Councilmember Scott Benson.

Mr.

Chair, you have a corn present.

Okay, excellent.

Now, before we begin, uh, since this is uh nine eleven, we I have a very special video that's been sent to me by the Troy Fire Department that I would like to play for anyone that's here, so we will get that started.

It's about a five minute video.

So we'll play that and then we'll go into our normal agenda.

A deadly attack.

We are experiencing technical difficulties.

We're gonna have a two-minute recess.

Two minute recess.

The administration is ready to play the video.

Councilmember Scott Benza.

I better say I.

Mr.

Washington played a video.

Twenty-four years ago, a deadly attack on the United States shifted the nation.

After four planes were hijacked by terrorists.

It changed how people travel, how people think, and snatched away so many innocent lives.

But for two Detroit first responders who were there in the aftermath, the 9-11 attacks changed how they see life forever.

Life at 25 years of age, 26 years of age became very real.

And as a firefighter, even more real that I could be directly impacted by this terrorism.

She was killed.

And that really hit you.

After a total of four planes were hijacked by Al Qaeda terrorists and crashed into an open field in Pennsylvania, the Pentagon and the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center.

Came in like a missile, like a fireball missile across from the New York harbic side.

I guess from the Newark direction.

It came in like a spear.

It just speared through the building like a fireball.

And across the river was the first we when I first put eyes on ground zero.

And I could see that area of Manhattan lit up with lights, the smoke billowing still from the pile.

And I'll I'll never forget that.

Jeremy is one of 20 firefighters from Engine 23 who drove from Detroit to New York after the 9-11 attack to answer the call to help their fellow firefighters.

Yeah, this is the van load of guys that we are in front of the rescue three, where we just like I said, went in to do whatever.

There wasn't a plan.

Our own money, our own effort to get there.

Jeremy's squad arrived at the tragedy a few days after the attack.

But he says upon arrival to ground zero, there was no doubt that the stench of death was in the air.

Tell me about that smell.

Aside from the distinctive smell that Jeremy says covered ground zero, there was one other telltale for him that he says he will never ever let go of.

If you stop moving for a minute, there's a chirp that will not stop.

Being a young firefighter, I recognize those bells and those pass alarms going off after the towers had fell.

And I knew how many firefighters were in that pile.

Two of those persons in that pile, George says was a father's only sons.

When you got there, what did it look like?

It was looking like we having some technical difficulties again.

I don't know if that's on our side or is that on Mr.

Mr.

Washington.

Around the clock.

Seven seven days a week.

Through the chair does appear in through the chair, it does appear that we are having technical difficulties.

I can try to resume the video.

But I defer to you for how you would like to proceed.

Yeah.

Um how long do you think you you would take to be able to play this video, later the rest of the video?

Because it's not that much left in the video.

Because I believe there's a minute left.

I can try to cue it back up.

Yeah, try queue back up.

Twenty-four years ago.

Well over a thousand degrees.

He said ground zero was still noisy with all the commotion going on, but at times, an eerie silence will cover the 16-acre area in lower Manhattan.

Every time they found something of human form, the noise just stopped.

But nothing he says could discourage him from his mission of providing some sort of comfort to that mass devastation.

I wasn't with the fire department, then I was with the Salvation Army disaster team.

We fed around the clock.

Uh seven seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

George says despite the sadness and grief he experienced working at ground zero, it made him proud to be an American.

And it inspired him to join the Detroit Fire Department after.

It rings true in my life every day.

It's sad as that history is.

I participated in the tunnels to Towers Run, which comes from Brooklyn for the tunnel that goes over to Lower Manhattan, just south of what used to be the World Trade Center.

And that is where firefighters from Brooklyn being unable to get to Manhattan, put on their gear and ran that two-mile tunnel to get to Manhattan to help go save lives at the towers.

They knew they had no idea what was going on and what they were going to face, but they made that run.

Many of them never came back.

So that's my experience.

Anyone else everybody?

Well, I just want to say, maybe, Vincent, thank you for your uh courageous sacrifice, and thank you for your service.

