need to support people who are on the ground working to curb violence in the community.

1. Doesn’t feel like there’s enough emphasis on violence prevention. Doesn’t want the Office of Violence Prevention to be connected to DPD

https://twitter.com/kayleighrenel/status/1643261009723891716

1. Asked what council is going to do for residents, instead of billionaires

1. Resident of Himelhoch apartments - said there were bad fumes after she moved in. Was told the only way to get things moving would be to hold rent.

1. With the Detroit Justice Center and said the office of violence prevention needs to be fully funded “not $10 million crumbs”. Said they need $50M. Also advocated for prevention, not just intervention

Durhal responded and reiterated that the cost of one life exceeds any dollar amount. He said the gun violence task force addresses more than just that and it’s not connected to the police department.

Young also discussed his advocacy for a guaranteed income program

1. Another ACSME Local 229 employee said the city broke the contract by hiring city employees as auto mechanics and paying them more.

Sheffield said they are aware of the issues. There’s limitations due to collective bargaining agreements

1. ACSME Local 229 employee spoke about what they described as “abuse” such as cutting pensions and pay.

17 was also a Local 229 employee speaking to the same concerns

1. Concerned about residents not bringing their garbage cans in after trash is picked up

1. ACSME Local 229 employee said they’re stuck at the bottom with no opportunity of earning higher wages, citing concerns about unqualified employees being hired by the city for higher wages

1. District 4 resident expressed empathy for communities impacted by mass evictions and supports fully funding Right to Counsel

1. Said she’s had to bounce around from home to home and is unsure of who her landlord is anymore. Advocated for increased tenant protections

1. Said the budget should reflect community values. Supports fully funding Right to Counsel and the Office of Violence Prevention

1. Supports others who’ve spoken today and an eviction that’s taking place today where bailiffs have become violent in their attempt to evict a tenant. Used to be an EMT, now responding to calls for folks facing evictions and foreclosure

1. Said their homeless and sleep in their truck because of a crime they were convicted of in the 90’s. Said he served 5 years for a crime he didn’t commit and he’s homeless because of it

1. Supports programs that assist Detroiters who were overassessed.

1. Urged council to say yes to fully funding Right to Counsel, office of violence prevention and programs for overtaxed residents.

1. Supports fully funding Right to Counsel and Office of Violence Prevention, and funding the Housing Trust Fund

1. Talked about the police outside of the auditorium.

1. Her home is on the demo list after her caught fire. “We are still in the dark. We have no power, no water, no electricity, no food, no nothing.”

Sheffield rallied council and administration staff together to support her while she was there

1. Has concerns about the Banglatown community and the impact on the area. Tate responded and said “we” need to be careful to not pit marginalized groups against each other.

A note following the previous comment just to say that Banglatown has been targeted by vandals recently and it’s important that we recognize how our words inspire others to act, both positively and negative.

https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2022/11/12/welcome-sign-for-community-largely-made-of-bangladeshi-americans-targeted-by-vandals/

1. Resident of Himelhoch apartments and said “I wanna be left alone.”

Most of the virtual comments (21) have been related to housing, right to counsel, the office of violence prevention, etc. (similar to what was heard earlier)

Lots of support for funding Right to Counsel and the Office of Violence Prevention today, as well as addressing mental health and supporting the reopening of library branches.

Virtual public comment has concluded!

We’re now under Section 16. The two NEZ certificates were approved https://t.co/OzwTSQSTNi

➡️ Section 17

Item 17.1 is postponed for one week. https://t.co/SidkEepML0

Now discussing a national opioid settlement (17.8)

The settlement for the entire country was around $14 billion with $446M going to the state of Michigan. Detroit will receive $12.69M of the state’s settlement.

The funds will have to be used to address substance use disorder.

The opioid settlement is approved.

With the exception of item 17.1, which will be brought back next week, the remaining items under Section 17 are approved

Now discussing a petition to host a cannabis event at the end of the month (18.1)

https://pub-detroitmi.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=89793

Council member Tate addressed concerns that he’s heard from residents about being notified of an event before it’s too late. The event has gone through allllllll of the proper processes.

⚡️ Petition for the first-ever licensed cannabis event in the city of Detroit was approved.

19.1 through 19.5 were approved.

Now discussing a resolution urging the administration to restore city council members as “neighborhood lot endorsers”

https://pub-detroitmi.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=89860

Tate: “I believe that the best endorsers are the folks who live in a neighborhood and not folks who sit in our seats”

Tate said the fact that the Dept of Neighborhoods has the same ability has kept him quiet on the issue and his concerns

Sheffield said council’s endorsement is an option, rather than a requirement.

Whitfield-Calloway joined Sheffield in support of the resolution (19.6) and it was approved

➡️ Section 20

⚡️ City council unanimously approved an event petition for the 2023 @detroitgp! 🏎️🏁

Whitfield-Calloway and Waters voted no on 20.3 and 20.4. Sheffield also voted no on 20.3. Whitfield-Calloway said she’s confident in the city’s ability to procure services from a vendor in Detroit.

👀 Council members are now voting to appoint the city’s next Auditor General. The appointment is for a ten-year term.

⚡️ City council has unanimously appointed Laura Goodspeed as the city’s Auditor General, effective today.

All items under Section 20 have been approved. https://twitter.com/kayleighrenel/status/1643296196289519645

Items under section 21 through 26 were referred to the appropriate standing committees

👀⚡️ Sheffield announced that the city’s first Reparation Task Force will be next Thursday, April 13th at 4:00-6:00pm.

The public can attend in-person at the Erma Henderson Auditorium or online via Zoom.

Sheffield’s office will be hosting an Easter basket giveaway on Sunday from 2-4:00pm at the art block on Holden St.

Conversations with the President will resume April 20th at the Butzel Family Center from 6-8:00pm.

Anyone interested in hosting a Tenant’s Rights Workshop can contact @MsMarySheffield’s office

North End Landing is hosting a Brownfield virtual community meeting on April 10th 5-6:30pm

Young: His office will be hosting a virtual community meeting on April 12th from 5-6:00pm

Waters: Skilled Trades Task Force on April 19th at Randolph.

Minority Business Summit April 27th starting at 9:00am at Wayne County Community College’s Northwest Campus

Whitfield-Calloway will be at Petty Cash from 5-8pm tomorrow for a meet and greet with District 2 businesses owners.

Monthly coffee hour will be April 10th 8:00-9:00am at 8550 Chippewa

Whitfield-Calloway will be walking in Palmer Park tomorrow for National Walking Day from 8-9:00am. Attendeees will receive a free shirt!

Whitfield-Calloway gave a shout out to Renaissance High School’s chess team for being national champions

Johnson: She’s hosting a coffee hour with the city Obudsman on April 14th from 8:00-9:00am. Also gave a shout out to the District 4 Business Liaison for a commercial corridor event they hosted

Durhal thanked everyone for the birthday wishes, as well as those who attended the Returning Citizens Job Fair this weekend

Durhal: April 13th 6-8:00pm at Brennan Pool House

District 7 is hosting a Parks & Rec Discussion with the General Services Department to discuss permits.

Durhal: Hosting coffee hour on April 14th at McDonalds on Plymouth Rd from 9-10:30am

And with nothing further on the agenda, the meeting adjourned at 1:07pm 🎉

This concludes the Detroit City Council Formal Session meeting on Tuesday, April 4th, 2022.

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