Today, Wednesday, November 12th.

Mr.

Clerk, will you please call the roll?

Good morning, Councilmember Letitia Johnson.

Present.

Councilmember Mary Waters.

Present.

Councilmember Angela Whitfield Callaway.

Madam Chair, DeCorm.

Thank you.

Having a quorum present, we are now in session.

Good morning, colleagues.

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 we are going to move into public comment.

If there's anyone joining us here in person or virtually who'd like to make a public comment, please raise your hand.

Please raise your hand.

Public comment will be cut off at 10.05.

My clock says that it is 10.04.

Good morning, Miss Jackson.

How many hands do we have raised virtually?

All right.

If you will please set the clock for two minutes.

We have two individuals here joining us in the committee of the whole, and we'll get started.

Good morning.

Good morning.

My name is Adrian Tines.

Um I've come come several times to try to address the issues of the building I live in.

My landlord continues to target me, um, causing health problems, like um he did with other people that spoke out against him who are dead now.

And no one's doing anything.

The commander continues to protect him.

The community has reported all type of prostitution, drug activity in the building, and they keep saying it's not going on.

Um the owner just threatened to evict me.

I better be out by November the 30th because I'm talking to renters to bring out what's going on.

I'm bringing out how they're attacking me.

He has certain key people in the building targeting me.

And um this is an issue.

The criminal attorney that lives in our building in the 70s told Ray Simpson from uh Mary Sheffield's staff when he threatened on to threaten them to get off his property with the city inspector to get in there.

Um he told him that he's a poverty pimp and a slump owner.

He doesn't care about repairing anything.

We uh the lady next door repair um complained about rats running from the build our building into her yard.

And it's it's just really uh uh uh beyond my understanding of why the police department won't do anything.

They laugh in our face.

The owner and the police department are called us mentally ill and dismiss what we're talking about.

Uh the health issues, health hazards, uh, unsafe conditions in that building, and no one's doing anything about it, even the community people are in the uproar how the owner allows so much criminal activity to go on, and the police won't do anything.

And right now, as I have stated, my life is at in jeopardy right now.

Yesterday, one of the tenants that get along with the owner threatened me.

Um, came up on me aggressively, named um Tony Hubner in Department 106.

He was angry because I was upset how they were attacking me, and he said, You're talking too loud, you're always talking loud.

And I said, I'm bringing out the tax, what's going on?

The police is not doing anything.

Thank you so much.

Your your time has expired, but um I know you brought this before us a couple of times, so if you can share your contact information with my team, um we actually have not an identical situation in my district, but um a similar situation that we're working through now, and perhaps we can connect you with um some individuals that can help support.

I'm not sure if the tenants' rights uh commission might be able to provide some assistance to you as well.

Okay, okay.

Member Waters.

Thank you, madam chair.

I know that she's called our office before, but I don't recall off the top of my head what which building that is.

That's uh 375 West Grand Boulevard.

That's great, and the owner is Keatus McGuinness.

Thank you.

We'll we'll grab your contact information if you're okay with that.

Yes, thank you.

Thank you.

Good morning, Mr.

Foster.

Um, good morning through the um chair.

Just wanted to come down and be um frank this morning and just ask what are we going to do differently?

Uh moving forward.

The elections are out of the way, at least your personal elections are out of the way.

You guys have won.

We are asking for changes still.

Now I want to speak particularly in district two.

If we just look at U of D-Mile and Puritan, six mile and sure will force retain equity, maintain equity, 18 hours security, and a lot of other things.

Right on the other side, equidistance.

There's high crime.

There's homicides.

There's no equity involved.

Little to no resources given.

And it's evident.

Um the CDI resources that our elected representative decides to delegate.

Went to Seven Mile Myers.

Okay.

And so those things aren't reaching where I live at.

And quite frankly, it's been development on my block where I'm a homeowner, where monies have been coming in from nonprofits and other entities, where people are building up and doing things and selectively chosen to do things.

And not one time in these four years have I gotten a block club.

But I had the state rep call me last week inquiring about the same block club that this city says does not exist.

This red taping, this black listing, this retaliation, all of that stuff have to start and it stop.

And it starts right here in this committee.

IOS.

You've been putting our resources into who you feel should get resources.

You've been building them up, putting their faces on what you think they should represent.

And we sickly tired of it.

I'm tired of it.

And so um frankly, what are you going to do differently moving forward?

Thank you, Mr.

Foster.

Madam Chair Calloway.

First of all, Mr.

Foster, those comments.

First of all, Mr.

Foster Foster, those comments that you made regarding that community, they have chosen to tax themselves additionally for extra security.

So if you were to move to one of those communities, you would have the same level of security that they have because they're taxing themselves additionally for those extra services for your information.

And I'll continue to do what I have been doing to garner the 15,000 votes that I did get, which is a which is huge.

Thank you very much, madam chair.

Thank you.

I'm sorry, noting that public comment was cut off at 1005.

Caller, you have two minutes for general public comment.

The first caller is honor Papa.

Owner Papa, you have two minutes for general public comment.

Good morning.

And through the chairman, I be heard.

Good morning, yes.

Yes, ditto to uh the gentleman who just spoke to you.

We are tired, and you're making us sick purposefully, I believe.

Um 6.1 on your agenda is about transparency.

There are memos, and too many of them are confidential.