I just want to thank all the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives for the freedoms that we so richly enjoy.

I think a lot of times we kind of take for granted the freedoms that we have here.

And I think that if you like the 40 hour work week, I think if you like pinches, if you like democracy, if you like um the ability to be able to choose who your leader is, if you like the economic options that you have in this country, thank a firefighter, thank a police officer, because they are the ultimate heroes.

And so I just wanted to say for all those that sacrificed for them and for their families, because there are people who lost mothers, lost fathers, buried sons, buried daughters.

There are family members that will pay the ultimate sacrifice of their lives for the freedoms that we so richly enjoy here.

So I just want to say thank you.

And I also want to thank all the servicemen, including Member Benson, for being willing to give the ultimate sacrifice so that we could be here doing what we're doing on City Council.

I say thank you.

Let us have a moment of silence for all the heroes of 9-11.

All right.

Motion made or any objections.

Hearing none, the minutes will be approved.

Uh negative chair remarks.

We will now move to public comments.

Uh, how many people do we have in the queue for public comment, Mr.

Bo?

Mr.

Chair, we currently have five individuals with their hand raised for public comment.

Hold on for a minute.

Is that gonna take care of the echoing?

Have we got okay?

Thank you.

I was saying I appreciate it.

I was gonna say something, but I was trying to like wait till I get to this point, and then say something.

I appreciate you doing that.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you, Ms.

Manchester.

I appreciate that.

Okay, who do we got in the queue, Ms.

Bo?

How many, Mr.

Bo?

We could say we have five callers.

Our first caller is William M.

Davis.

All right, Mr.

Davis, floor is yours.

Two minutes.

Go ahead, sir.

Mr.

Davis.

Okay, I just came up with the thing to unmute.

Go ahead.

Okay.

Um I I remember 9-11 quite well.

That was a Tuesday morning.

I was at work at the wastewater treatment plant.

Uh, as you may or may not know, because you all of y'all sort of young.

At that time, the wastewater treatment plant was a high priority target, and it was on high alert.

Because like we had 5,000 gallon tank cars of chlorine that could have killed a lot of people in Southeast in Michigan and in Canada.

Uh, but you know, so a lot of us retirees was working and doing stuff and was under a lot of stress that day.

Uh, also I like for everyone to um be aware that I'm the vice president of Barton McCrawlin Neighborhood Association.

We're having our monthly meeting tomorrow at uh 1372 on Joy Road.

That that's the that's that's the monthly point marine uh detachment on Joy, just west of Schaefer and east of Hobble.

Uh a lot of people don't realize, but that's a black marine detachment that was originated back during uh World War II.

Uh we're gonna have an outstanding meeting, it's from six to eight.

Uh also this Saturday in my area, we're gonna be having a joint Detroit Devon block block party at time in Anila.

That's gonna be uh Saturday, September 13th from 12 to 3.

We need to be doing more than what we're doing in the city at this time.

Because earlier, you know, years ago, we used to have regular mark exercise where we make sure to have to deal with emergencies.

You know, the city doesn't do that anymore.

And the city needs to do a whole lot more.

And the city needs to be taking care of the resources that we do have that technically we still own or other people control.

Have a good day.

Thank you.

Appreciate that, sir.

Who we have next in the queue, Mr.

Bo.

Oh, yeah, and before I um before before we begin with it, I forgot I just also wanted to say, I forgot to mention that.

The reason why we had this video is because the city is having a program at Campus Marsh's to also honor the heroes of 9-11.

Obviously, we can't attend because we're here doing our job and session.

So I just want to make sure that we played that video so we honor them properly.

Just give you a little little background info.

Who do you have next to the queue, Mr.

Bo?

Sure, the next caller is in 534.

534, floor is yours.

Go ahead, 534.

Hello, can you hear me?

Yep.

Go ahead.

Floor is yours.

Okay.

Hold on so we don't get any echo.

All right.

Okay, well, thank you for playing that video.

And thank you for your service, Member Benson.

I was in Washington, D.C.

on 9-11.

