OpenPublica

Accountability starts with access.

© 2026 · Filed for the public record

Use casesAboutAPIPrivacyTermsLinkedIn
Home/Detroit, Michigan/City Council
OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Internal Operations Committee Meeting – July 23, 2025

City Council — Wednesday, July 23, 2025
BodyDetroit, Michigan
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, July 23, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:11:06

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:00

For joining us for the internal operations standing committee meeting on today, Wednesday, July 23rd.

0:06

Mr.

0:06

Clerk, please call the room.

0:08

Good morning, Councilmember Letitia Johnson.

0:11

Present.

0:11

Councilmember Mary Waters.

0:13

Present.

0:14

Councilmember Angela Witfield Callaway.

0:16

Present.

0:16

Madam Chair, there's a quorum.

0:18

Thank you.

0:18

Having a quorum present, we are now in session.

0:24

Uh colleagues, is there a motion on the minutes?

0:28

Motion to approve.

0:29

There's a motion to approve the minutes.

0:31

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

0:36

We are going to move into public comment.

0:42

If you are joining us in person or virtually and would like to make a public comment, please raise your hand.

0:49

Please raise your hand.

0:51

Public comment will be cut off shortly.

0:57

If you're joining us in person or virtually, please raise your hand.

1:01

We're going to give everyone five seconds.

1:06

And five.

1:08

Four.

1:09

Three.

1:11

Two.

1:14

The collection of public comments have now concluded.

1:18

Seeing no one here in the committee of the whole with their hand raised.

1:23

Good morning, Aaron.

1:24

How many hands do we have raised virtually?

1:27

Good morning, madam chair.

1:29

There are 10 people calling in for public comment.

1:32

All right, let's give everyone two minutes.

1:36

And once the clock is on the screen, we'll get started with the first caller.

1:46

The first caller is William M.

1:48

Davis.

1:49

William M.

1:50

Davis, you have two minutes for general public comment.

1:53

Trying to keep going.

1:54

Good morning.

1:55

Can I be heard?

1:56

Good morning, yes.

1:58

I'd like to start off by two comments as it relates to the interviews.

2:02

You know, I I believe that Josh Mack would make an excellent candidate and an excellent member for the Board of Ethics.

2:10

I've known him for years, uh, from school board days, and uh hope that he's advanced.

2:18

Also, as relates to uh Robert Jones, mayor appoint me for the Board of Police Commissioners.

2:23

You know, I think right now, as you may or may not know, I used to be an elected board of the police commission for district seven.

2:30

And during the time I was on, I never missed a meeting.

2:33

In fact, I still haven't missed a meeting since before and since after.

2:38

Uh one of the main problems with the Board of Police Commissioners now is that frequently they don't have a quorum.

2:44

We have people that sign up or run or you know, ask to be appointed and don't show up.

2:49

Hopefully, this new gentleman will show up because how could you have uh a board of police commissioner meetings and you have member commissioners that don't show up or always late.

3:02

Uh also I hope that we start doing better as relates to internal operations because far too often we still see too many uh lawsuits settlements and uh endemments, you know, for people, you know, because I think if people are you know make an honest mistake, that's one thing to represent them.

3:24

But if people are clearly violating policy and procedures and the law and ethics, they should not be covered by the state of Detroit.

3:34

I think we could do a better job.

3:36

I think the city needs to reduce the amount of lawsuits that's going on, and the city needs to do more to save more because the city should be doing more to help the city of Detroit retirees because this whole massive recovery has been on our backs and still on our backs because we still have an annuity clawback where they're taking money out of our checks every month, which is criminal, you know, for this bake this fake bankruptcy.

4:03

Thank you.

4:05

Thank you.

4:06

The next caller.

4:09

The next caller is not that Karen.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Comment████████████████████████24%
Public Safety██████████████████18%
Board of Ethics████████████████16%
Pending Litigation█████████9%
Technology and Innovation████████8%
Procedural███████7%
Legal Affairs█████5%
Housing███3%
Tenant Rights██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Internal Operations Standing Committee Meeting – July 23, 2025

The Detroit City Council Internal Operations Standing Committee met on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at approximately 19:04 UTC (morning local time) with a quorum present (Councilmembers Johnson, Waters, and Callaway). The meeting began with a motion to approve the minutes, followed by public comment, interviews for two board appointments, and action on numerous agenda items including settlements, contracts, and reports.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of the meeting minutes from the previous session (unanimous).