That is the the quintessential opposite of transparency.

Um 6.2 is an uh some way you want to to redo an ordinance that you've already written, and that's part of the problem that I tell you occurs.

You all are getting ill advice, advice, and you're doing things that are illegal, like the illegal, unconstitutional, freeway cleanup contracts, and now the illegal change of an amendment to with the finances that you don't bring before the people, but you take their surplus money, their surplus property taxes, and give them to the rich.

Um forgive me, uh the council member that just spoke to him and and said those those yes, we are creating a Soweto.

We're ca what about poor communities that can't afford to have extra tax or be retaxed.

We're already overtaxed.

Um I I hope you do things differently in in this new committee, and I hope everybody is on different committees, because that's what the charter says.

And if you really want to follow the law, follow the charter.

It tells you what you are allowed to do and what you're not allowed to do.

And you are you must change committees every two years.

So we don't want to see the same committee, the uh the same members on uh heading up the same committees, and let me let me say this to you.

Um you may have gotten garnered 15,000 votes, but that is not a mandate in this city, and I do believe that only the the council members at large should be considered for council member president, because I did those are the only two that have citywide mandates.

You don't have a mandate for me.

Um I think that you're you know what you're creating.

You worked a year on an ordinance to um have them body cam and and you allow the police department after he comes out just days after you've gotten this ordinance that you you're beaming about, lies to the public and says the woman uh didn't show her license, and thank you.

The next caller.

The next caller is not that Karen.

Not that Karen, you have two minutes for general public comment.

Hello.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Um I agree with Mr.

Foster and with Paul.

Um the districts don't work for everyone in the district.

That's unfortunate.

Um I think that we need to try to.

I would like to better see it with seven at large and two uh east side and the west side district.

That might work better for the people, but of course that's not what we have.

Um last week I spoke of not uh having an NEZ.

So typically, even though I've had owned my home for 31 years, and I was told that I was dated out, but that ordinance that clarified vague uh area of one of the NEZs was not passed in '96.

It was actually passed prior to that.

So I believe it was um anyway.

I can't remember at this moment, but it was not passed.

That was an out and out lie that Mr.

Um told.

So 31 years I've never gotten the NEZ tax break, uh, which I'm closing on a new property, selling this one on the 19th of this this month.

So that's a milestone for me, and I'll be out of the uh out of the mix as far as that's concerned.

I think I paid enough taxes for City of Detroit over 150,000 through my 31 years.

So anyway, uh good luck to everyone.

And uh hopefully the city of Detroit will make wiser decisions that will be equal to all of all of its citizens, even though some of us pay more taxes.

Our next door neighbor pays less taxes, supposedly, according to Mr.

Horn, because they bought the home two years after I bought my home.

But I'm next to these people.

My property taxes have been double with the newer residents, and some of the later ones have moved and even got half off of their total mortgage costs.

So thank you for all the service you have done.

Prayerfully, you'll do better service for the people of Detroit.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And before we proceed, I'd like to call the 1015 interview to order and recess it to the call of the chair.

And Ms.

Jackson, who's our next virtual caller?

The next caller is Motorola Moto G 2025.

Caller, you have two minutes for general public comment.

Motorola Moto G.

Good morning.

Are you there?

Ms.

Jackson, let's come back to this caller.

Okay, the next caller is B.A.

Verner.

Betty A.

Werner, you have two minutes for general public comment.

Uh good morning to all within the sound of my voice.

I'm Betty A.

Barner, uh proud resident of the city of Detroit.

Today I'm advocating for myself.

I have a problem.

Uh, there is a tree that is on the bone that has lifted the sidewalk that I'm responsible for on my property.

This uh summer, the children were riding their bikes doing tricks over that lifted sidewalk.

I was concerned, hopefully, morning, praying, nobody got hurt.

Somebody's gonna walk, not paying attention and get hurt.

Uh, Miss Davis, my district manager is aware of the problem.

She came out, she saw the problem.

She reported it.

This was a couple of years ago, and still the problem is not being addressed.

I attended online the mayor's mandated meeting.

I think it was in District 5.

There were numerous uh residents who are having problems with their trees on the burn, and the mayor addressed it and stated that their problems was going to be corrected, and he apologized.

I could not speak.

There is a question and answer a process, and I was not able to do the process with my phone.

And so they sent me to a break room.

I talked to Mrs.

White.

She said someone was gonna call me, nobody called me.

I contacted her a couple of days and told her nobody had called me.

She said she was gonna direct or send the problem to uh I think Mrs.

Harris.

As of this date, nobody has uh called me.

I am responsible for that sidewalk.

I don't want to be sued.

If there's anyone from the administration within the sound of my voice, please help me with this problem.

Councilman Durha's office knows how to contact me.

Thank you.

The next caller.

The next caller is slow down zoning rush job.

Caller, you have two minutes for general public comment.

Good morning.

May I be heard?

Good morning, yes.

Yeah, okay.

Now, under Charter Section 4-109, the city count is investigation.

City Council may make investigation into the affairs of the city and the conduct of any city agency.

And there's a problem, folks, when you're rushing these zoning ordinances claiming that oh, the small developers can't understand the 906-page Detroit City Code.

They can't afford uh lawyers and consultants.

Well, what about us residents that you're trying to shove hundreds of pages of complicated documents on?

