Councilmember Scott Benton.

I've been snar.

Mr.

Chair DeCorm.

Excellent.

Now we will move on into a very special presentation that we have here.

We are going to present Spirit of Detroit Awards to the Titan Equity Nourished Network, celebrating their 10-year anniversary.

Let's get a round of applause.

Yeah.

Before I begin, I just wanted to say there's a great quote that says that you make a living by what you get.

You make a life by what we give.

All of our lives have been made tremendously better based on what you have given to us, whether it's for Princeton Street Block Club or whether it is 10.

I just want to say thank you for giving us one, the gift that no one can take away the gift of knowledge and education and enlightenment.

Secondly, I want to say that the services that you have provided, the people who you have fed, the people who were naked that you clothed, the people who are homeless that you built houses for, the people that didn't have health care or were infirm that you provided the health care for, the doors that you not.

I'm looking at um, I'm looking at a man of God right here.

I can only imagine the mouths that you have wiped clean that were dirty.

And so I just wanted to say thank you so much, one, because as someone that's in city government, you have made my job a whole lot more easier because we constantly have people who come up here who are asking for things, and usually it's we want to help them, but we don't have the resources to be able to do it.

It's because of programs like yours that those people can still get the resources that they need.

And secondly, and finally, I just want to say thank you for always letting us know that the most important race is the human race, and that no matter who you are or where you are, you deserve humanity and to be treated as such.

And so I just want to say it is my honor and privilege to be able to give out these spirit of Detroit Awards, starting as a presentation as an expression of gratitude and esteem of the people of Detroit to the significantly important and tremendously viable Gwyn Knowles, Princeton Street Block Club president.

Yes.

Making Detroit neighborhoods a better place to live.

Thank you.

The mission of the Princeton Street Block Club is to foster friendship, cooperation, and helpfulness that encourages active participation to improve and grow our area into a model of urban living that enables us to live in an inviting, safe, and healthy environment.

The vision of the Princeton Street Block Club is to create a lovely and vibrant community where those who live on Princeton Street are happy about their neighborhood and others want to become residents.

Thank you.

You are indeed a champion for the people of Detroit.

You are an asset to our great city of Detroit.

We thank you and are eternally grateful for your tireless efforts, exceptional achievement, outstanding leadership, and dedicated devotion that lifts the spirits and hearts of the people of Detroit, Michigan, and America.

The honorable Coleman A.

Young II, Detroit City Council at large, with the entire Detroit City Council of Detroit, Michigan, is proud to present this Spirit of Detroit Award to Gwen Knowles.

And let me just, yeah.

And let me just say this too before I continue before I read all these things and finish.

Obviously, because we're talking about Black Girl Magic and Black Excess here.

This is then Member Callaway's district.

So I just wanted to emphasize that and say thank you to Member Callaway for partnering with me and allowing me to be able to provide honor where honor is due.

All right.

What?

Well now.

That's Mary Black Manson Nextur.

Yeah.

Well no, you need to mention that.

Okay, I was gonna go through the whole thing and then if they want to have them say something.

I was sorry.

Had a little uh technical difficulties in terms of a little disagreement in terms of how to present this.

I was gonna read all the names, and then I was gonna present Ms.

Blackman, who is here and saying thank you so much for all the work.

I was trying to build up and then reveal you, but Miss Calvert said that my theatrics and histrionics will not be tolerated.

So instead, I will just say it is my honor and privilege to be here and to be joined by Mary Blackman and thank you so much for all the wonderful things that you've done.

The reason why I am here and I have the position that I have today is because of your sacrifice.

It was literally built on your shoulder.

So I don't say thank you, and we appreciate you joining us today.

Yes.

Thank you.

Now I'm gonna go through these names.

You want okay, all right.

Good Lord.

Okay, I'll sorry.

We go did anything that you wanted to say at all.

Did you have anything you wanted to say?

I want to say that we are so Princeton Street Black Club is so so grateful.

We're grateful to you, Councilmember Callaway, for what you have done and for the spirit of award and for and to you councilman at large Coleman.

We Coleman Young, we are so grateful, so grateful, and um you've supported us in several ways in a number of ways, and each time we appreciate it.

So we'll be behind supporting you as you go through this whole uh few years, and thank you.

Thank you.

I would just like to say Gwynn Knowles is the best black club president in the world.

And she's brought together very, very disparate organizations to do good work in our community.

So I'm extremely proud to be serving with her.

She's just a delight because she's um so considerate of everyone, and and she praises people more than she needs to because she deserves the praise.

Excellent, excellent.

I totally agree.

Do my colleagues have anything they want to say?

No, just diddle everything that you said, Miss Blackman.

Um, I'm glad that you're here.

I'm glad that I'm familiar with Princeton.

I was just telling my colleague what a beautiful street it is, and I was naming Princeton Bayless Inverness Quincy, you know, just back over there.

So I'm hoping that one day we can do a walkthrough with some of my colleagues who maybe have not visited the Princeton Street, and I know Mr.

Appatini, I know that's your street, that's your neighborhood, but it's a beautiful neighborhood.

So thank you for all that you do.

Thank you.

Appreciate you.

Appreciate you.

Yes, go ahead, Member Vincent.

All right, thank you.

Just want to say uh congratulations and thank you all for being here, Miss Blackman.

Good to see you in this space as well.

I see you in so many spaces.

Just to you know you are a true advocate in the patriot for the city of Detroit, and I ride my bike through that neighborhood on a regular basis, and so you all have some done some beautiful work, and it's just really fantastic to see the pride that you all have committed to your neighborhood to keep it in that in that condition.

Thank you.

This next Spear Detroit Award is presented as an expression of the gratitude and esteem of the people of Detroit to significantly important and tremendously viable Chelsea Manning, manager of 10.

Yes, celebrating the 10th anniversary of Titan Equity Nourished Network.

Thank you.

10 at University of Detroit Mercy fosters student and community collaboration for a more food sovereign Detroit.

10 students apply what they learn in the classroom as they design and lead programs that promote equity and sustainability in the food system.

10 student leaders coordinate multiple service opportunities each week that reduce the immediate effects and systemic causes of hunger and food waste with the delivery of 24,000 pounds of fresh food each year for 200 families with 470 pounds of produce from their own garden with over 1,500 student volunteer hours.

You are indeed a champion for the people of Detroit.

You are an asset to our great city of Detroit.

We thank you and are eternally grateful for your tireless efforts, exceptional achievement, outstanding leadership, and dedicated devotion that lives the spirits and the hearts of the people of Detroit, Michigan in America, the Honorable Coleman A.

M.

the second, Detroit City Councilman at large, the entire Detroit City Council of Michigan is proud to present Chelsea Manning, this Spirit of Detroit Award, manager of 10.

I'm gonna read all the names and then we're gonna get and then we're gonna let you respond after this.

So Timothy said Timothy Hipscon SJ.

Yes, yes.

He's a priest, yes, Jesuit, yes, excuse me, Jesuit priest, uh Timothy Hipsky SJ.

Can we give a right applause, please?

Father, Erica Daftarian.

Did I say it right?

Okay.

If I get your name wrong, I apologize.

Lamar Ellia, how do I pronounce that?

Huh?

Kumar, excuse me.

Kumar Elliott.

I pronounced that right?

Kumar Elliott.

Beautiful name.

Oliver Forsyth.

Da Kosh.

That's that right.

Yes.

Kenyon Lofton.

Natasha Mickels.

