OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Detroit Planning & Economic Development Committee Meeting - January 22, 2026

City Council — Thursday, January 22, 2026
BodyDetroit, Michigan
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, January 22, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:05:44

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Good morning, Councilmember Letitia Johnson.

0:02

Present.

0:02

Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero.

0:05

Present.

0:05

Council President Pro Dam Coming in Younger Second.

0:08

Here.

0:09

Madam Chair Derekorum.

0:10

Thank you.

0:11

Having a quorum present, we are now in session.

0:15

And we are going to go to the agenda.

0:20

And the first line item is in approval of the minutes.

0:24

Is there a motion?

0:26

Motion.

0:26

There's a motion to approve the minutes.

0:29

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

0:32

And for my chair remarks, I would like to cue up the administration to share information about warming centers and what we are doing to provide shelter for individuals that are homeless.

0:46

So as we get to the end of the agenda, if we can have someone share that information with the general public, it would be greatly appreciated.

0:54

As I was watching the news, I know there is a frigid code front that's coming back to us.

1:28

So Mr.

1:31

Washington, I see you there, but if we can just have someone cued up as we get to member reports uh to share that information, we would greatly appreciate it.

1:40

Good morning.

1:41

It will do, madam chair.

1:42

Thank you so much.

1:44

All right.

1:44

We are going to move into public comment.

1:47

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

1:54

Please raise your hand.

1:56

Public comment will be cut off at 10.06.

1:59

Currently, my clock says it's 1004.

2:02

Seeing no hands raised in the committee of the whole.

2:05

Good morning, Miss Jackson.

2:06

Do we have any hands raised virtually?

2:09

Good morning, Madam Chair.

2:10

There are nine hands raised for virtual public comment.

2:12

All right, if we can set the clock for two minutes, and we can get started with the first caller.

2:30

The first caller is Jadante Smith.

2:34

Good morning.

2:35

You have two minutes for general public comment.

2:37

Good morning, may I be heard?

2:39

Yes.

2:40

Good morning.

2:40

I have a question for um, I was actually preface by saying most Detroiters are on the menu, not at the table when it comes to a lot of decisions that are being made in the city of Detroit.

2:49

I have a question for uh councilwoman uh Gabriela Santiago Mero.

2:52

I was gonna say I appreciate the work that you did over in Core City um a few years back with the concrete crusher with the I think Moon O's Realty, wherever the owners were.

3:00

I just want to know what the um because if you can answer now, it'd be great because I'm gonna call an email about it.

3:05

Well, what was the zoning?

3:06

What was the M4 laying down zone to?

3:09

Because the same thing we would love to have happen with Kronos with their non-operating land um over next six-mile opponent next to their facility at 3405 Gaylord.

3:19

We love to have the land down zone from N4 Um to whatever that the land that was downzoned in district six in the concrete crusher in Core City.

3:28

We'd like to have that same down zoning.

3:29

Um, and we also like to have if we do get a down zoning, um, conditional land use when they do resale if they resell because they're probably not gonna keep that land, even if they do other types of uh they do they use the land for other things if we don't put down zone it to R3 or whatever, that will be nice for the community because it can be houses rebuilt on the four acres worth of land that was torn down to possibly expand a very dangerous concrete crusher.

3:55

And so I'll I'll just also say this I'm gonna talk about Kronos the whole time.

3:59

We're going to flood a meeting of city council, just as this as we did as you did for ice with the issue that affects Detroiters day in, day out.

4:07

Not like a hot button issue like ISIS.

4:09

ICE is an important issue too, but the the danger that is being presented to the community members in district three uh around Kronos and other plenty of other issues in district three, but specifically with Kronos, we need this win for the community.

4:22

We'd love for you guys to um help us with this issue, and also the CPA building needs to be uh preserved.

4:29

We only have 17% as of 2020 of our historic districts.

4:33

We need to preserve as much as we can because the city is tearing down beautiful homes that are 100 years old.

4:38

Thank you.

4:40

Thank you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Comment███████████████████████23%
Homelessness█████████████████17%
Historic Preservation████████████████16%
Intergovernmental Agreement███████████████15%
Community Engagement██████████10%
Economic Development█████5%
Procedural████4%
Public Safety████4%
Blight██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Detroit Planning & Economic Development Committee Meeting - January 22, 2026

This meeting of the Planning and Economic Development (PED) Committee was held on January 22, 2026, with Councilmember Letitia Johnson presiding. The committee addressed multiple items including a historic district designation for the CPA building, a request to amend the intergovernmental agreement with the Michigan Land Bank Authority, and received public comments on a wide range of topics. The administration also provided an update on warming centers and homeless outreach during the severe cold weather.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of the minutes from the previous meeting – passed without objection.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Jadante Smith: Requested a downzoning of land near the Kronos facility (3405 Gaylord) from M4 to a lower classification, similar to a previous downzoning in Core City (M4 to S2). Also urged preservation of the CPA building and community involvement in land use decisions.
  • Owen Papa: Criticized Councilmember Santiago Romero for not helping District 3, raised questions about unpaid blight tickets for corporations, and alleged unequal treatment of districts. Also accused Councilmember Sheila Cockrel of creating a “white town” in Corktown.
  • Betty A. Varner (President, DeSoda Ellsworth Block Association): Asked how homeless individuals without email are notified about shelters. Promoted Community Solutions and its adult day care/caregiver relief programs (313-484-3808).
  • William M. Davis (District 7 resident): Called for more planning and economic development in all districts, restoration of neighborhood resource centers, and criticized city priorities favoring wealthy newcomers. Noted lack of a functioning recreation center in District 7 and ongoing pension debt to retirees.
  • Caller ending in 039: Made allegations about election fraud, budgets, and former Mayor Michael Duggan’s influence.
  • Caller ending in 169: Thanked the council for prayers for Brother Cunningham and wished him a happy birthday.
  • Cunningham: Requested hand warmers (stated he went through six cases) and bus tickets. Proposed using out-of-service buses as warming coaches at bus stops and hospital sites. His birthday is January 26.
  • Tahira Ahmed: Suggested placing homeless families in hotel/motel rooms rather than shelters, and funding it by recapturing $600 million from Dan Gilbert’s Hudson’s site project, which he allegedly reneged on.
  • Calling user one (District 5): Asked about the right to counsel for evictions, reporting that referrals to Lakeshore, Neighborhood Legal, and Wayne Metro are not helpful. Cited bogus lease violations against elderly tenants.