We're not urban planners like I think you are, Member Johnson, and we don't have lawyers or consultants to uh assist us.

In fact, I wrote Marcel Todd was very specific question, and he hasn't even answered, lied to me, said he called me.

I checked, I didn't have a miscall from that.

And the other problem that you have is a bunch of these hearings have been held in violation of Charter Section 6-205 hearings.

You can't limit people to 30-second public comment.

Um you should tell uh it says the people of the city of Detroit living here is likely to be affected by proposals resulting from any studies undertaken by the planning department or any agent shall be given full opportunity in public hearings to present facts arguments relative to the subject under study, and there's more that's also not being complied with.

That is not happening, so none of this is legal.

There's no reason for this rush job when you know the vast majority of residents don't even understand it.

Member Callaway says she hasn't even read one of these things.

So put yourself in the shoes of the residents who you were allegedly elected to serve.

And also the BZA, ask that person.

You're not allowed to just give everybody five minutes public comment when they're allowed to testify.

They're violating due process over and over and over again.

Thank you.

The next caller.

Next caller is Cindy Dara.

Cindy Dara, you have two minutes for general public comment.

Yes.

Um I just read bridge on the internet this morning, and uh the House Speaker doesn't want to allow for you.

And uh they uh were trying to expose where the money comes, and some Texas company was hired to do it, but know where the political money comes from, but we can't evidently that's being put aside.

So we have a problem with transparency.

Well, I would say that what Joanne was just talking about that you set the meeting for Friday.

Yeah, because she didn't.

That's that's no reason to have a meeting on Friday.

People don't know you have Friday meetings.

You're you're gonna pass this thing about the zoning on Friday.

You know, good crave.

Come on now.

You know, this is getting a little disgusting.

And you know, I I on my campaign literature, by the way, I don't know if they're gonna count my votes.

They claim I never signed an affidavit, but then they or whatever are supposed to.

Yeah, I did sign it.

And they don't they don't have record of it.

And they people went down to get those writing lists.

They couldn't even hardly get them.

We got three or four different ones today.

We went the first time.

This was they they gave us one that they didn't have even Joanne's name on it, and she signed in on Friday.

We went to following Thursday, and they didn't have her as a community uh uh advisory committee.

And so they came out with all these different lists.

It's it's not really honest down there.

The same person who took my petitions originally.

Thank you.

And Ms.

Dara, I just want to uh share with you that the residential zoning ordinance that um residents have expressed opposition to is still waiting for a public hearing.

Um there is an adaptive reuse zoning ordinance that is for institutional buildings, um, such as churches, schools, utility buildings that is being requested to be allowed to rezone um or to be utilized for different types of uses without them going through um a six month, three to six month rezoning period.

That is what is on the agenda on Friday.

All right, thank you.

The next caller.

Next caller is William M.

Davis.

William M.

Davis, you have two minutes for general public comment.

Good morning, young ladies.

Can I be heard?

Good morning, yes.

I kind of like to start off by saying, of course, first the city of Detroit needs to and should do more for City Detroit retirees.

Also, secondly, I would like to say it is horrible that City Detroit vehicles for city of Detroit employees, elect officials, whoever are leaving the city going to outside residents outside the city of Detroit.

If a city of Detroit is if the city owned vehicles, they should be required to stay within the boundaries of the city of Detroit.

That should be a benefit of being a resident.

Perhaps we have a few more police officers living in the city.

Uh third, I continue to have an issue about the fact that I'm the precinct delegate for precinct 410.

I have to go over three miles to vote from my house to Samson Webber.

This is horrible.

Also looking into this, I think I might have to do a federal case on this.

You know, if they if it's alleged 519,000 plus registered voters, and the city of Detroit has a population of 632,000.

How is it that we have a you know these how is that possible?

Because if you look at the Detroit census, you see there's almost a 25% of the people in the city of Detroit uh are under 18.

You know, so I think somebody could look at this and see that there's a major problem in the city of Detroit.

There's a major problem.

You know, he cannot have that many registered voters if the population is 630,000.

You know, so I think this city is making itself right for a number of investigations, and some of these investigations need to be moving forward.

But not main thing I've been complaining about since 2020, interesting election year, that I should not have to go over three miles to vote.

I've been telling Janet Winfrey and the election commission about that for years.

Nothing has happened.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The next caller.

Next caller is Darren McCleskey.

Darren McCleskey, you have two minutes for general public comment.

Hi, good morning, committee members.

Um, okay, so two weeks ago I was here speaking.

Um it was prior to the Zalzimer contract being recommended for approval the increase to 7.7 million.

Um I know following that you guys requested a list of the properties investor and owner owned from Trish Stein and Conrad Mallet and was told you would get it that day with the LLCs on the top.

And I'm just curious if you guys received that, if you're allowed to share it with the public.

And it is all public information, it might just be delayed or would take a lot of time and resources to get it.

Um I'm wondering if in my follow-up email asking about the Ortiz family, if you could validate that they were essentially effectively abused by this process.

Um, and I'm wondering what's being done.

Um, I also sent just one snippet of a hearing on a use case restriction from someone asking for more time to get some legal resources, and she was defaulted.

Um, that was the city of Detroit employee who has since moved to uh North Carolina, I believe.

Um, and that just kind of shows you how they're treated.

Um, that's after going into a breakout room.

So she was sent into a breakout room with the Zalzimer attorney that is A off the record and B with an opposing party council.

