Detroit City Council Formal Session - September 23, 2025
Detroit City Council Formal Session - September 23, 2025
The Detroit City Council held its formal session on September 23, 2025. The meeting began with an invocation, followed by approval of the journal, public comment, and consideration of numerous resolutions, contracts, and appointments. Key topics included water drainage fees, election integrity, the ombudsman selection process, and multiple council member reports.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of line item 32.2 (testimonial resolution) under adoption without committee reference.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Betty Lyons: Called for bus driver wages of $30-$35/hour with full benefits; opposed mayoral candidate Kenlock, alleging ties to Satan; criticized Conrad Mallet and Director Whitaker; urged Mary Sheffield not to align with Mayor Duggan.
- Ms. Williams: Alleged corruption in the Detroit Police Department involving ex-offenders with new identities; cited a shooting incident on Delaware and claimed officers with criminal records carry weapons under false names.
- Craig Wilby: Supported Sherry Gay Dagnago for ombudsman, citing her work with returning citizens and her suitability for the role.
- Argy Watkins: Also supported Sherry Gay Dagnago, highlighting her advocacy for human trafficking survivors and her fairness.
- Helena Nunn: Expressed deep concern about election integrity and council’s lack of response to evidence; demanded truth and a forensic audit.
- Linda McClastor: Claimed her absentee ballot was mishandled; council referred her to the clerk's office and other investigatory bodies.
- Mark Lane: Asked council to reverse water drainage fees on churches, arguing rain is not a service used by churches.
- Pastor Louise: Criticized the drainage fee as illegal and politically motivated; noted Detroit cannot afford to lose $100-150 million annually; accused the city of targeting churches.
- Reggie Ridge (Davis): Apologized for over-preparing for the ombudsman interview by contacting vendors; clarified his actions were not presumptuous.
- John George: Supported Reggie Davis for ombudsman, vouching for his character.
- Fidel L: Called council corrupt; questioned why the city does not address election fraud and water drainage fees for Catholic churches.
- Charles Miles: Complained about overassessed taxes and misapplied payments; accused the city of harassment and a fake police report.
- Ramon Jackson: Presented laws (MCL 168.492 and 168.1) regarding voting from county jails; called for a forensic audit of the August 5, 2025 election.
- Mr. Lee: Called for reparations and a suggestion box for solutions; urged unity and forgiveness.
- Virtual callers raised concerns about water drainage fees (Cindy Dara, Veronica Smith), lifeline water program expiration (VA Verner), retiree pension issues, and opposition to the proposed corporate income tax reserve fund (7.2).
- Andrea Thompson and Renard Monchunski spoke in support of Sherry Gay Dagnago for ombudsman.
Discussion Items
- Budget Finance & Audit Standing Committee: Approved line item 17.1 (fiscal year 2020-2026 allocation of elected officials budgets). Items 17.2 and 17.3 were sent back to committee for further review.
- Internal Operations Standing Committee: Approved appointment of Kristen Lesson to the Elected Officials Compensation Commission; approved contracts including an ARPA-funded portal contractor (Lakeshore Legal Aid) and five lawsuit settlements.
- Planning & Economic Development: Approved nine resolutions for contracts (housing counseling, income tax preparation, tool banks); denied a planning commission item (19.10); approved a commercial rehabilitation certificate; postponed a resolution supporting diverse athletic offerings at the Pistons Waterfront Multi-sports complex (19.13) for one week.
- Public Health & Safety: Approved two resolutions for emergency demolition and a pole license, with a corrected document for item 20.5.
- New Business: Approved an ARPA-funded contract for improvements at Adams Butzel Complex (21.1). Postponed contract 21.2 (parking ticket management system) for one week due to pending tax clearance.
- Appointments to Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Community Advisory Committee: The council selected Josh Mack (7 votes), David Bonner (5 votes), George Etheridge (8 votes), and Marlowe Sean Franklin (8 votes) from a ballot of five candidates. Resolution to appoint was approved.