Natasha Davis Nichols, excuse me.

And Carson Wimbigler.

Anything you like to say?

Um President Green.

There we go.

Uh just thank you so much for this recognition and this opportunity.

We're really grateful for it.

Father.

It's wonderful that we uh are being honored together because collaboration is all about what the uh Detroit Mercy is about, but especially 10.

And uh this has been an incredible partnership.

Uh all the way starting back from Denise Kennedy, but uh Gwen Knowles at Mary Blackman and the rest of the Princeton Street Block Club have been wonderful to work with and uh thank you both to Councilwoman McCalloway, Councilman Young uh for this recognition.

Appreciate it.

Excellent.

No problem.

My colleagues, anything you want to say, member Calvary?

Yeah, just real quick.

This is my district, and um I watch Chelsea, oh my gosh, with those raised um gardens over there, the church.

I think it's on Lawton, and um you do it from the heart.

You do it from the heart, and you are teaching people how to garden.

And I believe we need to have a whole nother category for women like you.

We should call you the Master Gardener of the City of Detroit.

We have a city historian, we have poet laureates, so maybe we should have a Master Gardener for the City of Detroit because I've seen what you've done over there and you've gotten everybody engaged, and then we're able to enjoy the fruits of the labor at the end of the summer, and I've been to that as well.

So it's amazing.

It's a coming together, it's a coming home um celebration every summer, and it's because of all your work, and then you're getting everybody together to participate and support the program.

So thank you for all that you do in that area.

I guess New Martin Park.

New Martin Park.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Member Young.

Anybody else have any questions?

All right, we're gonna tell pose here and take some pictures, so let's get started.

Thank you, everybody.

I'll just let me go to the front of where they receive Arena, but I don't see the hand.

Maybe they might go up to the front of the front.

Up there.

Go either way.

Some kids that way.

Congratulations.

Dahlia.

So Dahlia actually.

Chelsea.

Chelsea.

You're taller.

Can you slide to the back and then we move you guys over some?

You're a little taller too.

Slide to the back and have the young lady come in.

Yes, ma'am.

Yes, ma'am.

Come on, look.

Yeah, behind you.

This one too.

Didn't know we had that option.

He's right behind Calm.

Okay.

Looking this way, ready?

One, two, three.

Yeah.

There it is.

We want to see that.

Okay.

Thank you, Carol.

Yeah.

I did that.

Oh, nice picture.

It's very nice.

One more right here.

One, two, three.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, it's very nice.

Thank you.

If you don't move, you're not in the way.

All right.

I got mine.

Does this go on the side of you to give you protection?

Totally urged it.

Silence, please.

All right.

Please.

Please.

All right.

Is there a motion to approve the minutes?

Motion made or any objections.

Miss be approved.

Negative chairmarks.

We will now go into public comment.

I don't think we have anybody here who wants to give public comment physically.

Do we have any people who want to give public comment virtually?

We currently have six individuals with their hand raised for public comment.

All right.

You got two minutes for public comment.

Public comedy is now closed.

Public comment is now closed.

Public comment.

Is now closed.

Who do we have in the queue, Mr.

Bo.

Mr.

Chair?

The first caller is Betty A.

Verner.

All right, Miss Verner.

Floor is yours.

Two minutes.

Good afternoon to all within the sound of my voice.

And uh congratulations to all received the awards.

Uh I'm Betty A.

Barner, president of the Soda Elsewhere Block Association.

After King for my community uh earlier today.

Go ahead.

Ms.

Vern.

Ms.

Verner.

Yes.

There you go.

Go ahead.

I can hear you now.

Go ahead.

Oh, okay.

Y'all couldn't hear nothing that I said.

Uh-oh.

I hear nothing that you just said.

I can hear you now.

Well, I okay.

They go they're gonna reset your time.

Yeah, they're gonna reset it.

All right, thank you.

I'm Daddy A.

Varner, president of the Soda Elsewhere Black Association, and congrats to all that received their awards.

I'm here advocating for my community.

This morning there was a lot of uh positive work talk about the project that's on Dexter.

I am advocating for my Finkel Corridor from Finkel and Living Noise to Wyoming and pass uh Wyoming because there's a uh Finkel Business Association has got on board in regards to the Fink Accorder, and they're doing great work.

They were part of the cleanup that uh honorable council member Callaway uh sponsored in our area.

We want to just be treated the same.

We need monies.

We've had some great conversations with the administration.

There's some great ideas in regards to the thinker corridor, but the problem is there is no monies.

We want to be treated the same as monies that was spent on uh Livinoids and McNicholis.

Uh what?

Warren, the Warren area.

Um that's this it's wonderful programs that's going on.

I got a brain fog right at the moment, but we need monies for our thinker corridor.

Also, my uh black club, we are working on improving our neighborhood and we're expanding our park.

And so we have purchased additional land and it has to be uh, you know, it needs some improvement, some uh weeds grew up to look like miniature trees or whatever that has to be removed.

And if you would like to donate to us, you can go to Zale.

If you know my phone number, you can donate by using my number, or you can go to D E B A W E as M Boy, E L at Gmail.com.

God bless you all, and thank you for this time.

Thank you, appreciate you.

Who we have next in the queue, Mr.

Bo.

Mr.

Chair, the next caller is William M.

Davis.

All right, Ms.

Davis, floor is yours, two minutes.

Good afternoon.

Can I be heard?

Yes, sir.

Okay, I like to start off by uh sending my condolences to uh my councilman for I knew his dad.

I met his dad uh back in the early 80s.

I used to be the citizen co-chair for University City Citizen District Council, who is a very active counselor, especially due to your dad.

Because we was able to get like one third of the state budget for one project, uh Calameth development that we had near Wayne State off of uh Forest and third.

You know, back then, you know, the citizen district councils was doing a whole lot and was very active on our council.

We had representatives from the borough corporation, Wayne State.

We had the NAACP um leadership, you know, our leader on there at that time.

You know the the citizen district councils is something that your your dad did a great job of expanding and made them very powerful because like I said, when we had our election, because I lived in the Wayne State area, I was going to school down there.

You know, I was the highest vote get and I was the youngest person on the council because your dad helped to develop young talent and encourage people to be active in their community.

We need to see more of that today.

Um, in my opinion, this mayor has failed in that area.

Uh, we need to make sure that everyone feels invited in this city and that we're doing more to help more people.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right, Mr.

Bo, who do we have next in the queue?

Mr.

Chair, the next caller is Cunningham.

Cunningham, floor is yours.

Two minutes, Mr.

Cunningham.

313 444, 9114, 3134, 9114.

313.

4449114.

That number was made so you can remember it.

That number is you can type that number into Facebook, and you will see my page.

You can use that same phone number to send me a cash app.

You can use that same number to listen to the message that is on uh that line.

You can use that 3134 9114 number just to reach me.

I'm asking for all counsel.

I don't want to say them all because I might miss one, but all counsel from your intern to a regular staffer to yourself.

Please attend the D dot meeting um today at five o'clock.

They have pizza and a raffle of 231 day passes.

Uh, and also it's virtual.

Uh easy way.

If anyone under the sound of my boys would like to attend the meeting, you can text message me, and I'll send you the flyer.

All city council persons, they know the information.

Hopefully, you can attend.

Honorable councilwoman Callaway, Councilman Vincent, Councilman Young.

If you all could send somebody to the meeting, it'll be greatly appreciated.

Also, a shout out to Betty A.

Varner.