So I mean, that's not fair, and this is what's being done with the money that the city is spending.

Um, I could go into the just compensation claims and how unfair and fraudulent that is, but I'm running out of time, so I guess I would just try to implore everyone here to stop throwing good money after bad.

Um, this process is is just a big waste of money, and everyone listening should go to Detroit SolarScam.com, including the council members that are listening.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Madam Chair, Member Callaway.

Um, I did see this gentleman's um email.

I received it.

I was watching online when Miss Trisha Stein did say that she was going to plot to supply that list by the end of that day.

I've not received that list.

I wasn't in the committee, but I was watching.

So do we know whether or not we received that information from Miss Stein?

Because I've not.

And he is correct.

Everything he's saying is it's correct.

Through the chair.

Attorney Anderson.

Graham Anderson Law Department.

It's my understanding that the list went out, but um, I'll double check to make sure that it was properly distributed.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am.

Chair.

Thank you.

And I believe we requested that it be sent to all council members during our discussion.

Thank you.

All right, the next caller.

The next caller is caller ending in 669.

Caller ending in 669.

You have two minutes for general public comment.

Greetings.

Can you hear me?

Good morning, yes.

Good morning, uh, madam council women.

Uh, how are y'all doing today?

I hope you're doing well.

313 444, 9114, 313, 444, 9114.

313 4449114.

That is my cash app and my hotline number.

And you can put those numbers in if you're searching for me on Facebook.

Um 313-444-9114.

I'm just not leaving FedEx office.

I could not find anyone to make copies for me for tonight's mayor meeting.

Um, that's happening tonight, the charter bandaged meeting tonight.

I made flyers on my own.

And also for the D dot input meeting, uh, I made flyers on my own.

If anyone in the future um could since you were making copies, I'd be greatly appreciated.

And I'm always busy, but I can't leave my mom and others, but I would love a staycation.

Vacation, like at the casinos, I don't gamble.

But the motor city, Greek town or MGM.

If you gamble a lot and they give you comp in the past have allowed me to use their room when they got a free comp.

Uh, so no better place to assist a staycation, get away a little bit to get a little respite time away from things.

Uh, it'll be greatly appreciated.

Um, thank you.

I know counsel is gonna vote yes on that contract for the drivers.

If y'all didn't know, the drivers got a big raise, and there's a tentative agreement for the mechanics as well.

I'm headed to an RTA gather um press conference at uh Harborough Transit Center.

That's where I'm headed now.

Um, I need gloves, hats, hand warmers, bus tickets, bus tickets, bus tickets, bus tickets.

I meet them where they are.

Thank you.

The next caller.

The next caller is Miko A.

Williams.

Nico A.

Williams, you have two minutes for general public comment.

Uh, yes, hi, can you hear me?

Good morning, yes.

Good morning.

Um, you know, I have no regrets.

As I stepped down, I did the best I knew how.

I came here, I advocated for people.

I I spoke up for my city.

I spoke up for those who were afraid to speak out, and I spoke up for those who refused to speak out because of the same treatment you gave Ronald Foster, the same treatment you give us when we tell you the information and try to get you um to um listen to us to people and to consider our thoughtfulness, you disregard us, and I want to move to a city that has transit that has a decent living wage, that people do pay their property taxes.

Um over taxation.

What about people who are delinquent, especially the businesses in the corporate?

You never collect taxes from them from the city.

You you give tax abatements, and people are living free off of us, our hard work and living.

I get tired of that.

You know, I went through all my Facebook.

If you don't follow me, Miko A.

Williams, you can follow my Facebook and you can see all of everything I posted last year over 12 years of my journey and struggles as an activist.

As my journey, I did everything I possibly could, and even tried to support some of you to Noah Bill.

Now I appreciate you ladies on this body on this committee, because you all doing what you can.

But you're up against people who are self-serving in interest for themselves and for their people.

You know, it's not all about Don Julio and we blowing and claiming who you are and what you about, you egotistical uh, but anyway, it's all about what we can do and come together as a city.

But you can't come together with people in the city that voted for Donald Trump, and you can't come against people that voted for a white mayor that didn't do nothing and left us in the dust.

And we told them not to do it, and they did it anyway.

So I'm gone.

Peace out.

Thank you.

The next caller.

The next caller is Tyson Gersh.

Tyson Gersh, you have two minutes for general public comment.

Hi, can you hear me?

Yes.

Thanks.

Um, let's see.

A few things.

Um, I know the BZA is attempted is is considering some proposed changes to its rules.

Um, I it would be great to see what those proposed changes are.

I don't think they're available online yet.

Um, but the one thing I noticed is the BZA rules aren't codified into the Detroit City Code and under the charter promulgation prom promulgation of rules.

Um uh section, all agency rules are supposed to be codified um under the administrative rules part three of the city code, and I don't know.

I it'd just be great to get those codified so that they're all in one place.

Um I think I'm glad we're looking into the revoking delegated authority thing on the contracts.

Um I don't know, however much money we're paying for these BZA court reporter contracts.

It just doesn't make any sense if it's just somebody now recording them.

Um why are we paying somebody to do that?

We can just post our own videos online.

Um the last BZA hearing the the recorder wasn't even licensed to do so in the state of Michigan or registered with the state court administrative office.

