Saw you in the community, saw you everywhere.

We actually got a chance to join forces on some things along the way.

So this is just a continuation of what we have been doing throughout the year.

All right, is there an approval of the minutes?

See no objections that action shall be taken.

We'll let everyone know we do have no public hearings today.

We do have a discussion that actually will be uh moved.

As a matter of fact, uh seeing that we do not uh have a public hearing.

Is there a motion to discuss line item five, please?

So moved.

Thank you so much.

So just want everyone to know that line item five is the continued uh discussion on the Detroit Land Bank Authority memorandum of understanding before we left off during uh prior to uh recess.

Uh it was noted that we were going to bring it back officially on the 11th.

We're bringing it back officially on the 11th.

Uh so it is on the agenda a bit premature.

So um I don't think we have to do anything else because it's already on the agenda, so we're gonna be talking about this next week.

I will say that uh we are continuing the discussion.

Uh, there's been a lot of conversation about what this committee has and has not done regarding this MOU.

Uh, there was a movie back in the day when I was growing up movie that um you had someone who's making some phone calls, and the phone calls were like real troublesome and created a lot of havoc, or at least trying to create havoc.

And to spare you all, at the end of the movie, we found out that the calls are coming from inside the house, and that's what it feels like in this situation right here.

Calls coming from inside the house.

Uh, this committee is being thrown under the bus uh as the entity that is holding up the MOU process.

This committee is the same one that put forward a resolution that was rejected by the full body and sent back to the committee.

We've been working on it, placing it on the agenda, asking for feedback for amendments, and we have not gotten the cooperation that we have completely needed to advance this item.

We can talk about it all day long, but what we do is not just talk, this is legislation that we have to create.

And so there's some amendments that we have before us that just don't have any details attached to it.

And you can't add a thought into a MOU.

This is about legal language that we have to agree upon, it has details.

And I give you an example.

This is paraphrasing.

There's one that says uh they want enhanced community engagement.

You can't just throw that into a MOU.

What does that mean?

Who's to decide what that enhanced engagement looks like?

That's where the the sponsor of the the amendments is supposed to provide information.

And once we get that, do are you looking for monthly engagements?

Are you looking for engagements in districts?

How are you what are you looking for that's different than what's currently on the table and what has been done?

And that is what's slowing this process down.

So for all of those folks who are confused about what we're doing, all of our meetings are on the record.

You can go and we can point you to it.

But I also say ask the question of uh what's being done from those who are articulating the fact that this committee is slowing it up, slowing it down.

Uh what are you doing to actually move the uh the information as opposed to just talking about it?

So as we get the calls that are coming in, the call coming from inside the house.

I'm just asking to please heed my call.

And the call that I'm asking for is that you work with your colleagues.

The call that I'm asking for is that we we we put something together that is not divisive, but is something that we all agree upon that we can get to a point where we're having the best MOU possible for the city of Detroit.

But right now, what we have are just for some uh documents, thoughts, ideas, and it's being asked for this committee to just approve thoughts and ideas, and we need details.

So I'm hopeful that we'll get better cooperation in advance of next week's discussion on the 11th.

I say it again, and for the record, been asked to hold this off until next term.

That's what I was asked.

I said, No, we're gonna move forward.

So for someone to say that we're trying to hold up, stop this process is disingenuous, it's unfortunate, but we got an opportunity to turn it around.

It will be back before us on next week, next Thursday.

Hopefully, again, we'll get the cooperation that we're looking for.

This message was sponsored by James State and James State alone, not the committee.

So I'm sorry to surprise you, Member Johnson, but um had to get that off my chest.

And this last I'm gonna talk about it because we're gonna actually deal with it next week.

All right.

So as we move forward, would like to now call for public comment.

If there's anyone from the public who would like to speak, please raise your hand now.

I see one in the room, Miss Tina Castleberry.

I see three in the room.

Any online going once, going twice, going three times collection of public comments have now concluded.

Good morning, Miss Caprice.

How many callers do we have, ma'am?

How many how many public commenters rather do we have good morning, Mr.

Chair?

Well, it looks like we have 13 all together with three being in person.

All right, 13.

All right, we're back.

Let's give two minutes for general public comment.

And we'll start with the folks who are in the committee of the whole.

We can have our three speakers come forward.

We got three chairs just sitting there waiting for you with the microphones.

Uh please note when you get there, uh, when your time is is uh when your it's your time to speak, hit the button in front of the microphone until the mic turn from turns red uh to green, from red to green.

Uh, you have two minutes.

Once your two minutes is over, I'm gonna have to cut you off because by the law, I have to give everyone the same amount of time.

So we're gonna start.

Uh let's start all the way over to my left, and we're gonna make our way over uh this way.

So we'll start.

Um with the glasses on, and please mention your name, and then you may proceed.

The floor is yours.

Good morning, council members and uh councilmember Tate.

I appreciate your notice that this will be taken up again on September 11th.

I hope my fellow members of the public come out, heed Councilman Tate's remarks and understand that there seems to be interest in movement toward um meaningful MOU on the land bank authority.

Please, I will again as well come on the 11th.

Um my name's Tracy Peters.

I live in District 4.

Council Member Johnson is my representative.

Uh, I do appreciate your service, the seen and unseen work that goes into your job.

My connection to the land bank authority isn't what I'm gonna talk about here today, but I will say that I was part of that first initiative in 2014 that showcased houses in my neighborhood.

So if I have to talk about real on the street personal anecdotals, I could.

Um I hope that what I'm gonna say can contribute toward what I hear you trying to do as a body, which is craft an MOU that reflects amendments that represent some of the people's problems that they've had with the land bank.

Best way to say it is this.

Sunday from three to seven, the city of Detroit celebrating the hundredth year of Dr.

O.

C.

And sweet's um tragedy that took place when he tried to move in on an east side neighborhood on Garland.

And at that time, the laws about housing for black homeownership in Michigan included restrictive covenants, they included redlining and um laws that were in the criminal sector, didn't we enforced against white people who attack blacks like Dr.

O.

C and Sweet.

It's a hundred years ago.

Here we are, 2025.

Um, after attending council member Waters' forum on land bank and how it's affecting black residents and homeownership in Detroit.

I'm hearing that the laws are less open and notorious, and I reread the fat the Fast Track Act and looked for measures of like racial disparity.

There's nothing, but it's having the same effect on black homeownership.

And I would like to see Ma'am, thank you so much.

That's two minutes.

Yep, the clerk's right up.

Oh, I'll okay.

I'll see you on the 11th.

All right, we'll be back.

Mr.

Chair.

Yes, ma'am.

Um before we proceed.

So I do know attorney Peters, and because you are involved in this conversation, and as an attorney, I wonder if you might be able to lean in a little bit more and provide language that you might recommend relative to the amendments that have been proposed.

Um, so I can connect with you offline between now and next week.

Uh, and maybe if you have some ideal or proposed language that would help to strengthen the MOU understanding what um the amendments that have been proposed, uh, would love to make that connection, have those conversations, and um bring something forward that is more robust, that is more impactful for Detroit residents.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you, Member Johnson.

All right, Miss Tina Castleberry.

Hit that mic in front of you.

We can't hear you.

Turn the red to green.

Thank you.

I am Tina Cassavery, the owner of the garden bog.

Um, 13 years in business.

We're the first black female owned and operated garden center in the entire city of Detroit.

We purchased a property at a land bank in 2020.

We opened our garden center on the north end for our second location in 2021.

We have received 65,000 in motor city match money.

We've received $18,000 in Detroit means business money.

Gary Torgo, a friend of mine gave us $25,000 towards our mission of opening a new garden center on the north end of Detroit, which is at 4225 West of Davison.

I need you guys to do the right thing.

This has been going back and forth, and they don't want to rezone us, it needs to get rezoned.

We put so far 195,000 into this property, assuming and under the impression that we are going to be able to open as a garden center.

We open now in October, and as it stands right now, we are for zoning purposes and planning purposes, have not been rezoned yet.

So I need this to be facilitated.

We have 89 signatures of support from the neighbors, community that really want a garden center in this area.

So I just asked for your support and reconsideration and rezoning the garden center.

Thank you so much.

And so we're going to take take this item up today.

We also there's some things that we have to deal with in terms of the the heart and then also what is the law, so to speak.

What I want to make sure is that we have someone when we hit this item on the agenda, Mr.

Washington.

If you're available, if we can have uh someone online who can talk about uh the approval process to allow this business to open in that space if it wasn't zoned for, because that's where some of the challenges lie in.

We are limited.

I mean, a lot of times people think we can just go against the rules that we have.

Um we're limited because what what that may create is a situation where there's spot zoning, which is a challenge for us.

Um, but we'll have that discussion as we move forward.

So please don't go anywhere uh as we uh have this discussion.

So, Mr.

Washington, are you there?

Good morning, Mr.

Chair.

Yes, I am here.

All right, cool.

So if you can please have someone again um available to talk about the approval process um and permitting process and inspection process that's supposed to happen um prior to this, because I believe you you've been open now with three years or four years, four years.

So very interested in that.

Uh, this first time is coming to us.

So um want to know details.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Welcome.

All right, thank you.

Uh good morning, ma'am.

Good morning.

Thank you, council.

Um, my name is Leslie Robinson.

I'm from the Russell Woods Sullivan area.

I'm also here on behalf of Tina for the Garden Book.

She is in our district, District 7, and she's on the border of our community right there on the corner of Potoski.

Um, it was our understanding.

Um, member, council member, that the city planning commission denied the zoning.

Is that correct?