Hopefully, uh, you can make it to the meeting tonight to William M.

Davis, uh Toronto Foster, to all those that have in the past come to the D DOT meeting with good ideas for seniors, retirees, veterans.

You guys come with some good energy.

313 444 9114.

All right, thank you so much.

We appreciate that.

Who do you have next in the queue, Mr.

Bo?

Mr.

Chair.

The next caller is Cindy Darr.

All right, Miss Darrell.

Floor is yours.

Two minutes, Ms.

Dora.

Miss Dara.

Miss Dora.

Star going once.

Dora going twice.

Dora going three times.

Going three times in a third.

All right, we move on to the next caller.

Who's next?

Making sure the next caller is owner, Papa.

All right, two minutes.

Good afternoon.

And through the chairman, I'll be heard.

Yes, ma'am.

Two minutes.

Yeah, Miss Verner, I do.

I do.

I love you.

Funding.

That's what you're asking for.

But this council is about to vote on 6.7, which is freeway mowing.

Something that the state is supposed to take care of that they have the citizens in the city of Detroit paying for that they all know is illegal, unconstitutional, shall I say?

I'm not sure if there's a difference, but I want to know from Mr.

Anderson.

Why is this contract now legal?

What makes it legal?

And why would we pay for something that no one else in the state pays for?

That's 6.7.

6.10 through 11.

I want to know why such a large amount of money asked for for these parks.

It's like 5050, and I never seen that before.

So can you please explain and explain why, as opposed to 6.12, uh 100% of Jane Field is paid for?

Um 6.13 is a travesty.

Uh a boat house that's owned by or run by the state.

Then they take that in the bankruptcy.

So why would you now have 6.13 on here about uh uh leasing?

Why would we lease it?

Is it not working?

And so now you want to use us to fix it up.

That seems like uh what your goals seem to be.

And 6.3.

Let me say this to you.

EVs may be something of the future, but spending 13, 14 million dollars when Mrs.

Varner is asking for you to use funds to fix up her area, and here we are using ARPA money, capital funds, and I don't know, CFI, ABC, uh, whatever you want to call it.

You're using funds to to build up EVs, which you don't have any statistical data is popular in the city of Detroit or worth spending this kind of money on when you could be fixing up our quarters.

You're putting in um these EVs that will be obsolete soon.

Thank you.

Who do we have next to the queue, Mr.

Bo.

The last caller before you close public comment is please comply with charter section six dash 205.

All right, two minutes, floor is yours.

Go ahead.

Can you hear me?

A little bit.

Speak louder to the phone.

Is that better?

Yeah, go ahead.

You all right, go ahead.

Okay, thank you.

You should put Miss Dara to the end of the queue.

Um, I just want to say I'm just so like astounded at this body's lack of concern or respect for the charter and residents of the city of Detroit.

Repeated disparate treatment on display.

Um, you're okay.

Like in the planning meeting, they literally discussed how this project was not in compliance with the master plan, but oh, they're hooking that up in the master plan update, which is intentionally non-inclusive and secretive, and then every member of this body, including member Callaway, who's an attorney, will stand for this.

It's just shocking.

I mean, from now on, I don't know that I could have anything positive to say about Detroit City government.

I think this is government is evil.

This council has been just as callous and resident disrespectful as the last one.

You're you you won't investigate legitimate concerns people bring up.

You allow repeated disparate treatment of people.

You won't investigate legitimate issues, such as this bogus attempt to charge residents who have the audacity to appeal the rubber stamping of the Board of Zoning Appeals that doesn't comply with due process, and then you just say thank you and move on to the next one.

But you'll give awards to people who are not suffering this, who are not aware of how other residents are being treated.

I'm absolutely appalled.

I'm probably gonna be voting with my feet too, and I pray that the rest of the state is smart enough not to let Duggan get cheated in as governor to rape the state like he has raped this city, and you guys all let him do it.

I'm so appalled.

All right, thank you.

Who do we have next to the queue?

Mr.

Chair, that was the last caller before you closed public comment.

All right, excellent.

We are moving on.

Transfer of jurisdiction 8415 Dubai from the General Services Department Parks and Recreation to jurisdiction of the city of the city of the city of the city.

I think that's the uh typo.

You got twice of the city of the city of the Detroit Airport Department.

We're back in the day.

Treble trouble of the city of the city.

You had to change that.

Uh the general services department slash department Detroit Parks and Recreation.

GSD slash DPR has determined.

I hope I pronounced this right.

Fasco Play Lot located in District 3 at 8415 Dubai, Detroit, Michigan at 48234, parcel ID 1700 3583-90 of the property as surplus to its needs and request city council approved for the transfer for the property to the airport.

This parcel has been brought earmarked for use of the air depart airport department as a future safety zone.

Is there a motion to send line item 5.1 to formal session with recordations for approval be put onto new business?

Motion discussion.

Motion discussion.

Chair recognizes member Benson.

All right, thank you.

Want to thank the uh GSD and Parks and Rec department for their consideration of these additional park improvements as a direct result of the removal of fact shows.

So just really want to say thank you to them for looking to lean in heavily to investments in the third district as a direct result.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

I appreciate that.

Any other discussion?

Okay, motion's been made to move line of 5.1 to formal session with recognition for approval.

We put onto new business.

Are there any objections?

Hearing none.

Line of 5.1, we move to formal session with recognition for approval, we put onto new business.

Now we're moving on to new business.

Line item 6.1.

Petition of Clark Park Coalition to request to hold Clark Park Winter Carnival and Hockey Classic from January 17, 2026 at 11 a.m.

to 10 p.m.

The same way at 1130 Clark Street, Detroit, Michigan, 48209.

Setup will begin on January 17, 2026 at 8 a.m.

and be completed by 11 a.m.

the same day.

Tear down will begin on January 17, 2026 at 10 p.m.

and completed by 11 p.m.

the same day.

Is there a motion to move line of 6.1 to formal session with recognition for approval?

We put onto new business.

Motion made out any objections.

Hearing that line 6.1 be moved to formal session with recognition for approval, we put onto new business.

Line of 6.2 submitting resolution authorization.

This is from the Office of Contract to get procurement and procurement.

Contract 60550, amendment number two, 100% city funding to provide an increase of funds only for animal food and veterinary medical supplies.

Contracted Midwest Veterinary Supply Location 21467 Holy Oak Avenue, Lakeville.

I think that's New Mexico, I believe.

5504.

Minnesota.

Okay, I'm sorry.

No, no, I'm I'm not refusing right.

I'll just it's throw me off thinking what's the state?

No, Massachusetts, that's why.

Because Massachusetts with the MA.

I'll try to figure out which what state has the MA on it?

Okay, I'm sorry.

Lakeville, Minnesota, 55044 contract period.

October 17, 2023 through October 16th, 2026.

Contract increase amount 550,000.

Total contract amount 1,240,000.

There motion move line of 6.2 to formal session with regulation for approval.

We put on the new business.

Motion or any objections.

Here in none line 6.2, we move to formal session with record data for approval.

We put on to new business.

Amendment 3.

100% CFI and ARPA cap slash CFI slash ARPA slash capital funding.

Amendment 3 to provide an increase of funds and amend contract terms and conditions for EVDCFC stations and solutions.

Contractor, Walker Miller Energy Services, Location 8045, 2nd Avenue, Detroit Michigan, 48202.

Contract period.

October 9th, 2024 through October 9th, 2036.

Contract increase amount $700,000.