Public Comments & Testimony

Ten virtual callers provided general public comment. Key positions included:

  • William M. Davis: Expressed support for Josh Mack (Board of Ethics) and Robert Jones (Board of Police Commissioners); criticized lack of quorum at Police Commission meetings; called for reducing city lawsuit costs and restoring retiree pensions.
  • “Not that Karen”: Agreed on retirees’ issues; argued that a fast-track resolution passed the previous day was insufficient and that the city should restore pension clawback funds as promised in the bankruptcy settlement.
  • “Soher Amon” (likely “Soheir Amon”): Echoed retiree concerns; asked how to file an ethics complaint against Coleman A. Young II for alleged retaliation over public comment; alleged quid pro quo in home repair assistance.
  • Betty A. Varner (iPhone caller, President of Soda Elsewhere Black Association): Announced donations for landscaping boulders at Diva Community Park; shared information about a senior chore services program (Franklin Wright Settlement).
  • “We see you” (Mabby Heard): Supported retiree restitution; criticized police curfew ordinance and lawsuit costs; argued the city’s narrative on crime is inconsistent.
  • Miko A. Williams: Expressed love for community; criticized city leadership and the Duggan administration; urged voter turnout.
  • Galaxy S10 caller: Complained about being cut off during public comment on previous day; alleged discrimination by DWSD over flood compensation; requested reintegration.
  • Mike Shelton (phone ending 270): Asserted Detroit is the poorest U.S. city; claimed criminal over‑assessment of homes, unlawful bond issuance, and flagrant violation of the Michigan Constitution regarding use of public funds for private interests.
  • Galaxy S22 Ultra caller: Called for removal of Janice Winfrey from election duties; questioned funding sources and argued for taking back city services (water, light, garbage) and eliminating the land bank; alleged Black contractors face difficulty obtaining city contracts.
  • “You Matter”: Raised conflict-of-interest concerns about individuals serving on multiple boards; alleged police camera malfunctions at Detroit Wayne Joint Building Authority; supported Joyce Moore for Board of Ethics; claimed election department misled him about hiring.
  • Mr. Overwith: Alleged ballot fraud and argued that the mayor controls city, county, and state governments.

Discussion Items

Interviews for Board Appointments

  • David Bonner – Board of Ethics (10:15 a.m.): Presented background in finance and banking, MBA, associate professor. No substantive questions; Councilmember Callaway noted Bonner’s wife works for her as a special projects manager but recused from voting. Council expressed appreciation.
  • Josh Mack – Board of Ethics (10:25 a.m., virtual): Presented education (BS, MS, doctoral work), and extensive experience in education, juvenile justice, and public service. Councilmembers praised his community involvement. He pledged reliable attendance.
  • Robert Jones – Board of Police Commissioners (10:35 a.m.): Lifelong Detroiter, retired AT&T director of external affairs. Discussed being a good listener, commitment to attendance, and willingness to enforce discipline when necessary. Councilmembers queried him on quorum issues and handling of officer misconduct.