- Closed Sessions: The council approved multiple closed sessions scheduled for September 30, 2025, at 3:00 PM, 3:15 PM, 3:30 PM, 3:45 PM, 4:00 PM, 4:15 PM, 4:30 PM, 4:45 PM, and 5:00 PM. Council President Sheffield voted no on several.
- Resolution on Huron Valley Correctional Facility: Councilmember Waters sponsored a resolution calling on the state legislature to investigate unsanitary conditions and lack of healthcare at the facility, approved unanimously.
- Ombudsman Selection Process: An amended resolution for the interview and voting process was walked on and approved. The amendment clarifies background checks and a ranked-choice voting system (first choice = 3 points, second = 2, third = 1).
Key Outcomes
- Appointments: Josh Mack, David Bonner, George Etheridge, and Marlowe Sean Franklin appointed to the Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Community Advisory Committee.
- Contracts Approved: Nine contracts for housing, income tax preparation, tool banks, and ice arena improvements; multiple lawsuit settlements approved.
- Postponements: Line items 17.2, 17.3, 19.13, and 21.2 postponed for one week.
- Closed Sessions: Nine closed sessions scheduled for September 30, 2025, approved (majority votes with Council President Sheffield dissenting on some).
- Ombudsman Process: Amended resolution approved; background checks and ranked-choice voting adopted.
- Motion to Test Children: Councilmember Waters’ motion to have the Health Department test children near a contaminated demolition site (3751 Northwestern) was approved.
- Election Integrity: Council President Sheffield clarified her role on the Elections Commission and noted that previous fraud allegations were forwarded to the clerk's office and a report published online. The clerk's office will investigate claims about voting from the county jail.
- Water Drainage Fees: Council acknowledged the issue; a program called Easy Pay was suggested for churches, but no immediate policy change was made.
Meeting Transcript
Start off with our um invocation. We have Commander Chaplain Michael Kadat joining us this morning. Thank you for being here in person as well. Madam President, honored members of the council. It is a pleasure to be here. I am Commander Chaplain Michael Knott with the Detroit Police Department Chaplain Corps and also a proud uh resident of district two. All right. So we can uh, as our faith uh dictates and our traditions dictate, bring ourselves into a state of grace and prayer. Good and gracious God, we thank you for this day, and we pray that you lead us in ways to find ways to be finding joy and grace and joy in it. I give thanks for this council and the work that they do. I give thanks for the progress of this great city of Detroit and its citizens. I also ask your heavenly spirit to be upon us as the work is done in the city because there are still people in need, there are still things that need to be done, and we need your grace to help us through these times. I ask your wisdom to be upon the citizens of this great city of this great council. I thank you for their leadership and ask your blessings upon them and all the citizens of the city of Detroit. Undergirdus in our activities today. May this meeting be conducted in order and close and harmony. It is through you. I pray, O Lord, and personally I pray through Jesus Christ with all reverence and honor to all other faith traditions. Amen. Amen. Thank you so much, Chaplain, for being here. All right. The journal of the session of September the 9th will be approved. There being no reconsiderations or unfinished business. We will proceed to the budget finance and audit standing committee for the budget finance and audit standing committee. Fire reports from various city departments. Five reports will be referred for the internal operations standing committee. Nine reports from various city departments. The nine reports will be referred to the neighborhood, excuse me, for the neighborhood and community services standing committee. Three reports from the Office of Contracting and Procurement. The three reports will be referred to committee. For the planning and economic development standing committee. Two reports from various city departments. The two reports will be referred to committee. For the public health and safety standing committee. Under communications from the mayor and other governmental officials and agencies. Okay. Okay. All right. We are going to move forward with public comment. We will start with those who have joined us in person. Everyone will have two minutes for public comment. And we will start with Miss Betty Lyons. And we are going to cut public comment off after. No, okay. We'll cut off public comment. Okay, sorry. Bus drivers first. Their wages should be no less than 30 or 35 dollars with all benefits. You ride that bus and you see what they have to go through.
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