Total contract amount $13,746,210 and 38 cents.

Is there a motion to move line item 6.3 to formal session with recognition for approval?

We put on to new business.

Motion or any objections.

Here in the line of 6.3 move to formal session with regulation for approval, we put on to new business.

Line of 6.4.

Contract 674.51 49.93% grant slash 49.93% CDBG funds slash 0.13 city funding.

Divide park improvements at Hellman Park.

Contractor Key O and Associates Incorporated.

Location 182861 with Detroit Michigan 48221.

Contract period upon City Council approval through September 7th, 2027.

Total contract amount 1,8239 and 64 cents.

Motion discussion.

Motion discussion.

Chair recognized member Benson.

Um installed at Heilman for the edification of the residents.

Good afternoon, Alex Weatherup, Assistant Director, General Services.

And through the chair to Member Benson.

So this renovation at Heilman will include several new amenities, a new playground and fitness equipment, a new tennis and basketball court, a skate park, an entry plaza, a shelter, and then it's all going to be uh over green stormwater infrastructure.

All right, that's fantastic.

And the region park has been looking for some grades here for quite some time.

Just really glad to see uh Parks and Rec leaning in and then just ensuring that the third district residents are whole, made whole when it comes to our recreation opportunities.

Thank you.

All right, any other discussion?

Yes, sir.

Questions or concerns?

D answer that question.

He has the equipment.

You're good?

Yes, sir.

Okay, so we're ready to move on.

Oh, guys, make sure.

Okay.

All right.

Uh motion's been made.

Uh to move line of 6.4 to formal session with recognition for approval, we put onto new business.

Are there any objections?

Here in the line of 6.4, be moved to formal session with recognition for approval.

We put on to new business.

Line 6.5.

Contract 631 25.

Amendment number one, 100% city slash grant slash city slash grant slash major street funding.

First, one amendment to provide an extension of time only for the rental and purchase of shop equipment trailers.

Contractor, Alta Equipment Company, LLC, location 5105, Lorraine Street, Detroit, Michigan, 48208.

Previous contract period, November 9th, 2020 through November 9th, 2025.

Amended contract period, November 9th, 2020 through November 9th, 2026.

Contract increase amount $0.00 and 0.

Total contract about $1,439,730.00.

Is there a motion to move line on 6.5 to formal session with recognition for approval?

You put on to new business.

Motion.

Motion has been made.

Are any objections?

Here and then line 6.5 we move to formal session with record dates for approval.

We put on to new business.

Lionel 6.6 contract 600-271.

No, 6006271.

Amendment one.

100% city slash grant funding.

Amendment number one to provide an increase of funds for freeway moving service.

Freeway mowing services.

Contractor.

Font landscaping services.

LLC location 8881 Central Avenue.

Detroit Michigan 48204.

Contract period.

April 25th, 2024 through April 24th, 2026.

Contract increase amount 1 million dollars 1,100,000 dollars and zero cents.

Total contract amount 3,964,525 and 52 cents.

Do I have a motion to send line on 6.6 to formal session with record dates for approval?

We put on to new business.

Motion.

Motion's been made.

Are there any objections?

Here in the line 6.6, we move the formal session.

With record dates for approval, we put on to new business.

Lionel 6.7 contract 600626272.

Amendment number one, 100% city, 100% city slash grant funding.

Amendment number one, divine increase funds only for freeway mowing services.

Contractor Payne Landscaping Inc.

Location 7635 East Davidson, Detroit Bishky, 48212.

Contract period, April 25, 2024 through April 24, 2026.

Contract increase amount 1,400,000 dollars.

Total contract amount 5 million 550,609 and zero cents.

Is there a motion to move line or 6.7 to 40 session with record data for approval to put on new business?

Motion made are the objections.

Here in the line 6.7 move the formal session with recognition for approval.

We put on to new business.

Contractor, goodbye geese, LLC location 444.

Second Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48201.

Contract period upon City Council approved for a period of two years.

Total contract amount 108,000 dollars.

There motion move line of 6.8 formal session with record dates for approval you put on new business.

Discussion, Mr.

Chair.

Discussion, a lot of 6.8.

Chair uh chip recognizes vice chairwoman calloway.

Yes, is there anyone through yourself, Mr.

Chair from GSD?

Because uh goodbye geese is it's just not working.

It's not working in our community.

Um at Lake Francis and Palmer Park, um, they're continuing to multiply, they're continuing to do what they do, causing um us to um just watch every step that we make over there.

And um, it's just not working.

I've not seen the um the border collies out there yet.

I I looked at their web website, they have no reviews.

So uh we need to um have GSD on here to talk about this because I just have not seen an improvement in terms of controlling the geese population is continuing to um increase.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I think we have Mr.

Weatherup and Miss Williams available good afternoon again, Alex Weatherup, Assistant Director General Services and uh through the chair to council member Whitfield Callaway.

Um I heard your question.

I was wondering if you could repeat the the parks where you're having issues so that we can um make sure that we're getting those timely and and addressing the issues.

Yeah, well, yeah, I'm gonna ask some questions.

I'm gonna make a motion and bring this back after the first of the year because we have to um uh the geese are not out right now, but um I've not seen any um decrease in the geese population um in the Palmer Park area.

And um, I know the call I did a little bit of reading on the um goodbye geese website.

I don't see any reviews.

I know they have a partnership with Wayne State that I want to um um inquire about it's just not working.

I don't know if this is the solution.

I'm not um so sure we should be extending it another two years when I just don't see um that it's working in our community.

So I would like for us to look at other options and then also want to know where are the dogs deployed and when are they coming when they're supposed to come?

Um, because I've not seen them yet, and I know they're using three border collies and they're supposed to chase the geese away to the the nearest body of water, which is Lake Francis, and we just spent millions to get Lake Francis cleaned out, and you know what they're doing over there.

It's just it's just it's gonna get back to the way that it was, and then it's gonna be closed out another two years.

So we just cleared out um Lake Francis to make it clean water, and now if the border collies are pushing the geese back into Lake Francis, we're back to where we started.

So I'm not sure if this is the exact solution for our geese population um in Palmer Park, and I know it's probably triple the number of geese at Bell Out and other parks across the city.

So um, I don't know if three border collies can do this work.

Um, and I just think we need to be looking at different options, and I understand they're Canadian geese, and they um um are populated at a rapid rate.

I I don't understand all of that, but I just know that when I um go to my local park, um, it's just not working.

Through the chair, uh heard um be happy to work with your um office um between now and the beginning of the year to talk through solutions or or the issues you're having.

Um, but uh happy to have those discussions and make sure we're actually resolving the issues.

Okay, thank you.

And I don't want to say what um uh Mr.

Weatherup, did you are you still here through the chair?

Okay, you might want to look at some articles about um controlling geese in the state of Michigan.

There's been a lot of um conversations about um other ways we can control it, control their population growth.

So um, yeah, let's have a conversation, but I definitely don't want to um um support this moving forward until we can have some more conversations because to enter a multi-year contract when it just does not seem to be working, um, it's not a good use of dollars right now.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you.

Uh Mr.

Weatherup, um I'm not a geese management expert, but if this doesn't go through, I'm not gonna have people show up at my you know town halls or show up, you know, usually, you know, when I go to the store or whatever, people jump out in the bushes at me talking about Colbert Young is supporting the increase of geese and geese excrement on streets and curves and all that stuff.