Um, and then uh retaining outside counsel that's on the agenda.

I mean, our charter kind of talks about it, right?

Like there's supposed to be this like separation of powers thing where the law department isn't controlling the entire city government, which appears to be what's happening today.

Um we moved the the law department outside of the mayor's office to avoid this, but in practice, they're kind of controlling everything.

Thank you.

The next caller.

Next caller is caller inning in 039.

Caller ending in 039.

You have two minutes for general public comment.

What up, though?

Can you hear me?

We can hear you now.

Clearly.

Along with Mary Waters and Angela Whitfield Callaway, the AKA member.

Captain, remember, y'all was cheated in by Janice Werfly and Daniel Baxter, who both used to work for Jackie Curry, um, former city clerk before Dennis took over.

And Peter Avery Walker, director of the Department of Elections, Detroit Department of Elections, who cheated y'all in, along with the mayor, the rest of the council members, the Board of Police Commissioners, and the school board.

Yeah, the school board.

And can't none of y'all say I'm lying.

And can't none of y'all saying telling the truth.

Because y'all know no.

Now I'm getting ready to demonstrate to all y'all.

I told y'all to take that tag off the little lady's mama.

Kenny Shakoma DPD 60-11112 did not shoot herself.

Germain McCloud did it.

Now today in Detroit, I'm getting ready to turn it up to a thousand and twenty-five.

I'm getting ready to make an announcement.

A public announcement that's gonna shock the whole city.

Now y'all need to call Dina Avery Walker in front of y'all to explain why Janet Werkley is on public record line.

Gabriel Giago Ramirez on public record line about that finding on an allegations of voter fraud by anonymous citizens report.

What Ramon Jackson has done here in the city of Detroit.

It's stupid.

It's miraculous.

He has uncovered active key value.

Thank you.

The next caller.

The next caller is to hear I'm in it.

To hear Amair, do you have two minutes for general public comment?

Good morning and congratulations.

I am so proud of you ladies.

Thank you for all your hard work.

And member Callaway, you deserve 10 high fives.

Your campaign, your advocacy, cleaning up District 2 with all the trash and garbage out there, the freeways, and helping us with home repair.

Thank you so much.

We need you.

That's what you were elected to do.

And the reason why you got an overwhelming mandate from voters, and I can say that because very few people are voting.

You got 15,000 votes.

They're gonna listen to you, member Callaway, and to the voters of District 2, because we turned up and we turned out for you because of what you do, not what you say, but what you actually do.

And member uh Waters and Member Johnson, you as well congratulate you.

I congratulate uh all of you and keep up the good work.

You need encouragement, not always being beat down.

You need to know that being a civil servant has its rewards, it does have its uh um complaints and no uh deed, no good deed is uh unpunished in a lot of cases, but we can change that as a community.

We can unite with you guys instead of beating you up all the time.

You can we can send emails to you.

I'm confident that you will work on it.

I'm confident in that if I'm wrong, I'm just wrong, but I'm not wrong.

Uh uh from what I see you have done.

And I really want to come um compliment you and and encourage you.

Thank you.

We love you and keep up the good work.

Thank you.

The next caller.

Next caller is Eden Bloom.

Eden Bloom, you have two minutes for general public comment.

Good morning, may I be heard?

Good morning, yes.

Thank you.

Uh good morning, Detroit City Council members.

Um, my name is Eden Bloom.

I'm a D4 resident.

It's a personal note here.

Well, I support the intent behind the R2 up zoning proposal to build more housing.

I'm asking City Council to pause on this motion beyond the concerns about residents' rights, gentrification, and the lack of community engagement.

There's serious environmental and public health issues that I don't believe have been addressed.

Allowing multifamily housing by right in R2 zones could place more residents within a thousand feet of factories, truck routes, and scrap operations, especially in districts four, five, and six.

These same neighborhoods already face chronic air quality complaints and unresolved violations, as you've heard through many public comments.

Uh, this change wouldn't increase emissions, but it could increase exposure, effectively codifying coexistence with pollution instead of creating needed buffers between homes and industry.

I've reviewed the city planning commission materials and found no discussion of industrial proximity pollution or uh studies of recent eagle violations, which there have been many since 2019 that I've mapped.

Um, and so I'm wondering have environmental or health reviews been conducted with uh the proposed amendments, the text changes.

Um as stated, I frequently hear concerns about air quality, and as people move into these houses, I'm worried that these complaints could increase and without review and clear buffer standards, which could be added into these changes.

Uh Detroit risk deepening exposure while promoting growth and population increase.

So I respectfully urge council to pursue action and pause this until uh a health and environmental impact review can be completed and protections added with real community engagement.

With real community engagement, these zoning changes could advance response.

Thank you.

The next caller.

Madam Chair, we're going back to Motorola Moto G 2025.

Motorola Moto G, you have two minutes for general public comment.

Motorola Moto G, are you there?

All right.

We don't hear anything.

We are going to have to move forward.

If you'd like to submit a public comment, please submit it to the clerk's office and it will be put on public record.

That now concludes our general public comment, and we are going to move back to the agenda.

I'd like to call back to order the 1015 interview.

The 1015 interview is for Miss Charisse Butler for appointment to the Board of Zoning Appeals representing District 3.

And I believe she is joining us virtually.

Thank you.

Good morning.

Please introduce yourself for the record.

Good morning.

