Detroit City Council Formal Session - Last meeting before summer recess!
Detroit City Council
Politics
Tuesday, July 30, 2024
10:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m. EDT
Remote
This meeting may run longer than 4 hours!
Join City Council Zoom Meeting: https://cityofdetroit.zoom.us/j/85846903626
Check the source website for additional information
Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team
Note-taking by
Sandi Nelson
In the last Formal Session before summer recess, Detroit City Council approved Phase 1 of the city's Neighborhood Solar Initiative and appointed Kamau Marable as the new inspector general.
Live reporting by
Nathaniel Eichenhorn
In the last Formal Session before summer recess, Detroit City Council approved Phase 1 of the city's Neighborhood Solar Initiative and appointed Kamau Marable as the new inspector general.
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
Good Morning #Detroit !
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I will be live tweeting the Detroit City Coincil meeting today at 10am for #DetroitDocumenters @DetDocumenters media partners: @BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET @freep @media_outlier @metrotimes @MichiganRadio @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit
08:28 AM Jul 30, 2024 CDT
The meeting hasn't gotten started yet. I'll let you know when they begin.
They took the roll, didn't have a quorum, and recessed until some more councilmembers show up
The meeting was called to order at 10:18am and the roll was as follows:
Sheffield present
Tate present
Callaway present.
Benson present
Johnson absent.
Santiago-Ramirez absent.
Durhall absent
Waters present
Young absent.
Sheffield present
Tate present
Callaway present.
Benson present
Johnson absent.
Santiago-Ramirez absent.
Durhall absent
Waters present
Young absent.
The board is recognizing the historical contributions of 5 ELA on the city.
Lifeline has become vital to the department, however the federal funds cannot be counted on permanently.
The moratorium on shutoffs having ended, DWSD is starting an effort to bring enormous delinquencies down.
According to DWSD, the average DWSD account is $1,240 behind.
The moratorium on shutoffs having ended, DWSD is starting an effort to bring enormous delinquencies down.
According to DWSD, the average DWSD account is $1,240 behind.
The goal is to get people back on track with the easy down payment so they can begin to get back on track.
A commissioner notes that even with the program, many people can't afford their bills. DWSD: we are still going to try to get Lansing/DC money
A commissioner notes that even with the program, many people can't afford their bills. DWSD: we are still going to try to get Lansing/DC money
The board asked if there were any special considerations for churches in arrears on drainage fees? DWSD: Yes, however many churches are registered as businesses and that need to be fixed
The board has referred various reports to their respective committees. They can be reviewed on the agenda, which can be found here:
pub-detroitmi.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?I…
The first commenter spoke about compensation for an illegal foreclosure. The board referred them to yesterday's Michigan Supreme Court judgment.
google.com/amp/s/www.cbsn…
The next commenter spoke about the shooting death of a Palmer Park resident who was in the process of getting evicted. The resident was shit by a bailiff. Councilmember Calloway said she is aware of the event and an investigation is underway
The next commenter was Maj. Robert Lewis Tillman, USAAF, of the Tuskeegee Airmen, spoke to advocate for the solar initiative, and noted that the International Space Station is powered by solar power
Several reps of a local student group called for divestment from the 'Zionist entity" calling it the "so-called state of Israel" and asked that the city cut all ties with Israel
This public comment portion will probably be going by for a while, we heard there are 80 people in line
A local electrician's group spoke in support of the solar project
The next commenter says that vacant land is a breeding ground for crime, and the solar initiative will help reduce juvenile delinquency
Two more commenters in support of the project. Both spoke about the impact of climate change
A rep of the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights spoke in support of the solar initiative.
The next commenter spoke about continuing over assessments in the city, and that remedies are needed swiftly.
One commenter spoke in opposition to the solar project, claiming the land would be better used as parking lots
A rep of the Green Door Initiative spoke in support of the solar project
A resident spoke in support of the initiative, saying that in the past 90 days she has seen 3 dead bodies, and that there are only 3 legal residents on her block.
