President Pro Tum Call Me Young the Second.

Here.

Council Member Scott Benson.

Benson.

Council Member Renata Miller.

President.

Mr.

Chair, you have a quorum.

Excellent.

Before we begin, we have a very special presentation that I am very honored to be able to do.

There's a great quote by Martin Luther King Jr.

who said that everybody can be great because everybody can serve.

And I think that this person embodies that spirit of service, that Detroit spirit of willing to give the shirt off your back for those that don't have, who is constantly out there on the front line, asking what he can do, looking to improve and add value to the lives of the people who we impacts on an everyday basis.

And so it is my honor and privilege and pleasure, along with this entire committee, a neighborhood community service standing community to present this special presentation to Mr.

Michael Cunningham of Idols Needy during the frigid weather of D Dot Riders.

Let's give a round of applause, everybody.

Now, before I begin, I just want to say it's important for us to recognize these type of services because we've had people who have frozen to death within the city of Detroit.

You have a lot of frigid conditions.

This is very hard work.

It's not glamorous.

As some cases, it can be dangerous.

So I just want to say it is my honor and privilege to be able to present to Mr.

Cunningham for Thursday, January 29th, 2026.

320 lip bomb fruit flavor to stop chap lips.

I need to take some of them.

A hundred pairs of large socks, a hundred pairs of extra large socks, a hundred and fifty pairs of large hand warmers, 100 beanie hats with 100 matching scars, and 60 pairs of bright colored gloves with touch screen ability.

Meaning that you can put the gloves on and you can touch your little iPhone and whatever else at the same time.

It is my honor and privilege to present this to Mr.

Cunningham.

Mr.

Cunningham, yeah, go ahead.

Go ahead and clap it up.

Go ahead.

Cunningham!

Mr.

Cunningham, is there anything you would like to say at all?

You can push that button right there.

Um the people are very, very appreciative.

And I was running low on these hand warmers.

Um so I was like not giving them out like to as many as I should have been.

Um I think six cases in three days is a lot.

And it's just really cold out there, and the people uh it just makes them feel good if they're uh semi-housed or uh they're waiting on the bus, which is not on time, maybe an hour late, half an hour late, 20 minutes late, and it just brings a little joy to them.

Uh know that God is real, um, that uh God works through anybody, and um it kind of warms them up a little bit.

Uh and then they and they jump on them.

Everybody know what a hand warmer is.

You no matter like who you talking to, don't talk to me.

But If I say, if I say something about hand warmers, um they they jump on it.

Uh so and it breaks down their walls.

So the people are really really going to be appreciative uh of these hand warmers, these hats, these gloves, and it is uh it's a blessing.

So um can I ask one favor?

Go ahead.

Can I get a picture with with with y'all these things in the okay?

That's all.

But the people will enjoy it.

They've been asking for hats, which I haven't had it yet, and then they've been asking for gloves.

So God shall supply all our needs according to his riches and glory.

Absolutely.

By Christ Jesus.

We have been joined by uh Council President James Tate, everybody.

President Tate, is there anything you like to say?

Well, if you didn't notice for a quorum, I can't.

Oh, okay.

You can.

Oh, that's true.

Yeah, but then you exhibit yourself yeah, that's right.

Thank you.

Thank you, Member Benson.

Thank you, Member Benson.

You know, uh Brother Cunningham, I just want to say thank you for all the work that you've done over the years.

Um, I believe we probably have the longest relationship uh as it relates to um members of city council.

And you've often talked about how I, you know, over the years treated you with with respect.

Uh that's not hard.

I always treat people with respect, period.

But it's even easier when you come when you talk about someone who shows the community that they care.

You've been through a lot of challenges.

We've had an opportunity to see it, and you know, we've uh ridden this journey along with you, and we're gonna continue to do so.

Uh, and when I was told that uh you were uh a member of District One, a resident of District One, it just filled my heart.

Um, and to be able to ride uh bus rides uh along uh Grand River with you, uh speak with some of the bus uh in transit advocates along with you.

It just again uh made me very clear on what my mission, another part of my mission is as being a member of the Detroit City Council.

So I just tremendously from the bottom of my heart, thank you for all the work that you have done, we'll continue to do and wish all the best.

You never can uh say Brother Cunningham without mentioning uh the the blessings of having your mother here and um being in the health that she's in, and we want to continue to pray for her and and for all those things that you uh have planned for the rest of your uh time here on this earth.

So thank you again, our brother.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Uh member Miller, did you want to say something?

Sure.

Member Benson, did you want to say something?

