Detroit City Council Public Health & Safety Committee Summary - January 26, 2026

This meeting of the Detroit City Council's Public Health & Safety Committee, chaired by Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero, was held on Monday, January 26, 2026. The committee considered a range of contracts, demolition approvals, grants, and policy memos. Discussions focused on emergency demolition funding, traffic signal upgrades, HIV program funding, vehicle repair costs, and police interactions with ICE.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of minutes from the previous meeting (January 12) was deferred to the end of the meeting at the request of a councilmember. Minutes were later emailed and approved without objection.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Commissioner Victoria Camille (District 7): Expressed support for a memo regarding Detroit Police Department (DPD) interactions with ICE and noted she has reinforced the request for information at the Board of Police Commissioners meeting.
• Michael Cunningham (frequent public commenter): Celebrated his 44th birthday; requested hand warmers, gloves, and bus tickets for distribution at bus stops; suggested the city retain older buses alongside 45 new ones to strengthen the fleet; proposed turning retired buses into warming centers.
• John Crowley: Alleged election fraud in Detroit, accusing multiple current and former officials of cheating and lying. Chair cut off public comments shortly after he began.
• William M. Davis (online): Questioned why the city's ride-to-care line (313-876-0000) is answered by call center workers in Chicago rather than Detroiters; criticized the city's use of the 100 Madison building for health services due to lack of parking.
• Oma Papa (online): Criticized the chairperson's leadership; asked for more specifics on a $4 million HIV grant listed in the agenda and questioned why a $117,000 contract for municipal resident ID software was listed under health and public safety.
• Jadante Smith (online): Criticized Corporation Counsel Conrad Mallet and the Detroit Law Department for handling of FOIA requests, lawsuits, and indemnifications of police officers; opposed spending on outside law firms for eminent domain and requested a new corporation counsel.
• Caller ending in 169 (online): Asked that Councilmember Mary Waters and her staff treat Mr. Cunningham better; praised other councilmembers for their treatment of him.
• Betty A. Varner (online): President of the Soda Els World Black Association; provided information on Franklin Wright Settlement's Senior Chore Services program (313-579-1000 ext. 301) for seniors 60+.
• Tahira Ahmad (online): Spoke on behalf of the Coalition for Property Tax Justice; called for city council to enforce property tax reform ordinance and provide hotel rooms for homeless families during cold weather.
• Dr. Denise Darnell (online): Thanked Councilmember Waters, Councilmember Whitfield Callaway, and the mayor for a press conference on human trafficking at Crystal House; requested flyers be placed in every hotel and retail space.
• Joyce E. Jennings (online): Called for returning land and property to original owners and heirs; opposed focusing on shelters, urging permanent housing solutions instead.
• Call in user one (online): Requested the city turn old buses into warming centers to prevent freeze deaths; complained about unshoveled walkways near Northwestern High School; criticized Councilmember Waters as unapproachable and hostile.

