Detroit City Council Internal Operations Committee Meeting – September 10, 2025
Detroit City Council Internal Operations Committee Meeting – September 10, 2025
The Internal Operations Standing Committee met on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, to approve minutes, hear public comments, interview nominees for the Brownfield Community Advisory Council, and consider settlement requests and new business items. The meeting was chaired by Councilmember Letitia Johnson, with Councilmembers Mary Waters and Angela Whitfield Callaway present.
Consent Calendar
- Motion to approve the minutes from the previous meeting was passed without objection.
Public Comments & Testimony
- William M. Davis expressed a position that the city spends too much on lawsuits and indemnifications, arguing those funds should instead help retirees and senior citizens. He also criticized tax abatements and clawbacks from retiree checks.
- Betty A. Bernard (President, DeSoda Elsewhere Block Association) advocated for her community park, seeking donations for playscape equipment and a land use hearing. She also promoted a free senior services program.
- Demiko Williams (prior citizen, taxpayer, legacy Detroiter) alleged that Detroit police, the mayor, and officials are using informants to bully and intimidate him, and criticized police tactics regarding children and parents.
- Melissa Love claimed election fraud (being on voter rolls without voting) and demanded removal from rolls, return of resources, and more contracts for Detroit residents. She also questioned the lack of grocery stores in Detroit compared to suburbs.
- Fair Elections Matter (caller) urged the committee to investigate the election commission, alleging lies and voter fraud, and criticized solar takings and the mayoral succession. They also commented on voting rights for incarcerated individuals.
- Not that Karen spoke in support of retirees, demanding an end to clawbacks and restored healthcare. They also raised concerns about homelessness, asthma rates, and speed humps creating particulate matter.
- Galaxy S22 Ultra (Kenny Candleman) praised Councilmember Johnson but criticized speed humps, land bank cleanup, and speeding on his block. Councilmember Waters responded that speed humps require community majority.
- Cunningham (caller) discussed distributing bus tickets at stops and urged better bus service.
- Owner Papa (Carolyn Hughes) argued that speed humps kill and increase particulate matter, accusing the administration of genocide and corruption. Councilmember Waters clarified speed humps are installed by community request.
- To hear Ahmed commended Councilmember Callaway for investigating crypto property owners, criticized Wayne County Treasurer for refusing a foreclosure moratorium on low-value homes, and asked for support to prevent foreclosures and homelessness.
Discussion Items
- Interviews for Brownfield Community Advisory Council (CAC)
- David Bonner (adjunct professor, finance/accounting) was interviewed for the CAC. He highlighted his financial services background and interest in brownfield redevelopment. Councilmembers expressed support; his item was brought back for a future date.
- Josh Mack (educator, urban planner, former Detroit Public Schools housing board chair) was interviewed via Zoom. He detailed his education, administrative experience, and community activism in housing. His item was also held for a week pending a third interview.
- Settlement Requests (Unfinished Business)
- 7.1: Melody Allen vs. Nathaniel Adams & City of Detroit (DOT) – $43,500 – Approved and sent to formal session.
- 7.2: Rosalind Johnson vs. City of Detroit (DOT) – $295,000 – Approved.
- 7.3: Teresa Moore vs. Javarica Tyrus & City of Detroit (Police) – $44,000 – Approved.
- 7.4: Dorothy McElrath & Diane Davis vs. City of Detroit (Municipal Parking) – $255,000 – Discussion raised about municipal enforcement officers making U-turns. Motion to send to formal without recommendation passed after Councilmember Callaway noted she had one question.
- New Business
- 8.1: Contract with Detroit Public Schools for August & November 2025 elections – $297,653.32 – Discussion: Councilmember Callaway asked whether Rutherford Winings Academy would remain a polling site for November. Elections Chief of Staff Christian Meduka promised to verify. Approved and sent to formal.
- 8.2: ARPA-funded amendment for ICE Arena & Recreation Center improvements – $2,190,000 – Referred to Public Health & Safety Committee per correction letter.
- 8.3: Khalia Merriweather vs. Titan Insurance et al. (Fire) – $32,000 – Approved.
- 8.4: Thomas Wickman vs. City of Detroit – $19,500 – Approved.
- 8.5: Johnny King vs. City of Detroit (DOT) – $30,000 – Approved.
- 8.6: Sarah Shuboy vs. City of Detroit (Fire/EMS) – $120,000 – Approved.
- 8.7: Patricia Hearin vs. Robert Williams Shelton & City of Detroit (Fire) – $15,000 – Approved.
- 8.8: Virginia LaFour vs. City of Detroit – $30,000 – Approved.
Key Outcomes
- All settlement items except 7.4 were approved and sent to formal session; 7.4 was sent without recommendation.
- Nominees David Bonner and Josh Mack for the Brownfield CAC were held over for additional interviews; decision expected in one week.
- Elections contract (8.1) approved after a question on polling site status.
- Contract 8.2 referred to the Public Health & Safety Committee.
- Councilmember reports: Waters announced a Skill Trade Task Force meeting on September 17; Callaway promoted an Ombudsman event, webinar with Wayne County Commissioner, expungement clinic, and district meetings; Johnson reminded of District 4 community meeting on September 15 and fall shred day, and expressed support for addressing the Travel Inn eyesore in Ravendale, advocating for affordable housing.
- Adjourned without objection.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome to the Internal Operations Standing Committee meeting on today, Wednesday, September 10th, 2025. Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll? Councilmember Letitia Johnson. Present. Councilmember Mary Waters. Councilmember Angela Whitfield Callaway. Madam Chair, you have a quorum present. Thank you. Having a quorum present, we are now in session. Good morning, colleagues. Is there a motion on the minutes? Motion. There's a motion to approve the minutes. Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken. We are going to move into public comment. If you are joining us in person or virtually and would like to make a public comment, please raise your hand. We were a tad bit delayed because of technical difficulties. So we are going to cut off public comment shortly. If you are joining us for public comment, please raise your hand. Seeing no hands raised in the committee of the whole. We're going to give you five seconds to raise your hand if you'd like to make a public comment. And five, four, three, two, one. The collection of public comment has now concluded. And good morning, Ms. Jackson. How many hands do you have? There are 11 hands raised for virtual public comments. Okay, let's set the clock for two minutes. And we don't have anyone here in the committee of the whole, so we will get started with the first virtual caller when you are ready. The first caller is William M. Davis. William M. Davis, do you have two minutes for general public comment? Good morning, young ladies. Can I be heard? Good morning, yes. Okay, I like to start off by saying what I normally say is the fact that I think the city of Detroit still has too many losses and demplifications. You know, we spend a whole lot of money on lawsuits. I mean, a whole lot of money and losses. And we spent some a lot of money on defending people. And don't get me wrong, there are times we need to defend and pay how help pay their uh their legal um challenges. But but but but there's a lot of times when people are having frequent accidents that when people are doing stuff that violates law and city rules and regulations that we should not be stepping out there and paying at. You know, what y'all spend on lawsuits every year could be an additional monies that could help close the gap so that city track retirees who this whole bankruptcy grand theft, which has been on our backs. You know, more needs to be done to help City Detroit retirees. More needs to be done to help senior citizens in this city. Um, but far too much money is going to a lot of lawsuits, a lot of indemnifications, a lot of stuff that wasted. Far too much money is going to abatements, you know. You know, and you have a lot of millionaires and billionaires. They do these projects and they don't do everything they're supposed to do that they got the abatements for. But yeah, I don't call back anything from them, but y'all claw back almost a thousand dollars a month to my check.
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