Sure.

Mr.

Cunningham, I just want to say you are a true man of God and a man of faith.

You come here day in and day out asking for supplies, and that's and your faith reaches into our community.

Today your prayers have been answered, and I hope everyone continue to call that number and give donations.

When you show up for your people, and we know that is you're on assignment.

I can identify with you because we used to go to the same church.

When you are an assignment, it's not of you, but it's through him.

And I just want to say continue to walk in that favor because he is watching, and great is your reward.

Sometimes our reward is not on earth, it might be in a heavenly place.

So I would say continue to be blessed.

I will contribute when I can.

I when I took the bus with you, and you just wanted a few dollars for the bus.

I'm like, here's 50 bucks.

How much can we give?

So when you recite the number, I just believe, and I'm in prayer.

I'm gonna connect my faith with yours that people will give to your calling, give to your mission, and you can continue to exemplify the man of God that you are.

I just want to say when we were on the bus, I was giving out one ticket or two tickets.

She's oh no, no, no, no.

They need to get home too.

And then that's when she did that.

So I remember that.

And that's why it's good to have partnerships too.

Sometimes we may get just there, but someone's idea may take you where you need to be because I I've been there years when I was young.

I could get there, but sometimes you just could not get home.

And when I got my my first car, I was 16.

I could not even afford the gas because I had ran through my allowance already.

And I would have to get $2 here and $3 there.

So yes, you have to have around should want to get back home to your family.

So I'm glad that was a blessing to you.

I look forward to partnering up again.

Thank you.

This is fantastic.

Um, this is a great bounty of fantastic deliverables as well for cold weather.

And we're down here in single digits and negative wind chill factor.

I mean, this is it's a tough time right now to be out on the bus or just be out walking, and so that is definitely a blessing.

So thank you for all your support for our residents and work in the city of Detroit, especially for those who are typically our most vulnerable and in the most need.

And so we had the opportunity to ride with you as well this past summer and just some of the stories uh the people that you were talking to and their backstories was just very challenging lifestyle for many people.

So thank you.

And thank you, Mr.

Pro Tim, for uh this bounty for the uh for the bus riders as well as Mr.

Cunningham.

I know he's gonna deliver this.

This is a great way to get this done.

No, thank you, Mayor Benson.

And I want to say thank you to everybody on this committee for allowing me to be able to do this, allowing me to have this, and I also just want to take a special time out to say thank you to uh Leader Tate and the leadership that he's provided and the freedom that he's allowed me to be able to have things like this and be able to do stuff like this.

I just want to say from the bottom of my heart, this is one of the reasons why I got into public service is to do what I'm doing right now.

So I just want to thank all my colleagues by allowing me to have that opportunity.

And with that being said, I think now it's time for pictures.

So let's take them.

Let's go to the card a little more.

That's why kind of center it with the photo.

Yeah, that's perfect.

There we go.

You don't get my spots.

I had to set up the picture.

Go ahead.

All right, everybody smile.

One more after them.

Okay, go ahead.

Ma'am, did you did you want to get in too?

Sure.

Everybody smile.

Oh did you want to get it?

Oh.

That's what I meant.

I was in here.

All right.

How put you round up the other side?

And then when you're done, I'll feel okay.

Behind the scenes.

Thank you.

Yay!

Thank you.

Very good.

Of course.

Don't leave.

Stick around, Mr.

Tate.

Don't leave.

Yeah, I'm going to go.

I was talking about that.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

No, we didn't meet that.

So now we will.

Okay, excellent.

Now we will go on to um is there a motion to approve the minutes?

Motion.

Motion made.

Are any objections?

Hearing none.

The minutes have been approved.

Negative chair remarks.

We will now go on to public comment.

I know we have two people that are here in person for public comment.

How many people do we have virtually for public comment, Mr.

Ball?

Okay.

Okay.

Okay.

So we're waiting for that information.

In the meantime, we're just gonna get started with uh in-person public comment.

Let's anybody else that wants to give in person public comment.

Go on once.

You want to okay, okay.

Well, we got these two gentlemen, and then after that, we'll have you two come up afterwards.

So go on once, go twice, score three times.

Anybody else?

Anybody else I see in the back of the corner?

All right, gone.

All right, first up, we got Mr.

Miles, and then we got Mr.

Crowley.

You can go right up there and get started.

Two minutes.

Hold on for a minute, because I'll make sure that we get your time right before we get started because not showing up.

And I don't know if we got some technical issues or not.

So if you just be patient with me, please.

You ready?