And with all of the modifications that were made to this property with all of the money that she mentioned, um, we don't understand why it wasn't rezoned when that had been in the planning for four years.

So that had come through planning and development.

Uh, just a couple days ago in the mayor's charter meeting.

We spoke with Alexa Bush and Comrade Mallet.

I wish that they were present to inform this body of what the mayor decided that there is a short-term and a long-term goal, but we have yet to uh hear any response on that.

So I'm glad that we're gonna have the discussion today.

And thank you.

Thank you.

All right, we'll now shift to our folks who are online.

Who's our first caller?

Mr.

Chair, our first caller is Cunningham.

Brother Cunningham, good morning.

Long time no talk, just early this morning.

Yeah, the surprise call lifted my spirits and our prayer that we had.

Council Pro Tim Tate.

Appreciate you, sir.

Yes, sir.

Everybody at home 313, 444, 9114, 313, 444, 9114.

313, vote, vote, vote, 9114.

That number was made so you can remember it.

And remember that is my cash app.

In order me for me to continue giving out the the bus tickets and taking time off to advocate your contributions of any kind are appreciated.

I thank you for the gift cards.

I thank you for the bus tickets.

I thank you for the finances to repair and maintain the outreach vehicle slash taxi cab.

I thank you.

Everyone listening under the sound of my voice, and I am good ground where you can so see.

You can work vicariously through me.

Some of the demographics of the people that I deal with, you may not want to deal with, but you can do it vicariously through me.

On Facebook, put in not enemy.

And you'll find um me there.

Uh the mayor's meeting was uh was good last night.

Please stay informed of the meeting times.

I believe there's a nightly city council meeting coming up.

Um stay informed, or that information is always provided on my Facebook page.

Dot steel lackluster, not on time.

I don't care if you're pooky, Ray Way Cousin, Bishop, Doctor, uh whatever you are, whomever you are.

Do a bus ride along with me to see where your funds are going.

Do a bus ride along and keep me in prayer.

Me and my mom's appreciate you.

Appreciate you as well, as always, Brother Cunningham.

Next caller, please.

Our next caller is Mr.

Roo.

Ruben James Crowley Jr., the floor is yours.

You have two minutes, General Public Comment.

Yeah, listen up, James.

James E.

Tate Jr.

Nah, you called Kenisha's mother two times.

Out of pocket, out of line.

Cross the line with me.

I'm a cool dude.

One of the coolest.

One of the coldest, too.

Got a 40-year reputation around Detroit in and around Detroit, being stand up 100.

Kinesha Coleman did not shoot herself.

Charmaine McCloud did it.

And you were supposed to look into it and all that fancy talk and smooth talk, slick talk you're doing.

Detroit is corrupt.

Did you hear it?

You Mary Sheffield, Michael Edward Double, and uh Detroit Police Department's homicide unit.

Marco Postat Derek Mayic Jeffrey Hudson to change and amend that initial rule in the homicide.

Now Nini's birthday is coming up.

Nini is my friend.

You done got in the way, and you and your pastor, and Mary Sheffield and Michael Edward Duggan can all smoke D.

The reason why I say it like that, and why I'm talking like this now is because it's proven and demonstrated.

Charmaine cannot articulate who called her to inform her that Kenisha was shot or shot herself or whatever lie she telling.

Now I'm back outside with it.

And this time, it's got to get done.

The Republicans are gonna come in here in Detroit, and I'm the 93rd precinct delegate for the Republican Party.

We're gonna clean up this whole Democratic.

All right.

Next caller, please.

All right, next caller is Miko Williams.

Miko Williams, the floor is yours.

Two minutes, general public comment.

Yes, hello, good morning.

Um, welcome back.

Damico Williams, private taxpayer citizen, um, legacy detroiter, and also uh just very perturbed by what you just said, uh, councilman Tate, in regards to this MOU.

If you knew better, you would do better, and I'm pretty sure you have the tools to do way better than what it is right now.

You have not had a public mass town hall in regards to the MOU showing the presentation of the Detroit Land Bank and such, and then offering the opponents side to the people of the city of Detroit that have been wronged and that have been screwed over by the land bank.

We have demolished all the houses and such.

What what we I thought we got rid of the abandoned um bacon house.

There's a lot of moving parts in the MOU that's still not been discussed in the public.

It needs to be slowed down.

If it does come up next week, it's only a conversation.

It should be just that a conversation.

Nothing should move until all of the movie parts.

You know they're being sued right now for the NAP program.

And also there's other challenges as well legally.

So why approve an MOU that the next council body, which you're gonna be the council president on, I'm pretty sure of, it's gonna be debated.

So all that could be uh that that you what you just said, I I understand what you're saying.

It's under your leadership, sir, but you also have a greater responsibility to the people that elected you and to the greater residents of the city of Detroit that are counting on home ownership and not being made of printers and having their um lives and dreams and hopes taken away by some corrupt fashion of the Detroit land bank and the Michigan State Land Bank as well.

You should reconsider uh this decision and think more about how you can get people equity.

Thank you so much, Miko.

You got my number, man.

If you want to talk about it, you have any suggestions outside of what's been presented.

Um, feel free to give me a holler.

We've talked about that in the past.

I'm not inaccessible.

Give me a call.

Next caller, please.

All right, next caller is iPhone.

Hi, phone.

The floor is yours.

You have two minutes, general public comments.

Good morning to all within the sound of my voice.

This is Betty A.

Bon, the president of the Soda Ellsworth Block Association.

Here today sharing information I've shared before.

If there's any seniors or people who are disabled who need assistance in their homes to be able to stay in their homes, not be in a nursing home and be safe.

And if you are not eligible for Medicaid, please reach out to DAA at 313 446 4444.

Again, that's 313 446, 444, and tell the person who answers the phone that you are interested in filling out an application for the choice waiver program.

This is a program that is uh a federal government program where um the whole objective is to keep seniors and people who are disabled out of nursing homes.

They assist you and to with whatever need you need to be able to stay in your home.

Uh, and if you're not eligible for Medicaid, it is focused on that population.

It will allow you to uh earn monthly $2,900 for this particular program.

You will be able to get Medicaid, and then that will open up so many other doors for other programs.

So please share this uh information because I have used it, it worked, and I know that there are other people out here in the city of Detroit that needs this help.

Uh also if you would like to donate to DeSoda Elsewhere Black Association, you can do it by day by Zale by going to D E B A W E B E L.

All right, thank you so much.

Uh and I do apologize.

I've failed to note I'm still brushing off that rust.

Um, member vice chair has now uh joined us.

Good morning, sir.

Thank you so much.

All right, next caller, please.

All right, next caller, if you matter.

Caller, the floor is yours.

You have two minutes.

General public comment.

Caller, are you there?

I'm there.

Can you hear me?

Yes, ma'am.

Excuse me, I gotta get rid of the other device so I don't have an echo.

Okay.

So could you please start the clock?

I was just trying to get the echo away.

Can you please put it back to two minutes?

We'll give her two minutes.

Floor's yours.

Thank you very much.

First of all, um, for those of you who would can take a little refresher course in the Detroit City Charter regarding the land bank, uh, or actually regarding the council's duty, section 4-112 control of property.

I'm only gonna read the first paragraph, except as otherwise provided by the charter, the city may not sell or in any way dispose of any property without the approval by resolution of the city council.

So when you did the MOU, it was you basically gave a whole bunch of of your charter power over to the mayor.

And let me give you a little historic uh reference here.

Back in 2015, when uh the city was trying to beef up this MOU and add a bunch of stuff.

Well, there no, there was the side lot program, but there was very vague language in there about future disposition programs.

And I warned Mary Sheffield and the rest of you, excuse me, the ones who were there back then, that you should know exactly what those programs are before you vote on it.

And then Alexis Wiley, Mary's chief uh my Duggan's chief of staff got up and assured the city council that they would not be disposing of properties in ways that were not approved by city council.

But that has been proven to be absolutely not true.

The mayor, when you y'all just want to point at this entity and call it independent, but it's independent on paper only because of the economic development policy.

That's why the land bank holds property per this administration, and then like it's happened to me, gives the residents the run around and doesn't tell them it's on hold.

So I don't why don't you put your pants back on and pants are firmly on, not sure we're still there.

Um next caller, please.

Our next caller is Cindy Dara.

Cindy Dara, the floor is yours.

You have two minutes, general public comment.

Cindy Dara, are you there?

All right, let's put Ms.

Dorr.

I'm here.

I'm here she is.

I'm here.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Um I'm kind of lost, but I've been listening to MPR, but lack of trust is uh gonna damage democracy, but we do need uh better government, and I really feel like if we'd have better local and state government, we we might not have wound up with the president we have now.

So uh but anyway, uh I want to just mention a couple things that it troubled me a little bit.

I was at Labor Day, and I talked to this woman from Nobi that's in the state uh legislature, and so she wasn't interested in what I was talking about.

Then I said, Well, uh what about this thing where they're taking capturing uh that that uh incremental tax law where they can take money out of the schools and take it and give it to business people downtown, and she didn't even know about the law.

So I think what we need to do is make sure that these state legislators, we got to go back and look at all these laws that the state gives all this power that is really unconstitutional.

You know, it's it's unfair, it's unconstitutional, it's damaging to the society.

So I think that's one way I I thought, my God, she doesn't even know that law exists, or that they're even taking money out, and they're voting on stuff that they don't even or they actually they don't know the old laws, so we gotta look those up and ourselves and get rid of some of those or change them so that work for people.

So anyway, uh on Saturday.

I've I've heard that you can go to Easter Market across from the spice thing on Russell and Winder, right there at Easter Market, and that's where they were banging on pots and pans to stop the genocide.