Usually, you know, when I go to the store or whatever, people jump out high in the bushes at me talking about Colbert Young is supporting the increase of geese and geese excrement on streets and curves and all that stuff.

We don't approve this contract, right?

Because I can see that coming.

To the chair, uh no, I I don't think this will be uh a massive issue to delay it and have other discussions.

Okay, part of this is because of climate change, too, right?

That's what a geese are kind of coming over here.

Is that I I will not know, don't want to know either.

That's why I'm asking.

I'm just trying to all right.

All right, um say you want to post, but you want to bring it back?

If if we can bring it back after the first of the year, because the geese aren't out there now.

Okay, they I don't know if I don't know if they've flown south.

I don't know what their pattern is, but I just know there are not as many out there now.

But usually right around the springtime summer, there are hundreds and hundreds of them, and they're going back into Lake Francis, making a mess of it again.

Yeah, so we just drop it.

No, I understand what you're saying.

You're the right be critical.

I just I just didn't want to be like, you know, we we do we don't have this contract multiplied and yeah, and they're overpopulated at Bell Owl, so you everybody knows that if you go to Bell Ow, it's more geese than people.

My face is on some picture talking about I support geese populating the neighborhood or something, you know.

Never mind.

Look, um, is there a motion to bring line item six point back six point eight back after the end after the beginning of the year?

Motion, sir.

Um Mr.

Chair.

Yeah, I know I that was rough.

Did I do that right?

The the uh based upon the writing from law.

Um you can't have a motion come back next year because you're imposing an issue.

So how do I say the new council?

So it would have to be reintroduced next year.

Okay, so so what so how do I do this?

Do I just say just remove for the agenda?

Um bring back TBD and it will it would like other items that are not dealt with, it will it will fall, it will die.

No, no, that's fine.

In your committee at this point.

Yes, ma'am.

Thank you, Dr.

Powers.

Chair, motion to bring this back date to be determined.

Okay.

Motion made or any objectives?

Are there any objections?

Hearing none.

Lionel 6.8 will be the line of 6.8 will be brought back TBD.

All right.

Lionel 6.9, Office of the Chief Financial Officer / Office of Developments and Grants.

Submitted resolution authorization, authorization to submit a grant application to the National Fish and Wildlife Fund for the fiscal year 2026 Southeast Michigan Resilience Fund grant.

The general services department is hereby requesting authorization from this Detroit City Council to submit a grant application to the National Fish and Wildlife Fund for 2026 Southeast Michigan Resilience Fund grant.

The amount being sought is 400,000.

The federal share is 400,000 of the requested amount, and there is a required cash match of 400,000.

The total project cost is 800,000.

Is there a motion to move line item 6.9 to formal session with recognition for approval we put onto new business?

Motion.

Motion is made or any objections.

Hearing a line of 6.9 be moved to formal session with recognition for approval, you put on a new business.

Line of 6.10.

Request to accept and appropriate the fiscal year 2024 fund grant for the interval Roseland Rose Lawn Park.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has awarded the city of Detroit, General Services Department with the fiscal year 2024 trust fund grant for the Interval Roseland Park, Rose Lawn Park for a total of 400,000.

The state share is 400,000 of the requested amount, and there is a required cash cash match of 400,000.

The total project cost 800,000.

Is there a motion to move line item 6.10 to formal session with recommendations for approval be put on the new business?

Motion has been made.

Are there any objections?

Hearing none, line of 6.10 will be moved to formal session with recognition for approval be put on the new business.

Yes.

Um chair recognizes Vice Chairman Cowway.

May we deviate for just one minute?

Can we get someone from DS um GSD?

I see a lot of activity and upgrades at parks.

I've been requesting two tables and a bench at Hyde Park for about six or seven months now.

Um and I'm just wondering what's going on with my request.

Um I'm here every week, and all these parks um and my own community pocket park is being neglected.

I have no I have no problem with that.

Oh, did you want to get to the agenda?

Do you want to do that member reports or did you want to get through the memory?

You wanna okay.

I have no problem doing that now.

I just don't know if I can or not.

I'll do members.

Yeah, okay.

I mean, if I can, I have no problem.

All right.

Line of 6.11 request to accept and appropriate the fiscal year 2024 trust fund grant for Clark Park.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has awarded the City of Detroit General Sales Department with the fiscal year 2024 trust fund grant for Clark Park for a total of 250,000.

The state share is 250,000 of the requested amount, and there is a required cash match of 250,000.

The total project cost is 500,000.

Is there a motion to move line on 6.11 to formal session with recognition for approval we put on to new business?

Motion is made or any objections here and uh line 6.11 move the formal session with recommendations for approval, you put on to new business.

Lionel 6.12 request to accept and appropriate the fiscal year 2026 Jane Field Improvements Grant.

The Invest Detroit Foundation has awarded the City of Detroit General Service Department with the fiscal year 2026 Jane Field Improvements Grant for a total of 1 million and 250,000.

There is no match requirement.

The total project cost is 1 million 250,000.

Is there a motion to move line on 6.12 the formal session with recommendations for approval we put up a new business?

Motion discussion.

Motion's been made.

Discussion chair.

Discussion.

Member Benson.

Thank you.

Through yourself to the administration.

Can we just for the edification of the residents talk about the improvements that we'll be seeing at Jane Field?

Alex Weatherp, Assistant Director, General Services.

Uh, through the chair to Member Benson, absolutely at Jane Park.

The improvements are going to be a new multi-sport court, which is you know pickleball tennis, um, a new plaza, walking paths, um, that kind of better connect to the surrounding community.

All right, and then can you send a site plan to my office, please via email so we can see the new improvements?

Where do we plan to locate the multi-sport court?

I was through the chair.

I was just looking at it today.

I will send it to you.

Um, I believe it is um on the west side of the the park, but I can uh let me not guess and I'll just send you the the site plan.

Apologies.

Thank you.

Any improvements or upgrades to the cricket pitch or any of the uh legacy um amenities like the climbing wall or the uh or the um put putt golf?

Uh through the chair, no.

Those the the amenities I spoke of are are what these dollars are going to.

All right, thank you.

All right, motion has been made.

Are there any objections?

Here and line 6.12, we move to formal session with recommendations for approval, we put on to new business.

Line on 6.13.

Uh this is General Service Department uh submitting resolution authorization.

Authorization to enter into a lease agreement with the state of Michigan, Department of Natural Resources for the Bell Isle Boat House, the General Services Department on behalf of the Detroit Parts of Recreation, GSD slash DPR is hereby requesting authorization from the Detroit City Council to enter to a lease agreement with the state of Michigan Department of Natural Resources, MDNR for the property under the jurisdiction of the city of Detroit, GSD slash DPR known as the Bell Isle Boat House, located on East Picnic Way, Detroit, Michigan, 48207.

The property.

Discussion.

Thank you so much.

Can we have someone on from GSD to because I've heard a lot of comments about this lease agreement during um PED public comment?

And so I'd like to know whether or not there is someone from GSD to give us um some more background information on this lease agreement.

And why is the city entering this lease agreement?

I think we already did for a hundred years, right?

Because isn't the Bell Owl under state control for a hundred years?

I thought it was the city.

Well, I thought it was the city owned it, and it leased it to the state.

That's what I thought.

So we're leasing the boathouse to the state.

Yeah, from my understanding, it was it was the park.

It's a good question.

What you're saying, but I'll just speak it just for what the way I remember it is that we leased it for like you said in the years you said, but there was like an option to renew like every 10 or 15 or something like that.