I just phoned in from the night before from South Africa from the World Conference Against Racism.

I was a little concerned about how the first world was treating the third world.

I could tell you a lot about what happened afterwards.

But this also should be a reminder to everybody how absolutely reckless the Biden Harris administration was and letting so many people across the border without proper screening.

I am deeply concerned that we have sleeper cells all over the country.

And I've done immigration law.

I support all legitimate asylum claims, but it's just painfully obvious they were letting a bunch of people over here who do not have legitimate asylum claims.

Now, did a lot of people have their country messed around with by our country?

Yes.

But for a lit for asylum, you must have been persecuted or have a credible fear of persecution in your government is unable or unwilling to help you.

It's not just to come here for a better life.

Some people were here legally on temporary protected status, but it was just absolutely reckless to let so many people in.

And that's why President Trump won.

And if you really care about democracy and everything, you should all look into that serious evidence of voter fraud.

Or this is kind of like, you know, maybe something to do today to look patriotic, but we need those voter roles checked out.

And you got to stop the secretive planning on people with that secretive master plan advisory group that was selected unelected of only 41 people, and you won't let people go to those meetings.

Why not?

If we're about democracy, we should encourage citizen participation, not plan it like this, like you did North End Landing.

And we're in court on that, folks, since you all wouldn't look into those illegal BZA transcript fees.

So hopefully some judges are right.

Thank you very much.

We appreciate that.

We are next to the queue, Mr.

Bo.

Mr.

Chair, the next caller is fair elections matter.

Fair elections matter.

Floor is yours, two minutes.

That was me.

You called me out of order.

All right, thank you.

Appreciate you.

Who's next to the queue?

Mr.

Chair, the next caller is iPhone.

All right, iPhone, floor is yours.

Two minutes, iPhone.

Good afternoon.

This is Betty A.

Barner.

Thank you for the presentation.

It was very heartwarming.

I remember what I was doing, 9-11.

I was downtown as they called it then at Kobo Hall, working the elections, the working on the absentee ballots.

We're trying to um uh get monies for uh landscaping boulders.

We also have our uh expanding our park.

We have uh purchase land and uh we have to have treat some trees we moved.

Uh we're gonna have a land uh youth hearing to see if we will be permitted to have playground equipment on the new land.

So you can uh donate by going to Zale, going to D as in Dog, E, B as M Boy, A, W E, D S M Boy, E L at Gmail.com.

So you can uh donate by going to Zale, going to D as in dog, E, B as in boy, A, W E, B as in Boy, E L at Gmail.com again, D E B A W E B E L at Gmail.com.

If you know my telephone number, you can also donate by uh putting in my telephone number.

Also, if you are a senior in need of help at your home, please go to 313 446 4444.

Ask for the choice waiver program that's uh D triple A.

They have a program where if you're not eligible for Medicaid, you might be eligible going through that program.

If you need to help or share with someone that might need to help.

Thank you.

God bless you all.

Thank you, Ms.

Varner.

We appreciate you.

Who do we have next in the queue, Mr.

Bell?

The last caller is owner Papa.

Say it again.

Owner Papa.

I'm not saying that.

So call her, call on in.

Respectfully.

Do the chair.

You you can't pronounce it, I take it.

No, I can pronounce it.

I do not call somebody Papa.

Go ahead.

Whatever.

All right.

Thank you to all of the people who responded at 9-11.

And that's an interesting memory that uh Miss Farner has.

She was working on absentee ballots in September.

At any rate, um, I did owe what um votes matters, facts matter.

Um, if we're in a democracy, we never have responses from the city council.

You pretend as though you can't respond when you don't have a quorum.

And we do have a quorum, you don't respond.

Um, we have questions about democracy being run here in the city of Detroit because this is a country of laws, from my understanding.

We had a we had a uh a review today this morning about someone who's operating without a license, actually.

And there's a debate on whether or not uh what we should do about it.

There's never a debate when we are talking about the citizens.

If we are truly a democracy, then why isn't Melissa Loves Allegations investigated and we and we find out who voted in her place?

