Pro Tim Coleman A.

Young.

Here.

Councilmember Scott Benson.

Councilmember Mernata Miller.

Here.

Mr.

Chair, we have quorum.

Thank you, ma'am.

I'm clear.

Um, I think we need to have an excuse absence for member Benson.

The clerk will know.

Excellent.

Thank you.

Is there a motion to approve the minutes?

Motion made.

Are there any objections?

Hearing none.

Minutes will be approved.

Uh negative chair remarks.

He will now move on to public comments.

How many people do we have in the queue, Mr.

Bo.

Mr.

Chair, we currently have three individuals with a hand raised for public comment.

All right, three individuals with a hand raised public comment.

Public comment is now closed.

Public comment is now closed.

Public comment is now closed.

All right, who do we have first in the queue, Mr.

Bo.

Mr.

Chair, the first caller is William Davis.

All right, Ms.

Davis, floor is yours.

Two minutes.

Good afternoon.

Can I be heard?

Yes, sir.

I hope for the new administration, we have a better activities for District 7.

Because as you may, I mean I know District 7 do not physically have a recreational center with our district being uh squeezed down uh you know what would have been a new recreation center uh the hella more center is now in district five, you know, in so much that we didn't lose as many people as some of the east side area.

Uh so uh hopefully more could be done to help district seven to help us have more activities for young people, uh, especially like um a recreation center.

Some districts have two or three, but we have none functioning at the moment.

Uh also I would like to say perhaps y'all can arrange for some of the activities when I was younger.

We used to have like uh a swimming bill and other things that would go on and we used to have actually play leaders at different locations that I because I used to pass out job applications for those years ago.

Uh that we could do more to help to engage young people to help them give them something else to do, uh, to help to encourage them to be helped you know productive citizens.

Um, as as you know, uh I basically grew up on uh grew up and started working for the city up under Coleman A Young.

Uh the best mayor we've ever had.

And I don't think the the most recent mayors we've had been as concerned about the communities, uh, because we need to make sure more is happening in the communities and stop having just everything going on happen in downtown and midtown and Corktown.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Who next to the queue, Mr.

Bo.

Mr.

Chair, the next caller ends in 039.

All right, 039, the floor is yours, 039.

What's up, Coleman?

Hey.

Hey.

You know, your dad uh knew me.

He met me when I was nine years old, but he knew me when I was 13.

And a lot of the things that uh Coleman did, I was privy to going growing up 15 to 17.

But now I gotta expose you, man.

You had some you a TV and public official here in Detroit.

Janison cheated all y'all in the mayor, the whole city council, the school board, and the board of police commissioners.

And that really bill got in my way about Nini.

And I don't play about Nini.

I done told all y'all.

Did not shoot herself.

Now it's popped out.

It's it's F.

That's what it got to come to.

And guess who I am?

Black bag road.

And I will go in the black bag and put out what I need to pull out when I need to pull it out.

And I don't make no bones about who I am.

I got an F, but guess what?

I got I got a 45-year reputation of being stand-up 100, and then you ain't gonna find nobody to say I lie.

Nobody, not nan in word in the cold city of Detroit.

Elsewhere either.

I mean, I ain't in all that purpose.

I keep it above.

I try to with everybody.

Just like I tried to keep it a buck with you, but you achieve it and official, and Dennis Ruffrey is busted, busted, busted.

Dina A.B.

Walker and Daniel Baxter.

My word.

Now Ramone ain't lying, and all them affidavits and people ain't live.

And all them after Davidson people ain't live.

It was voted on.

They show up on the voting rolls and they never sent them no after Tallet.

And number 47, no, too.

He ain't said none yet, but he no, no.

I know he knows because I gave it.

All right, thank you.

Who do we have next to the Q, Mr.

Bell?

Mr.

Trevor last caller before you close public comment.

Is it Dante Smith?

All right, Mr.

Smith.

Floor is yours.

Two minutes.

I just want to start off by saying the last week in this committee, I was unable to speak, even though I had my hand up way before 105.

I was on the meeting.