I am Sharice Butler.

Good morning, Ms.

Butler.

Thank you so much for joining us and for your interest.

Can you share with us your background?

Absolutely.

Good morning, everyone.

To uh Chair Johnson, thank you so much for this opportunity and council members uh waters and uh Callaway.

I am Sharice Butler, a um lifelong Detroiter.

I was born and raised here in City Council District 3, um, where my family has resided since 1967.

Um I am a nonprofit um executive director where I work with the public education system as well as a homeowner in the city and a small business owner.

Um I have been um connected in the public service work for the last 10 years since I moved back from graduate school in New York City and have just been an active participant in the active revitalization of Detroit and I'm grateful for the opportunity to interview for this role.

Excellent, and we appreciate your interest.

Umpeals, I'm not sure if you've had an opportunity to speak with the director or if um the district three council member has shared with you when the BZA meets.

Um sometimes they can be very lengthy meetings.

Can you talk about how your schedule will allow you to be actively engaged and involved as a board member on the Board of Zoning Appeals with your current busy schedule?

Absolutely.

Thank you for that.

Um so yes, I did speak with council member um Benson regarding the Monday morning um BZA meetings.

I have, as a um general constituent member, um, have attended several of those hearings um in the past, just as you know, just to raise community concerns.

I do have the discretion to flex and move my schedule around on Mondays.

Um, and I also do have additional questions just in terms of what trainings would look like.

I do understand that there's training and the capacity.

Um, I need to make sure that I have the capacity for the training, etc.

Um, however, I currently only serve on one other board.

I serve on the Detroit Promise Zone board.

It meets bi-monthly.

Um, so for me, um, when I spoke with Councilman Benson, I did understand that this is a weekly commitment.

Um, and that these these hearings typically last, you know, maybe four or more hours.

Okay, thank you.

Um, and as an active member of the community, can you talk about how you plan to engage the community as a member of this board?

Uh, this I believe community appeals are becoming more and more frequent uh before the Board of Zoning Appeals, but there are still some residents who aren't fully aware of the processes that take place within City Hall and understanding their ability to file an appeal.

Uh but as a BZA board member, how do you engage the community and take into consideration concerns that are elevated by residents of the community?

Yeah, thank you for that.

Um, so typically I I generally will attend the um community meetings after hours, so that like your mayorals uh evening meeting as well as city council.

I will definitely need to ensure that um when there are projects that are coming up that community voice is heard.

Um, and so I know that typically there's public comment, but ensuring that um, you know, I I am available via email to hear those concerns.

Um, and then I would say for city council district three in particular, like maybe providing more information through you know, public uh document.

I would say referring people to the city of Detroit's website, because there's really great examples of what the process is for um making appeals.

So I would I would share that information as district three's uh representative.

I do know that you know a lot of our community members over here typically have concerns, so I would make sure that we um I empower you know residents in our neighborhood to um be able to participate in the appeals process.

All right, thank you for that.

Colleagues, any questions, comments.

No, seeing none.

Um Ms.

Butler, is there anything you'd like to leave with us as we conclude the interview?

Um yeah, for me, I'm just humbled by the opportunity.

I understand that um, you know, I I am not formally uh a city planner, however, I believe in community.

I have done deep work in community over the last 10 years, and so you know, should I um receive the employment, the appointment, you would have a partner in this work to ensure that residents are residents' concerns are heard, and then we balance the history and legacy of our communities and neighborhood with also like reasonable investment to ensure that our city continues to thrive and move forward economically, and we're gonna be vibrant for you know decades to come.

Thank you so much for the opportunity.

Thank you.

And um, I would like to encourage you as this moves forward.

If if you are appointed, I will certainly encourage you to connect with and maybe have some conversations with the um district three member that is currently serving, who's um Mrs.

Moore?

Yes, who has decided to uh spend time with her family as opposed to continuing her service here on the Board of Zoning Appeal.

She was on the board when I was there.

Uh so she's been there for about a decade now.

Um, and I know she has a well a wealth of knowledge that she can share with you.

Uh so certainly would encourage you to do that if you haven't done so already.

Absolutely.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

Colleagues.

Is there a motion on line item five noting that LPD would still need to draft the resolution?

Motion to approve.

There's a motion to send line item five to formal with a recommendation to approve.

Um with a recommendation to approve, I'll leave it there.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Is there a motion to request LPD to draft a resolution for the appointment?

Motion.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

And that now closes out our 1015 interview.

Thank you, Ms.

Butler, and uh we look forward to uh your service as this moves forward to formal, and I'm not sure what formal session this is moving to.

Is it next Tuesday?

Or is it it wouldn't be Friday?

All right, we will see it on the agenda for the next formal session.

I'm assuming it's too soon for it to show up on Friday, so it'll be next Tuesday.

Thank you so much.

All right, that now brings us to unfinished business and line item 6.1.

Line item 6.1 is the status of council member Gabriela Santiago Romero submitting memorandum relative to a request to release two confidential memo responses.

Is there a motion to bring this item back for a date to be determined?

Motion.

There's a motion to bring line item 6.1 back for a date to be determined.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Without objection, I'd like to combine line items 6.2 and 6.3.

Line item 6.2, status of council member Letitia Johnson submit a memorandum relative to questions regarding City Council's ability to revoke delegated authority for contracts subject to administrative approval.

