Detroit City Council Internal Operations Committee - January 21, 2026
Detroit City Council Internal Operations Standing Committee Meeting - January 21, 2026
The Detroit City Council Internal Operations Standing Committee met on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 10:15 AM (ET) under the chairmanship of Councilmember Phil Callaway (apparently filling in for an absent chair). Councilmember Renetta Miller was present; Councilmember Scott Benson was absent. The meeting included public comment, a discussion on the extension of interim suspensions by the Inspector General, interviews for appointments to the Human Rights Commission, and action on multiple task force resolutions and contract amendments.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of the minutes from the previous meeting was moved and passed with no objections.
Public Comments & Testimony
Six callers participated via phone. Key comments included:
- Betty A. Varner thanked Councilmember Callaway for past neighborhood improvements and requested more funding for the Think Corridor redevelopment, including a supermarket for residents without transportation.
- Ona Owner Papa Popper criticized the proliferation of task forces, demanding annual performance reports and transparency on spending. He also raised concerns about missing children and human trafficking, and suggested council members use public transit instead of perks.
- William Davis expressed support for the Youth Civic Engagement Task Force, urging more voter registration and school attendance efforts. He criticized the city's treatment of retirees and the high number of indemnifications.
- Caller (039) made hostile remarks toward Chair Callaway, alleging election irregularities and threatening to expose information about District 2.
- Hira Amad (representing the Coalition for Property Tax Justice) thanked the council for passing the property tax reform ordinance and provided detailed feedback on improving assessment notices.
- Sina Brown Anderson requested increased investment and police presence in District 3, better oversight of task forces, and a report on funding distribution by zip code.
- Giudante Smith praised Councilmember Miller’s responsiveness but criticized her for previously suggesting he was using public comment to campaign. He also warned City Attorney Conrad Mallet about properties not in compliance.
- Mr. Cunningham (final caller) thanked the council for support (bus tickets, hand warmers) and described his volunteer outreach work.
Discussion Items
- Inspector General – Extension of Interim Suspensions (Ganyanga, LLC / Brian McKinney): Inspector General Kamal Mirable, Deputy IG Jennifer Bentley, and OIG Attorney Ty Green appeared. Mirable explained that the second 30-day extension of the interim suspension (original suspension issued Sept. 11, 2025) would expire Feb. 9, 2026. A third and final extension would be requested, expiring around March 11, 2026. Mirable noted that a criminal fraud investigation by DPD is ongoing (announced by former Mayor Duggan Dec. 22, 2025) and that the OIG waits for criminal processes before finalizing a debarment. Councilmember Miller asked about the limits of extensions and the risk that Ganyanga could become eligible after suspension expires; Mirable acknowledged that and stated the administration would be advised not to award contracts.
- Contract Amendment (Item 10.1): Robert Millender (Director of Public Safety IT) presented a resolution for an amendment to contract #600626-A1 for structured network cabling, increasing funds by $150,000 (100% city funding). He cited two drivers: a major fiber cut at Huntington Place in 2024 (caused by construction after the city failed to mark the line) and cabling needs at the Detroit Detention Center when the city took over from MDOC. Councilmember Miller questioned fault and cost-sharing; Millender said the city was at fault for not marking the line and did not seek reimbursement. The contract will now be used for smaller drops. The item was moved to formal session with approval.
- Historic Designation Advisory Board Appointments: Three reappointment interviews (Sharon Sexton, Osvaldo Rivera, William Warden) were initially set for Feb. 4 but rescheduled to Feb. 11, 2026 at 10:15, 10:30, and 10:45 AM respectively after staff confirmed availability.
- Task Force Resolutions:
- Youth & Civic Engagement Task Force (9.1) – reauthorized and moved to formal session (unanimous).
- Senior Task Force (10.5) – resolution authorizing continuation moved to formal session (unanimous).
- Domestic Violence Task Force (10.7) and Human Trafficking Task Force (10.8) – memoranda requesting resolutions were brought back in one week for preparation of resolutions.