All right, go ahead, sir, Miss Miles.

Go ahead.

Two minutes, sir.

Okay.

So I come in today again.

I've been here since Monday, downtown, every day.

Trying to get some resolve on this property tax issue where the taxes was paid and misapplied.

I've been to all the departments with no response.

This has constantly been going on for ten years.

Going on ten years since 2017.

I'm trying to figure out all these departments, and no one can solve a city's mistake that's clear.

So that's where we at in Detroit, where no one can resolve a problem of their own mistake, or they don't make mistakes.

So I keep coming down here to all the elected officials from Duggan to Sheffield to Coman Young to Tate to everybody, office to the abuseman office, to Third Circuit Court.

So I don't know what's going on.

So I keep coming and I'm trying to get some uh some answers.

And it seemed like I'm I'm here and I'm just talking.

So what are we gonna do?

I mean, why am what's the solution?

Go ahead.

Because I don't just come down here for nothing just to talk.

So that's why I'm here.

Uh member Miller, did you want to respond to that?

Go ahead.

Mr.

Carly, 2017 is a very long time to be traveling down here for un to not have receiver answers.

Can I get your number?

I can call you personally because I don't want to see you to keep coming coming down here.

Correct.

Like let me see your face.

I'm like, here we go again.

So let's try to resolve it.

Have anyone said anything to you about it?

No one's giving you any answer from the assessor's office.

No one ever replied to you, email, text, nothing.

Yes, I have emails.

Uh pretty much emailed pretty much every department and talk to them, but no response after the email.

I just found it rather bizarre that no one has ever given you the proper answer that you've looked for regarding this.

No solution.

I mean, this is a clear No, I don't mean necessary a solution.

Like there's a no response as far as saying, hey, you didn't pay it, or they found this out.

Every time they told me that they did find something out, I gave them the receipts to prove that it was an era, another era.

And then they were investigating.

They supposed to claim they'd been investigating this situation.

Okay, we can't hear too much.

Oh, sorry, we can't hear too much bark back if you're gonna be able to do that.

Okay, no, no, I just gotta say, yeah, I just noticed you gave me that.

No, don't provide it now.

Provide it to a person.

Okay on paper, yeah.

And if you would just write down one or two names who you talked to in that department.

Okay.

And I'm gonna get an answer for you, then you don't have to keep coming down here.

Thank you so much.

We appreciate that.

Thank you.

Thank you, Member Miller.

And thank you, Ms.

Benson, for reminding me about that.

Um, who is no the next person we have in the queue is uh Reuben Prowley.

Two minutes, Mr.

Crowley.

What's up, Carmen?

Uh today I come and appear before you is Daru.

Mr.

Rue.

Me gave me that name.

Now, over there we see Scott Benson, District 3 representative.

I'm a resident over in District 3.

I'm also the new Burn Watch Association vice president of the box club.

He's a cheated and public official scoundrel, and a whole bunch of host of other names.

Now, Miss Miller.

You are new here.

I've triple checked all the records that Charles Miles has.

I've did my research and I've talked to people.

He paid all his taxes since 2012.

In 2017, they applied his winter tax payment, 1400 something dollars.

Well, no, summer tax payment 1400 something dollars to the 150, the winner bill, 151 dollars, and then they paid the 150 dollars to the 1400 bill.

He done been down here, and we've been down here every single day this week to get this matter cleared up.

Now they came out and they ordered, they sold this house, the one on Hubble, but it's another house involved as well.

They ain't talking about the one on Evergreen.

I know why now I'm getting closer to the truth.

Now what needs to happen is immediate halt in the state on the February the 6th district court hearing for eviction, and um it needs to be a stay until after the March to 12th hearing over in circuit court, where we're gonna demonstrate and prove that the city of Detroit is effed up big time.

Now we got cheated and public officials.

All right, sir.

I thank you, and I appreciate your time.

Next in the queue is Tina Lewandowski.

Floor is yours.

Two minutes, Miss Lewandowski.

Hi.

Um I'm just here.

Um I just want to say I met Brother Cunningham on Facebook.

Two different people, same mission.

We come together, service our community.

Um, and I just want to thank you guys for those donations.

You guys don't understand uh you know how much work it takes us to get what you guys gave us.

So I'm just here to to thank you guys for that.

Um we'll be out Saturday.

I'm gonna be making lunches.

We're gonna be servicing our community, um, giving those donations out.

And um, yeah, so that's that's all I really wanted to say was thank you.

And you guys really um we really appreciate everything.

You don't realize how a simple $20, how far $20 can go for us.