And line item 6.3 was the July and August monthly report of contracts approved administratively.

Colleagues, is there a motion to discuss?

Discussion.

So we did receive a response.

Through the chair, I'm I'm comfortable to speak on the questions today.

And I believe a receive and file would be appropriate.

Okay.

All right.

Vote down a contract that has been approved administratively.

The concerns that I had were relative to the amount of the contract, because the account the contract amount for one in particular was higher at one point in time.

So when it came through this route, it was half of the prior contract that came before council that was denied by council.

So attorney Anderson, can you speak to that to the change in the length of time?

And because it looks like the change in the length of time was made to accommodate the amount that can be administratively approved.

Through the chair, I I don't want hello.

But what I can say is the ordinance makes out that it would be improper to artificially divide a contract to allow it to fall under a micro purchase to avoid that uh level of oversight.

Now, if there was some other factors at play that I'm not aware of, potentially, you know, you you needed X amount of units you thought initially from the contract, and then it turns out you only needed half of that, and thus that's why the contract amount was decreased.

That that would be one thing, but it you're not the Office of Contracting and Procurement, the legislation makes clear is not supposed to divide a contract just to get it under that threshold.

And I'm sure that is not what they did in this case.

All right, thank you.

We'll let uh director stahl speak to that.

Um, I see we have two additional individuals joining us.

Please introduce yourself for the record.

Hello, uh good morning.

Uh, through the chair, Chief Procurement Officer Sandra Thaul.

Good morning.

Through the chair, we also have Stephanie Davis online to speak to the Senator.

Thank you.

Is there um any diff additional information you wanted to provide?

Yes, yes.

So uh the uniform bid that you are um referring to uh was originally submitted as a two-year contract.

Um, because of concerns about um did we do enough outreach?

Did we provide enough opportunities for local small vendors to respond?

Um we put it back out as an informal solicitation, um, uh, which is a contract of up to $50,000.

We made um a large amount of phone calls.

Uh we put it out via email so that it could go directly versus requiring vendors to um register and respond in Oracle.

We did research looking for um tailors, uh uh alterations providers um all over the city uh in the Avenue of Fashion, um, downtown uh in the various districts.

We invited 15 local vendors.

Um, in it in addition to the vendors who had previously responded or been invited.

We got three responses.

We had also reached out to um city council to see if they had any suggested suppliers to be invited and invited all the ones that have been mentioned during council as well.

Um we got three responses.

Um awarded one and uh are working with a second vendor that has uh we've been um working with to get all their documents in order.

Um the uh because this is a new project for DPD originally.

They were looking at a two-year contract.

They um they decided to go down and see um what would it look like to just give a shot to some vendors for a one-year contract and check it out.

They don't anticipate using it very much, um, but these are as needed contracts so that uh their staff uh can get their hands and um shirts hemmed and altered to the sizes that they need.

All right, thank you.

Um optics does not look good, uh, especially considering the way things happened when the original contract came before council.

So that was the concern that I had and just want to be sure that we're moving forward with integrity um and not just utilizing this the the amendments that were made to the procurement ordinance to allow us to do what we'd like to do without council's approval.

Uh the chair, I oh, yes.

Any additional questions, comments or concerns the chair.

I would just like to state that it is uh I completely agree, and it's for that reason that even without you know, this reporting providing the report was not one that was added after council discussions about the amendment.

It is one that um the former CFO and I put in there in the original version to um push uh to to continue to push for and encourage transparency.

All right, thank you.

All right, colleagues.

Is there a motion to receive and file line item 6.2 and 6.3 motion?

There's a motion to receive and file line items 6.2 and 6.3.

Hearing no objections, those action shall be taken.

That brings us now to new business.

Line item 7.1 is a settlement request in lawsuit of Letha Lisa Mathis versus City of Detroit et al.

Case number 24-0545-NI.

This is for the Department of Transportation in the amount of $15,000.

Is there a motion?

Motion to approve.

There's a motion to send line item 7.1 to formal with a recommendation to approve.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Line item 7.2 is a request for legal representation and indemnification for Master Sergeant Jeremy Johnson in lawsuit of Tanya L.

Ferguson versus City of Detroit.

Case number 25-003962-NI.

This is for the police department.

Is there a motion?

Motion.

There's a motion to send line item 7.2 to formal with a recommendation to approve.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Line item 7.3 is a request for legal representation and indemnification for police officer Chris Masolski in lawsuit of Ashley Looper versus City of Detroit at all case number 25-C V-1145.

And this is for the police department.

Is there a motion on line item 7.3?

Discussion.

Member Waters.

I know we really can't ask a lot of questions about this.

Here's what I want to know.

About is there anything that uh through you, Madam Chair, that uh attorney Anderson can share in terms of previous uh settlements through the chair revolt involving uh the officer at issue yeah 7.3 uh I'm not aware of any, but I could have just in terms of the offers at least R and I requests.

Oh, um I can't speak to that at this moment.

Fine.

Okay.

The question was useless.

Anyway, um motion to um send the form.

Uh there's a motion to send line at line item 7.3 to formal uh with further discussion.

Member member waters just to note there was another RI that was approved a couple weeks ago for this situation.

Okay.

Well, thank you, Member Jonathan.

You are welcome.

Um any objections?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

Line item 7.4 is a request for legal representation and indemnification for police officer Felicia Manning Peoples and lawsuit of Montaz Kennedy versus Samuel Fields.