Someone working on absentee bellots in September the 11th is uh an interesting memory.

I remember I was getting ready for work and my shift began at 10 a.m.

So I I remember the morning, I remember the day.

I remember the pictures that occurred.

Um it was a terrible time for us and economically for most Detroiters, especially the retirees.

It's a terrible time for them.

Umic disasters are just as devastating as physical disasters, the loss of life.

We had three generations and a van, homeless in Detroit that received billions.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We appreciate that.

Uh do we have anybody else in the queue, Mr.

Bow?

That was the last caller with the hand raised for public comment.

All right, public house is now closed.

Public count is now closed.

Public comment is now closed.

We will now move on to unfinished business.

Contract number 64150, amendment number two, 100% city funding to provide an extension of time and increase of funds for the city's parking ticket and collections management system.

Contractor Modaxo Traffic Management USA Inc.

Location 1200K Street, Washington, DC, previous contract period, June 13, 2022, September 10th, 2025 minute period, June 13, 2022 through June, your June 13, 2022 through June 12, 2026.

Contract increase amount 2 million 240,000 dollars.

Is there a motion to move line item 6.1 the formal session with recognition for approved be put onto new business discussion?

Discussion chair recognizes vice chairwoman called.

Thank you.

Um I called um Mr.

Chair, I called Director Stahl a couple questions.

It looks like we extended um their tax clearances from June to um September 18th.

They expire on September the 18th from reading the teachers report correctly, which is next Thursday.

Now they are asking for a um another nine-month extension.

And I asked Director Stahl whether or not the nine month extension request is for them to be doing business with the city without tax the proper tax clearances, which they've been doing since June.

They haven't had the tax clearances.

So can we bring her online?

You want to bring directly.

Yes, Director Stahl.

Mr.

Washington, Director Stahl available.

Good afternoon, and through the chair.

Um, Mr.

Miller Walk Watkins.

Okay.

Is uh is Mr.

Weather up gonna be joining us as well or no?

Uh Director Hutchins, Keith Hutchins is online for this.

So just I'll just make sure I get this clear it's gonna be it's gonna be Director Hutchins and uh Miss Watkins, right?

Yes, sir.

Okay.

All right, Ms.

Watkins Good afternoon.

Yes, I'm Jamila Watkins from the City of Detroit Office of Contracting and Procurement.

Go ahead.

Did you want to say something?

Or did you want uh member Callaway to repeat the question?

I believe I heard her question.

I believe she questioned the expiration of the business clearance.

Go ahead.

So yeah, that business clearance.

Um, what I'm looking at in front of me, it expires on the 18th of September, and I've been told by the company that they have reapplied on 9-4.

And I just just a couple minutes ago reached out to Treasury to get confirmation of that because I'm not able to see it in the smart sheet.

Okay, um, thank you.

Um, and through yourself, Mr.

Chair, can we hear from Mr.

Hutchings?

Because um, they previously requested an extension back in June to take us through next week.

So they had 90 days to get their stuff together.

Now they don't have their stuff together, and they're asking for an additional nine-month um extension and not being compliance with our ordinances.

So um I could be reading this incorrectly, but through yourself, Mr.

Chair to Mr.

Hutchings.

You you're you're and I just want to make sure I get this right.

You're asking, why is that or are you asking what are they doing to make to make sure we're more official?

Okay, I just make sure.

Okay.

Both, sir.

Director Hutchins.

Sir, go ahead.

Yes, through the chair.

Um, through the chair, council member Callaway, they um the the three-month extension was because Midaxo purchased Trellient, which is the company, and with their transition, they just were having challenges working through the the purchase of the company and responding to their lawyers to get all the paperwork in place.

So the three-month or the 90-day extension and the and the nine-month was really the one year uh the one-year extension uh from the contract.

So the contract was basically this these con this is a very complex uh long lead time contract.

Um, so what we did was to stay within the city's norms.