But that's still a good question.

Why are we doing this now?

We should have did this before.

I thought that's what we did when we actually did the um first time through emergency management.

So it's still a good question.

But I'll just try to respond to your question based on what I remember when I was up there at the time.

It was it it was it was more it was more of an issue of move at a speed than it was a thoughtful deliberative process.

Um as I recall, um I have Crystal Perkins, Bruce Goldman, and David Carlton to speak to this.

Through the chair.

Oh, hey, Mr.

Washington.

Yes, through the chair.

Um, we're gonna defer to Mr.

Weather up today.

Okay, cool.

Mr.

Weather.

You all purpose, man.

I'm standby for you, sir.

Um so again, uh Assistant Director of General Services.

Uh so I'll give a little bit of context here for for this line item.

Uh so the state has a 30-year lease for Bell Isle from the city.

Um and the Bell Isle Boat House um uh was put out to, you know, it was uh a historic building.

Um it has been condemned recently and uh has been unused.

So the the state has put out an RFP this past year to to develop and release the boat house.

Um the developer was awarded, and the the terms of the new lease uh exceed that 30 years.

So, in order for the state to sign this lease to uh redevelop and refurbish the boathouse, um they require the city to co-sign it uh since it may fall back to us after the the 30 years lease with the state uh terms.

So um we're happy to to co-sign and and see a historic asset refurbished, and I'll stop there and leave it to questions.

Okay, um, thank you, Mr.

Weatherup.

So is there um going to be some associated cost with us entering this lease?

Because I don't see any dates.

Um when does it start?

When does it end?

I don't see the details of it, and are there any costs to the city to enter this lease?

Through the chair, uh there are no costs to the city for this lease.

Um they are co we are co-signing it with them just because the terms of that lease would exceed the terms of their own lease.

Okay.

Um so through the chair to you, Mr.

Weatherup.

So the the cost of the total renovation, restoration, preservation of the bow house is going to be the state's responsibility 100% through the chair, yes.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Okay.

Yep, Chairman Chair recognize Mayor Benson.

Through yourself to uh Parks and Rec.

Uh, this body approved a resolution requesting the activation of the Detroit River for sports sampling purposes, i.e.

sailing and crewing, understanding that the WMBA facility does not have direct waterfront access uh as it stands behind the riverfront uh greenway.

How will this asset be utilized to further activate and promote activation of the Detroit River being less than a thousand feet away from the new WNBA facility to ensure that our youth get access to this river through the chair?

I apologize if you can't hear me.

Can you hear us?

I can hear you.

Can you hear me?

Yes, do you hear my question?

Um through the chair.

Uh you always love when one of your earbuds dies during a hearing.

Um the boat houses historically and in the future um used by sailing and rowing teams.

Um, that will be its intention as well.

There's gonna be a place where they can meet and educate participants, uh, including uh youth who are interested in maritime sports.

Okay, will there be a commitment from the Pistons to help support that?

Through the chair, I I do not know.

I see we've been joined by some others, Mr.

Chair.

Councilmember, through the chair, uh I'm glad to weigh in if the chair will have me.

Wait, who is it?

Is that my is that my man in the corner?

No, no, no, no, no, oh no, Mr.

Mr.

Baidoon.

I'm sorry.

Is that you, Mr.

Baedunzer?

That that's okay.

I'm sorry, go ahead.

I'm sorry.

I was just trying to figure out who was speaking.

Go ahead.

No, no, I I I apologize for uh for interjecting.

I just want to make sure uh to get the information that's requested across.

Um the I I know the Pistons have uh have informally uh uh agreed to contribute and support the effort.

I mean, obviously they're not a party to the lease, so it's it's it's not formalized here.

Um you know, no reason to doubt that.

Also, uh to the the more specific point, the lease does require uh that the uh uh the developer enter into a sublease with the friends of Detroit Rowing Club, um, who will use uh the premises for that sort of activation and those uh that sort of programming.

Um and and so that is a part of this this agreement.

All right, thank you.

And I'm really pleased to hear that.

I'm really pleased to hear that while the request was to activate the WMBA facility when there's I I believe a great way to compromise and to accomplish the same goal while less than a thousand feet away across the water on the no wake side of the MacArthur Bridge near the Scott Middle Ground.

I think this is a great way to ensure that our youth can benefit from the activation of a river and a greater level of activities along the Detroit River.

So it's really wanna thank Parks and Rec and the Jets as well as the Law Department for making that happen.

Thank you.

Uh member Calloway.

Yeah, Mr.

Chair.

Who's the other gentleman that just hopped on the screen?

Do you know?

I don't know.

I was getting I thought you had another question.

I was just getting ready to ask.

I know Bay Doom the other gentleman to the far right, the lower screen.

Go for you're referring to me, it's Bruce Goldman from the law department.

Okay, Mr.

Goldman, excellent.

Yeah, I I didn't hear him introduce himself.

I know you look familiar, I'm sorry, I just couldn't recognize who you were.

Go ahead.

Okay, yes.

Um, what is the access?

What is the public access?

Um, because it hasn't always been accessible to Detroiters.

Um I know a lot of outside folks use that boat house, and I know the um the clubs over there, like the subclubs that have been using that boat house for a number of years and have been maintaining it.

Um and so it hasn't always been access to accessible to average Detroiters.

What will be the extent of the use and the accessibility for the average Detroiter?

Well, if I may speak on behalf of the uh developer, because I've heard their uh the presentation to the historic district commission among others, uh this will be uh as well as having worked on the lease and dealt with the MDNR on this.

Uh this will be open to the public.

This is not a private club.

This is not there'll be no um admission charge.

There might be charges for uh uh that the restaurants or for the um uh to participate in the sailing or the rowing, but those activities are uh ancillary to the the property will be open to the public.

There'll be public restrooms and uh um a uh grab and go restaurant among other things.

All right, and then through the chair to whoever can answer this question, what is the extent of the water taxi service?

Where is it going to be going because I um have been working um on getting taxi um or water ferries for two years now?

We have a markability study um from Mark Shrupp and his team, and they they've they've done amazing work.

So I want to know how is that going to complement what we're already working on with our our water ferries, which I'm going to bring up again this um budget season.

So what is the extent or the plans for the uh water taxis for the boathouse councilmember through the chair?

I I I don't think it's something that's directly reflected in in this lease, but it's certainly complimentary in the sense that it's it's building the density on on Bell Isle uh and and serving as an attraction of sorts uh to really help justify uh that sort of endeavor.

So I I I do think it complements it.

Okay.

All right, I just want to make sure that what I've been talking about for two years doesn't get lost um in these conversations.

And I when I saw water taxi, I got excited.

So I don't want your water taxi or the taxi, the water taxi at the boat um club to um circumvent or um I don't know another word to use what we've already been talking about and what we've already approved um by this um honorable body two years ago, and we already have the markability study and the feasibility studies, and we've already done surveys and market studies.

So we are doing our due diligence, and we even know where we can get the um the water taxis from from Mackinac.

So I just want to make sure that there's not going to be a conflict of any kind.

Yes, ma'am.

There's no inconsistency here.

Uh quite the contrary.

I think I think it actually compliments uh it could compliment each other quite well.

Okay.

Um total access and no fees, and um, we don't want to make it look like it's a private club when it's not, because that's how it has looked over the years.

You're talking to someone who is a native Detroiter, been here my entire life, and I know how we feel when we have gone over there.