Colleagues, this item was sent to formal already on October 29th and is slated to be on our formal agenda on Friday.

Is there a motion to remove line item 7.4?

Motion.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

That brings us now to member reports.

Member Vice Chair Waters.

No report.

No report.

Thank you.

Member Callaway.

Thank you.

Um Madam Chair and good morning, everyone again.

Um join me in the construction and demolition department tomorrow, November the 13th from 6 to 7:30 at my district two community office in Palmer Park, located at 1121 Mural Plaissance to learn about the restoration progress of the historic Murrell Fountain, upcoming plans for it, and ways to stay involved.

To RSVP, you can click on my Instagram link at bio at Angela for Detroit or call my office at 224 4535.

And it is the people's fountain, so we want the people to come out.

Um you do not have to live in District 2 to attend.

I'm inviting my colleagues to come out as well because it was this honorable body that um approved that 2.5 million dollars for the um beginning of the restorations for the fountain.

So I'm asking everyone to come out and learn more about it and maybe take a look at it if it's not too dark outside because this meeting starts at 6, and you may not be able to see it, so you may want to visit the fountain during the day when you have a chance.

But that is tomorrow, 6 30 at 1121 Mirror Placeance.

Our final district two community webinar is Monday, November the 17th at 5 30.

Please join us for an engaging discussion with the Detroit Food Policy Council via Zoom, and you can call my office at 224 4535 to get the webinar and pass um passcode information.

My office in partnership with the Avenue Community Services will host a turkey giveaway on Saturday, November the 22nd, beginning at noon.

You must rest you must um RSVP using the link in my Instagram at Angela for Detroit or visit Detroit City Council District 2 page at Detroit Mi.gov.

We'll be giving away turkeys and free hats and gloves while supplies last, but you must RSVP because we don't want the line wrapped around Libernoy like last year.

And a lot of the folks didn't even live in district.

They did not live in District 2, but we didn't discriminate, so it doesn't matter where you are, but we definitely want you to register so we can have um uh a better feel for the number of people who are in need of um what would be providing um on November the 22nd um and that will be I think around noon.

I have the flyer so um call my office to get more information will be from noon to three, November the 22nd and then um holiday season we invite you to support local businesses, shop small along six mile, the raw space located at 8420 West McNichols will host local vendors on Saturday, November the 29th from noon to 6 p.m.

So the Avenue of Fashion is not the only game in town.

We do have a six-mile corridor with small businesses that we need you to support, and then also light up Mary Grove on Friday, December the 12th from 5 to 8 p.m.

You'll be able to enjoy live entertainment, holiday crafts, festive treats, and plenty of family fun, all free and open to the public and registration um call 224 4535, and that completes my members' report, madam chair, and thank you.

Thank you.

And I'd like to share with our district four residents that we are hosting our district four community budget conversation this Saturday.

Uh this Saturday, November 15th at 11 a.m.

Um, from 11 until about 230 in partnership with East High Community Network.

It will take place at East High Community Networks um establishment at one, I'm sorry, at 4401 Connor.

support madam chair and thank you thank you and I'd like to share with our district four residents that we are hosting our district four community budget conversation this Saturday uh this Saturday November 15th at 11 a.m from 11 until about 230 in partnership with east high community network it will take place at East High Community Networks um establishment at one I'm sorry at 4401 Connor uh again that's 4401 Connor this Saturday November 15th if you like to come in and be part of the budget discussions as we look forward to our next fiscal year and and budget discussions at the table in March we want to be sure we hear from our residents in District 4 on how we'd like to see the budget focus and prioritize and particularly if there are our items situations things in district four that need some special attention we want our residents to be prepared to have those conversations and share with us where they would like to see the budget going in the next fiscal year.

Then on Sunday November 16th I will be working in partnership with Sound Mind Sound Body for a turkey giveaway their turkey giveaway is always jam packed so while the event starts at 1 p.m folks start lining up at 11 so but they always have enough food to provide to everyone so just to be aware come early but you really don't have to come early so you'll make sure we'll make sure you get some food no matter what time you get there.

Again that is Sunday at 1 p.m at Sound Mind Sound Body's Community Engagement Center which is located at 11440 Moring again 11440 meringue beginning at 1 p.m for anyone who would like to come by and get a turkey meal and then on Monday November 17th we are hosting our monthly community meeting which will be a hybrid meeting we will have additional discussion about this residential zoning ordinance amendments that are before city council although no public hearing has been scheduled I wanted to be sure that our residents heard the information multiple times to allow the information to resonate with them for them to be able to come with questions in regards to the zoning amendments and then we will also have the will and estate planning discussion with the neighborhood legal services of Michigan so we have two uh topics that I hope all of our residents are very much interested in uh on Monday at our monthly community meeting it is again hybrid if you'd like the virtual link please reach out to the office but the location of the meeting will be at the community center at AB Ford Park which is 100 Lenox uh that is on the water so if you take Jefferson and Dickerson to the water you will run into the community center at AB Ford Park if you'd like any of that information from our office please feel free to reach out the phone number is 313 224 4841 and lastly I would like to say a special happy birthday to officer Dixon Officer Dixon if you're listening we want to say happy birthday to you all right thank you so much colleagues if there is nothing else to come before us we shall stand adjourned