Detroit Public Health & Safety Standing Committee Meeting - Oct 20, 2025

The Detroit Public Health and Safety Standing Committee convened on Monday, October 20, 2025, under the presiding of Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero, with Councilmember Scott Benson present and Councilmember Mary Waters absent. The committee addressed a comprehensive agenda including unfinished business on memos, multiple construction and health department contracts, significant public health discussions, and two public hearings focused on a new smokeless tobacco ordinance and dangerous buildings. Public comments covered a wide range of grievances including city services, affordable water programs, and specific concerns regarding the proposed tobacco restrictions.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: Minutes from the October 6th session were approved without objection.
• Routine Receipts: Several memos and resolutions (Items 6.5, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 6.11, 7.34, 7.35, 7.36, 7.42) were received and filed or approved for new business without discussion.
• Deferrals: Recommendations to defer specific dangerous building cases (Items 7.27, 7.28, 7.29) were concurred with by the committee.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mr. Foster (General Comment): Expressed strong support for free speech but voiced opposition to government "strong-arming," specifically criticizing the surveillance ordinance and accusing the committee of being "corrupt" and favoring special interests over the community.
• Mr. Cunningham (General Comment): Shared details about an upcoming ride-along and a portrait of former Councilwoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick; advocated for the respect of city leadership and the community's need for support items like hand warmers.
• William Davis (General Comment): Advocated for increased health department transparency regarding child poverty and expressed concern regarding the high number of gas stations and liquor stores selling cigarettes; later in the hearing, he expressed support for stricter enforcement of no-smoking policies in public buildings to ensure the majority's health rights.
• Owner Papa (General Comment): Criticized the committee as the "most corrupt" for failing to address child poverty despite billions in funding; opposed the focus on tobacco restrictions while other issues like speed humps (generating particulate matter) were ignored; advocated for crime solutions like jobs and recreation centers.
• Galaxy S22 (General Comment): Complained about DPW service failures, home tax overtaxation, and lack of representation regarding industrial fumes (Christ); expressed disappointment that city leaders prioritized corporate interests over residents.
• Betty A. Verner (General Comment): Provided information regarding a new Medicaid-based program for caregivers and those needing home assistance.
• Karen Winston (General Comment): Stated that the Fast Track Resolution for retirees did not help general retirees who were hit harder than police/fire retirees; raised a safety concern regarding a fallen cable wire near a school.
• Miko A. Williams (General Comment): Asked for a plan regarding rat infestations in downtown restaurants; accused the city government of corruption and demanded accountability from the mayor's office; stated that public officials should provide resources like bus tickets and water to demonstrators.
• Caller 1 (General Comment): Expressed disappointment with Sheckfield and city staff regarding the inability to answer questions about DOT bus shelters; raised a concern about unlicensed individuals poisoning apartments.
• Cecily McClellan (General Comment): Expressed concern regarding the termination of the Detroit Lifeline program; advocated for the Affordable Water Now bill, debt forgiveness, and shut-off protection.
• Cindy Dara (General Comment): Advocated for approval voting over ranked choice voting; opposed restrictive ordinances that dictate what residents cannot do; noted that while tobacco chewers spit, it doesn't damage lungs like smoke.
• Karen (Public Hearing Comment): Concerned that the ordinance penalizes smokeless tobacco users without providing designated spitting areas, unlike the designated smoking areas allowed for cigarettes and vapes; suggested a fair alternative would be designated zones.
• Miko A. Williams (Public Hearing Comment): Argued that the ordinance should prioritize vaping and smoking over chewing tobacco; stated that current laws are not being enforced regarding weed and vapes at stadiums; advocated for stricter regulation of gas stations and liquor stores selling vaping products.
• Owner Papa (Public Hearing Comment): Disagreed with the ordinance, calling it "not on the people's agenda" and called out hypocrisy regarding the Vice Chair's support for health measures while ignoring speed hump pollution; stated tax revenue should be used to fix larger health issues rather than this ordinance.
• Cindy Dara (Public Hearing Comment): Agreed with Owner Papa, opposing the ordinance as another restrictive rule; stated that the city should focus on what can be done together rather than what cannot.