- At-Large Board of Zoning Appeals Appointment (10.6): Memorandum received and filed (unanimous).
Key Outcomes
- Minutes approved unanimously.
- Inspector General’s suspension extension noted; further extension expected; no vote required.
- Human Rights Commission appointments: Dr. Rhonda Paul (reappointment) and Lauren Stovall (new appointment) were moved to formal session (Tuesday, Jan. 27) with recommendation to approve, after interviews.
- Contract amendment #600626-A1 moved to formal session with recommendation to approve.
- Youth & Civic Engagement Task Force reauthorized and moved to formal session.
- Senior Task Force continuation resolution moved to formal session.
- Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Task Force items to be brought back in one week (Jan. 28) for resolutions.
- Historic Designation Advisory Board interview dates set for Feb. 11, 2026.
- Members’ Reports: Councilmember Miller announced a District 5 community kickoff on Jan. 28, 2026 at Considine Center (6 PM). Councilmember Callaway announced a residential contractor mixer (Jan. 21, 6:30 PM at Liv 6), a virtual budget priorities forum for District 2 (Jan. 26, 6 PM), launch of a mental health podcast (Jan. 26, 5 PM at YouthNique Startup Center), and a District 2 coughing conversation (Feb. 9, 8 AM).
- Meeting adjourned at approximately 11:00 AM.
Meeting Transcript
Phil Callaway present. Councilmember Scott Benson. Councilmember Renetta Miller. We did receive a notification from Scott Benson that he would be absent today. Clerk was on note. Madam Chair, you have a quorum present. Thank you, madam. Um Madam Clerk. We will call the session to order. And we have how many people in the audience for public comment if you could raise your hand. Okay, we don't have anyone in the audience for public comment. How many do we have on the call for public comment on the phone? Good morning. Good morning, madam chair. There are six hands raised for public comment. Okay, there are six hands raised. We're going to cut off public comment in one minute. Okay. Okay. All right. We will take the first caller for public comment. If you can just state your rec your name for the record. The first caller is Betty A. Varner. Good morning, Miss Varner. You have two minutes for public comment. Good morning, honorable uh councilmember Callaway and all that's uh within the sound of my voice. I want to start off by uh thanking our honorable council member Callaway for uh the projects she has done in the past to improve our neighborhood uh cleaning up projects, removing uh abandoned, having uh abandoned buildings, removed uh vacant properties, uh boarded up, and helping us to have a better community. I'm asking in the future, I'm hoping that administration will work with our council person to uh improve our think of corridor. We are uh in need of monies for redevelopment and for developers and new businesses to come to our corridor so that we can be blessed as other corridors have been and other areas to have a life in our corridor so that what we need, we can go to our immediate area and get what we need. Uh there are a lot of people in this area who do not have transportation. We are in need of a supermarket. I want to thank honorable council member Waters and her staff, Miss Streeter, for reaching out to me to give me information to help my organization. Uh possibly get a um supermarket in our immediate area. Uh they offered information for a gentleman who might be able to help us resolve our problems. We thank you for all the help that y'all are providing, and please continue to assist us. Thank you. Thank you so much so much, Ms. Varner. Before we move to the next um caller, I did skip over the agenda. So we're going to um have an invocation, and Peter Rose shared uh another word. Um, and this is from um the Royal Oak First United Methodist Church, and his wife is a member of that church, so we're gonna move back to the agenda and then we'll move back to public comment. But every week we're going to have every Wednesday an invocation or inspirational word or word of motivation. So today we're gonna thank Peter Rhodes again. So moving to um line item two, which is the invocation. I'm gonna read this from again the Royal Oak First United Methodist Church, and it says, Lord, we will all experience times of adversity, and when that happens, please give us the strength to always follow your path. So thank you, Amy Rhodes, and thank you, Peter Rhodes, for that word. Now we'll move back to our agenda. Um is there a motion for the approval of the minutes? Thank you.
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