OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Detroit City Council Meeting Summary for October 22, 2025

City Council — Wednesday, October 22, 2025
BodyDetroit, Michigan
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, October 22, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:13:26

Transcript — Verbatim
0:06

Shall be taken.

0:07

Good morning, media services.

0:09

Oh, there we are.

0:12

We are going to move into general public comment.

0:17

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

0:25

Please raise your hand.

0:26

We do not have anyone here in the committee of the whole.

0:30

So we're going to cut off public comment.

0:37

In three seconds.

0:38

If you'd like to make a public comment, please raise your hand.

0:42

Public comment will be cut off in three.

0:46

Two.

0:48

One, the collection of public comments have now concluded.

0:52

And good morning, Ms.

0:52

Jackson.

0:53

How many hands do we have raised?

0:56

Morning, Madam Chair, we have hands raised for virtual public comments.

0:59

How many hands do we have raised?

1:03

13.

1:04

Yes.

1:05

Okay.

1:05

If we can set the clock for two minutes, we are going to move through public comment as swiftly as possible.

1:14

And who's our first caller?

1:17

Our first caller is Galaxy S22 Ultra.

1:21

Good morning, Mr.

1:22

Holloway.

1:23

Galaxy S22 Ultra.

1:25

You have two minutes for general public comment.

1:28

Good morning.

1:29

Good morning, uh Council Johnson and Console Callaway.

1:35

I ain't calling starting no trouble.

1:39

I just call are we?

1:41

Did we hear anything else about this crisis over here?

1:45

Well on the east side.

1:51

Are they going to give us anything else?

1:54

Or that's what I call for.

1:59

I'm not sure.

2:01

I'm not sure if we uh they came to the table yet.

2:06

I know one time you were saying they supposed to come to the table.

2:11

I'm not sure.

2:13

So uh that's what I was calling for.

2:17

You know, I talked to uh yesterday.

2:20

Hope you guys uh uh have a good day or try to have a good day.

2:25

And uh I'm through with my minutes.

2:30

All right, thank you so much for calling in.

2:33

Um, there is currently a neighborhood beautification grant that is open, uh, particularly for neighborhoods and and block clubs within the impact area of Stillantis.

2:47

Um, the application process closes on Friday, October 24th.

2:53

Um, so that is one thing that is currently going on as a result of the community benefits agreement.

2:59

In addition to that, the grant phase three grant for Stellantis, uh, the application process has closed.

3:08

Individuals have been notified, and the work should start fairly soon if it hasn't started already.

3:15

Um, so those are the two things that have happened, and Stellantis did come to the table last year.

3:22

Um, and we had a conversation relative to uh an increase in home improvement dollars to be provided to those in the impact area.

3:32

All right, thank you so much for calling in.

3:34

And madam clerk, if you will please note that member waters has joined us.

3:39

Thank you.

3:41

Thank you, madam chair.

3:42

Who's our next caller?

3:46

Our next caller is William M.

3:48

Davis.

3:49

William M.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Comment███████████████████████████████████████39%
Public Safety█████████████████████████25%
Pending Litigation██████████████14%
Fleet Management████████8%
Contract Management████4%
Voter Rights███3%
Neighborhood Associations██2%
Intergovernmental Agreement██2%
Contracts and Procurement██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Detroit City Council Meeting Summary for October 22, 2025

This meeting of the Detroit City Council covered general public comments addressing concerns regarding environmental health, municipal corruption, voter integrity, and police accountability, followed by deliberation on pending litigation settlements, legal representation for city employees, and the scheduling of a special session for a public appeal.

Consent Calendar

  • Members of the public expressed a range of positions: Mr. Holloway sought clarification on the status of an East Side crisis and home improvement grants; Mr. Davis expressed full support for a domestic violence task force and advocated for stricter alcohol testing for police, while opposing the city's indemnification policies; "Owner Papa" expressed strong opposition to the use of county jail addresses for voting, alleged misappropriation of ARPA funds, and criticized the direction of city spending; "Caller ending in 482" accused specific council members of election theft and "televen" (likely "teaming up") for years; "You Matter" expressed sadness that public comments about fumes from the Stellantis plant are ignored and stated full support for investigating the Land Bank for failing to record Zoom meetings, while expressing shame toward council members who voted for solar takings; Mr. Grady expressed support for the minority business Gyanga Company; Ms. Love demanded representation and improved safety on the people mover; "Not That Karen" disputed claims regarding a 13th check for general retirees, noting they received no such payment, and requested an investigation.
  • The Chair responded to several public points: confirming a neighborhood beautification grant for the Stellantis impact area is open until October 24th; confirming a second $10 million allotment for retirees is in motion; clarifying that MCL 168.758B and MCL 168.492A allow absentee voting for individuals detained in the county jail; and reaffirming a commitment to addressing Land Bank board residency and recording issues via an upcoming intergovernmental agreement.