But uh, I want to say uh I want to make Scott Benson a promise.

Brother I win office, whether I lose office, whether I do anything, you should take it as a threat as well.

I'm going to do a recall petition on you, Scott Benson, and I'm not gonna stop like Ramon Jackson and whoever else did before.

You will be recalled if you do not make changes in your district.

I don't care what seat I'm in.

I could be another elected official just like you.

I'm going to make sure that I get you out of office.

That is a promise from the bottom of my heart.

I also want to say uh sad to hear Mr.

Davis calling in, talking about recreation center in district seven and not getting much traction because I'm in district five, and we that's one thing we do have is recreation centers for the kids.

We have several throughout district five, thing three or four, which is very nice.

Um also when it comes down to Kronos concrete facility, Coleman Young, you are at large, and I do not pick on you either.

And I definitely don't say many things to you, but I had to wait three months for a response from your office.

And I would love for you to get an expedite response um to this matter.

I emailed Job Kronos, gave you lots of pertinent information and gave you the document that I read off of earlier as well.

So after waiting three months, I love to be expedited in my response back from your office.

Also, Renata Miller, Councilmember Miller.

I send an email to your office about my block club and about um just having a meeting with I think Thelma Brown or something like that.

I think it was.

So I sent an email.

I love to hear from you because as a vice president of a block club, you're gonna hear from me a lot, even as a outside of that, like even if I wasn't vice president of my block club, here with me a lot.

We're gonna have to have a lot of conversations about this development at Buster Family Center and other issues all throughout District 5 and issues uh ranging around.

I see that you're very close with Scott Benson, which is your personal preference, which is nice, but both of you guys are on the clock along with James Tate, along with everybody on the board, even the ones who I do like, everybody is on the clock, even at large.

There are issues all throughout the city of Detroit, and I helped to fix them.

And if I don't get any assistance, I'm gonna call you out.

Mr.

Smith, I just wanted to say to you, um, I haven't even been here 14 days.

I don't have an office, I don't have a telephone, and I do not have my staff in place.

Please feel free to be patient.

I would encourage you to do so because I don't deserve the negative comments.

I've just I'm not even set up yet.

But as we continue to take the jabs, I am newly elected, and you haven't even given me the opportunity to do what I was I am designed and willing to do.

And I look forward to meeting with you, and as our team get um situated, when we get our phones, we will be seeing your block club like every other block club.

I do not have a distinction or preference.

My job is to serve everyone in district five, and I look forward to meeting you personally.

I wish you well on your endeavor.

I know you were running for election.

I don't know if this is why you're calling in.

Um, I'm not sure what it's for, but you're saying even if you win or lose.

So please um I look forward to seeing you.

And when you have your block club meeting, if you want to now, you can tell us when your uh meeting is going to take place, what month, uh, what day, what time, and I can jot it down, and I can be of service to you uh more effectively in that way.

If you would like to give me that information now.

I would appreciate it.

Chair recognizes Dr.

Powers.

There we go.

Um I sir, I was just wanted to make sure that there was no continued back and forth with the member of the public and that he not get additional time to speak, sir.

Um you had it, you had it handled well, as I expected.

No, thank you.

I appreciate that.

No, I mean he could definitely uh call uh member Miller uh at our office.

Did you want to give your office number out, member Miller so he can know I don't have a number yet?

Oh, okay, no problem.

That's that's no problem.

That's no problem.

Well, you you get back to him via email.

Did you want to give your email out?

Yeah, yeah.

Well, we we well when he comes, he can come down to uh he he's a regular um uh for formal session.

So I'm sure you can see.

So I'm sure you can see I mean exchange information there.

All right, I think that's all the calls that we have.

So now we will move on to new business, mayor's office, line on six point one petition of Cupid's underun.

Request the whole Cupid's underrun on February 14, 2026 from 12 p.m.

until 4 p.m.

at 47 East Adams Street, Detroit.

10 roof setup will begin at 10 a.m.

on February 14, 2026.

And we completed by 12 p.m.

on the same day.