So we need to make sure that that does not happen moving forward with this lease agreement.

We want to make sure that we Detroiters have full access to the boat club because it has it has seemed like and felt like and sense like a private little club over there.

And I know what my experience has been over the years.

I'm telling you what has happened to me, a Detroiter.

So I don't want anybody to feel or experience what I have felt over the last couple decades.

Whenever you just go over there, you feel like you're not um welcomed.

So hopefully that will kind of change.

I I I couldn't agree more, ma'am, uh, through the chair, and and I'll give credit to the developers.

I mean, they they're they've been extremely accommodating on this front and and very much dedicated to that those principles.

Uh and I feel I feel really confident that uh the agreement we struck here uh structured in a way that really serves those uh those interests.

And and I'll just point out I mean uh to echo what uh Mr.

Goldman uh laid out.

I mean that the we're talking about you know finally bringing access to uh to to you know food services uh on Bell Isle.

That's a that's a huge it's a it's a gaping hole right now that that I think will help serve you know more families there.

Uh it just it it really gives another avenue uh to to getting more people on the island for a longer period of time.

Um, and that I think is in everyone's interest, and uh the accessibility was was a uh central tenant to these negotiations, and and I think what you have before you really reflects that.

Okay.

All right.

I think he wants to speak, Mr.

Chair, Mr.

Carlton.

No, I just want to say Mr.

Uh Member Benson.

Did there's anything you want to question you want to ask?

Mr.

Carleton, good to see you, sir.

Thank you for joining us.

Anything you want to say?

Thank you for having me.

I appreciate uh the concern and the consideration of taking this formerly private club to the public.

Uh, my last restoration project in the city of Detroit was the Grand Army building, the castle over on Grand River, where we took a derelict building that was being threatened to be torn down, restored it fully, and opened up two restaurants there, the Republic Tavern and the Parks and Reich Diner.

Our goals as Stuart Pittman are to take that exact same model and put it on the island.

Um I've been working closely for two years now, uh, and I want to thank Mr.

Badoon and Mr.

Goldman for their work along with the people that came down from Lansing to make sure that this is a public property moving forward.

It's a beautiful building.

I'll admit initially my my goal was simply to preserve the building, but then I fell in love with uh Harry Jones is here representing the Detroit Sailing Center.

They'll also be included on a sublease on the building so that they are assured that this is their home as well.

Their program works with hundreds of youth and adults here in the city of Detroit, teaching them not only water safety, but learning how to sail and and the like.

Uh the rowing program speaks for itself.

Um and what they have done and what they continue to do with Wayne State and U of D and those programs, making sure that the waterfront is not only made accessible, but in in terms of the local community, the benefits there.

Uh, this will be a public building with two restaurants, uh public restrooms, as Hassan had mentioned.

Uh I'm really excited about bringing an ice cream parlor to Bell Isle.

Okay.

So all of my intent with this building beyond restoration is to see that everyone feels welcome, everyone's included.

Um with regards to the water taxi, um, I'm looking forward to putting in a new marina for the first time.

The public will be able to boat to Bell Isle, and there's the opportunity there, and I would love to speak with you and your team further about that, because from my point of view, it's a concept.

I know that people have wanted to work on the blue economy for years and years and years and years.

And I think the the restoration of this project, the the finishes will certainly serve to boost that, if you will.

But I would certainly love to know where it's at because I threw it in as a let's do, not a here's how we're gonna do it.

So I appreciate that truly.

Yeah, and through the chair to Mr.

Carlton to everyone who's listening.

We do have an ice cream maker who's local.

Um I can give you that information.

And I would love to see a fixing restaurant over there.

He's already downtown, Mr.

Kevin Johnson, everybody's been there, I'm sure.

If you haven't, you need to go, it's on Randolph.

It's amazing food.

Everybody loves it, it's always packed.

So I would like, and I'm trying to get him to come to the Avenue of Fashion called Fixing on the Ave.

And I I'm gonna keep bugging him about it, Mr.

Kevin Johnson and Mr.

Derek Head.

Um, but anyway, so maybe we can keep some things local because I do um have information about our ice cream makers since you want to sell ice cream there.

Wouldn't it be great if we could get someone who already does that in the city and have them open up the ice cream parlor uh similar to what we have at Mackinac.

We can duplicate that, right?

Absolutely.

Because they have a they have a wonderful ice cream parlor.

I'm sure we've all been there.

So um I'd like to see the same experience down here in Detroit.

If I may, my first restoration project in the city of Detroit was started in 1992.

Your father was still in office when I began working here in the city of Detroit.

Nice.

Over that time, those 30 years, although I'm not that old.

Um I've had six other companies all based here in Detroit, a very successful media firm, a couple development arms.

Um I'm looking at this as a continuation of an exciting career that I wouldn't do in any other city, quite honestly.

Excellent.

Did you have a question?

No, I'm excited.

I I just want to ask, um, so are we gonna be looking forward to um have you know have partnered up with DPS CD to learn about you know boating?

Are we gonna see particular races in the future, scholarships that will be you know, hand it out?

I mean, I think this is a real good opportunity for our kids here.

Uh this is the state, so I'm kind of getting ahead of myself a little bit here because it's not the city that we gotta go the state process, but has there been those conversations at all?

I love the opportunity that this restoration project will offer those.

Yeah, I have to admit I'm not a boater, I'm not a rower, I'm not a sailor.

Okay.

If you throw me in the deep end, you're gonna see me struggle a little bit.

Yes, I hear what I do want to bring to the table is the opportunity for groups like Harry's and like uh Henry and the team with the rowers um to be able to build their programs and and see those.

I've done a lot of research literally from Boston to Madison with other uh boathouses and what those programs are, and we should be able to exceed any of those given just the spirit we have in the city.

All right.

Discussion?

Yep.

Chair recognize team representative here.

Maybe he would like to uh address to answer any questions regarding the potential for sailing with youth in the city of Detroit and the opportunities that that exposes them to through additional sports sampling opportunities.

Thank you for seeing the transmarine.

Okay, yeah.

Uh my name's Harry Jones.

I'm the president of the Detroit Community Sailing Center, and thank you for inviting me to the table.

It's quite unexpected.

Um because I love to talk about what we're doing for the um youth of Detroit in terms of introducing them to an activity and a sport and an advocation and hopefully uh stewardship uh that they otherwise would not get exposed to if it were not for some generous people that we've been able to corral to um offset the cost of sailing so that we can make it accessible to young people in Detroit that uh would otherwise not get the opportunity.

I've said that twice, and I've said it twice because that's our mission, and it was started by not me but another group of African American sailors that started in 1994, a challenge the wind use sailing program.

And their mission immediately after adopting their um bylaws was to include the wording that their purpose, their mission is to teach sailing to young people in the city of Detroit who otherwise would not get the opportunity.

We've taken that from a small program to now we have uh 40 boats.

We do well over a hundred youth and um a year, uh a season, and teaching them how to to sail, as well as we have a number of other educational programs that we've attached to it, uh from boat building um to um having the um city of Detroit's historian gives talks about the river and how it relates to what the young people are are doing.

So um there's a number of opportunities that will be enhanced by having a wonderful building and facility right now.

We are um operating out of a shed that's falling down around our ears, and uh with the um improvements that are planned for the boathouse, uh we will be able to do a lot more safer and for more people.

Thank you.

May I ask a question?

Go ahead.

I hear about the selling.

Are there any opportunities for the children to learn how to fish?

