Detroit City Council Formal Session - September 30, 2025
Detroit City Council Formal Session - September 30, 2025
The Detroit City Council met on September 30, 2025, for a formal session. The meeting began with an invocation by Chief Chaplain Demetrius Davenport, followed by a presentation honoring two Detroit Department of Transportation employees for saving a passenger's life. The majority of the session was devoted to public testimony and the appointment of a new City Ombudsman. After two rounds of voting, Sherry Gay-Dagnogo was appointed to the position. Several resolutions and contracts were approved, including a resolution expressing support for additional recreational opportunities on the waterfront.
Consent Calendar
- No items were listed on the consent agenda.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Support for Sherry Gay‑Dagnogo for Ombudsman: Numerous speakers (including Darryl Woods, Harrison Shelby, Pamela Powell, Lita Kelly Lard, Charles Brooks, an unnamed parent, Shark Woolsby, attorney Linda Bernard, Felicia [janitor], Helena Nunn, Jennifer Green, a retired principal, Selena Wilkins Poe, Danny Harani, Emily Wilson, Dana Elise Wilson, Reverend Anthony Renee, Lakia M. Wilson Lumpkins [DFT president], Superintendent Nikolai Vitti, and others) expressed strong support, citing her advocacy on clean slate legislation, school board work, redistricting litigation, community organizing, and responsiveness to residents.
- Support for Gail Bernard for Ombudsman: Several speakers (including Mr. Edge, Reverend Robert Brosco, Julia Hall, Theo Broken, Danielle Hall, Tara Brown, Hazel Flood, Sherry Burton, and others) supported Gail Bernard, emphasizing her experience in the Ombudsman office, her fairness, and her readiness to serve without political bias.
- Support for Tiffany Tilley for Ombudsman: A few speakers (including Amira L. Johnson, Stephanie L. Jones, Pamela Reed) praised Tiffany Tilley for her quick action in resolving a special education funding issue and her advocacy work.
- Other Comments: Mr. Cunningham thanked Disability Orgs and the Ombudsman office for bus tickets. Barbara Logan quoted Lord Acton and referenced past election issues. Charles Miles complained about a property issue and requested Mr. Sabri appear. Melissa Love and another speaker alleged election fraud and urged voters to “flip the city red.” Helena Nunn questioned the legality of jail inmates voting using the jail address. Veronica Smith and another caller called for property tax reform. Several callers raised concerns about police transparency, bus station bird droppings, retiree pensions, and homelessness.
Discussion Items
- Presentation of Spirit of Detroit Awards: Councilmember Young recognized DDOT employees Jerome Dillard (25‑year veteran) and Mitchell Green (student operator) for saving a passenger’s life on July 21, 2025. Both received certificates of commendation from DDOT Director Robert Kramer.
- Resolution 16.1 – Waterfront Recreational Opportunities: Councilmember Benson moved a resolution urging the Pistons organization to consider additional sports (indoor track, tennis) for the waterfront. After brief discussion, Member Johnson objected due to lack of detail. The resolution was approved, but Johnson’s objection was noted; a waiver request failed.
- Ombudsman Appointment Process (Item 18.2): Law Department attorney Barcliff explained the voting process. The first round required each council member to rank three candidates (points 3,2,1). The top three would advance. Attorney Phil Keller (LPD) stated that a school board member appointed as Ombudsman would have to resign from the school board due to conflict of interest. Councilmember Johnson noted that some candidates did not live in Detroit, but Councilmember Callaway argued residency is not a legal requirement. The first ballot results: Gail Bernard 16 points, Sherry Gay‑Dagnogo 16 points, Tiffany Tilley 7 points. In the second round, each council member voted for one candidate. Sherry Gay‑Dagnogo received 6 votes (Waters, Tate, Sheffield, Young, Durhal, Johnson) – the required majority – and was appointed.
- Contracts and Resolutions: Multiple contracts for blight demolition, environmental due diligence, vehicle rentals, facility upgrades, and a traffic management center were approved, with several waivers granted. A resolution in support of Senate Bill 492 and various grants were also approved.