Tear down will begin on 4 p.m.

on February 14th, 2026.

Complete by 5 p.m.

the same day.

Is there a motion to send line on 6.1 to formal session with recommendations for approval to be put onto new business?

Motion's authorizing.

Motion has been made.

Are there any objections?

Hearing none.

Lion 6.1 be moved to formal session with recognition for approval, we put on to new business.

Lion 6.2.

Petition of Big River Race Management.

Request to hold Iran the D5K from May 9th, 2026 at 9 a.m.

to 12 p.m.

the same day at Comerica Park.

Setup will begin on May 8th, 2026 at 8 a.m.

and will be completed by 4 p.m.

the same day.

Tear down will begin on May 9th, 2026 at 12 p.m.

We completed by 1 p.m.

the same day.

Is there a motion move line on 6.2 to formal session with recognition for approval be put on to new business?

Motion to authorized.

Motion's been made or any objections.

And line 6.2 will be moved for formal session with regulations to be approved and put on to new business.

Now we're at Office of Contracting and Procurement.

Contract number 676 13.

100% major street funding to provide tree trimming and tree removal.

Contractor tree man services, LLC location 1920 pro prevost.

Detroit Michigan 48235 contract period on City Council approval for a three-year period.

Total amount three million dollars.

Do I have a motion to send line item 6.3 to formal session with recommendations for approval be put on to new business?

Discussion.

Chair recognizing member member Miller.

Oh sorry.

You have a question?

Oh yeah, I'm sorry.

Is the person here?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Okay.

I just want to ask, how are the major streets prioritized for tree trimming and removal?

And what criteria determine the eight the urgency at risk or risk?

I think we have Mr.

Weatherup that's here.

Good afternoon, Alex Weather, Assistant Director of General Services.

Excellent, sir.

How are you doing?

Doing all right.

Happy New Year, everybody.

New year to you too.

Go ahead, Member Miller.

I have a few questions.

I just wanted to know how are the major streets prioritized for for the trim trimming and removal and what criteria determined urgency or risk.

Gotcha.

So through the chair, um, our forestry team here at GSD surveys and evaluates the trees that need service.

And then based on condition and safety, uh reprioritize those that uh are pose the biggest risk to safety first.

Okay.

Uh next question.

How is the three million dollars allocated over the three-year term?

And what safeguards are in place to control the cost and the limit change orders?

Sure.

So uh stepping back to a larger picture.

This will be the first of uh nine uh award recommendations from GSD for tree removal services, uh, with our goal being to have one contractor dedicated to each district and then two additional for roving um to to kind of fill any gaps there.

Excuse me.

Um so that's the the general strategy is to make sure that every district has a dedicated tree removal uh contractor and that we have um backfill in case of emergencies or after a big storm if lots of trees are down, um we can kind of surge the other two contractors uh to any district that's affected.

Okay.

Uh next, what performance metrics and accountability measures will be used to evaluate the contractor's work and response times?

A lot of times in mid midterm or mid-contracts, some things may fall apart or not work out well.

What what is your performance measures on that?

Sure.

So um to answer a previous question that I believe I missed was there's no change orders.

Uh this pricing is um codified at the point of contract, and then the vendors they have to meet certain volumes to stay on, and we do a quarterly review to make sure that everyone's meeting their benchmarks.

I'm writing as fast as I can.

My apologies.

I can I can repeat if you need.

No, I got it here.

Uh last question.

How will service how will service be distributed equipment across the neighborhoods and council districts, particularly areas with deferred maintenance?

We know it's been a long time since we've had this service.

Right.

So we're um to slightly reiterate, we'll have one contractor dedicated to each district, and then those two roving.

We know that some districts have more trees in need than others, and so those uh extra two contractors would be dedicated to those areas uh to make sure there's equitable distribution of service.

Uh, which districts would those consist of um that's a good question.

Let me see if I can find that here.

Um I know that in general.

We've got um I think it's oh thank you.

Jeez, I'm getting notes in real time.

Um district one and district three have the most need right now, so they'll be prioritized.