Well, people uh meet there if you want to help stop the genocide, come over there on Saturday.

All right, thank you.

Next caller, please.

Here I'm at all right, caller.

The floor is yours.

You have two minutes, general public comment.

Good morning.

The MOU is just another problem that you have caused, and it's very funny that you don't, you know.

Uh all you want to do is put a band-aid on problems and scabs and wounds that you caused.

100,000 homes have been illegally foreclosed.

Those land bank homes are probably those homes, and it's gonna it's causing uh uh people to be homeless, and what we've been asking, and we do thank you for uh the um request for uh Wayne County Treasurer Barry Sabree to uh do another moratorium, which he has done foreclosure uh moratorium because 95% of the uh homes foreclosed illegally are illegally inflated.

But you I don't see any of you uh calling him holding um town hogs, trying to find these illegally foreclosed homes.

This is a hundred thousand homes.

Where is your town hall meeting on that?

Why aren't you getting to the bottom of where these homes are and trying to get these homes back to these families?

That's why you got uh housing crisis.

And then you want to do the MOU, okay.

We're glad you're doing that, but uh uh get these people's homes back to them, find out who they are, where they at and give them back.

Be like uh Ibrahim Tray Or, do something different.

You got the power.

You won't use the power.

You you will uh uh milk weed Mickey Mouse type uh um statements, Mr.

Uh means nothing.

You have all this power.

I hope to God you don't become president of city council because you're a weak man and you are weak at uh uh distributing using your power.

Find these homes, put the people back in them and stop playing games.

Thank you.

Next caller, please.

Our next caller is Kathy Montgomery.

Caller, the floor is yours, Ms.

Montgomery.

Good to hear from you.

Um morning.

Um yes, I attended the town hall sponsored by councilwoman Mary Waters.

And I was uh very angry at the way Detroiters have been treated by the Detroit land bank.

They uh so many of the people testified that they call the land bank, they never get a live person answering the phone.

They leave voicemails that are never responded to.

They repause they they call three, four times and then and uh leave voicemails, no response, and then they just give up.

And they want to purchase uh a lot next to them, or they want to purchase a home or whatever.

And the land bank is showing Detroiters no respect.

There uh I don't believe that the contract with the land bank should be renewed at all, at all.

Um the it if there is a memorandum of understanding, uh you know, uh Mary Waters has said that she has submitted numerous amendments to uh I I don't understand why that our city council, the other members of the city council want to continue dealing with the land bank.

These properties, uh over 60,000 properties should be brought in-house and and uh uh an uh committee should be set up in-house and hire Detroiters instead of people who live outside of Detroit who have no respect for Detroiters.

Um it's deplorable.

One woman invested 30,000 in her woman.

Thank you so much, Ms.

Montgomery.

I know you're a D1 resident.

Um, and I thank you for participating in this particular meeting.

I ask you to give my office a call.

I don't know if you heard the uh beginning of the uh the meeting where I explained some of the concerns about the calls from coming from inside the house.

Um, but I will give you my number 313-224-1027.

Give us a call so I can walk you through what is on the pieces of paper that we have before us from all members, not just one particular office, but what we have and what the challenges are with getting details on moving those things forward.

Also, would like to give you a uh and also learn from you under a better understanding from your vantage point of what your thoughts and beliefs are uh on the land bank, and I can give you what I've seen and and what I've experienced as well and what other residents are telling me too.

So we'll love to talk to you, Ms.

Montgomery 313 22410 27.

Thank you so much.

Let's call.

Um, yes, ma'am.

Uh thank you.

Um, I just want to be sure that residents are also aware that in order for the land bank to be disbanded um and eliminated, that it not only takes majority of counsel, it also means that the mayor has to agree to that.

Um, and I think that's been left out of the conversation.

So whether there are five or six council members, I'm not sure if it's a supermajority or a majority, um, but the mayor has to agree to it as well.

And I believe the mayor has already taken a position that um he's not interested in disbanding the uh the Detroit Land Bank Authority.

So just want to make sure residents are aware of that as well.

Thank you.

Thank you, Member Johnson.

I've tried to communicate that, and I know some folks are calling in because they were encouraged to call this council because we are the ones that are slowing it up and creating this havoc.

Uh, but as I mentioned before, the calls that are coming from inside the house that are incorrect, disingenuous, and hopefully we can all get on the same page because there is this agreement is not just with council and the land bank, it is council and the mayor and the land bank.

So we all have to agree on these particular items.

Not as easy as sometimes you think it is, but we're gonna get through it next week.

It's before us.

Next caller, please.

Margaret Manox.

Floor's yours, ma'am.

Thank you for joining us.

Good morning, good morning.

Good morning.

And thank you, Miss Jul taking the walk to my shoes that with me last month.

And Mr.

Doo, please, please.

I would love to do a welcome for my shoes day with the YouTube, please.

And tomorrow is your tell me to take.

So I live there at this time.

And speaking speaking about me.

The people the pet is in the back.

So the house is still is beautiful.

But it is not dangerous ADA.

It is not ADA complaints.

Looking at that, yeah, and design.

Please make sure that the new benefits do not mean that that go.

Thank you so much, Ms.

Munnock and look forward to uh walking with you.

I believe it's this week it's coming up.

So looking forward to it.

I believe that takes us to the end of our public comments for today.

Thank you all for for all who did take the time out to join us.

Uh we're now dive into unfinished business line item 6.1 status of council president Pro Tim James Tate.

Uh contract number 600 7315, uh 100% city funds.

Provide uh income tax preparation services, filing returns, and L for eligible individuals, including earned income tax credits.

Uh colleagues, I know this item was uh I believe held by member Callaway over the recess period.

Uh a memo was really response was provided.

We have additional questions though, we we still have on this particular item.

So colleagues, can we get a one-week uh bring back on line item six point one, please?

So move.

Thank you so much.

There's a one-week bring back request for line item six point one, seeing objections, that action shall be taken.

Line item six point two, status for council president pro Tim James State Smiting Memorandum.

This submitting memorandum relative to request for ADA universal design and bird safety mitigation details.

Zoning amendment for 560 and 580 Civic Center Drive.

Collectors were still uh awaiting a response, was told that uh PEDD would have a response to us in two weeks.

Uh is there a motion to bring back line item 6.2 in two weeks.

So move.

See no objections, we should bring back line item 6.2 in two weeks.

And action shall be taken.

Line item 6.3 status of council member Mary Waters submitting memorandum relative to questions on proposed contract with the motor city mitten mission for unhoused people outreach.

Uh response was provided on 717 of 2025.

Uh is there a motion to discuss and or receive and file?

Uh move to receive and file.

There's a motion to receive and file line item six point three.

See no objections, that action shall be taken.

Line item six point four status of council member Letitia Johnson submitting memorandum relative to housing support for families in real token properties.

Is there a motion to discuss and or receive and file?

Move to receive and file.

There's a motion to receive and file.

Line item six point four, colleagues.

Any objections?

See none, and action shall be taken.

Line item six point five status of council member Mary Waters submitting memorandum relative to properties owned by real token LLC and other cryptocurrency entities.

Uh we are still awaiting a request or excuse me, response to member water's question, uh requesting a bring back of three weeks on this particular item.

It's in asking for uh how many of these properties that real token uh purchased, acquired came from the land bank.

We're waiting for a response from the land bank team was just in touch with them just yesterday.

Uh uh Attorney Anderson, yes, sir.

Uh Graham Anderson Law Department.

I just received an email from um the land bank, which put their analysis together.

So I think a one-week bring back would be fine.

We have everything there, just need to put it together.

Okay.

Colleagues, is there a request as there is a request for a one-week bring back, uh, amended request for one week bring back from line item six point five.

Is there a motion?

Move to bring back in one week.

There's a motion to bring back line item six point five in one week, seeing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Line item six point six status of council member Mary Waters submitting memorandum relative to Michigan land bank authority oversight of Detroit Land Bank Authority.

Is there a motion to discuss, please?

So move.

Thank you so much.

We did receive a response from the law department this morning.

Attorney Graham Anderson, if you can uh uh let the public know what that response is.

We kind of talked about it before um publicly about the authority of this body to compel uh outside authority.

Yes, through the Chair Graham Anderson Law Department.

Um the this body does not have any authority to compel the Michigan um uh land bank authority um to provide any information outside of potential litigation, um, which obviously does we're nowhere near anything like that, nor do we need anything like that at this point.

Um uh in regards to the Detroit Land Bank.

We are currently working uh with the MOU putting together the the next one um and the the current restraints in that typically has been that this body um approves the board members.

That's typically the the the main function of oversight of this particular body dealing with the land bank.

And um I'm happy to answer any additional questions if need be.

Thank you.

Yeah, but here's the other thing.

If no, and this is why the the request for uh council members for uh term limits is it makes sense because if there's no movement on the board all the way back when the land bank stood up, if those same members are still the board members are still there, council effectively are on the outside of that process.

Absolutely.

Okay.

So again, that's one of the items that colleagues are looking to move forward on this uh MOU.

Um amended MOU for term limits.

Uh so be on the lookout for that as well.

Uh member Johnson.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Uh, through you to Attorney Anderson, why is it that though after um if they have a four-year term or however long it is, why aren't they required to um be reappointed after the term has expired?

Through the chair, Graham Anderson Law Department to Councilmember Johnson.

It's my understanding that is a part of the agreement.

Um but I could give a more detailed response as well as um I know um uh attorney uh Bruce Goldman will be available next week for the MOU discussion, and I know he'll be able to provide um various details, including a better expansive answer to that question there as well.