Because I just started, I just learned how to fish for the first time a couple years ago.

And so it's therapeutic.

It very thought fishing was uh great, wonderful uh mental excuse for looking like you're doing something when you're just relaxing.

And uh interestingly enough, we don't we're not teaching sailing, but a couple of the parents um whose young people are in the program or fishing people, and um since they are right there on the water, uh they bring their fishing poles so that when they're done sailing, they go fishing.

So uh it's and I invite you to come down and join them with your poll.

All right, discussion, member Benson.

Anyone want to thank you and the sailing for me and the rowing are are huge.

Number one, sailing is a collegial sport, um, as well as an Olympic sport.

Uh the finest HBCU on the planet, Hampton University has a sailing team.

Yep.

We have a relationship with them.

And we compete in the ACC against universities like Old Dominion, the uh Naval Academy, as well as Colgate and others, and I think we uh we comport ourselves well when it comes to our sailing team.

In addition, the uh rowing and the crewing that happens there, also an Olympic sport as well as a college scholarship sport, and those who compete in rowing have a very high percentage of going on to university with a scholarship, just like the cross for women.

Rowing is an unheralded sport, but it offers a pathway to college for those who are prepared to compete and suffer as it is an endurance sport as well.

And so for me, it's very important that we now highlight these.

We've now have a commitment from the Pistons to help promote those programs, which is going to be huge.

Having conversations now with Detroit Parks and Rec with Director Perkins about how the city can play a role to ensure that our youth are being guided and directed when it comes to sports sampling to at least give this an opportunity and a try and to understand what avenues and pathways to success these two sports can avail our youth to, and these are not traditional sports, obviously, within our community or the city of Detroit.

One of the reasons that you're doing that here, but also I want to make sure that we are marketing and highlighting these new opportunities to our youth as a way to get to the next level when it comes to life, when it comes to academics, and when it comes to their future.

When I arrived in Detroit, the boat club at the time was still a private institution.

It soon uh went dark after that, but has been maintained and kept it what the best of their ability through Detroit rowing.

I've learned to crew um at the boat house.

I've sailed out of the boathouse or the boat club on a number of times, and so just really looking forward to now what even the Kwame administration indicated they were going to try to do, but just the cost and the amount of financial um obligation to bring something like that back online.

Glad to see that someone's finally figured out how to do that.

We're gonna be seeing that, and so many different parties are a part of that.

So thank you all very much for being willing to do that.

Thank you for prioritizing our community when it comes to the opportunity of sailing, and thank you for being willing to continue your development uh world right here in the city of Detroit on a very challenging but fantastic opportunity to bring that the boat club back online.

Thank you.

And Mr.

Chair, one last thing.

Um we got a hard stop at 230.

Okay, we have a hard stop at 230.

Yeah.

Okay.

Um, one of the country's only black-owned ice cream makers is called Hattie Girl, Hattie Girl, H A T T I E Girl, G-I-R-L.

So I'm hoping if they're listening, Mr.

Rinder, who is um the owner, is called um Hattie Girl Ice Cream.

Born in Detroit, one of the country's only black owned ice cream makers.

So I'm hoping we will be able to work with them so they can have an ice cream parlor and they can make that ice cream right there, possibly on site.

So I'm really excited about all the possibilities for everyone, for everyone.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Yeah, I just want to say I don't think it's necessary to you gentlemen.

I know I appreciate all the work and everything that you're doing, but I also think it's a tremendous opportunity for us to be able to partner with uh Wayne County Community College.

Um I know that they have a hospitality center, the Denise Wellings Hospitality Center.

I think the um you know, and I also think it's incredible for the scholars that are there because they're housed at the boat club's boat garage.

So it's an opportunity for them to be able to get competitive scholarships, and it's an opportunity for us to be able to open up a new world for Detroit students that otherwise wouldn't have that opportunity.

And so I'm just really excited about this program.

And I'm obviously I know this goes with the state and I don't want to get ahead of myself here because they have their contractual processes and things that nature.

But uh, I really am excited in anything I'm sure that we can do to help you.

We will more than will look forward to it, and we thank you for your vision and for developing this property that we've been wanting to do for generations.

So thank you, appreciate you, appreciate your work and service.

All right.

Um, that being said, did we move out line on 6.13?

Motion.

Okay, motion's been made to send line items since point thirteen to formal session with recognition for approved.

We put on to new business.

Are there any objections?

Here in the line of 6.13, we move to formal session with recognition for approving, we put on to new business.

We will now go on to member reports.

Chair recognizes Member Benson.

All right, thank you.

Just want to remind everybody that we have bingo with Benson coming up on the 5th of December.

Myself and Member Waters will be hosting the bingo with Benson, our annual bingo event where we have well over 500 seniors come out and have a DJ, we have dancing live band, uh, 50 inch TVs.

We do it up well for our seniors.

Looking forward to that.

Hope to see everybody there.

It's going to be from 11 a.m.

to 2 p.m.

on the 5th of December at the SAI Center.

Thank you.

Excellent.

Chair recognized the member Calway.

Thank you so much.

Um, Mr.

Chair, we had a wonderful time yesterday at the we've been cutting at the Violet T.

Lewis um senior complex, senior building complex.

It's a hundred and four a hundred and five affordable apartments, um, income-based.

Um, start some starting at around 600 um dollars, and it's going to be amazing.

And it's going to be amazing.

We had one of the tenants there.

She was representing her mom who's going to be one of the tenants at the new complex and it's located at the former site of the Lewis College of Business, who the apartment is named after the founder.

And also they're sharing the space with the original Detroit Bible Institute right there on Meyer.

So I'm really excited about that.

This Saturday we will be giving away turkeys.

You have to register call my office at 224535 this Saturday on the Avenue of Fashion and then we will be giving away holiday clothing at the Chase Library on Seven Mile Road on Saturday.

You can call my office to get more information and also at the Northwest Activity Center on November the 26th we will be having our District 2 community relations team will be there.

If you want more information about that you can still call our office and I think light up Mary Grove lastly light up Mary Grove in advance is going to be December the 12th on the campus of Mary Grove festive activities and treats for the whole family everything is free.

You can call 224 4535 for more information.

Thank you Mr.

Chair did you still have that discussion you want to talk about that part we got a little bit of time left okay okay no problem next year.

Okay no problem uh negative um member report for me so uh without judged without objection neighborhood and community services standing committee will never oh wait hold on before I uh adjournal this is the last one of the year I just want to say thank you so much yeah thank you so much for being out it's always good when you're working with professionals and people who are like minded I have been in situations where people are anything but uh so it's very nice to be able to work here I just wanted to say it has been a pleasure and an honor to be able to do the things that we've done here I want to thank um Mr.

Anderson and Mr.

Keller for always being able to help me legally I want to thank the clerks be able to get through this process I also want to give very special shout out to um Dr.

Powers who has got me out of more procedural issues than I care to speak of would not been able to do this job without her I want to thank my colleagues for all their service and I also want to give a very big special shout out to all of my staff thank you so much without you there is no me and I also want to say thank you to EPU it is so nice to be in a position where you are safe because I've been in times where I've been in elevators where everybody got a gun and we getting ready to go vote on gun safety reform and they asking me what you think about that in the elevator with nowhere to go so you know and people dressed up you know like it's 1776 so it is so thankful to be here I'm so blessed to be a part of a great group of professionals thank you so much for the honor of my life I appreciate you and with that being said neighborhood community service standing committee now be adjourned