A commenter voiced outrage regarding the case of Sherman Butler (the man who was hit by a bailiff in the course of being evicted) and called for a "ceasefire" in the City of Detroit
A commenter is wanted the board to reveal to him what occurred in a closed session, he was declined
The first caller politely prodded Councilmember Durhal, saying that a sign that's important to her upcoming block association event isn't up yet and she's "getting a little nervous". Durhal said it should be up by the weekend
The commenter says solar panels will only benefit the wealthy to and suggests the only solution is to rebuild houses en masse
The next caller objects to the proposed animal husbandry proposition. They say that it will lead to fights and internecine conflicts regarding livestock
Next caller says that they object to the 35-year term of the solar project. They say that the technology is constantly developing and that the market rates will change while we will be locked into old technology and obsolete rates
Another commenter is urging the council to divest from Israel
A call her living by the State fairgrounds called in to voice their support for the solar initiative
This color says that putting the Water chargers on the property tax bill will cause more foreclosures and is therefore a bad idea
The next caller is saying that they're overgrown lots by their residents that have not yet been cut
Council members durhall and Callaway clarify that the recent Supreme Court decision does not apply to over estimation but only to the profit gained from home sales
The next caller objects to the use of eminent domain in the solar initiative, suggesting rather that the council begin with small, rooftop arrays. They go on to advise that they believe the current initiative will not survive a lawsuit
The next caller says there is no eminent domain being used, but rather homes are being voluntarily sold
A rep from Hydrate Detroit spoke out in support of the EasyPay program, and further advocates water debt forgiveness.
hydratedetroit.org
The next caller sang a song to councilmember Callaway and then dropped a plug for their auto detailing business
The next caller says that the opportunity to move within the city afforded by the solar initiative is good for him and for his five children
A call er who called in to support the solar initiative said that the situation on her block has gotten so bad that people are regularly found sleeping in trees
That's it for public comment, now moving on to unfinished business
Now on to item 15.2, which is a contract for consulting services for MGM casino, it passes unanimously
Now they will discuss the solar fund itself and a few other attendant agenda items
Benson asks if they do not approve 16.2 today. Staff response: we cannot direct workers to work for promised pay we can't be sure we can deliver, so in that case we would cease work.
Callaway emphasized that the ordinance provides tax credits not only to energy megacorporations, but to smaller, local developers
Sheffield says she still has not seen the signatures that were reportedly collected in support of the project. She says that she has seen that they were collected and how many were collected but she has not seen the documentation itself
The board has brought up the law firm of Ackerman & Ackerman twice, both times manifesting worry that the firm would get involved in the project. The firm is well known for vigorous advocating for business clients in eminent domain cases.
Johnson asked about condemnations. Staff responded that condemnations will only occur in the cases of vacant lots, abandoned businesses and "some landlords" and that homeowners have entered into voluntary agreements
They currently have agreements with every property owner and most tenants
Johnson: How do we make sure speculators don't scoop up land to turn around and sell to the project?
Staff: That is why time is of the essence to lock in the fair market price that would be offered by the city
Staff: That is why time is of the essence to lock in the fair market price that would be offered by the city
Councilmember young asked about the benefits of the money for residents, both for purchasing homes, and for subsidizing energy efficiency upgrades.
Staff: enormous benefits. The money will help people leave mostly abandoned neighborhoods to move to more stable areas...
Staff: enormous benefits. The money will help people leave mostly abandoned neighborhoods to move to more stable areas...
It will improve public health, help urban farming, and create a huge number of local jobs for tradespeople.
Tate: How will the local residents take part in the distribution of the produce grown in the array land?
Staff: We are looking at different models, we are being very intentional and taking counsel with the community
Staff: We are looking at different models, we are being very intentional and taking counsel with the community
Tate suggests that the second phase include explicit direction regarding the distribution of agrivoltaic produce
Tate asked how the city has spread the word about the program. Staff responded that they did everything from sending text messages to dropping flyers to knocking on individual residents doors
Durhal: Will this project help us get more federal and state funding for cleanup, upgrades etc
Staff: there are already funds being made available and passage of the proposal will give the city and its citizens even more opportunities
Staff: there are already funds being made available and passage of the proposal will give the city and its citizens even more opportunities
Durhal: Why is this contract term so long?
Staff: developers need time to be able to recoup initial costs, but there are many controls, benchmarks and milestones in the ordinance to make sure developers are holding up their end of the deal.
Staff: developers need time to be able to recoup initial costs, but there are many controls, benchmarks and milestones in the ordinance to make sure developers are holding up their end of the deal.
Staff emphasizes that communities will be consulted for the best practices for landscaping and maintaining the sites
Durhal says he hopes community engagement will continue to be a priority, and says that this project represents a huge opportunity for the city
Benson is talking about why he describes as the horrible quality of life in the areas that would be impacted by the project. He details the enormous volumes of particularly gruesome police calls coming from these areas.