One and three had the most need for maintenance.

Uh have the most need uh correct for for survey and removal of trees.

All right, thank you very much.

Absolutely.

Yeah, uh, just out of curiosity, I wanted to ask you uh where does district five in terms of need uh line up?

We have the most trees.

Yeah, where do they rank?

I think that we both kind of want to answer to that question.

You know, see.

Yeah, so district five is um about right in the middle in terms of of priority and need.

So yeah, not near the the top or the bottom, but there are some serve, you know, certainly some neighborhoods in every district that that need extra attention.

Um, but just based on the age of the trees, district five is right in the middle.

Okay.

You got any other questions?

None.

All right.

Thank you, sir.

Appreciate you.

Absolutely.

All right.

Um motion has been made to move line item 6.3 to formal session with recommendations for approval.

Are there any objections?

None.

Line on 6.3 be moved to formal session with recognition for approval to be put on to new business.

We will now move on to line item 6.4.

Um, before I begin, I just want to say line of 6.4 was originally submitted in error as a report.

It should read as a resolution.

The correct information is be given to the clerk, and all committee members have been provided with a or should have been provided with a copy.

So this is a resolution authorized to authorize to submit line of 6.4 for the general service department, an authorization to submit a grant application to the United Way for the south southern, eastern southeastern Michigan for the 2026 summer summer discovery grant.

Again, I just want to make sure this is a resolution, not a report.

General Service Department is here by requesting authorization from the Detroit City Council to submit grant application to the United Way for Southern Southeastern Michigan for the fiscal year 2026 summer discovery grant.

The amount being sought is 1 million 40,000 dollars.

There is no city match requirement.

Total cost, total project cost is one million forty thousand dollars.

Is there a motion to say in line or six point four to formal session with recognition for approval to be put onto new business?

Um discussion?

I just want to know about how many.

Okay, hold on.

Chair recognizes uh member Miller.

Through the chair, I just wanted to know how many students would this serve if the grant is awarded.

Mr.

Weather.

Hello.

Um, through the chair, um, this would serve about 520 students, ages six to twelve, and it would cover the cost of the entire summer program, which is usually about 450 per pupil.

Thank you very much.

All right, is there a motion to put line of 6.4 to move line 6.4 to formal session with record dates for approval you put on the new business?

Motion's been made.

Are there any objections?

Here in the line of 6.4 be moved to formal session with regulations for approval to be put on to new business.

We are now on member reports.

Chair recognizes member Miller.

I have no report.

All right, negative report.

Thank you very much.

Um I want everybody to join me on January 20th at 5 p.m.

at Farwell Recreation Center as 2711 East Outer Drive at Haas to welcome the new president, Chris LaFore as with LaFleur, excuse me, of the Farwell Recreation Advisory Council.

We also want to celebrate the year served by the immediate past president, Mr.

Oliver Wilson.

Dinner will be served, and I will be joined by member Scott Benson.

I will also be with us.

We will be honoring citizens who worked hard to get improvements made at Farwell Recreation Center.

Thank you so much for your participation.

Again, that's this Tuesday, January 20th at 5 p.m.

That's this Tuesday, January 20th at 5 p.m.

Again.

This Tuesday, January 20th at 5 p.m.

at Farwell Recreation Center in District 3, Deer will be served.

I also want everybody to know that due to the extreme cold, effective immediately.

Please go to Adams Butzel Recreation Center at 1050 Linden.

And on the east side, go to the Honorable Coleman Alexander Young Recreation Center at 2751 Robert Bradby at Shane.

Again, you could go on Monday, January 19th.

We'll be open for Martin Luther King Day on the West Side.

Go to Adams Butle Family Center at 1050 Linden.

And on the east side, go to Coleman A.

Young Recreational Center at 2751 Robert Bradby at Shane.

All police precincts and Detroit Public Libraries will be open on Monday, January 9th for Reverend Dr.

Martin Luther King Deck.

That is the end of my member reports.

And without objection, neighborhood community service stated committee will now be adjourned.