Detroit City Council Formal Session

…that would be
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As per usual, Det City Council meeting is held at 2 Woodward in the Coleman A Young Municipal Center, aka CAYMC. You can also attend the meeting remotely…for options + agenda, go to the link below 👇🔗
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detroihttps://detroitmi.gov/government/city-council

City Council is the legislative body of Detroit; members are elected on the same cycle as the Mayor. 7 members represent the 7 council districts & 2 members are elected at-large. Here is current council 👇
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Last council meeting we heard from the public on concerns over processes in the solar power project…you can read about the project at the link here👇🔗
detroihttps://detroitmi.gov/government/mayors-office/office-sustainability/energy/solar-neighborhoods

…and check out the thread from the last meeting (from me) here👇🧵
detroihttps://detroit.documenters.org/documents/none-190988/thread/

…and definitely check out City Council Notebook by Malachi Barrett @malachibarrett.bsky.social for what is going on in council…his column runs at media partner @bridgedet313.bsky.social

So it is 10:01 but as seems to be the drill, we haven’t started yet. So, quick note to those following along…I had this delusion I would number the posts in the thread 😀😃🤣Well, that’s just not me–sorry for any confusion

Now, normally at this point I hear lots of background sounds and can see movement behind the screensaver-thingee, but today there is silence and just a pair of feet…which is both odd & kinda cool at the same time

Okay, finally hearing the ‘test–test’ ‘blah-blah-blah’…and they are starting now @detdocumenters.bsky.social #DETdocumenters. But we are NOT starting, as they do not have a quorum, so they go to recess 🫤… it is 10:11

If I heard correctly, Councilmembers Angela Whitfield-Calloway (D-2), Scott Benson (D-3), Gabriela Santiago-Romero (D-6), Fred Durhal III (D-7) and Coleman A Young II (At-Large) are not present 🤔

I note that in a previous meeting in which council did not have a quorum, they proceeded with an ‘inquorate’ meeting…no business could be conducted, but public testimony could be heard. I am not sure why they have moved to recess this time, but suspect members are on the way

At 10:23, they kinda sorta open…still don’t have a quorum…Latisha Johnson (D-4), Santiago-Romero (D-6), Mary Walters (At-Large), and James Tate (D-1) are present, and Scott Benson (D-3) and Council President Mary Sheffield (D-5) are absent but “on the way”

So…they are currently ‘inquorate’ and hearing public comments. First person not too thrilled about having so many people on mayoral ballot that he asserts are not serious candidates…also shares concerns with water back-up issues and green light gas stations selling expired food

Next person speaking out against current city council proposed revision of ordinance on bodycam footage…asserts this proposed revision waters down the ordinance & makes it ineffective, giving police 90 days before releasing bodycam footage

A person follows, also concerned with proposed revision to bodycam ordinance…notes revision has clause allowing for waiving requirement for release

They (temporarily) suspend public comment as Durhal has arrived and they are doing presenting Citadel of Perpetual Learning LLC and Ronald Brown Academy with Spirit of Detroit Award

I believe this is the draft revision of the ordinance that is being discussed relation to police bodycam footage👇🔗📄
detroitcphttps://detroitcpta.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/DRAFT-Video-Release-Ordinance-for-the-City-of-Detroit_MostRecentCPTADraft.pdf

Note link is from Detroit Coalition for Police Transparency and Accountability (Detroit CPTA)
https://detroitcpta.org/home/

Back in regular session with a quorum and return to public comment…another person from public is up and expressing widespread dissatisfaction, calls out Legal Counsel Conrad Mallett, believes he is afraid of Mayor Duggan

Another person up, speaking in favor of a proposed development project in western Corktown

Person representing Northwest Activity Center … asking for help getting Paul Robeson Theatre at the center to be, well, not quite sure–refurbished/redeveloped I believe–and another person follows speaking out about how valuable the facility is for the arts
https://detroitmi.gov/departments/detroit-parks-recreation/recreation-centers/northwest-activities-center

This is link to Paul Robeson Theatre on Facebook 👇🔗
www.fahttps://www.facebook.com/p/Paul-Robeson-Theater-100068071639404/

Local transportation advocate and, let’s say it–Michael Cunningham–is up giving update on transit meetings, offering to do a ride-along with candidates and incumbents and still fundraising for bus-tickets…info on him from the Solutionaries Collective here 👇🔗🎞️
youtu.be/3?si=odGFl5n8qf-vrLfz

2 more people speaking up about need for support for Paul Robeson Theatre, one of whom who is local playwright Je’ McClain…seems like a lot of people got their start here
https://www.facebook.com/StageQueen2020/

There was a bit of a kerfluffle over what seems to be communication confusion between Northwest Activities/Paul Robeson Theatre staff and City Council…a ‘who said what?’ kinda thing

Person speaking out to let everyone know about the Michigan energy rebate program…👇🔗
www.mihttps://www.michigan.gov/egle/about/organization/materials-management/energy/rfps-loans/home-energy-rebate-programs

So, we have a person speaking in favor of the proposed demolition of hospital for building a soccer stadium in Corktown…and person takes a shot a Detroit Peoples Platform, saying their info is misleading

…and a person calls in with concerns on city bond issues…

…followed by a person expressing disgust with her perception of the city’s land grabbing/abuse of eminent domain in the solar project…also unhappy with Sheffield & Durhal

The next person says city council is not effective and calls out Rochelle Riley, who he feels has been ineffective and “done nothing” in her role as director for Detroit ACE
https://ace.detroitmi.gov/about