Okay, thank you.

We'll have it for next week.

Well, well, actually, it would probably be better if we have it before next week, because if we're having it next week, uh it very well may delay yet again this MOU that we've been trying to get across the threshold in this committee.

This committee for the record, been trying to get it over the threshold.

So is is there a um a motion for an action to be taken to provide to us?

Uh thank you, Mr.

Chair.

We'll we'll send a memo over in order to get the response prior, hopefully, prior to next week.

Yeah.

Thank you.

And the request from the chair, uh, in addition to the memos to have that in advance of the discussion so that we can all review it and have those questions uh and know where we're going and and not just find out at the table.

Through the chair, absolutely.

All right, thank you so much, thank you.

Any further colleagues?

Seeing none.

Uh is there a motion to receive and file line item 6.6.

So move.

Seeing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Line item six point seven, status of council member Mary Waters submitting memorandum relative to Detroit Land Bank Authority properties, taxes, and revenue.

Uh, there was a report, and that was provided.

Uh no, this was the Yes.

So no.

Um have we I don't see on here, would we receive a report on this item?

I don't believe we do.

So move, Mr.

Chair.

See no objections that action shall be taken.

All right, dropping down to new business line item 7.1, submitting resolution authorization for contract number 600 652-a one, 100% ARPA funding, amendment number one to provide an extension of time only for development of public facility uh rehabilitation accessibility upgrades.

Colleagues, there are a motion to discuss and or approve.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Move to send a formal with a recommendation to approve.

There's a motion to send line item 7.1 to formal with a recommendation to approve.

Seeing no objections, then action shall be taken.

Line item 7.2 submitting resolution authorization for contract number 600.

675, excuse me, 745-A1, 100% ARPA funding.

Amendment number one, this is providing an extension of time and increase of funds for roof and window replacements for qualifying Detroit residents selected for the renewed Detroit Home Repair Program.

Is there a motion to discuss and or approve?

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Move to send a formal with a recommendation to approve.

There's a motion to send line item 7.2 to formal with a recommendation to approve.

Seeing no objections, then action shall be taken.

Line item 7.3 submitting resolution authorization for contract number 600679-a 1.

100% city funding, amendment number one to provide an increase of funds for 35-bed expansion of emergency shelter services for those experiencing homelessness.

So move.

Thank you so much.

And this uh indicates that the contractor, all things women uh is located on Calvert Street, but I know them to be located in District One on St.

Mary's.

Uh anyone has any information on the discrepancy, uh, Mr.

Washington or HRD.

Good morning, honorable body.

Tara Linsner, Housing Revitalization Department.

Good morning.

Good morning.

So the location, uh, I I know all things women to be located uh on St.

Mary's, but it has on here that they're located on Calvert.

Was that an error, or do they have a second location?

I'm not aware of uh uh to the chair.

No, the shelter location is on St.

Mary's, sir.

Okay.

Um are we going to get is there a correction letter that will be created, provided uh to the chair?

Yes, we can absolutely work with OCP to get that done.

Okay.

All right, I'm fine with moving it forward as long as we have the uh correction letter at the time of uh approval at formal if my colleagues are open to that.

Colleagues, any further discussion on line item 7.3 seeing none.

Uh is there a motion to approve?

Move to send a formal with a recommendation to approve.

There's a motion to send line item 7.3 to formal with a recommendation to approve, pending the correction order.

Seeing no objections, that action shall be taken.

On to the city planning commission line item 7.4 submitting report related to the request of Ms.

Tino Castleberry to rezone the property at 4213 and 425 West Davison Avenue from an R3, that's a low density residential zoning classification to a B2 local business and residential zoning classification.

Is there a motion to discuss?

So move, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you so much.

Dr.

Bulger, thank you for joining us.

I know that you all have been working on this from my understanding all the way back.

I think the hearing in March.

Um conversations have been held and support letters and um just want to know and hopefully, Mr.

Washington, you can have some folks on again who as as I requested who can talk to us about the approval process, permitting process, and inspection process uh in those four or five years that the business has been operating at that location.

Um Dr.

Bolger, I know that the recommendation was to deny.

Talk to us about it.

Good morning, council members.

Good morning.

Um the matter before you today um relates to the report of July 25th, 2025 that the Planning Commission sent to you.

And if the committee wishes, I have a PowerPoint and a number of slides that I'd be glad to share.

Please.

Those who are at home, we're having some technical difficulties, so please be patient with us.

I can I can begin while we're while we're working on these matters.

Um as you had mentioned uh Mr.

Chair, the proposal is to go from an R3 low density residential zoning classification to a B2 local business and residential zoning classification for two properties on West Davis at Potoski.

This is on the south side of Davidson, just east of Livernoy, west of Dexter.

The property is located in District 7.

Dr.

Bolger, if you want, we can proceed uh on another item while we get the PowerPoint because I think it's important to see what you're you're showing, and I want you to be as comfortable as as needed.

Okay.

Yes.

In doubt, get a millennial to work on it.

We see the location here on West Davison, just east of Livernoy, and the request was brought forward by Ms.

Castleberry as an effort to rezone the properties.

And on March 6th of this year, the City Planning Commission held the statutory public hearing concerning this rezoning.

And the request that was heard would be to allow for the legal operation of a mercado or an open-air retail operation.

One of the uses that would be permitted in the B-2 zoning classification.

This request for a rezoning response to three blight tickets that had been issued by Building Safety Engineering and Environmental back in January of this year.

And those tickets were for failure to abate an unlawful occupancy, unlawful change of use and an unlawful land use.

As had been mentioned, the petitioner acquired the subject properties from the Detroit Land Bank Authority in 2022.

The petitioner had received $65,000 through a Motor City match grant and an additional $55,000 in private and other funds.

Some of the public comment that came up were two letters of opposition and a letter of support that had been submitted.

And at the time of the hearing, a series of photos were submitted by an adjacent property owner, illustrating negative impacts of the business that had already started operating.

Four members of the public spoke at that hearing, three in opposition, one in favor.

And the discussion among the commissioners involved various matters, traffic congestion and safety concerns and information that come in subsequent to it of a near collision at the corner of Potoski and Davison.

And a question about whether or not parking or standing was even permitted on Davison.

And there was a confusion about whether people could park or stand on Davison.

We now know going out a couple of days ago, we see that in fact new no standing signs have been posted along that stretch of the of Davison.

No standing 7 a.m.

to 9 a.m.

Monday through Friday.

Concerns from the neighboring property owners and residents had continued such that they ended up contacting the office of the ombudsman and reported continued hindered access to the alley behind their properties on Pitoski.

Since the operation, although there is a dwelling, a house on the property, which is being rehabbed, the operation itself of the garden center is outdoor.

So and a mercado is defined in the ordinance as open-air sales of new retail goods, produce handicrafts, and the like.

Manufacturing industrial uses, 17 of those would be permitted in B2, whereas none are permitted in R3.

Of course, we look at what the master plan identifies for the area, and the particular parcels that we're looking at just west of Potoski on the south side of Davison are identified as low medium residential residential master plan classification.

The planning and development department found that the proposed rezoning would be generally consistent with the master plan's designation, given the small size of the development.

The analysis of the Planning Commission was based on the approval criteria that are specified in the zoning ordinance itself.

And so the next few slides will actually be looking at the specific criteria that the ordinance spells out.

The first being whether the proposed map amendment corrects an error or meets the challenge of some zoning, some changing condition.

And in fact, we find that there hasn't been any error, as there might have been in other map zoning map instances.

The second criterion is whether the proposed amendment is consistent with the master plan.

And as we indicate, the master plan was found by the master plan classification of B2 is generally consistent with what the master plan is looking for for that area.

The third criteria is whether the proposed amendment will protect health safety and general welfare of the public.

We note that speakers at the public hearing did speak of safety issues arising from traffic congestion around the use of the alley by the unauthorized use.

Correspondence also came in in general support of the proposed use.

The next criterion is whether the city and or and other service providers will be able to provide adequate public facilities and services to the subject property while maintaining adequate levels of service to existing development.

We note that concerns were raised at the public hearing over customer dependence on use of the alley in the event of emergency vehicles needing alley access.

Providers of light power, water, and telephone should not be affected.

The next criterion is whether the proposed rezoning would have significant adverse impacts on the natural environment, including air, water, soil, wildlife, and vegetation, and with respect to anticipated changes in noise and regarding stormwater management.

The CPC anticipates no adverse impact on the natural environment.

The current author unauthorized use, while triggering concerns and complaints from those nearby would seem to be a very benign use from an environmental perspective.

Dr.

Bolder, do you have this advance your slides?

I'm sorry.

Thank you.

And we note that at the public hearing, adverse impact on other property was noted, diminished, namely diminished access to their own properties, and concern over customer trespass on adjoining residential property.

And this was discussed at the public hearing.

And while acknowledging that abrasive encounters between the business and residents across the allergy had occurred, the applicant emphasized the seasonal nature of the business, namely that it would be open four months and closed for eight months of the year.

However, Planning Commission notes that a rezoning to the B2 zoning classification allows for literally scores of land uses with no such seasonal expectation.

Then the next criterion is the suitability of the subject property for the existing classification, which is R3, and the proposed zoning classification, which is B2.

CPC's analysis of the subject property is that it is better suited for the existing residential zoning classification than to a business zoning classification because of the unusually shallow depth of the lots on this block on the south side of Davison.

So that the properties in question were where the business has been operating, sits on lots that are only 53 feet deep.

The reason that the lots are that shallow is that back in 1928, the Davison got w got widened.

And at eight, the front 50 feet of all of those lots.