So thank you.

And that's all I had to say.

Thank you.

We appreciate you and all the work that you're doing.

Thank you so much for everything.

Uh Mr.

Cunningham, man, the hour floor is yours.

Too many, sir.

313, 444, 9114, 313, 444, 914 313, 444, 9114.

That number was made so you can remember it.

So I just want to thank you again.

And uh my Facebook put that number in, cash here, put that number in.

Um, or just need to contact me.

I met her um doing my work, and then she does the same work, and then when she gets a it's I don't know, it's a different demographic.

I don't know.

When she asks for a whole bunch of hand warmers and stuff, she can get it more uh more abundantly.

And so she'll give it to me for me to give it out.

And so teamwork, make the dream work, different demographic from a different area, different place, different color, different everything, but we still have that same mission, and that's for everyone listening.

It doesn't matter where you're from, let's do it.

This is our city.

She lives in the city of Detroit out there too.

We have a passion for this city.

Um, and there's others, and others assist.

It's cold out there.

Y'all know that.

Uh-huh.

It's cold out there.

And folks are not out there waiting at their bus stop.

Uh, and those that are semi-housed out there for their health.

Um, they're out there because they have to be.

And um, I just want to thank uh thank her and others uh under the sound of my voice.

And it said give it a shall be given, press down, shaking together, and running over.

Uh so we just keep on doing what we're supposed to do because we what we've done under the least of these, we have done unto him.

So let's keep on helping.

Let's keep on loving and forgiveness is is paramount, y'all.

I just wanted to say that.

And uh three times, thank you, pro Tim.

Thank you, pro Tim.

Thank you.

Pro Tim.

Thank you.

I appreciate that.

That is very kind of you to say.

All right.

Um I think that ends our in public uh or in person public comment.

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

Bo?

Sir, we currently have individuals with their hand raised for public comment.

Say it again.

How many people?

How many people again?

You can you got six people?

Okay, cool.

Okay.

Uh, 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?

First caller ends in 169.

169, floor is yours.

Go ahead, 169.

Hello, can you guys hear me?

Yes, sir.

Go ahead.

Okay, I just want to say uh thank you for praying for Brother Cunningham to everybody that's at home listening, to everybody that's there listening.

Um, the next time you need some transportation, um, instead of calling an Uber or a list, give Cunningham a call.

Um be fast, he's reliable, and he does uh flat rates and deals.

Um so give Cunningham a call.

Thank you for my time.

Thank you, sir.

Appreciate you.

Who do you have next in the queue, Mr.

Bo.

The next caller is Betty A.

Verner.

Ms.

Varner, floor is yours, two minutes.

Good afternoon to all within the sound of my voice.

I'm Betty A.

Brown, the president of the Soto Elswork Black Association.

Thank you, Brother Cunningham, for all the work that you do.

You are a blessing to a lot of people.

Thank you, Pro Tim Young for blessing Brother Cunningham, so he can bless so many people.

Uh we thank the council for all that you do.

I want to give some information out about a um health center called Nolan Family Health Center.

It's at 111 West Seven Mile Road.

It's not a free clinic, but it's a sliding fee scale.

You can uh if you have no health insurance, you can attend health services and dental care for $20.

No billing, no nothing else.

Just $20.

There's a process, uh income base, but call 313-369-2600, 313-369-2600 for dental care.

Call 313-366-5200.

313-366-5200.

They provide uh health services, dental care.

They have a social worker, case worker, and a counselor.

They uh will help with mental health problems.

They will help you get health insurance.

They have a pharmacy on staff.

They have emergency number, uh, 24 hours to talk to a doctor.

And that number is 313-822-0900.

One stop shot.

If you don't have health insurance, please utilize this services.

Thank you, Ms.

Varner.

We appreciate you.

Who do we have next in the queue, Mr.

Ball?

Sir, the next caller is William M.

Davis.

All right, Ms.

Davis, floor is yours.

Go ahead.

Uh good afternoon.

Can I be heard?

Yes, sir.

Okay, I like to thank.

I like to say I like to thank y'all for what y'all did for Brother Cunningham.

He's one of the many unsung heroes we have.

You know, he's almost like the patron saint of Detroit Transportation.

Uh, and he does an excellent job.

You know, he's always out there.

He's always willing to serve and to help people.

Also, I like to say that Betty Vernon, who just was online.

You know, she's a patron saint and a community advocate that does a whole lot to help a number of people.

Uh, next, I like to say, I would love to see, you know, when I was younger, we you know, we used to be able to go to recreation centers six days a week.