Now a person up who is advocating for transportation fare support for low-income riders…points out 34 cities have free fare for low-income riders. Huh. On that note, here is a link for more info on free public transportation…👇🔗
freepuhttps://freepublictransport.info/

We now have a person asking why there has been no follow-up on the money that was missing from the Detroit Public Library system and goes on to state more creative thinking needed for helping retirees…Also wants bodycams for ALL public employees

Last public comment…person reacts to criticism from a previous caller directed toward Sheffield (D-5)…he resides in D-5 and says he has had positive interactions and believes she is doing a good job

Public comment is done…update from Northwest Activities Center coming, as they have Crystal Perkins, Director of General Services for the city, on the phone line…this is about assertion that council had denied some requests for funds. She is unaware of denials and is aware of a range of needs

Perkins also notes her department has identified a possible grant for the facilities…and Councilmember Scott Benson (D-3) has joined the meeting.

They are now listing all the various reports listed on the agenda that will be referred to the appropriate standing committee…

They jump to agenda section 17…Budget, Finance and Audit Standing Committee…this stuff here 👇

Everything approved…waivers attached…it all runs robotic-like, kabuki-theatre like…all of these resolutions are packed with info, essentially no discussion. Finally we have a tentative hand raised for 17.9, a resolution ‘Urging the State to Allow Uncapping Events’…w/o definitions/context

Here is info for 17.9…👇🔗📄
pub-detrohttps://pub-detroitmi.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=217040

…and here is information regarding ‘uncapping’…👇🔗
www.mihttps://www.michigan.gov/taxes/property/change-ownership

The blow through agenda section 18, Internal Operations Standing Committee…and onto agenda section 19, Planning and Economic Standing Committee, then agenda section 20, Public Health & Safety…everything is smiles, no discussion, & approvals

We get into agenda section 21, and finally have some discussion…but it is the (what seems to be mandatory) runaround over procedural matters…Councilmember Young (At-Large) essentially being checked by Councilmember Benson (D-3) over 21.7 “The Trap by JARS Cannabis” event 5/24

Apparently Benson is not a fan of “the devil’s lettuce” & its supporting industry…in course of discussion, importance of using waiver is emphasized…attaching waiver speeds up process for approval

Young emphasizes there will be no consumption on site during event, brings up the “what abouts” (St Patrick’s Day)…Council has had a problem having vote because they have not been able to view some video that is attached to the proposal…discussion about procedure…item 21.7 is in limbo

…between new business and regular business…Benson appears to be enjoying the slow down…talk about whether they can pull it from the clerk’s office…back & forth…motion to stall 21.7 fails & everything in 21 is approved, but 21.7 does not get a waiver

& I meant to state above that everything in agenda section 21 from 21.1 to 21.7 was approved…we are not on to Contract & Procurement portion, 21.8 - 21.44, all from Santiago-Romero (D-6)…who has clearly been busy! They are moving too fast to get total for these contracts, but its a lot

They are going through the 37 items presented…Santiago-Romero goes through list making motion for approval after giving general description, for example specific grouping are extensions of ARPA projects

AS they move to 21.50-21.53, a range of regular standing committee meetings are cancelled because they will be up north for the Mackinac Policy Conference 🙄

Hey…we have a walk on resolution! Nothing nefarious, just a resolution to recognize May 16 as ‘World Land Trust Day’…Okey dokey.

They are now discussing an appointment to the Brownfield Development Board…this is a mayoral appointment and there is, again, some procedural/housekeeping confusion…

As they wait for information pertaining to a particular referral (?) they move to member reports…Santiago-Romero (D-6) gives range of activities her office is doing…Johnson (D-4) touts district info event tonight at East English Village Preparatory Academy

Sheffield (D-5) notes Detroit Legacy Business Townhall hosted tomorrow by DEGC & her upcoming coffee hour this Friday…

Member reports done and the come up with the email/document to approve appointment of Crystal Gilbert Rogers to the Brownfield Redevelopment Board…this is approved

They adjourn at 12:57 PM

So, that is my coverage of the 5/13 Detroit City Council meeting…as always with City Council, there is a lot to chew on (and to continue the metaphor, still a lot of meat left on the bone). In no particular order…

…public comments & ‘wall of silence’ from council on policy/ordinance governing releasing bodycam footage. I haven’t followed this issue that sounds like an ongoing ‘conversation’…looking forward to what @kayrl.bsky.social & @malachibarrett.bsky.social et. al. report on this in future…

…the ‘everyone in the pool, water’s great’ moment as every council member wants their name attached to the, um, basically special pretty-please pleading of item 17.9–a resolution urging State Legislature to take the screw out of the Prop A ‘unforeseen consequences’…

While they were at it, how ‘bout urging the United Nations to work towards world peace & prosperity?…but I’m feeding the wolf in me, bad habit, sorry. It is true that Prop A, especially in tandem with Headlee, is a real problem. See this for related issues 👇🔗
crcmichttps://crcmich.org/address-headlee-rollups-together-with-overall-local-government-fiscal-reforms

Finally, it was interesting seeing the tussle between Benson & Young. Like Benson, I’m not a fan of broccoli that is smoked–but I wonder if this was actually about the personal dynamics between the two.

Well, it is late…so I will close with announcement:
‼️IMPORTANT‼️If anything in this coverage is incorrect, email Documenters@outliermedia.org with ‘Correction Request’ in the subject line

As always, visit https://Documenters.org for more stories and coverage