Discussion Items

  • Voting Rights (Line Item 5.1): The Council discussed a memorandum regarding the voting rights of individuals in county jail. Councilmember Waters sought clarification on whether the law specifically requires a 30-day detention period. City Attorney Anderson agreed to locate and highlight the specific statutory language regarding the address requirement for absentee ballots.
  • Legal Indemnification (Line Item 5.4): Councilmember Callaway raised concerns regarding a data analyst, John Grover, who allegedly lives in Novi and drives a city-leased vehicle to his home, characterizing this as an unjustified perk where the city pays insurance for a Detroit address. He moved for a closed session to investigate the facts of the accident and whether the employee was on city business.
  • Appeal of Suspension (Line Item 6.1): Council discussed an appeal by Gyanga Company LLC regarding an interim suspension related to a complaint about "Dirty Dirt." Due to the need to schedule a hearing before the November 24th deadline, the Council agreed to refer the item to the Council President's office to schedule a special session for both the hearing and the vote.
  • Risk Management Funding (Line Item 6.2): A request to extend time and increase funds for legal services regarding MGM Grand Casino tax disputes was tabled pending the acquisition of proper tax clearances. Councilmember Callaway criticized the procurement process for allowing contracts to reach the Council without clearances. The item was moved back in one week.
  • Settlement Discrepancies (Line Item 6.4): A motion was made to bring this item back after Councilmember Callaway questioned whether a sidewalk accident fell under the Police Department (DPD) or the Department of Public Works (DPW). A scrivener's error was acknowledged, and the item was moved back in one week to correct the department attribution and verify repair status.
  • Body Cam Ordinance (Line Item 6.17): Councilmember Letitia Johnson requested a two-week bring-back regarding questions on the fiscal impact and liability of a proposed body cam ordinance. The Office of the City Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) confirmed a fiscal impact statement could be prepared by Friday. The item was moved back in one week, contingent on the response arriving before the public hearing on Monday, October 27th.

Key Outcomes

  • Line Item 5.1: Motion carried to receive and file the memorandum on voting rights of individuals in county jail. City Attorney Anderson to highlight specific statutory language.
  • Line Item 5.2: Motion carried to send the settlement request (Donovan Courtney vs. City of Detroit, $99,500) to formal with a recommendation to approve.
  • Line Item 5.3: Motion carried to send the settlement request (Chineta Yarber vs. City of Detroit, $118,535.61) to formal with a recommendation to approve.
  • Line Item 5.4: Motion carried to bring the legal representation request (John Grover) back to a date to be determined (TBD).
  • Line Item 6.1: Motion carried to refer the appeal of Gyanga Company LLC to the Council President's office for scheduling a special session.
  • Line Item 6.2: Motion carried to bring the contract amendment (MGM Grand tax dispute) back in one week pending tax clearances.
  • Line Item 6.3: Motion carried to send the settlement request (Advanced Physician Group vs. City of Detroit, $15,000) to formal with a recommendation to approve.
  • Line Item 6.4: Motion carried to bring the settlement request (Carolyn Taylor vs. City of Detroit, $25,000) back in one week for department correction and clarification.
  • Line Item 6.5: Motion carried to send the settlement request (Daniel Katzman vs. City of Detroit Fire, $55,000) to formal with a recommendation to approve.
  • Line Items 6.6 & 6.8: Motion carried to send the combined settlement requests (DeAndre Hayes vs. City of Detroit, $15,000 and Joey Hunter vs. City of Detroit, $10,000) to formal with a recommendation to approve.
  • Line Item 6.7: Motion carried to send the settlement request (Delbert Relliford vs. City of Detroit Fire, $15,000) to formal with a recommendation to approve.
  • Line Item 6.9: Motion carried to send the settlement request (Arnisha Taylor vs. City of Detroit, $15,000) to formal with a recommendation to approve.
  • Line Item 6.10: Motion carried to bring the settlement request (Northland Radiology vs. City of Detroit, $16,500) back in two weeks.
  • Line Item 6.11: Motion carried to bring the settlement request (Shant and Montgomery vs. City of Detroit, $50,000) back in two weeks.
  • Line Item 6.12: Motion carried to receive and file the report on unresolved matters.
  • Line Item 6.13: Motion carried to send the case evaluation award (Lenise Frazier vs. Caymans, $20,000) to formal with a recommendation to approve.
  • Line Item 6.14: Motion carried to receive and file the OIG quarterly report.
  • Line Item 6.15: Motion carried to receive and file the report on exploring a domestic violence task force.
  • Line Item 6.16: Motion carried to send the resolution (cancelling Nov 4 formal, scheduling Nov 14) to formal with a recommendation to approve.
  • Line Item 6.17: Motion carried to bring the body cam ordinance report back in one week, pending the OCFO fiscal impact statement by Friday.

Meeting Transcript

Shall be taken. Good morning, media services. Oh, there we are. We are going to move into general public comment. If there is anyone joining us virtually for general public comment, please raise your hand. Please raise your hand. We do not have anyone here in the committee of the whole. So we're going to cut off public comment. In three seconds. If you'd like to make a public comment, please raise your hand. Public comment will be cut off in three. Two. One, the collection of public comments have now concluded. And good morning, Ms. Jackson. How many hands do we have raised? Morning, Madam Chair, we have hands raised for virtual public comments. How many hands do we have raised? 13. Yes. Okay. If we can set the clock for two minutes, we are going to move through public comment as swiftly as possible. And who's our first caller? Our first caller is Galaxy S22 Ultra. Good morning, Mr. Holloway. Galaxy S22 Ultra. You have two minutes for general public comment. Good morning. Good morning, uh Council Johnson and Console Callaway. I ain't calling starting no trouble. I just call are we? Did we hear anything else about this crisis over here? Well on the east side. Are they going to give us anything else? Or that's what I call for. I'm not sure. I'm not sure if we uh they came to the table yet. I know one time you were saying they supposed to come to the table. I'm not sure. So uh that's what I was calling for. You know, I talked to uh yesterday. Hope you guys uh uh have a good day or try to have a good day. And uh I'm through with my minutes. All right, thank you so much for calling in. Um, there is currently a neighborhood beautification grant that is open, uh, particularly for neighborhoods and and block clubs within the impact area of Stillantis. Um, the application process closes on Friday, October 24th. Um, so that is one thing that is currently going on as a result of the community benefits agreement. In addition to that, the grant phase three grant for Stellantis, uh, the application process has closed. Individuals have been notified, and the work should start fairly soon if it hasn't started already.

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