District 4 Community Advisory Council Meeting

If you wish to join, you can do so in person at Barack Obama Leadership Academy (10800 East Canfield St., Detroit, MI) or on Zoom https://detroitmi.gov/events/district-4-community-advisory-council-meeting-10-10-2022

Tonight’s agenda is below👇for those following along https://t.co/SKVIHFFPsp

The purpose of Community Advisory Councils (CAC) is to improve citizen access to city gov’t. The CAC is established according to Article 9 Chapter 1 of the Charter and by ordinance that was mandated. CAC’s are the only elected body in Detroit gov’t to be created by petition.

District 4 is the second district to establish one. The other is in District 7. On October 1st, 2019 Scotty Boman filed the petition with the city clerk and on October 4th the petition was certified.

To read more about what the CAC can do, who is on it, and who petitioned for it check the city’s website > https://detroitmi.gov/government/city-council/city-council-district-4/district-4-community-advisory-council

The meeting was called to order at 7:06pm by Chair Adrian Green. There is a quorum. Agenda was adopted and last meeting’s minutes were approved.

First up is a presentation on Air Quality from Robert Shobe in regard to the Stellantis facility. He mentioned Stellantis was just hit with another violation, more on that violation is in the article below.
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/2022/10/07/stellantis-again-dinged-for-air-quality-violations-at-detroit-plant/69547913007/

There was a question about what health concerns are coming up from the Stellantis plant. Mr. Shobe said it has caused several hospital trips, headaches, chest issues, etc. depending on the level of exposure.

Member Turner-Handy asked if there is a plan for how many violations they will get before the Air Quality Division moves in? Mr. Shobe responded there has been continued pressure and sharing of concerns.

Member Jocelyn Harris asked how can the CAC support the efforts? Mr. Shobe stated if you smell something or see something, call it out.

Those in person are causing a continuous echo and delay in speaking for those on Zoom. The joys of most people struggling to host a hybrid meeting 🙃

Next up is a presentation on Property Tax Coalition by an unidentifiable person in the room. She is talking rapid fire so I will try my best to keep up!

There are 3 goals of the coalition –
1. stop over assessments
2. compensation for folks who have been affected
3. stop all owner-occupied home closures

They have allyship with several council members. They are figuring out how to get legal opinions overturned. Stay up to date by following along on Facebook 👇 https://facebook.com/IllegalForeclosures/

There is Coffee and Stories every First Sat of the month at The Commons 10:30am https://t.co/xtUSTQrk9s

Up next, we are discussing Housing and Revitalization Department, Disaster Recovery Funds by Nicole Wyse. Two public hearings on HUD funding next week. Slides for next week are available for review 👇
https://detroitmi.gov/departments/housing-and-revitalization-department/disaster-recovery

If you have input, come with your questions and comments to the meeting on Oct 17th or Oct 19th. You can also email disasterrecovery@detroitmi.gov or call (313) 224-6380. https://t.co/YBXGglKXNt

The last presentation of the night is about the Detroit Land Contract Buyer Guide presented by Karen Otzen. You can access the guide at http://www.detroitlandcontracthelp.com. What’s in the guide is listed below in the Table of Contents 👇 https://t.co/05gUZndEKh

“Land contracts are tricky because it’s in the detail where you get prayed on” This guide has a sheet for everything in the process and they are encouraging you to do your research before you sign anything.

Discussion around the youth member and how unresponsive he has been. Chair Green asks if there is automatic removal based on the charter and not being present for 3 meetings after being sworn in? Councilmember Johnson confirmed, yes. Youth Member Charles Oakley has been removed.

Member Turner-Handy brought up that they should talk to Oakley about why he wasn’t involved and what they can help do for the next youth member.

Jokes are being made about being a treasurer for a group without money. CAC cannot receive city funds but can receive donations and grants in accordance with Federal State Law. Asking about the creation of a Fundraising Committee.

Immediate needs include technology, business cards, printing, flyers, refreshments, and facility rentals. Discussion around the table on how to approach grant writing and asking for donations of these items.

They set a verbal goal to create a timeline for this process at the next meeting including finding a nonprofit fiduciary partnership.

Updates from Council Member Johnson and Mr. Perkins – only two of the six requested items to FAC were chosen to do and they were the lowest of the six. There is going to be a conversation with EGLE and EPA to push Stellantis concerns to a federal level.

Updates cont… ShotSpotter vote WILL be tomorrow as of right now. District 4 residents please complete the survey below by this evening 👇
https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/d67305c24e7e467ab36097a289a65ab8

October 15th, 10am-2pm Shred Day at 9th Precinct you can bring up to 5 boxes
October 17th, 6-8pm Emergency Preparedness session with the Detroit Fire Dept
*October 21st, 3pm Coffee Hour with Councilmembers Johnson and Waters at 1040 Whittier

Discussion around the table about what ShotSpotter is and folks giving their opinions and what they have heard about it. More details on tomorrow’s vote in this Detroit News article.
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2022/09/27/detroit-oks-1-5-million-gunshot-shotspotter-detection-renewal-delays-vote-7-million-expansion/10396781002/

Mr. Perkins shared that Phase 2 Applications of Renew Detroit are due October 31st. Applications can be submitted online at the link below or by phone at (313) 244-0274.
https://detroitmi.gov/government/mayors-office/renew-detroit-home-repair-program/phase-2-information

Updates on flood and sewage backup in District 4. There is a meeting tomorrow Oct 11th at Hope Church at 6pm, flyers were handed out to those in the room.

October 19th at 6pm there will be a virtual public information and comment section on FCA Stellantis. The zoom link will be available soon.

Last agenda item - Public Comment
1. Neighborhood Day Oct 15th at ECN 1-3pm
2. Talking about a Congressional Business study
3. Asking about construction related to Streetscaping

This concludes the District 4 Community Advisory Council Meeting on October 10th, 2022. For more meeting coverage, check out http://documenters.org. #detdocumenters

Next Meeting of the D4 CAC is November 14, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. - location TBD

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@outliermedia.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.