Discussion Items

• Smokeless Tobacco Ordinance (Chapter 31, Article 5):

  • Context: The ordinance, co-sponsored by Councilmember Durhall and introduced by the Law Department, prohibits the use of smokeless tobacco, alternative nicotine products, and other tobacco products within stadiums and sports arenas (semi-open or closed areas). It requires sign posting at entrances and defines smokeless products as those chewed, absorbed, dissolved, or ingested other than smoking.
  • Definitions: Defined "alternative nicotine product" as non-combustible nicotine intended for consumption. Excludes vaping, which is already addressed by other ordinances. Does not impact designated outdoor smoking areas.
  • Enforcement: Includes warnings, potential tickets, and a misdemeanor charge with a potential $100 fine.
  • Key Questions: Councilmember Benson questioned the grandfathering of baseball players who used chewing tobacco before the 2016 MLB ban; the chair noted these players would likely still be subject to the blanket prohibition but acknowledged the complexity.
  • Procedural Note: A request to allow Councilmember Durhall to speak as a subject matter expert was denied by the Law Department due to quorum rules; he instead submitted a letter supporting the ordinance.

• Construction and Demolition Contracts:

  • Items 7.1-7.3: Approved extensions for maintenance repairs (W3 JJ Barney, Angeles Diamond Construction, Gandalf). Funds not increasing for 7.1 and 7.2; 7.3 increased by $500,000 for unplanned new repairs, bringing the total to $2 million.
  • Items 7.4-7.6: Approved for emergency demolition (SC Environmental Services) at three locations totaling approx. $62,885.
  • Item 7.7: Approved for Class A CDL training (Michigan Truck Driving School) for $100,000.
  • Item 7.8 ($15.9M): A contract for sewer condition assessments, hydraulic modeling, and CIP design (DLZ Michigan Inc.). Councilmember Benson questioned the cost ($389k/mile) and lack of cleaning mention in the TEDA report. The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department clarified the work includes cleaning sewer lines, flow monitoring, camera inspections, and resident notification for private line issues. DLZ is a Detroit certified business with a commitment to hire 30% Detroiters.

• Health Department Contracts (Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program):

  • Items 7.9-7.13: Amendments for various contractors to increase funds for HIV epidemic services.
  • Specific Concerns: Councilmember Benson questioned 7.9 and 7.13 because the contractors (Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency and Wayne State University) are located in Oakland County/Southville. Deputy Director Christina Floyd explained that the federal Ryan White grant covers metropolitan Detroit and funds transportation/services for Detroit residents to access these providers, confirming Detroit residents are the primary beneficiaries.

• CVI (Violence Intervention) Contracts:

  • Items 7.14-7.16: Approved extensions and funding increases (approx. $1M total) for Detroit Friends and Family, Detroit People's Community, and Force Detroit. Correction letters were required to clarify funding sources as ARPA grants must be encumbered by June 2026, but contracts run to Sept 2026; the committee received and walked on four correction letters to align funding sources.
  • Item 7.17: New Era Community contract held for one week due to pending questions regarding funding clarification (State Budget vs. Grant).

• Other Contracts & Resolutions:

  • 7.18: HIV program admin services (Neighborhood Legal Services) extended.
  • 7.19-7.23: Various public works extensions and bus wrap repairs approved.
  • 7.24: OEM transit fleet cameras held for one week to provide a COGS report.
  • 7.30-7.32: Opioid settlement and transit grant appropriations approved.
  • 7.37: Resolution regarding Aviated Specialty Services Corporation approved.
  • 7.39-7.40: Resolutions permitting banner installations by West Werner/Springwells BID and Downtown Detroit Partnership approved.

Key Outcomes

• Vote: Smokeless tobacco ordinance was sent to the formal session with a recommendation to approve (Item 6.13 and Public Hearing).
• Vote: Item 6.13 (Hamelhook encroachment petition) was approved and sent to formal with recommendation to approve.
• Vote: Contracts 6.12, 7.1-7.8, 7.10-7.12, 7.14-7.16, and 7.18-7.23 were approved and sent to formal or new business.
• Vote: Contracts 7.9 and 7.13 were approved and sent to new business.
• Hold/Deferred:
  • Items 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.6, and 6.10 (memos on trash, stormwater, code red, flood, walking mileage, DPD training) were returned in two weeks.
  • Item 7.17 (CVI contract) and 7.24 (Transit cameras) were brought back in one week.
  • Item 7.41 (Legal opinion on closing Cronos Concrete) was referred to the Law Department and returned in three weeks.
  • Item 7.43 (Travel in report) was returned in three weeks.
• Directives: Councilmember Benson requested quarterly reports from the Health Department regarding specific HIV service contracts; the committee noted this request for future discussions.
• Procedural: The committee recessed at the conclusion of the morning session and reconvened at 1:30 PM for dangerous buildings hearings.