OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Detroit City Council Internal Operations Committee Meeting - October 8, 2025

City Council — Wednesday, October 8, 2025
BodyDetroit, Michigan
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, October 8, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:24:08

Transcript — Verbatim
0:08

Thank you.

0:09

Having a quorn present, we are now in session.

0:12

Good morning, Member Waters.

0:14

Is there a motion on the minutes?

0:16

Motion to approve.

0:17

There's a motion to approve the minutes.

0:20

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

0:24

And for my chair remarks, I actually want to call for a moment of silence in honor of Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, who passed away yesterday.

0:38

So if we can have a moment of silence, please.

0:56

Thank you all for that.

0:58

So we certainly want to give our prayers, thoughts to her family, her entire family, and all of those who appreciate, loved her for her commitment, dedication, and service to the city of Detroit.

1:19

We know she did an outstanding job and left large shoes to feel.

1:28

And so if we can uh just keep her and her family in our thoughts, uh we would greatly appreciate it and all that she did for the city of Detroit.

1:42

I thank you all so much.

1:47

We are now going to move to public comment.

1:53

If there is anyone joining us for public comment, please raise your hand.

2:00

Whether you are joining us in person or virtually, please raise your hand.

2:15

All right, I understand they cannot hear us on Zoom, so we are going to recess to the call of the chair.

3:05

It's been a real gangsters, drug dealers, citizens, elderly that can testify.

3:22

I'm I'm like that.

3:23

I'm cut like that, built like that.

3:26

I know you will believe me.

3:29

Without you to let you go.

3:40

Oh, man.

3:41

That's my problem.

4:18

I'd like to call the internal operations meeting back to order.

4:21

Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll?

4:23

Councilmember Letitia Johnson.

4:25

Present.

4:25

Councilmember Mary Waters.

4:27

Present.

4:27

Councilmember Angela Whitfield Callaway.

4:30

Madam Chair, you have a quorum present.

4:32

Thank you.

4:32

Having a quorum present.

4:33

We are now back in session.

4:36

And I was just calling for public comment.

4:40

General public comment.

4:42

If you would like to make a comment, please raise your hand.

4:46

We have one person in the committee of the whole.

4:49

Please raise your hand virtually.

4:51

Going once.

4:53

Going twice.

4:55

Going three times.

5:00

The collection of public comment has now concluded.

5:02

Good morning, Ms.

5:03

Jackson.

5:04

How many hands do we have raised virtually?

5:08

Morning, Madam Chair.

5:09

We have nine hands raised for virtual public comments.

5:11

Okay, thank you.

5:12

If we can please set the clock for two minutes, we will get started with the person in the committee of the whole.

5:21

Good morning.

5:23

My name is Reuben James Crowley Jr.

5:28

Otherwise, also known as Motor City Rule, Black Bag Rule, Six Mile Route, Seven Mile Rule, Downtown Rule, East Side Rule, West Side Rule, and Joy Road.

5:43

And y'all cheated in.

5:45

You um Tisha Johnson, I'm over in District 4.

5:49

I'm a resident over there now.

5:51

I got a new residence, 1443 Spring Garden.

5:55

I invited you to come out and take a look at the progress on it.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Comment███████████████████████████27%
Brownfield Redevelopment███████████████████████23%
Procedural███████████████15%
Elected Officials Compensation████████8%
Public Engagement██████6%
Pending Litigation██████6%
Housing███3%
Parks and Recreation██2%
Homelessness██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Detroit City Council Internal Operations Committee Meeting - October 8, 2025

The Detroit City Council Internal Operations Committee met on October 8, 2025, to conduct interviews for appointments to the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and the Elected Officials Compensation Commission, hear public comments, and handle legal representation, indemnification, and settlement requests. The meeting began with a moment of silence for former Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, who passed away the previous day.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of the minutes from the previous meeting was moved and approved without objection.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Reuben James Crowley Jr. (also known as Motor City Rule) made allegations of election fraud and criticized council members, specifically Mary Waters and Angela Whitfield Callaway. He claimed cheating in elections and referenced Sam Riddle.
  • William M. Davis advocated for independent counsel for the Board of Ethics and Board of Police Commissioners, criticized the corporation counsel's handling of FOIA requests, and raised concerns about pension clawbacks for retirees.
  • A caller (undisclosed) criticized agenda item 16.2 regarding excess property taxes being used for corporate subsidies, called the board "fascist and communist," and demanded transparency.
  • Betty A. Barner, president of the Soda Elsework Black Association, requested donations for a park expansion and promoted the My MI Choice Waiver Program for seniors and disabled individuals.
  • Tyson Gersh raised issues about the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) record of proceedings not being filed with the City Clerk as required by statute, and requested correction.
  • A caller ("Not that Karen") urged repurposing the Zucchetto towers for permanent housing, criticized over-taxation and pension clawbacks, and opposed fast-tracking resolution.
  • Sahira Ahmed criticized the city for illegal over-taxation of $600 million and foreclosures, attributing poverty and deaths to these policies, and demanded return of funds.
  • Miko A. Williams reported on a District 5 debate, criticized candidate Renata Miller, and endorsed Willie Burton.
  • A caller (ending in 124) alleged first amendment retaliation by Council President Mary Sheffield's office regarding blight tickets and election hiring, and requested proper notice for Brownfield meetings.

