Detroit City Council Neighborhood Community Service Standing Committee – July 24, 2025
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Detroit City Council Neighborhood Community Service Standing Committee – July 24, 2025
The Detroit City Council Neighborhood Community Service Standing Committee met on July 24, 2025, chaired by Council Member Coleman Young II. The meeting included public comments, the routine movement of several event permit petitions to formal session, discussion and votes on several contract amendments, and member reports. Notable topics included resident concerns over city services, rodent migration, DTE energy bills, and the city's parking app.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Cindy Darrell thanked Council Member Young and his mother for resolving a health department order on her house, but expressed distrust of the city's home repair programs, citing reports of contractors causing additional damage. She indicated interest in starting a housing co-op and requested no city interference.
- Caller (ID 124) thanked Council Member Young for clarity on "crypto homes" and raised two issues: (1) improper service of blight tickets leading to collection notices, requesting that tickets be dropped if not properly served; and (2) rodent migration from developer sites, asking for developer responsibility. Council Member Young said he would look into it.
- Mr. Overwith accused Council Member Scott Benson of lying about a threat of physical violence, claimed Benson has offshore bank accounts, and stated he would work to ensure Benson loses the upcoming election. He also alleged absentee ballot fraud.
- Not that Karen expressed concern about high DTE electric bills, noting that Detroit residents pay more than suburban residents. She inquired about the "interruptible power" program and asked for its reinstatement.
- Ms. Vernon (iPhone caller) – President of DeSoda Elsewhere Black Association – thanked Council Member Young for his support, including hygiene bags and donations. She invited attendees to the Rise Detroit event focusing on park funding.
- Caller 270 discussed the city's bond debt, stating that the OCFO's report is now showing $2.7 billion outstanding, but claimed it is over $3 billion including interest. He also noted that the city has received $827 million in ARPA funds but has not conducted a required single audit.
Discussion Items
- Contract 6.16 – Towing services (booted/abandoned vehicles) – Motion to move to formal session without recommendation after Council Member Benson stated he did not support the contract but wanted it to advance. Motion passed.
- Contract 6.19 – Parking app (Park Detroit) – Director Keith Hutchings explained the amendment is the last extension before going out to bid. He noted the app is growing and a PR campaign will launch in the next two months. Council Member Benson asked about adding EV chargers to the app; Hutchings said it is technically possible pending a request from the Office of Mobility and Innovation. The motion to move to formal session with recommendation for approval passed.
- Contract 6.20 – Towing services (BBK Towing) – Moved to formal session without recommendation, similar to 6.16.
- Contract 6.21 – Blight remediation maintenance – Alex Weatherup explained the amendment aligns fee schedules. Moved to formal session with recommendation for approval.
Key Outcomes
- Event permits (items 6.1–6.15): All petitions for special events (Southwest Vest, St. Joseph Shrine October Fest, Ava Joe Fest, Downtown Synagogue Block Party, Dally in the Alley, Detroit Football Classic, DHD annual block party, DAC Engines & Ice Cream, DAC Employee & Family Day, Detroit Dearborn Community Block Party, Detroit Dragway Reunion Car Show, Dr. Ossian H. Sweet 100th anniversary, Labor Day 2025, Sickle Cell Matters Awareness Week, Detroit Next to Blow Music Fest) were moved to formal session with recommendations for approval.
- Contract 6.16 (towing, Sherwood Street): Moved to formal session without recommendation.
- Contract 6.17 (ARPA mural projects): Amendment to extend time only; moved to formal session with recommendation for approval.
- Contract 6.18 (Fort Street Bridge Park): $900,000 contract for phase two; moved to formal session with recommendation for approval.
- Contract 6.19 (parking app): Amendment to extend time and increase funds by $1,548,200; moved to formal session with recommendation for approval.
- Contract 6.20 (towing, BBK Towing): Moved to formal session without recommendation.
- Contract 6.21 (blight remediation): Amendment to clarify fee schedule; no cost increase; moved to formal session with recommendation for approval.
- Member Reports: Council Member Young welcomed interns, announced Coffee with Coleman event on July 25, 2025, and noted Detroit's birthday.
- Adjournment: The committee adjourned without objection.
Meeting Transcript
Who do we have first to the queue, Mr. Bo. Mr. We currently have seven individuals' hands with raised for public comment. The first caller is Cindy Darrell. All right, Cindy Dara. Floor is yours. Two minutes, Cindy. Cindy. Oh well. Go ahead. I want to thank you, Coleman, for uh uh your mother sent me this notice in writing that the mayor's chief of staff assured us two weeks ago that the health department order regarding your house has been rescinded. And uh I just got that notice last night, and I want to thank you for uh going to the administration and getting that removed. That was great. But one thing I don't like about this when I read the whole thing, it says that I'm supposed to go to Rico Razo. She's in charge of home repair programs. Well, I just went to a meeting, a community meeting, and somebody from North Corktown told me about how so many people he knew that got grants from this uh Rico Razo department. They destroyed something else. They might have fixed the contractors fixed what they come to our contracted to fix and then they destroy something else in the house that doesn't get fixed, and that's the property owner's problem. So I'm not sure I want Rico Razo and to help me. I do want to start a co-op. I was listening to Gabriella on on the metro this morning, and that's what they're doing in Southwest Detroit. They're taking buildings and making co-ops out of them because they can't afford to build new. And I I'd like to do that with my building, but I do not want interference with the city. And uh I've already been to their administrative court years ago and uh fought this thing where they were trying to make me get occupacy permit and rental permit. Well, they dropped that and now they're starting again on it. So I just uh do not trust the city. Sorry, but you can't trust somebody. All right, thank you so much, and I appreciate you that recognition. Thank you, Ms. Dara. Who do you next to the queue, Mr. Bo? The next caller ends in one, two, four. One, two, four, floor is yours, two minutes. Go ahead, one, two, four. Yeah, good afternoon, Mayor Behurt. Go ahead. Yeah, thank you. I want to thank you too, Coleman and your mom for giving Cindy that clarity. I noticed in the last uh planning development that member Johnson has a memo about what's going on with the residents of the crypto homes or real token, whatever they're called. And so I'm glad people understand what equal protection is sometimes. Um I also wanted to ask a question to this committee. I might not maybe it's public health and safety committee, but it is about the neighborhood. Um B seed is not uh properly serving their complaints. That's one issue, and I think everybody should get a warning. Um and like I shouldn't find out about tickets by getting a collection notice in the mail. If they didn't, if they don't have proof they properly served it, it should be dropped. It shouldn't be my problem. They didn't do the job, but I also have a question about rodent migration from developer sites.
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