We gave a three-year contract with two one-year extensions because the intention was that in you after this one-year extension, we would be putting it out for RFP because uh not only does it take a while to RFP it, but you're talking about nine to twelve months to transition uh a database that has decades of uh and and tens of millions of uh files in it.

So this the intention was that this company would have the contract for five years.

That's typically what we would be doing with um contracts like this and have uh very large databases and have long lead times to transition uh from one customer to the next.

Okay, um, thank you.

Um, Mr.

Chair, through um through yourself to Mr.

Hutchings, does the company have the proper tax clearances required by city ordinances?

Um through the chair, uh it's my understanding that they I just spoke with them, they submitted it um on the fourth, and I believe that Miss Watkins is going to verify that with the with the uh Treasury Department that they have everything that they need to have to have the proper tax clearances in place, Ms.

Watkins.

Yes, um Director Hutchins is correct.

So as I stated, the clearance I'm looking at is still good through the 18th.

And once I get confirmation, because I did just reach out again to Treasury to verify that they did make that application on nine-four, but they do have everything else in place.

This is the last thing.

Once that's approved, they will be set.

They have everything else in place.

Okay, thank you.

And um, through um the chair to you, Mr.

Hutchins, is there a statute of limitations regarding the number of years we need to hold on to um parking violation documents and old ticket information?

Is there a state statute?

Because why are we holding on to millions and millions of um dated information if we don't have to?

Through the chair.

Um, there is a statute limitations in terms of the time we can collect.

So after 10 years, we cannot compel an individual to pay a ticket.

We we can receive payment, but we can't compel to uh to ask them to pay after 10 years.

That's a statute limitation.

However, we keep files because if somebody ever has a question regarding an appeal or uh or a um a hearing or uh um a decision, and we didn't have the files, we would not be in a position that we could respond to them.

So that's why we keep all those files.

Okay.

All right, thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Hutchins.

Thank you, Miss Watt.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

All right, thank you.

Um do I have a motion to send line item 6.1 the formal session with recommendations for approval, we put on to new business.

Yes.

Um, mr mr.

Chair, pending the appropriate tax clearances.

Um there's that are due or expire on the 18th of September.

So just so just say motion in motion what you said again.

Yeah, motion pending us receiving the information that they have gotten their tax clearances um by the 18th of September, which is simply um one week from today.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Okay.

Motion made or any objections.

Hearing none, line up 6.1 will be the formal session recognition for approval.

We put on to new business pending.

They provide the task clearance information they're supposed to provide.

All right, at the date they're supposed to provide it.

All right, there we go.

All right.

Now we move on to line.

I know thank you.

Thank you, man.

Claire, appreciate you.

Line your patience is a godsend.

Line item 6.2, contract 6599, amendment number two, 100% city funding for provide an increase of funds only for fleet heavy duty truck repair, contract or certified alignment and suspension incorporated.

Location is 6707 Dix, Detroit, Michigan, 48209 contract period, April 1st, 2023 through May 31st, 2027.

Contract increase amount 100,000 total contract amount 400 and 440,000 dollars.

Is there a motion to move line of 6.2 to formal session with recognition for approval?

You put on to new business?

Motion.

Motion made are the objections.

Hearing that line of 6.2, we move the formal session with recommendations for approval, you put on to new business.

Line of 6.3 contract 65842, amendment number three, 100% ARPA funding to provide an extension of time and increase of funds for an athletic equipment for the Williams and Coleman Young Recreational Centers, contractor, BSN Sports, LLC, location 1928 Star Bat Drive, Rochester Hills, Michigan, 48309, previous contract period this January 16, 2024 through September 28, 2025.

Amended contract period period amended contract period, January 16, 2024 through December 31st, 2025, contract increase amount $50,000.

Total contract amount 422,000.

Is there a motion to say line of 6.3 the formal session with regulation for approval?

We put on to new business.

Motion.

Motion's been made.

Are there any objections?

Hearing none, line 6.3 removed the formal session with recognition for approval to put on to new business.

Line of 6.4.

Um the administration is requesting a two-week bring back from line item 6.4.