He goes on to wonder aloud. How much money could be saved by simply having those very few people on those blocks relocate. He says he is strongly in support of measure
He says he talked to a man who has made a hobby of shooting dogs from his porch
Johnson asked about potential workforce Development as a result of the project
Staff: This project will create at least 50 new jobs and are only contracting locally
There is a specific program to train, an employee electricians etc
Staff goes on to say that they are working specifically with an organization called Communities Power.
communities-power.com
Sheffield says she wants more time to consider and talk more about where these solar arrays will be put up. She notes that she is in support of solar generally.
She says other cities have installed solar arrays on more rural land and that that might be a better solution
"we are rushing this through when our attorneys have told us it's not IF there will be litigation but WHEN"
Sheffield says this deprioritizes the building of new housing for those in the city who need it. Says 850 homes could fit on the land proposed for the project. She is also concerned about staff going out and making deals with resident re: home improvements without consulting them
Measures 15.3, 16.2, 19.1, 19.2, and 19.26 pass unanimously over objections from Santiago-Ramirez and Calloway
Excuse me, I missed Sheffield. I should have also been more clear that Council approved Phase 1
For The Internal Operation Standing Committee, item 16.1. passed unanimously
The board is now moving on to vote for the new Inspector General and director of the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA)
A new Inspector General was also elected, but I couldn't confidently make out their name. I'll try to find it by the end of the meeting.
16.7-16.18 approved unanimously. They are various lawsuit settlement requests, and can be found attached to the agenda
The new Inspector General is Kamau Marable, who has been serving as the deputy Inspector General.
Now on to the Housing and Revitalization Department, items 18.11 and 18.12 we're approved unanimously
Councilmember Johnson says that this person wants to make a farm on their property. And in talking to the person council member Johnson discovered that they had misled the community and Johnson herself on several fronts
Waters feels that the number of properties in question for item 18.17 is a little suspicious. Why so many?
Now the Public Health and Safety Standing Committee. 19.1 and 19.2 having already been approved, 19.3-19.5 are now approved unanimously.
Santiago-Romero moves to remove 19.6-19.8 as the properties may be of historical interest
This one's a doozy. It's a bunch of small changes, corrections and additions to the City Code. They deal mostly with property inspections and certificates of compliance
The proposal is long, complex and opaque. I would have to sit down with this for quite some time to report accurately what it does to the law.
The resolution is to schedule a public hearing, and it was approved unanimously
19.24 extends the curfew for non-motor vehicles noise to be later. A public meeting will be scheduled
Department of Public Works/City Engineering Division, item 19.27 approved
Santiago-Romero moves to send 19.28 back to committee. Approved unanimously
19.30 is a resolution in support of Michigan Senate bills 818-827
Approved unanimously.
Approved unanimously.
19.31 in support of Gov. Whitmer 's establishment of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force
They're now discussing the two items from before that were removed from the agenda because of a possible historical significance classification. They're going to get back to it later.
Now from the Mayor's office items 20.1-20.12
Several city events with approvals.
All were approved unanimously
Several city events with approvals.
All were approved unanimously
Office of Contracting and Procurement
Item 20.13 is to buy Porta Potties instead of contracting out to rent them all the time
Item 20.13 is to buy Porta Potties instead of contracting out to rent them all the time
They're doing some walk-ons . 4 emergency demolitions, a backfill contract, new FD uniforms, fiduciary services, 2 streetscaping proposals and an appointment.
The walk ons are approved unanimously. They go to New Business, are moved officially and approved unanimously
The walk ons are approved unanimously. They go to New Business, are moved officially and approved unanimously
They got someone from Public Works and someone from the historical preservation office to answer some questions about 19.6-19.8
They are old schools that are eligible to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and are therefore eligible for federal grants and can be rehabbed and/or renovated into affordable housing
LaJuan Counts is on from the Department of Construction and Demo, and says one property is erroneously in there but the rest should, in fact be demolished. They keep the items of the agenda until later time
Well folks, this closes my coverage of the Detroit City Council meeting for July 30. Learn more about our coverage of local meetings at
documenters.org
If you believe anything in the coverage today is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@outliermedia.org with "Correction Request" in the subject line
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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 laws—called 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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