Detroit City Council Formal Session

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The agenda for this meeting can be found here:
https://pub-detroitmi.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=40ab5952-b3c3-4422-aadb-2a4ad2af1d4b&Agenda=Agenda&lang=English

The meeting was called to order at 10:05, the roll was called and the following were present

Benson
Durhal
Johnson
Walters
Tate
Sheffield

First up, a presentation from the Downtown Detroit Partnership

David Cowan, Chief Public Spaces Officer is presenting.

A nice map of DDP sites

Public spaces are getting upgrades for the Spring, including some public WiFi upgrades

Well that’s that for the presentation. One comment from council thanking them for the Downtown Kwanzaa kinara and Comm’r Johnson asked to see the vendor application, and that was it.

The Council accepted various reports and moved swiftly on to public comment.

First comment is a series of representatives from No Barrier 2 Success, local org focusing on lead remediation and home improvement. They just introduced themselves, and the Council told them they could present more in full later

https://nb2s.org/

Next commenter accused the Council of being in violation of the City Charter by not establishing a Health Committee. Luckily he cited chapter and verse:

The next commenter brought up voter fraud conspiracy theories, claiming their vote was “stolen”. These come up nearly every city meeting, whether the meeting itself is of a relevant body or not.

The next commenter spoke about the over assessment of property taxes and subsequent foreclosures, comparing the lack of movement on the matter to the swift response to the water main bank in Southwest Detroit.

Commenter detailed issues with their apartment, and the lack of power tenants have to hold landlords accountable. Council referred the person to We the People Detroit to help advocate for tenant rights in the State Legislature

Next, a representative of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi spoke about the preservation of the Wayne burial mound, and praised the City for helping transfer responsibility to the tribe, and presented the council with their tribal flag.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Wayne_mound_site?wprov=sfla1

I can’t find any news stories about the transfer of the deed to the Nottawaseppi. Several community members and members of the tribal council came to personally thank the council, some becoming, understandably, overcome with emotion at the return of their ancestors sacred remains and burial site

Several members of the Council expressed gratitude for being able to return the site to the tribe. Truly a big turnout, several tribe members speaking in turn.

Relevant documents regarding the transfer can be found in the agenda at item 20.19

Regarding an earlier comment about a health committee and the city charter, the City does, in fact, have a Public Health and Safety standing committee, which works and reports regularly to the Council

A couple comments on the same topic: prolific activist Michael Cunningham’s car conked out and he needs some money to get a new one. Cunningham is well known to be an extraordinary activist for citizens, known particularly for business tickets and hand warmers for the poor of the city.

https://www.bridgedetroit.com/meet-detroits-other-people-mover-michael-cunningham-ii/

Local activist Margeurite Maddox called in to speak about ADA compliance in the city

https://outliermedia.org/marguerite-maddox-detroit-public-meetings-disability-rights-accessibility/

Next caller has complaints about the solar project, and lamented that people have left their homes. They further complained about forms from outside the city being given solar contracts.

Caller called in to complain about the state of their home, and how a severely leaky roof has caused extensive damage. Councilmember Young said the caller has been helped and expressed his desire to sit down with the caller and hash out the issues.

Next caller has concerns about a dark bus stop, and says they have been asking for two years to repair the light at the stop, and said the stop is unsafe.

Last caller was another tribal member of the Nottawaseppi to thank the council for the return of the burial mound.

Moving on to the deed transfer vote itself.

Councilmember Waters asked “what they’re going to do” with the site.

Answer: they will conduct religious ceremonies according to their ancestral customs

The motion passed

Next up line items 16.q and 16.2, establishing a tax on vaping products

Whoops, that’s 16.1 and 16.2

Phones, am I right?

The proposed tax brings vape products in line, tax-wise, with cigarettes and cigars. The motion passed

Now 17.1 and 17.2, a contract renewal and a grant funding Time Only for Women’s History in Detroit Study. Motion passed.

17.3-17.6, various lawsuit settlements. Motion passed

18.1 has been taking off the table and, I think, replaced with a corrected version establishing the boundaries of the Brewster-Wheeler Recreation Center Historic District. Motion passed with a roll call, with the following voting yes

Durhal
Johnson
Santiago Romero
Tate
Waters
Callaway
Benson

18.2 quickly approved

18.4 was postponed and 18.3 was passed

18.5, a property transfer, approved

19.1-19.12 all up at once. Various blight funding motions for emergency demolitions

Some questions from council regarding 19.5. it’s unusual for Prop N funding to be used to repair sidewalks. This is usually not done but this is an exception

The council is concerned about being on the hook to repair sidewalks damaged by previous contractors. The question is: why is the City paying to repair sidewalks that were damaged by contractors, shouldn’t the contractors pay?

The contract in question is for $2,875,000

LaJuan Counts, Director of the Construction and Demolition Department, answered that because the previous contractor could not repair the sidewalk, the city didn’t pay them for what they DID do so that they could then use that money to pay for these repairs

The damage comprises 5,000 flags over 1900 properties

19.1-19.10 are moved to be approved. 19.5, the aforementioned sidewalk repair, is rejected, the be ready approved.

19.11 and 19.12 were approved

19.14 approved

19.15 declaring Dawn Isen day. Approved

Moving on tanube business from the mayor’s office. Items 20.1-20.5, nails city events. All were approved

I meant “moving on to New Business

20.6-20.9 approved

20.10-20.13 approved

20.14 and 20.15 approved

20.16, the 2025 Transportation Alternatives Program Grant, was approved. 20.17, another grant, approved

20.19, an electricity easement, approved

Excuse me, that’s 20.19

20.20 approved

20.21, designating Workers Memorial Day, and 20.22 recognizing April as Arab American Heritage Month

Now they’re just referring reports to the various committees

Meeting was adjourned at 1:07pm

Well folks, this closes my coverage of the Detroit City Council meeting for April 15. Learn more about our coverage of local meetings at https://documenters.org

‼️IMPORTANT: If you believe anything in the coverage today is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@outliermedia.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line