Motions and Votes on Agenda Items

  • Line items 5, 6, 8.1, 8.2, 8.16, 8.17 (Board of Ethics candidates): Motion carried to send all six names to formal session with a ballot drafted for consideration.
  • Line item 8.3 (Detroit Wayne Joint Building Authority interview – Byron Osborne Iceburn): Approved after awaiting law department opinion; motion to send to formal with recommendation to approve.
  • Line item 8.4 (Tracy Reynolds settlement, $80,000): Held pending information on sidewalk repair; brought back after recess.
  • Line item 8.5 (Trish Cunningham settlement, $125,000): Approved and sent to formal.
  • Line item 8.6 (Kayla Jefferson settlement, $30,000): Initially held for clarification on officer’s lights/sirens; after DPD confirmed lights/sirens were active but officer did not fully follow policy, motion to approve passed.
  • Line items 8.7–8.14: Held pending further information; returned after recess.
  • Line item 8.15 (Fink Bressek legal services amendment, +$400,000): Approved; Councilmember Waters requested a performance report.
  • Line item 8.18 (Council President Sheffield’s memorandum on debarment ordinance): Held after recess.
  • Line item 8.19 (Request for opinion on tax abatements for urban agriculture): Held after recess.
  • Line item 9.2 (Monthly report of contracts approved administratively): Received and filed.
  • Line item 9.3 (Drone airspace management contract, $397,838): Held after recess per Councilmember Callaway’s request for inventory of existing drones and vendor research.
  • Line item 9.4 (Fiber cable installation amendment, extension only): Approved.
  • Line item 9.5 (Neighborhood Defender Service housing legal representation, $1,531,320): Approved after discussion on holistic model.
  • Line item 9.6 (Legal services for indigent individuals – DSS 10, up to $30,141,587.97): Approved; clarified as state grant with city share of ~$1 million/year.
  • Line items 9.7–9.14 (various settlements): Approved.
  • Line item 9.15 (Dorothy McElrath/Diane Davis settlement, $255,000): Held after recess pending info on employee status.
  • Line items 9.16–9.19, 9.20 (report, conflicts, etc.): Approved or received and filed.
  • Line item 9.21 (potential conflicts report): Received and filed.
  • Line item 9.22 (legal opinion on conflicts): Held awaiting law department response.

Key Outcomes

  • Board of Ethics interviews: Six candidates advanced to formal ballot (David Bonner, Josh Mack, and four others).
  • Board of Police Commissioners appointment: Robert Jones’ interview completed; likely to be put to vote at formal session.
  • Settlements approved: Trish Cunningham ($125,000), Kayla Jefferson ($30,000), and numerous others ($5,700–$200,000) – all sent to formal.
  • Contracts approved: Fink Bressek extension ($400,000), fiber cable amendment, housing legal services ($1.53M), indigent defense program ($30M), and others.
  • Items held for later: Tracy Reynolds ($80,000), drone contract ($397,838), Dorothy McElrath ($255,000), and several agenda items held until after recess (September).
  • Public comments: All 10 callers expressed concerns about retiree pensions, ethics, police accountability, and city governance.

Member Reports

  • Councilmember Callaway announced the third annual “Stamping Out Human Trafficking” event on Saturday, July 26, at Mac Alive (3746 Fisher St.), 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
  • Councilmember Johnson announced a community bike ride on July 31 from Ball Duck Park to Chandler Park, starting at 5:30 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

For joining us for the internal operations standing committee meeting on today, Wednesday, July 23rd. Mr. Clerk, please call the room. Good morning, Councilmember Letitia Johnson. Present. Councilmember Mary Waters. Present. Councilmember Angela Witfield Callaway. Present. Madam Chair, there's a quorum. Thank you. Having a quorum present, we are now in session. Uh colleagues, is there a motion on the minutes? Motion to approve. There's a motion to approve the minutes. Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken. We are going to move into public comment. If you are joining us in person or virtually and would like to make a public comment, please raise your hand. Please raise your hand. Public comment will be cut off shortly. If you're joining us in person or virtually, please raise your hand. We're going to give everyone five seconds. And five. Four. Three. Two. The collection of public comments have now concluded. Seeing no one here in the committee of the whole with their hand raised. Good morning, Aaron. How many hands do we have raised virtually? Good morning, madam chair. There are 10 people calling in for public comment. All right, let's give everyone two minutes. And once the clock is on the screen, we'll get started with the first caller. The first caller is William M. Davis. William M. Davis, you have two minutes for general public comment. Trying to keep going. Good morning. Can I be heard? Good morning, yes. I'd like to start off by two comments as it relates to the interviews. You know, I I believe that Josh Mack would make an excellent candidate and an excellent member for the Board of Ethics. I've known him for years, uh, from school board days, and uh hope that he's advanced. Also, as relates to uh Robert Jones, mayor appoint me for the Board of Police Commissioners. You know, I think right now, as you may or may not know, I used to be an elected board of the police commission for district seven. And during the time I was on, I never missed a meeting. In fact, I still haven't missed a meeting since before and since after. Uh one of the main problems with the Board of Police Commissioners now is that frequently they don't have a quorum.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com