B2 use is also likely to have a much greater degree of coming and going traffic than R3 uses.

The subject site has a frontage of 153 feet, 151 feet wide, and a depth of 53 feet.

In total, the site includes approximately 8,000 square feet.

Business and institutional use is currently operating on the south side of Davison between Broad Street near Livernoy and Woodrow Wilson near the Lodge Freeway with similar footage are typically situated on much wider zoning lots, and or they have multiple parcels.

All of those other uses include on site parking.

So it's the planning commission's finding that the limited area and tightness of the subject site makes the site more suitable for the kind of development by allowed by the R3 zoning district than by the B2 zoning district classification.

On July 17th at their meeting, the Planning Commission, in consideration of the results of the public hearing and in site in view of the approval criteria for map amendments, the planning commission voted 8 to nothing to recommend denial of the requested rezoning of 4213 and 4225 West Davidson from R3 to B2.

There was one additional motion that was made at the time of the hearing, and that was to have the Planning Commission staff work with the Planning and Development Department and DPW traffic engineering and MDOT, since this is a Michigan Department of Transportation Roadway, M8, to look into measures that could be adopted to enhance the safety of pedestrian and vehicular traffic along this at grade stretch of West Davison, which is currently posted at 35 miles an hour and has six lanes of traffic and a center left turn lane.

That concludes my presentation.

Thank you so much.

Before we go forward, keep that uh screen up, if you will.

I know that's proposed.

What happens now that that was something that was proposed, recommended, what's the next step?

Is it just something that was discussed as a possibility, or is someone taking that information to MDOT and others to go through the exercise of uh determining if it's truly possible?

Yes, we're um we've been in touch with uh the deputy director at Traffic Engineering Division.

Um he's indicated that TED is uh ready to work with P and D and us on this.

He's recommended the name of a person at MDOT.

So the next step is we set up the meeting.

We've noticed that at two different locations on that stretch of West Davidson, um, near Linwood and then just close to Lawton, there already are some overhead pedestrian crossing lighting and signage that have been put in with some small kind of refuge area in the center lane of the traffic.

We're not we're not sure if MDOT intends to expand that kind of pedestrian crossing uh uh elsewhere on West Davison.

We we look forward to finding out.

And and and to to kind of bring it all back, how would that how would this proposal affect one, the the ability of this business to operate in that space if zoning is not changed?

Um if the uh and what would that timing look like as well for if the zoning remains as R3, building and safety has no authority to issue a permit for a mercado.

Okay.

Um so it would have to be changed to a B2 zoning classification or a similar classification.

So now, if changed, how does this proposal from that that you all had to M DOT?

How does that create the ability for this business to operate safely?

Um because even if even if this current operation um, you know, if it concluded operation, any other B2 business might be able to come in.

And our sense is that on that small amount of land, it wouldn't, you know, it's unlikely to be feasible.

If there were more land adjacent to the site, that might be a different question.

However, given the 8,000 square feet that is currently being used with only 53 feet in depth, um, it's a it's a problem.

So I think even if the if if good measures were adopted to enhance the ability of pedestrians to cross Davison, that doesn't ameliorate the the situation that the current operation is in.

Thank you.

And I want to make full disclosure that uh Miss Castleberry and I, we have relationships.

She was she's a master gardener, she's excellent at what she does.

Um and we work together, she's worked at my home before, so I always like to be transparent about things and put put it on the record.

Uh she has a uh her first location located in um my neighborhood in District One, and we're very supportive of it as well.

Uh so again, like to be transparent about you know connections.

So I don't want anybody saying anything about uh how we operate.

Um I see your your hand, member by ship, but I know we had some folks from planning department.

Uh or let me just ask Mr.

Uh Washington, just looking to see who you have online, because my bigger question is how do we get here?

How do we get here?

Um first of all, when we talk about the land bank, if the land if a proposal is provided, uh land bank catches it and goes, the thing that you're trying to do does not is not allowable in this space.

All right, let's say they miss it.

So now you have uh planning department, you have B seed who's supposed to do inspections going out well being I mean, she purchased the property in 22, and we're in 25 now.

So we're talking about another opportunity to course correct, then we talk about the fact she received Motor City match money that the city has some hand in, right?

We know it's DEGC, but we have the ability at that point go red flag.

So I'm trying to figure out how do we get to this point, and what are we trying to do as a city, seeing that at least in my mind, and somebody corrects me, um we could have changed course or helped change course a long time before we got here today.

So, what's being offered in terms of assistance to this business that is only trying to operate uh legally in a in a community?

So, Mr.

Washington, uh just would love for you to bring your folks on, uh, and if they can uh chime in.

Member Vice Chair, the floor is yours, sir.

As they uh pull those members up.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair, and uh, you know, that was going to be uh one of my questions as well.

Um, you know, how we got here.

Uh we uh and let me say first I am as a representative of that community, uh someone uh who has come from Russell Woods, grew up there.

Uh there are a lot of folks that love what the garden bug does there.

Uh but then on the flip side of the coin, we have to be sensitive to the folks who live there, uh, who have their residence there as well, uh, which creates an interesting uh predicament.

Uh we went through all these steps, uh, we end up funding this amazing business.

Uh all to find out now that the zoning is not in place.

And somewhere in line uh along the line, communications was either non-existent or or broken down where we did not catch this and say that.

So now we are charged on the back end of having to say yay or nay.

Uh because the residents do who live there have a point.

Uh, but if the business owner is operating in what they know is to be uh compliant at the time, uh, you know, how how do we provide remediation for them?

Uh and so I am interested to hear from PDD uh as well uh to come up uh with something that is palatable to the business owner, uh, but also again our residents.

I have to be sensitive to them who live behind there for for the parking.

Now, if you look at that strip, I grew up there my whole life, you go down a few blocks or a couple blocks, now we have an epic health center, uh, which is gonna be on the agenda today, too.

Uh you go further down, we're going to Zessman's plate, uh, the playground there.

The only issue with this is that this is their residential houses behind this one small strip.

And it's not anything new.

It's been like that since I grew up in that area.

So again, my point is how did we get there?

Uh and so uh to planning, uh, if they come on, you know, what is something that will allow this business owner, which again is an amazing business.

There are folks in that community love the garden bug.

Um, what what is gonna be the alternative to ensure that this business owner does not lose business?

Uh that our community does not lose a gym there, but also that the residents who live behind there who obviously have the right to say that, you know, uh they they want to have some peaceful situation.

How can we make it for everyone?

So uh I'm interested to hear that, Mr.

Chair, and looking forward to to hearing from PDD.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

We can we can take that uh screen share off now and uh we'll allow for whoever Mr.

Washington has joining us to introduce themselves for the record.

Yes, through the chair, we do have Director Bush as well as Director Bell online.

All right.

Please bring them over and to the directors when you see yourself on the screen.

Please introduce yourselves for the record.

Good morning, David Bell, Director of BC.

Morning.

Good morning through the chair, Alexa Bush, Director of Planning and Development.

Good morning.

All right.

Um just the the big question is how do we how do we end up here at this uh two years, excuse me, three years after purchase of the of the property, and what are we doing to assist this uh business owner to not just come into compliance because that would essentially shut down the business based on the zoning, but what are we doing to try to assist in uh maybe finding another location or whatever that conclusion is going to be.

This is our first time seeing it hearing it, uh so we'd like to have a robust discussion.

Through the chair, I'd be happy to jump in with conversation and sort of kind of walk you through where we are in the process, and then um Director Bell, happy to defer to you if you've got other pieces to add or build out from there.

Um I've had an opportunity to meet with Miss Castleberry um to really understand where where she's thinking about taking the business um and how she might move forward with this property that uh she has been in conversation with around with the land bank.

Uh we spoke with we spoke through a number of options that she might have, both in regards to whether she is interested to continue to invest um in rehab of the single family structure that is on the property, as well as what the options might be for continuing to have business in the Russell Woods district.

We've spoken through a number of steps, which included, you know, first off, if she's interested to continue with this purchase from the land bank and sort of complete all the steps with the house, that she is still entitled to do any use in that house that is by right in an R3 district.

That could be bringing it back as a single family home or in that chart that um Mr.

Boulder shared.

Any of those uses that are allowed in an R3 would be permissible by right through zoning.

Um and she could pursue a permit process and a rehab process to be compliant on any of those legal uses.

Uh another piece that we've offered are whether the owner would be interested in a different venue that might have the correct zoning in place.

Um, as you may be aware, we have the Dexter pop-up just around the corner that's already zoned before.

There are a number of options there where we are currently engaging in short-term leases with a number of businesses.

There are one, three, and six month options to lease out those spaces.

We've talked through some of the pros and cons and limitations.

Um security and other pieces that the business owner is interested or would need to solve in that location, but we'd be happy to work with her even for a pop-up market or a seasonal piece of her business if she would be interested to operate in the pop-up.

Uh, the third is that our team is looking through similarly um other city-owned sites in the adjacent B4 areas, so likely along Dexter and Livernoy to see whether there might be a different location that would be better suited that would have the correct zoning in place.

Um we've begun those preliminary conversations.

We want to give um, you know, after the outcome of today's hearing, just give her some time to think through what direction she might want to take, but we are happy to support to really help her run her business.

We agree that it is a great business and would love to see her succeed.

Um so we're doing what we can to figure out what is you know the best legal way to get her there, um, and what's the shortest time frame to get into compliance to make that happen.

Okay.

Um, but I I still want to hear how we got to this point.

That's the piece that I'm missing.

Thank you for those uh recommendations, uh, Director Bush, but certainly want to hear that.