- Member Reports: Councilmembers announced upcoming community meetings, housing resource fairs, estate planning workshops, and other events in their districts.
Key Outcomes
- Spirit of Detroit Awards presented to Jerome Dillard and Mitchell Green for life-saving actions on July 21, 2025.
- Resolution 16.1 (supporting additional recreational activities on the waterfront) was approved, with Councilmember Johnson recording an objection.
- Ombudsman Appointed: Sherry Gay‑Dagnogo was appointed as the City of Detroit Ombudsman after receiving six votes in the second round. She will resign from the DPSCD school board upon appointment.
- Contracts Approved: Eight resolutions (17.1–17.8) for emergency demolitions and environmental due diligence; two banner installation resolutions; four walk-on contracts (vehicle rental, facility accessibility upgrade, traffic management center consulting, parking lot renovations at DPD locations) – all approved with waivers where requested.
- Referrals: Referrals to standing committees for various reports from city departments.
- Election Concern: The council agreed to request a written legal opinion from the Clerk’s office clarifying voting rights for individuals in the Wayne County Jail, after multiple speakers challenged the legality of using the jail address for voter registration.
Meeting Transcript
Present. Councilmember Mary Walters present. Hounce Member Angela Winfield Callaway. Councilman McComayoun the second. Here. And Council President Mary Sheffield. Present. We have a corn president, Madam President. Thank you so much. There being a corn, we are now in session, and we will start off with our invitation. We have a joining us Chief Chaplain Demetrius Davenport, who is joining us virtually for our invitation this morning. All right, Chaplain Davenport, are you with us? There we go. Good morning. Can you hear me? Yes, we can. Good morning. Okay, I got no sound. Uh Madam President, Council. Thank you for the opportunity to share with you this morning. Uh, can we pray? Father God, thank you for another day. Thank you, Lord, for blessing us. Uh, to see this bright day in this great city. We ask, oh God, that as our council deliberates and debate on what's best for our city that you continue to crown them with wisdom, understanding, and power. Lord, not let not the fear of public uh intercession uh invalidate their thought process and grace that you've given them. Guide us by guiding them, bless us by blessing them, and we ask holy for our city, oh God, that you continue to abound your grace and mercy toward us all. We thank you for things being as well as they are. We have faith, oh God, you would take the higher heights in you. Bless our city, bless our officers, bless our council, bless our citizens as a whole. In the name of Jesus the Christ, I pray, Amen. Amen. All right, thank you so much, Chief Uh Davenport for the invitation, and we will uh see you soon. Have a blessed day. Uh, we will start off with our uh presentation by council member at large, member Young, and I will turn the floor over to Member Young. I'm sorry, I'm gonna turn it off. And we are going to cut off the uh public comment for this morning as well. Uh thank you, madam president. Hello, everyone. Um, let me just start by saying that a hero is a person that is willing to give the ultimate sacrifice of their life, not just for those they know, but for those they don't, and who is willing to sacrifice and be a part of something that's greater than themselves. And I can't think of two gentlemen who more exemplify those principles and those values than the people who I'm getting ready to talk about, who have earned a much deserved spirit of trait awards on the afternoon of Monday, July 21st, 2025, at 230 p.m. These two Detroit Department of Transportation employees heroically saved the life of a Detroit passenger of a Detroit Department of Transportation Bus. Mr. Jerome Dillard, a D Dot transportation equipment operator, TEO, and Mr. Mitchell Green, a student operator, were providing service to the Jefferson Avenue bus route when they arrived at the end of the route. They both noticed a passenger was still on the coach at the end of the route, and when attempting to alert him that the bus was at the end of the route, they discovered the passenger was unresponsive. Mr. Diller, a 25-year D dot veteran, instructed student operator Green to notify D DOT's control center, which dispatched fire and EMS services to the coach. First responders perform successful life-saving measures to resuscitate the passenger because of the heroic efforts of Mr. Dillard, a 25-year veteran, and Mr.
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