Discussion Items

  • Unfinished Business 5.1: Michigan Land Bank Authority (MLBA) Intergovernmental Agreement Amendment – Councilmember Mary Waters’ memo requested a resolution to amend the IGA. Councilmember Pro Tem Young asked whether the city is waiting for state direction. Chair Johnson clarified that the state expects the city to propose amendments. CEO Tammy Daniels of the Detroit Land Bank Authority joined remotely. Pro Tem Young requested a future analysis of the land bank’s operations and impact before changes are made. The item was received and filed.
  • Unfinished Business 5.2: Grand River Corridor Business Activity Update – Postponed for two weeks.
  • New Business 6.1 & 6.2: CPA Building Historic District – Ordinance to designate the CPA building (2020-2200 Michigan Avenue) as a historic district. Deputy Director Lisa De Gierra (Historic Designation Advisory Board) explained the process and noted the owner is aware and has not objected. The designation protects the building from demolition and enables state and federal historic tax credits. No impact on adjacent vacant parcels. Councilmember Santiago Romero stated the effort was resident-led. Pro Tem Young questioned whether the designation would block development; De Gierra confirmed new construction is still possible on the rest of the block. Motion to send 6.1 to formal session for ordinance introduction and public hearing passed. Motion to receive and file 6.2 passed.
  • New Business 6.3: Property Management Agreements Legal Research – Councilmember Johnson’s memo requesting legal research on property management agreements. Referred to the Legislative Policy Division (LPD) to return in two weeks.

Key Outcomes

  • Minutes approved.
  • Line item 5.1 (MLBA IGA amendment) received and filed; council policy staff to gather amendment proposals from all members.
  • Line item 5.2 (Grand River corridor) postponed to the next meeting in two weeks.
  • Line item 6.1 (CPA building historic district ordinance) sent to formal session for introduction and public hearing in February.
  • Line item 6.2 (CPA building final report) received and filed.
  • Line item 6.3 (property management legal research) referred to LPD with a two-week return.
  • Administration presentation on warming centers:
    • Standby shelters activated due to severe weather: Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (13130 Woodward), Pope Francis Center (2915 W. Hancock), and a third site at 882 Oakman Blvd opening Friday at 6 p.m. (via NSO, families by referral).
    • Outreach teams operating 24/7; transport to shelters via Checker Cab contract from police precincts.
    • Hotline: 866-313-2520.
    • Recreation centers and libraries provide daytime respite.
  • Right to Counsel contact information shared: Diamond Conley, diamond.conley@detroitmi.gov. No hotline available; advocacy for a hotline will be part of upcoming budget hearings.
  • Upcoming district events announced: District 4 community meeting (Jan 26, 5:30 p.m. at Hope Community Church) with presentations on Complete Streets and principal residence exemptions; DLBA community office hours (Jan 26, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Morningside Cafe); District 4 budget priorities forum (Jan 27, 5 p.m. virtual).

Meeting Transcript

Good morning, Councilmember Letitia Johnson. Present. Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero. Present. Council President Pro Dam Coming in Younger Second. Here. Madam Chair Derekorum. Thank you. Having a quorum present, we are now in session. And we are going to go to the agenda. And the first line item is in approval of the minutes. Is there a motion? Motion. There's a motion to approve the minutes. Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken. And for my chair remarks, I would like to cue up the administration to share information about warming centers and what we are doing to provide shelter for individuals that are homeless. So as we get to the end of the agenda, if we can have someone share that information with the general public, it would be greatly appreciated. As I was watching the news, I know there is a frigid code front that's coming back to us. So Mr. Washington, I see you there, but if we can just have someone cued up as we get to member reports uh to share that information, we would greatly appreciate it. Good morning. It will do, madam chair. Thank you so much. All right. We are going to move into public comment. If there is anyone joining us in person or virtually who'd like to make a public comment, please raise your hand. Please raise your hand. Public comment will be cut off at 10.06. Currently, my clock says it's 1004. Seeing no hands raised in the committee of the whole. Good morning, Miss Jackson. Do we have any hands raised virtually? Good morning, Madam Chair. There are nine hands raised for virtual public comment. All right, if we can set the clock for two minutes, and we can get started with the first caller. The first caller is Jadante Smith. Good morning. You have two minutes for general public comment. Good morning, may I be heard? Yes. Good morning. I have a question for um, I was actually preface by saying most Detroiters are on the menu, not at the table when it comes to a lot of decisions that are being made in the city of Detroit. I have a question for uh councilwoman uh Gabriela Santiago Mero. I was gonna say I appreciate the work that you did over in Core City um a few years back with the concrete crusher with the I think Moon O's Realty, wherever the owners were. I just want to know what the um because if you can answer now, it'd be great because I'm gonna call an email about it. Well, what was the zoning? What was the M4 laying down zone to? Because the same thing we would love to have happen with Kronos with their non-operating land um over next six-mile opponent next to their facility at 3405 Gaylord. We love to have the land down zone from N4 Um to whatever that the land that was downzoned in district six in the concrete crusher in Core City. We'd like to have that same down zoning.

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