Discussion Items

  • Reappointment Interview: Eric DeWicke to Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Board: DeWicke described his experience, voting record against the District Detroit Brownfield plan, and concerns about lack of advanced notice for board materials. Council member Callaway motioned to have the law department and LPD report on how council can gain more representation on boards and authorities. The motion passed without objection. DeWicke committed to providing quarterly reports and advocating for longer review periods.
  • Appointment Interview: Erica Hill to Elected Officials Compensation Commission: Hill shared her background as a lifelong Detroiter, former deputy director of civil rights, and current entrepreneur. She answered no conflicts of interest. The committee combined line items 6 and 9.1 and moved to approve.
  • Appointment Interview: Nicholas Waller to Elected Officials Compensation Commission: Waller described his background in healthy food access (Fresh Corner), healthcare, and community service as a reserve deputy and church volunteer. He answered no conflicts. The committee combined line items 7 and 9.2 and moved to approve.

Key Outcomes

  • Appointments Approved: Eric DeWicke's reappointment to the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Board (line item 5) was sent to formal session with a request for LPD to draft a resolution. Erica Hill and Nicholas Waller were approved for the Elected Officials Compensation Commission.
  • Law Department Report: Motion passed requesting a report from the law department and LPD on how to increase council representation on city boards and authorities.
  • Legal Representation/Indemnification: Line item 8.1 (Mohammed Salah) approved; line item 8.2 (John Grover) brought back in two weeks.
  • Settlements: Line item 8.3 ($4,500, Antoine Johnson) approved; line item 9.3 ($24,500, Darrell Bates) approved; line items 9.4, 9.5, 9.6 brought back for additional information.
  • Domestic Violence Task Force: Line item 8.4 (Council member Callaway's memorandum) brought back in one week.
  • Reports Received and Filed: Line item 9.8 (Board of Ethics independent counsel response) and line item 9.9 (Ombudsman final report) received and filed.
  • Voting Rights Clarification: Line item 9.10 (voting rights of individuals in county jail) brought back in two weeks.
  • Member Reports: Council member Waters announced events on October 15 (skill trade task force) and October 24 (sheltered by faith). Council member Callaway announced a virtual town hall on short-term rentals (October 8, 3 PM) and a historic designation meeting for Hope Oak Grove AME Church on October 9.

Meeting Transcript

Thank you. Having a quorn present, we are now in session. Good morning, Member Waters. Is there a motion on the minutes? Motion to approve. There's a motion to approve the minutes. Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken. And for my chair remarks, I actually want to call for a moment of silence in honor of Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, who passed away yesterday. So if we can have a moment of silence, please. Thank you all for that. So we certainly want to give our prayers, thoughts to her family, her entire family, and all of those who appreciate, loved her for her commitment, dedication, and service to the city of Detroit. We know she did an outstanding job and left large shoes to feel. And so if we can uh just keep her and her family in our thoughts, uh we would greatly appreciate it and all that she did for the city of Detroit. I thank you all so much. We are now going to move to public comment. If there is anyone joining us for public comment, please raise your hand. Whether you are joining us in person or virtually, please raise your hand. All right, I understand they cannot hear us on Zoom, so we are going to recess to the call of the chair. It's been a real gangsters, drug dealers, citizens, elderly that can testify. I'm I'm like that. I'm cut like that, built like that. I know you will believe me. Without you to let you go. Oh, man. That's my problem. I'd like to call the internal operations meeting back to order. Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll? Councilmember Letitia Johnson. Present. Councilmember Mary Waters. Present. Councilmember Angela Whitfield Callaway. Madam Chair, you have a quorum present. Thank you. Having a quorum present. We are now back in session. And I was just calling for public comment. General public comment. If you would like to make a comment, please raise your hand. We have one person in the committee of the whole. Please raise your hand virtually. Going once. Going twice. Going three times. The collection of public comment has now concluded. Good morning, Ms. Jackson. How many hands do we have raised virtually? Morning, Madam Chair. We have nine hands raised for virtual public comments.

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