But member vice chair, I know you had your hand up.

Thank you, Ms.

Chair.

And and again, uh same thing here.

Uh I'm not gonna be uh labor the point here, but definitely need to have a discussion on how we're not communicating interdepartmentally.

Um relative to uh and and I understand land banks and authority.

That's that's one piece.

Uh the commission is is another piece.

PDD is another piece.

Um, but we got to find a way to connect those dots to ensure things like this don't happen.

Um, but I know we talked about possibly being on livernoids, talking talked about possibly being on Davidson.

Um, and my concern is with that, uh first I'd be happy if you guys connect us to those conversations as well with Ms.

Castleberry, so we can just keep our eye on it and a fingerprint uh thumbprint on it as well.

Uh, but want to ensure that it is going to be something that's palatable palatable to her where she doesn't incur even more costs.

She bought that property under the understanding and the intent that she would be able to utilize it uh in the way uh that she intended it to be utilized.

Uh, and then for us to come to find out uh that it cannot be utilized that way is an issue.

Uh and so uh but I again I'd like to be you know part of those further discussions on how we can do it because it is an asset again to the community, and there's a lot of opportunity, regardless, you know, whether that's a lawn Livernoy or whether that's along Dexter, uh, where we could use uh something like that to also help uh keep our commercial corridors vibrant to provide another resource to residents in those commercial corridors.

So interested to hear some of those plans.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you.

And uh again, just trying to take us back to the the question of how do we how do we end up here?

Because there should be a couple of checkpoints that uh take place and not trying to accuse anybody, not throwing blame, just trying to understand because I don't.

Um and there may be other properties out here that are in the same situation that we want to figure out uh before it gets to this point, uh how to uh make amends, so to speak.

So not sure if Director Bell, you have any insight on, I know you have your team have inspection process uh whenever business opens up uh to allow them to operate, and again, we and I don't think you have uh much to do with the motor city match program, but again, if we're awarding a bit uh a business, which is very worthy, let me just say that.

If we're awarding a business, um we should do all the the checks and balances, so to speak, to uh get it up and going to make sure that it's legitimate.

We're not again in this situation where we're trying to figure it out later on.

Um so Director Bell, any any insight on your inspection process, your team inspection process, uh how this didn't get caught uh in advance of when it when it had.

Uh yes, sir, Mr.

Chair.

Uh first of all, I I'd like to say that we we definitely want to do everything we can so that we do not lose this business.

Uh it's very important, and we are going to uh work hand in hand with PND and so that um once another location is found or however this plays out, uh, once a decision is made on a location, we are gonna do everything we can to expedite the the permitting process.

Uh we don't want her to uh have any more downtime than is necessary.

So I'm start off with that.

Uh number two, in this particular situation, it excuse me.

In this particular situation, it appears that the business owner um started the business without going through the permit process.

We're still digging into exactly what happened in this situation.

I don't have everything in front of me, but um it appears that um that the business owner started the business without submitting plans from what I see the preliminary search that I did real quick shows that uh they submitted for plan review for this location um just in January.

And they they, as everyone knows, they have been in operation for a few years now.

And and you know, most businesses know that when you want to open up a business, you reach out to the building department and you and you begin the process.

Um not trying to point any fingers at any at the business owner or any other entity.

Um, it this is a situation that that we all definitely need to sit down and dig into this and come up and find out exactly what happened, uh, where the breakdown was.

I am committed to uh being in these meetings to make sure that this doesn't happen again, sir.

Well, I appreciate that uh director Bell.

But I I will have to note though that the hearing was in in March, and we're now in September.

What's gonna speed up the process to find out what happened uh at this point?

Again, it the hearing literally was was in March.

Um, and I would assume that folks would have started to try to peel back the layers at that point, even prior to that, knowing that it was going to the actual hearing.

So notice that there was a concern and issue uh took place in advance of the March hearing.

What's going to help me you and your team get that information?

Um period, for one, since we haven't gotten it yet, got been able to peel back the layers yet.

Uh then two, how can we ensure that it's gonna happen expeditiously to your point ensure that the business owner does not uh uh have to shut down, um which would be tragedy again, sir.

Um this is something that that all of the departments that are involved are gonna have to sit down and and meet and figure out where where the breakdown was.

I I'm committed to being in these meetings.

Um it appears that at this point, according to the agreement that she signed with the law department, she the business on Davison does have to shut down because it it's it's not allowed to operate at that location.

And again, we um I'm I'm gonna work with Alexa and the the business owner to find out what we can do in the interim to uh to hopefully uh you know ensure that mate that she can um possibly uh continue her cash flow uh uh this year temporarily while we come up with a a plan B.

Okay, Mr.

Washington.

I see back there, Mr.

Castleberry, Mr.

Washington.

Uh you're representing the mayor's office.

Talk to us about the collaboration and pulling everybody together or these departments that Director Bell indicated that is trying to figure out or should be tasked with figuring out what happened, seeing that this hearing uh took place all the way back in March and it's now September, and we're headed to the end of this year, and it's gonna happen real fast.

We're gonna see.

Yes, through the chair.

Um, I work I will work with all of the departments today um to try to convene everyone as soon as possible.

Um, I also was just speaking with uh DEGC as well.

Um so they're listening in also, um, but definitely can work to convene everyone um as soon as possible.

Well it seemed like y'all weren't prepared for this meeting.

I mean, uh it was it was almost as if you just wanted us to just deny it.

That's it.

We were having a discussion about a business that it's gonna have to shut down.

That's a big deal.

We can't just walk by that like it's not important.

Um have you so you're saying, Mr.

Washington, you all have not begun to go through the process of identifying what happened, and you're now gonna pull everyone together.

So just try to understand that on the record.

What what has been done?

We're we're trying to figure out we got three council members here.

Uh we've been asked to rezone clearly.

Uh the director indicated that the business is going to have to shut down.

That's a big deal.

What has been done thus far to try to rectify the issue?

I know Director Bush provided some alternatives, but again, peeling back the onion, figuring out what happened, because there may be other businesses that are in the same situation and only a phone call away from seeing the same issue occurred to them.

Yes, through the chair.

No, I I would have to defer to Director Bush.

I do know that this is something that her team, I believe, has been working on.

Um, I was just responding to that given the comments in today's session.

Um, I'll continue to engage myself because this is relatively new that as far as coming to me as well.

Yeah, likewise, because Ms.

Castleberry and I have not talked about this.

I just saw it um on the agenda clearly.

Um, and we're now here because it's not this one is not this location is not in District One, so I wasn't as uh aware and privy to it.

All right.

Um so it when did you miss Cassiberry?

You got and I'm sorry, colleagues to prolong this, but I think this is one that deserves a little bit more time.

Miss Casper, if you can join us uh at the table really quickly, and then we're gonna move on to the next item.

Um that's fine.

Please again state your name for the record.

Okay.

Question?

State your name for the record, please.

I did want to say one thing uh for clarification.

State your name for your record.

Oh, Tina Castleberry, owner of the Garden Bog at 425, West Davidson.

Yeah, my question is when did you receive the Motor City match?

Uh the 65,000 dollars.

Um that would have been April of 2021.

Oh, April of 2021.

Correct.

So you weren't at that location at that point.

That was already at that location, probably too much, just cleaning it up, cutting the grass.

Land bank told us to immediately start putting the roof on, windows on, doing the basics.

And we didn't do anything major, no, it was just the first two months of just the basic cleanup.

But the purchase I was we were told took place in 22.

Well, actually, we got in 2019, we put in the bed.

When COVID hit, there was uh about a year and a half delay.

By the time Land Bank reached out to us, it was end of 2020.

We applied for Motor City match money right after that and received it $65,000.

Okay.

All right.

Um I know you wanted to say something on on the record, and then we'll we'll we'll keep it.

And it was just one short comment I want to clarify, because there's been a lot of pointing the finger and shifting the blame and a lot of throwing shade against the business.

We'll only open one four months out of the year.

We're open May, June, October, and December.

So this isn't something big, oh, the traffic congestion, oh, all the parking.

We normally have one or two people up there buying pumpkins at a time.

It's not, I think we're overthinking this.

We really are.

This is not a business that's taking over Davison and you know, people are lined up down the street to come buy flowers or not.

Um, first of all, second of all, we started the process with Dave Walker, Gulak, Mona Lee, all of them were fully aware when we bought the building that we needed licensing, we need a permit, and we started the process then.

So this all got started in 2021.

This isn't brand new in the last since March.

This started in 2021.

Zoom meetings have been exorbitant for the last four years, getting this up and running, to now be at the end of the line and be told no, we we're not gonna be zoned it.

And the lot for the record is 108 by 53 feet.

I'm not even using all the space I have.

So it's not like we're busting at the seams.

There's plenty of space for people to move around, dumpsters on the site, everything that the city has asked us to do from architect drawings and everything else, we have followed their directive to make sure this gets completed.

Okay.

Um two more questions.

So based on the conversation, and I know again, based on zoning, you are not allowed at that location, the type of use that you have.

But do you have space that you believe that you can create um driveway, parking, so that it does because the one thing you gotta that we always hear is that your rights with what your rights end with my rights begin, so to speak.

Right, right.

So whether it's one person or 12 people, if it's infringing on their right, it's a problem.

So the question is um, are you able to expand at your location currently with the space you have?

Let's move zoning out of the way.

Just the physical site to include uh additional parking, ingress and egress.

No one has done their due diligence to come out and take a look.

We moved the fence uh back in April, April 18th of this year.

No one has come out to photograph, no one has come out to video tape, nobody has sent the drone, nobody has called Tina to say, let's see what improvements you've made.