Do I have a motion to bring back line item 6.4 in two weeks?

Motion.

Motion made are the objections.

Hearing the line of 6.4 be brought back in two weeks.

We'll now move on to member reports.

Chair recognizes Vice Chairwoman Callaway.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um District 2.

We're having our annual cookout um pound of park September the 13th.

I believe registration is closed.

If not, you please call our office at 224 4535 and get that confirmed.

Um September the 15th, Monday, 9 a.m.

We'll be working at Wendy's, passing out coffee, um, which is located at the lodge at 7 Mile Road from 9 a.m.

to about 10 a.m.

And then also that evening we'll be having our webinar, virtual webinar, um, a community call from 5:30 to 6:30.

You can call 224 4535 to get the um calling information.

Then on September the 23rd, we're having our evening mandated meeting at Fellowship Chapel on West Um Outer Drive.

That meeting again starts at 7, and it's on September the 23rd, Tuesday, fellowship chapel on West Outer Drive.

And then um September 20th, we're having our Detroit Women's Commission for Women in Business or those women aspiring to um go into business.

It's a free resource fair and networking event at the Northwest Activity Center from 10 a.m.

till about 1 p.m.

You can call 224535 and we can give you more information.

Then also on that same day at the Judge Mathis Community Center at 1930 Greenfield Road, there will be a free expungement fair.

And that is, I believe from 12 until about 3.

It's an outdoor event.

Please call 224 4535 to get more information, or you can simply stop by the community center on Greenfield to get information.

And then lastly, September the 25th on Thursday from 10 a.m.

to 4 p.m.

We've been working with the um Secretary of State.

We are having a roll to restoration to get your license, driver's license restored.

We were hoping to have that event at the Northwest Activity Center, but it is going to be at Eastern Market at SHET 5 on Thursday 9, September 25th from 10 a.m.

to 4 p.m.

And for more information, you can um go on to Michigan.gov forward slash capital R, the number two and Capital R.

That is if you are having issues with having a proper driver's license.

This is a free event.

Go on to that website and get more information.

But that is Thursday, September the 25th from 10 a.m.

to 4 p.m.

Eastern Market.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you.

Sounds like a lot of fun.

Member Benson, no report.

Thank you.

All right.

Um political violence will not be tolerated under any circumstance.

And regardless of what you think about certain people, and regardless of whether you feel that their views that you might agree with or you think are completely abhorrent.

And I disagree with this person's views vehemently.

I thought they were despicable and disgusting in some cases.

But political violence is not the answer in a world with free speech in a democracy.

The laboratory of ideas, we should be able to have fair exchange without having to worry about someone taking our life.

Too many people have fought and died for America to be a place where you can have free speech and you can debate political ideas.

And so I thought it was a tragedy for this man by the name of Charlie Kirk who lost his life yesterday on the campus of Utah Valley University.

A wife lost her husband, children lost their father, a mother and a father lost their son.

And so I think I condemn wholeheartedly with every fiber of my being, political violence.

And so I think that this was tragic.

I think he was terrible.

And I also think this time for us to do something about gun violence in this country and in this city.

Enough is enough.

How many people do we have to bury?

How much blood has to be shed?

How many tears have to be cried?

How many people have to be in agonizing pain before we realize that enough is enough in this country?

And we have normalized the abnormal, and we are justifying the unjustifiable by not dealing with the issue of gun violence in this country.

So hopefully, as tragic and as sad as this is, this will be the callous for us to come together and do something about this.

But hopefully, as lawmakers in this state in this city, in this county, in this country, we can do more than just have thoughts and prayers.

Let's act and use the power of governance to provide safety and security for the citizens who deserve it.

If we can't protect the children, if we can't protect the people in the country, why are we here?

What is the purpose?

So for the record, I would like to say that I am robustly opposed to gun violence of any kind.

And I would like to have a moment of silence for the students and families of Everbring High School in Suburban Denver, Colorado, as well as for Charlie Kirk and his family, and anyone who has lost their lives and their families who have lost their loved ones due to gun violence in this country.