Discussion Items

• Emergency Demolition Contracts (Items 6.1–6.15): The committee reviewed 15 emergency demolition contracts. Vice Chair McCampbell questioned the process for emergency declarations and the fact that some contracts showed zero funds available in the bond fund. Director Counts of Public Works explained that orders come from Buildings & Safety for collapse hazards. The committee noted that some contracts had expired tax clearances, which were later updated. Councilmember Waters requested a list of commercial properties in collections or with liens to avoid spending city funds without recouping costs. The committee discussed the use of contaminated dirt (Ironhorse pit) — protocols have been modified: that pit suspended, only eight pits allowed, inspections moved from annual to monthly.
  • Vote: Contracts 6.1 (bond-funded), 6.2 (bond-funded), 6.4 (bond-funded), 6.5 (bond-funded), 6.6 (bond-funded), 6.7 (bond-funded), 6.9 (bond-funded), 6.11 (bond-funded), and 6.13 (bond-funded) were held back one week due to funding questions. The remaining items (blight-funded) were sent to formal session with recommendation to approve, without objection.
• Drone Maintenance Contract (Item 6.16): Contract with Dean's Partners Group (Illinois) for drone maintenance and support for the fire department, using 85% grant funding. Brought back TBD without objection.
• Health Department HIV Programs & Municipal ID (Items 6.17–6.19): Three contracts: increases for Henry Ford Health for HIV ambulatory services and program administration, and an increase for Omicron Tech for the Detroit ID software system. Director Leah Smith reported decreased HIV-positive numbers and increased detectable rates; contracts are ending soon but new three-year agreements are expected in 2-3 weeks. CIO Art Thompson confirmed that no personal data is retained after Detroit ID issuance — no copies, logs, or printouts are kept. Councilmember Santiago Romero asked for a future presentation to the committee on funding sources and outcomes.
  • Vote: Approved and sent to new business with recommendation to approve, without objection.
• Vehicle Repair Contract (Item 6.20): Contract with Jefferson Chevrolet for police vehicle collision repairs, increased by $90,000 (total $200,000). Captain Adams stated only $7,000 remains from the current contract; $90,000 requested to cover the remaining year due to unpredictable accident costs. Councilmembers requested breakdown of at-fault vs. external accidents and a clearer picture of overall vehicle repair needs.
  • Vote: Brought back in one week for further information, without objection.
• Traffic Signal Connectivity & Backup Power (Item 6.21): $9 million, 2-year contract with Mortar City Electric Utilities, using 100% CDBG-DR federal grant funds to connect 198 unconnected traffic signals, install up to 150 traffic cameras, and provide backup generator switches. Director Brundage affirmed cameras are not license plate readers; data used only for traffic analysis and not shared generally with DPD, except for crash investigations. Chief Procurement Officer Stahl confirmed Board of Police Commissioners approval is not required since contract is under DPW.
  • Vote: Approved and sent to formal with recommendation to approve, without objection.
• Dangerous Buildings Findings (Item 6.22): Received and filed.
• Deferral for Property at 8132 Whittaker (Item 6.23): Approved to give property owner more time for repairs.
• Grants (Items 6.24–6.26): Three grants: 6.24 (early voting grant, deferred due to no clerk representative; questions to be submitted in writing; approved to formal without objection), 6.25 (Crisis Intervention Program grant for 10th precinct, aiming to reduce juvenile gun violence — noted program started late in May 2025), and 6.26 (Safe Streets Now grant for 25–30 new ADA-compliant bus shelters at high-priority stops, not heated).
  • Votes: Items 6.25 and 6.26 approved to formal without objection. Item 6.24 approved to formal without objection after councilmember agreed to submit questions in writing.
• DTE Gas Easement (Item 6.27): Non-exclusive easement for DTE to modernize aging gas lines within historic Fort Wayne, not affecting sidewalks or pedestrian access. Approved to formal.
• Street & Encroachment Petitions (Items 6.28–6.34): Six petitions: 6.28 (street vacation for development with hammerhead turn), 6.29 (encroachments for Arab American and Chaldean Council), 6.30 (alley vacation), 6.31 (encroachment for Durga Temple storm pipe), 6.32 (alley vacation), 6.33 (alley vacation for nonprofit expansion in D6), 6.34 (encroachments for canopies). Approved to formal, with 6.33 sent to new business.
• Policy Memos (Items 6.35–6.40): Memos on shelter inspections, Michigan Senate bills 508-510 (ICE protections), DPD-ICE interactions, shelter inspection info, quit claim deeds, and notary services for low-income residents — all brought back in 1-2 weeks unless otherwise noted.

Key Outcomes

• Emergency Demolition Contracts: Nine bond-funded contracts held back one week; remaining five blight-funded contracts approved.
• Health Department HIV Contracts & Municipal ID: Approved and sent to new business.
• Police Vehicle Repair Contract: Brought back one week for further details.
• Traffic Signal Connectivity Contract: Approved to formal.
• Bus Shelter Grant (Safe Streets Now): Approved to formal.
• State Bills for ICE Protections (6.36): Brought back one week; Councilmember Santiago Romero to give testimony.
• DPD-ICE Interaction Memo (6.37): Brought back two weeks.
• Minutes: Approved at end of meeting.
• Member Reports: District 7 community swearing-in and vision session on January 28 at 5:30 PM; District 2 deed fraud protection town hall on Saturday (date not specified) at Northwest Activity Center, 10 AM–12 PM; Council orientation part two on Friday.