We did that in April, and we have seven parking spots on our property now.

Okay, so uh in those conversations you have with Ms.

Bush, that that none of this was was raised?

She wasn't aware until I just told her two days ago.

Okay.

All right.

So the parking has been alleviated.

What a parking problem has been alleviated.

And the customers absolutely love it.

Okay.

So there's seven spots right on our property um for customers to use.

City planning said we only were required to get three to four parking spots.

So I did seven to make sure, you know, if a large vehicle came or four at 250 came, they still had adequate space.

So you said no longer are you using the the alley.

No, not at all.

No longer are your customers as seen on that photo blocking traffic.

Not at all.

And if it's one, again, one is a problem.

If one is still a challenge, if that's an issue.

So you're not having that.

That's that not an issue.

Now, every blue moon, if somebody, and I had mentioned this before at the commissioner meeting.

If someone has MS, they they've had a stroke, they're on the walker, a cane.

I do tell them to pull up to the gate so I can load their dirt and mulch.

That doesn't take more than four to five minutes.

So we're not talking about people parked in the alley 15, 20, 30 minutes.

And let's be clear, she does not live there.

Ernestine Valerie Hawkins, who's complaining, lives in Southfield.

Both of those houses have been condemned.

So this isn't even a resident for anybody.

All right.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um I'm proposing that we bring this back.

Um, but I'm really interested in understanding what was submitted to the Detroit Land Bank Authority when the acquisition uh process started, because if the land bank was aware that it would essentially be a retail outlet, then there should have been pause there.

There should have been additional conversation, some things that should have happened, and it sounds like that did not happen.

I see that the land bank has not been involved in this conversation, and so that's why I'm proposing that it comes back in a week so we can understand what transpired with the Detroit Land Bank Authority when you uh put in the request to purchase the land.

Correct.

They were fully aware.

They knew when we were purchasing it, they were all excited, because they had already visited the Grand River location and thought this was a phenomenal idea, sold it quickly, and the sale was done.

I went to St.

Clair Shore, signed the deed, and on there, I believe I put the business in the Garden Bug LOC.

So they knew when I purchased it, it was a land bank property.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um just uh for transparency as well, the ombudsman will be providing a report on this uh as well.

He's been contacted uh by uh members of the public, obviously in residence for this issue.

He has also had conversations with the administration relative to what exactly happened here and kind of what the breakdown uh has been.

Uh what I will say uh is this uh again, I think it provides an amazing um opportunity for our community to have access to the resources uh of that building.

Uh I am again also very sensitive uh to the folks that live there that's around there.

Uh I I do believe Mr.

Castleberry is right that this is not a every single day uh drop off or truck drop off.

But the fact of the matter is when there is trucks that drop off there, if folks feel uh they are being infringed upon, they have a right to voice uh you know, their thoughts uh as well.

Uh the thing I am interested in most again uh for the record is finding uh a solution that is beneficial for the business owner, uh which will allow her to continue her great business and so that it can thrive, uh, but also uh to ensure that residents who uh live there in that residential area are happy uh uh because that uh is very important as well.

And so uh I would like to make a motion if you're if you have no further comments, Mr.

Chair.

I know that Dr.

Bolger and I think uh Director Todd raised his hand as well, so we can cycle through them and wrap this up.

Um we're on the same page.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you, Ms.

Castleberry.

Uh Dr.

Bolger.

Yes.

Um thank you, Mr.

Chair.

The the planning commission did note that the documents from the Detroit Land Bank Authority uh for the sale of the properties included specific strings attached that the buyer would need to uh be in compliance with all applicable regulations.

Um zoning being one of those, and that the land bank retained the authority to call back the property, should that not, you know, should that not happen.

So the the onus was on the buyer to you know to come into compliance um an extension from the land bank uh was approved so that the time for coming into compliance and finalizing everything uh was extended.

I think that extension of time ended last month.

Um so there were strings attached to the sale um requiring this kind of uh this kind of compliance.

And also as Dr.

Bolger, I I've got to add that there's no way she can comply based on the the use that she's looking to do.

There's no way that she could comply with the zoning.

The way that she could comply would be with a successful rezoning.

So those were the steps that she took to be able to do it.

However, the business was started as before those approvals, you know, before the rezoning took place.

Um, and that led to the blank violations that had been you know that had been issued.

So the land bank was apparently willing to sell the property if in contingent upon the succeeding at getting the approvals that were needed.

And also just as was mentioned during the presentation.

When the commission is looking at this kind of rezoning, although it's being brought forward for a particular use, in this case a garden center, it has to focus on okay, what else can be done?

And that's and that's where there was particular concern.

It seemed to be the right business in the wrong location.

Received that information is received.

Dr.

Dr.

Durr Director Todd, also Doctor.

Director Todd.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Good morning to you, members of this honorable committee.

That the commission was quite troubled as this committee is even now as they begin as they receive this item and begin to try to walk through all of the facts.

As Member Durhal has indicated, we are aware of the work that the Ombudsman's office has done on this and we believe that uh as we receive that report and information will begin to be able to address the request that you made, Mr.

Chair, uh, for some uh you know, really unveiling uh uh identification of the chronology here of events, what happened uh with respect to all of the involved agencies and the petitioner.

But again, this was as troubling for the commission as it was for you, uh both in terms of the objective and traditional review of the zoning, which is what Dr.

Zoning and Planning is used, which Dr.

Boulder has presented, but also uh how indeed we got to this point over this period of time.

Most troubling that the business was up and operating in any fashion uh from the time that uh purchase agreement was originally entered into with the land bank uh uh through through now.

Uh and uh again, it is it is most unfortunate, and we are all interested in really getting to the bottom of this and understanding how uh we can avoid it as director bell indicated from uh avoid it from happening in the future.

Thank you.

All right, so I I uh wholeheartedly um agree with you, Member Johnson in uh bringing this item back.

Director Bush, do you believe?

I mean, hopefully you'll have a conversation with Ms.

Castleberry.

Ms.

Casper, are you open to having a conversation with Ms.

Bush between now and next week?

I see uh see her head shaking yes, Director Bush.

Uh commitment to getting us closer to a resolution uh by next week.

Uh through the chair, yes.

Uh Ms.

Castleberry and I met this week and had spoken about connecting again after the hearing today.

So we'd be happy to follow through with that conversation we had.

Okay, because I don't want us to keep this in the in the balance for too long.

Um certain things we can do, certain things we can't do, but right now uh it's important to find out where we're going as we look back and see what happened.

All right, uh is there a motion, colleagues?

Move to bring back in one week, Mr.

Chair.

All right.

There's a motion to bring back line item 7.4 in one week to allow for conversation and uh direction and uh palatable resolution for all parties involved.

See no objection, we should bring back line item 7.4 in one week.

Thank you so much.

See y'all back next week.

Thank you.

Thanks for all the work.

All right, line item 7.5, submitted report relative to the city council.

This is from the Detroit Land Bank Authority.

Uh City Council quarterly report, fourth quarter, fiscal year 2025, Detroit Land Bank Authority.

As we know, we get these quarterly reports, and uh they are uh mandated to report out, they being the land bank, and we have scheduled that discussion for October 2nd for the full discussion, colleagues.

Uh is there a motion to bring back line item 7.5 on October 2nd.

So move.

See no objections that action shall be taken.

From the historic designation advisory board, line item 7.6 submitting report relative to proposed conductors protective assurance building, also known as the CPA building.

Uh is there a motion to uh receive and follow the there's a request for a public hearing on this particular item.

I don't believe that we actually need to go through a process uh or approval or do we director?

Thank you for joining us.

Please introduce yourself for the record.

Motion to this is there a motion to the so movement, line on the 7.6.

Thank you.

Through the chair, Lisa D.A.B., thank you.

Yes, we just wanted to make sure uh it at this time that we could ask for a hearing date and time.

So this is for the usual process of CPA building in this case coming in front of you for a public hearing because the board has completed its process and we're ready to come to you now with this proposed historic district proposal.

Okay.

And again, for this one, I don't believe we have to vote on this item.

We just schedule a public hearing at this point.

So colleagues, is there a motion to receive and file line item 7.6?

So move.

See no objections that action shall be taken.

Thank you.

Looking forward to it.

Colleagues, if we can also, if we can also please take line items 7.7, 7.8, 7.9, 7.11, and 7.12.

That's line items 7.7 through 7.12 minus 7.10.

Is there a motion uh to discuss, please?

So move, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you.

These are all requests for public hearings to establish a various um uh uh incentives for development uh coming before us again.

These are items that we don't necessarily have to that we are not mandated to approve at the table today.

Just want to make sure that we keep it on the record for tracking purposes.

Uh so colleagues, is there and it will be going through the public hearing process that is in uh play as we speak.

Uh so is there a motion to receive and file again line items 7.7 through 7.12 minus line item 7.10.

So move, Mr.

Chair.

Seeing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Now let's go down to line item 7.10, submitting resolution authorization for housing and revitalization department submitting a resolution on behalf of 2150 bagley LLC requesting an extension to the commer construction period in their abatement uh agreement for 2150 bagley.

Is there a motion to discuss, please?

So thank you so much.

We can have uh those who have information on this item uh come before us, please.

And this is the third uh request for an amendment uh to the agreement for this particular item in 2023.

There was a second amendment to the original uh 12-year abatement.

How are you doing?

Justice Cook Housing and Revitalization Department.

Thank you for joining us.

So uh Mr.

Cook, explain to us the request uh in this particular item and the reason for it.

How are you doing?

I have Mr.

Don Tapin available to speak to that request.

He can answer on why it's important for the current one year extension.

Okay, but just asking from a department standpoint, seeing that you all are pushing it forward.

What's the what's the rationale?

What's the necessity?

Sorry.

We'll get to the other individual, unless that person is someone in your office.

I can speak to it to the chair.

To the chair, the developer reached out to HRD department in around May to discuss um construction um constraints with the development.

So he said that he cannot meet his construction deadline, which is September 30th of 2025.

I tell him we immediately need to update counsel on this particular situation and ask them for a one-year construction extension and let them know what are the current constraints so they can approve the resolution for one year construction time frame.

Okay.

So seeing that the recommendation was to come to us, what is your understanding of the ability of the developer to actually pull this off with an extension?

Uh it's one thing to send it to us, but it's another to have the confidence that it actually can get over the threshold.

This would be the third request, and everything's going up, costs going up, labor costs, cost of materials.

So, what gives you the confidence and your department rather the confidence that uh this extension is going to be one that would not require another extension or anything else to the chair?

I'm very confident in the project being completed with the one year construction um period.

The development is already in construction.

Um I have several conversations with the development team on the last couple of months, and they are proceeding with construction and planed out a new time frame for a year to complete the development.

So I am very confident that they can complete the development within one year and can continue in the conversation over the next year to ensure that they are making their construction deadline time frame.

Okay.

And uh in terms of the um the uh incentive, uh, what how is it affected by this extension?

Is there does it stretch out the time upon which they receive money?

Uh the money is reduced in terms of taxes.

Talk to us about what this extension actually does.

So the extension is only for construction.

It do not add any more time to the tax abatement PA255 time frame.

Um it is already running.

Concurrent, so they will not get an extension on the actual tax abatements.

It's just uh extension on a construction request because they have um pre-o department will be reaching out to them for their job commitments and other things in that nature, which they are not in compliance in if we do not give them a construction extension time frame.

So if we give them a construction extension time frame, I can send that out to the relative department to say, hey, they have been given a one-year construction um extension from council so we can hold off on those reporting requests for another year.

All right, so they can still be in compliance.

Okay, thank you, sir.

And I know you mentioned the name of uh an individual.

If you can have them uh port it over, please uh say that name again for us, Mr.

Cook.

He's he's available, Don Tap.

Hi there, Don Tapp in here.

Mr.

Tapp and Chair.

Thank you for joining us.

Uh give us the reasonable assurance that you'll be able to pull this off uh within the time frame with this extension.

Yeah, I mean, I'm happy to share some photos.

Um, but uh this is a an extensive renovation.

So we brought this purchase the building in I guess August of 2022.

Uh, you know, this has in addition to the PA255, there's an NEZ, uh, there's an MEDC rap grant involved.

Um, and it's the building is over a hundred years old, so um, you know, pretty extensive just work that had gone through it.

Um, why I have the confidence now, so a big piece of the work um was the external facade.

So we actually put a basic like a steel exoskeleton into the entire piece.

The engineering behind that, all those things kind of took place now.

Um, and I can share some just kind of quick pictures that you'll kind of see that you know the structure is all there now, right?

So if folks have um this is right at the corner 14th and bagley, so if you're near the train station um and around there, uh, but you know, the external work and actually these are internal framing for the apartments and things is all kind of coming together.

Uh so really now between now and the opening of the building, it is more, I guess you'd say it's kind of traditional construction things, right?

We have to put in floors and plumbing and electrical, but all of which is I'd say relatively straightforward relative to um you know actually reconstructing the facade and doing the kind of work that we did, all those pieces there.

But things are well underway.

Um, you know, we've got uh the first piece of our of our MEDC raft grant came in a couple of months ago, or a couple of weeks ago rather.

Um, and you know, things progressing well.

We have you know the financing secured with our lender, which is you know, list is a big supporter of that from uh uh C C D FI.

Um, but you know, continuing to work through all these things here as well.

All right, colleagues, any uh questions, comments, concerns?

See none look like you are well within your way or on your way.

Uh I will say that I more than likely will not be as uh open to an extension moving forward.

So looking forward to this building coming on this property coming online.

We're thank you.

All right, colleagues, is there a motion for line item 7.10?

Uh move to send 7.10 to formal.

There's a motion to send line item 7.10 to formal with a recommendation to approve.

Partner with the recommendation to approve.

That's all good.

See no objections, that action shall be taken.

Thank you so much.

Thank you so much.

Right.

Colleagues, if we can please take line items 7.13 and 7.16 together, please.

Uh motion to discuss.

So moved.

All right, line up seven.

Thank you.

Line item 7.13, submitting resolution authorization resolution.

Uh supporting diverse athletic offerings at the proposed Pistons Waterfront uh multi-sport uh facility.

And we're dropping down the line item 7.16.

Um council member Scott Benson submitting memorandum uh request for resolution uh supporting a diverse offerings at the proposed pistons waterfront uh complex.

Uh colleagues, is there a motion?

It looks like uh we don't have all the information that we were seeking uh at this point.

Is there a motion to bring back uh both of those items in two weeks?

So move.

See no objections that action shall be taken.

Um and development department.

Uh believe that was through Member Johnson.

Is there a motion to discuss and or seven point fourteen colleagues?

I think it just submitted the um report.

So maybe one week bring back for review.

Move to bring back in one week.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

All right.

There's a motion to bring back line item 7.14 in one week.

See no objections, that action shall be taken.

Line item 7.15 submitting report relative to recovery park update.

Uh did get a request from council president Sheffield requesting a one-week bring back on this item to uh ask a few more questions and get more details, colleagues.

There are motion move to bring back in one week.

There's a motion to bring back line item 7.15 in one week, seeing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Dropping down the line item 7.17.

Councilmember Scott Benson submitting memorandum relative to request for RFP.

Uh East Davison Village Residential Mixed Income Development.

College, is there a motion to refer this item to planning and development department and bring back in three weeks?

So moved.

Seeing no objections that action shall be taken.

Line item 7.18.

Uh, Councilmember Scott Benson submitted memorandum relative to request for a housing resource fare.

Again, that's East Davison Village.

Colleagues, is there a motion to refer this item also to PDD and bring back in three weeks?

So move, Mr.

Chair.

See no objections that action shall be taken.

Line item 7.19, Councilmember Letitia Johnson submitting memorandum relative to audit request.

Um is there a mo this is for the housing and revitalization department's housing process for the unhoused uh community.

Uh is there a motion to refer this item to our excuse me, HRD, Housing Revitalization Department to bring back in three weeks.

So move.

Seeing objections that action shall be taken, and that takes us to member reports.

Member reports, member vice chair.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair, and just want to remind everyone that tomorrow, September the 5th, which is Friday from 11 a.m.

to 12:30 p.m.

we will be hosting our retiree task force hybrid meeting.

Uh, it'll take place right here in the Irma Henderson Auditorium, but you can also join virtually.

Uh, we will be sending out that link uh via gov delivery.

Uh but again, uh our retiree task force meeting, hybrid meeting is taking place tomorrow, Friday to September the 5th from 11 a.m.

to 1230 p.m.

This is the task force that I host uh and co-chair with member waters uh to help our retirees get access to important updates, voice their concerns, and connect with other fellow retirees.

So we look forward to seeing everyone there.

Other than that, that concludes my member report.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you, sir.

Member Johnson.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Just want to remind uh district four residents and community organizations that we are hosting a virtual session this evening beginning at 5 30 to share the um application process for the community development block grant.

So for anyone who's interested in applying, and I'm really trying to encourage more district four organizations to apply in order for them to be considered.

Um we are having that discussion this evening again at 5 30 p.m.

It is a virtual discussion.

If you are interested in the link, uh please reach out to the office.

The number is 313-224-4841.

Again, 313 224841, and we are happy to share the link.

Uh, we will have HRD going over the entire process, uh, just really again to encourage more district four organizations to apply.

And I also just want to remind everyone that beginning September 7th, September 7th through the 9th, that is Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, the OCN Suite House is having a celebration really focused on 100 years of courage.

Um we talked about uh what transpired a hundred years ago with Dr.

Sweet being at the ripe young age of a 27-year-old medical doctor uh and the experience he had with the mob of white folks who um wanted to overtake his house.

Uh and so just sharing the history so that we can continue to make sure that we're making progress and working towards a city that is open to all, especially black folks, uh, in housing, housing equity and making sure that we're doing everything that we can to pass policies that support um housing equity.

Uh and so again, just want to encourage everyone to join the festivities at 2905 Garland again, 2905 Garland, uh September 7th through the 9th, various times throughout the days, but um I'm sure the information is on the city's website.

Uh and you can also reach out to our office if you'd like to get more information about the days and times.

Uh that concludes my member report.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you, Member Johnson, and just a reminder again next Thursday we will be discussing the land bank MOU.

So asking for uh colleagues who have amendments to provide additional details, including uh calls coming from inside the house.

We're asking for you to please provide information that will help us.

This committee who has placed the land bank uh MOU on our agenda multiple times, uh, allow us to advance that particular document so that we can create one that is beneficial for our residents, number one, uh, but then two allows us to of course um continue to transform uh the housing situation prayerfully in a much better direction than it's going in now.

Uh that will again take place on September 11th next week, next Thursday.

I have no additional member reports, colleagues.

Is there motion to what is it?

Adjourn.

Adjourn.

Hey, I told you the last thing, right?

The last dog on things.

Every motion should adjourn.

So we'll miss the chair.

Seeing no objection, that action shall be taken.

Thank you all.

Be safe, be well, and we will see you, Lord Willow, next week.

This meeting is adjourned.