You know, now there's a lot of recreation centers only open Monday through Friday.

And you know, I think all the recreation centers should be open at least six days a week.

And it should have extended hours, especially during this cold weather and also during really hot weather.

You know, I think the recreation centers as I was growing up was a factor that helped me become a better person.

Because you know, I used to box wrestle, you know, play basketball and all sorts of stuff that kept me from possibly doing other things.

You know, we need to make sure we have opportunities for our young people and opportunities for old people too, because a lot of senior citizens go to rec centers too.

You know, so we want to make sure our city is more welcoming, uh, more doing more to help people, people, be the you know, young people to uh 100-year-old senior citizens.

There's more that can be done.

The city can be better.

The city used to be better than a number of areas.

So hopefully y'all could help to encourage more to be done to help more people.

And of course, in the last 20 seconds, of course, there's always more that y'all can should be doing to help the city of Detroit retirees because we was robbed.

We continue to be robbed every month, you know, from this fake bankruptcy from those evil Republicans.

And y'all have a great day.

You too, I appreciate you.

Uh I'm sure you were something else to watch as a boxer, man.

I didn't know that.

You you you you give me the feeling you was knocking people out, man.

So I definitely appreciate you telling me that story, man.

Uh, who do we have next in the queue?

Mr.

Chair, the next caller is Roshella Stewart, DPP.

Army Stewart, go ahead.

Yes.

Good afternoon, Program.

Goldman Young and all the council members I'm calling in.

I'm Michelle Stewart.

Um thanking you, the staff and everyone that provided those gloves, ham woman, and everything for Brother Cunningham.

You know, he greatly appreciated.

Uh, he's always out there giving out given to the community.

I also want to say, you know, I'm gonna be in here telling you to double that deed dot this year.

We gotta get it up the par.

Yeah, transportation system here in Detroit is getting better.

But we want to get into a world class, so people are looking up to Detroit to do the same thing that we're doing to get their transportation system up along with housing.

We need more housing at the 30% AMI.

Not doing no good too much at the 58% AMI for everybody that's below their property level.

I'm not gonna talk anymore today, but I thank you so much for the contributions that you have given to Brother Cunningham and all council members that are given.

But you and your mother know y'all are especially warming our hearts because you're always doing something for Brother Cunningham.

I thank you so much, Councilman Cobra Young.

Thank you.

I appreciate you and thank you too.

That's nice of you to say.

Who the next in the queue?

Mr.

Chair, the next caller ends in 124.

124, the floor is yours.

Go ahead, 124.

Good afternoon, may I be heard?

Yes, ma'am.

Go ahead.

Two minutes.

Yeah, well, congratulations to Brother Cunningham.

And did you bring him a birthday cake?

Sorry, I missed his birthday on January 26.

Happy birthday to you.

Happy birthday, dear Brother Cunningham.

Um, so thank you for honoring him.

And um also, you know, let people know in this cold weather, people need to layer up.

Multiple layers makes a huge difference.

I find uh uh mittens are better than gloves in this weather, too.

Um, Mr.

Benson, one of your former bosses who got uh bullied out of her house with the uh solar initiative.

I just found out had a stroke.

She told me she cried every day.

The city was bullying her into signing a deal, saying if she didn't get a deal, she wouldn't get signed the deal, she wouldn't get police services, she probably wasn't getting great police services anyway, and a number of other things.

She had 13 grandkids, five bedroom house, and I just found out she had a stroke.

If you watch the movie Paul Town Lives, you'll see that other people, like the guy that the bishop or whoever tried to save that church, he died of a heart attack six months later.

So, you know, you really need to halt this solar initiative the way it's being done.

I'm not saying don't do solar, but don't do solar ugly, do solar nights.

Look at the Michigan State uh uh solar uh Michigan State University uh parking lot that they put solar on.

I mean, there's plenty of land in this city that can be done instead of you just hooking up DTE.

DT's got a contract where they can terminate for convenience.

So um really not cool.

You've harmed a lot of people, and I met somebody who got pushed out of uh a black bottom, and he said he's never returned to Detroit, he never plans on returning to Trait.

This is not a good look for Detroit.

You really got thank you.

We appreciate that.

Who do you have next to the queue, Mr.

Bo?

Mr.

Chair, the last caller is calling user number one.

User number one, floor is yours, two minutes.

Can I be heard?

Yes, you may.

Uh, happy new year, uh, council member Young.

You're one of my favorite uh you and member Johnson.

Thank you for your kindness.

Member Young, I've been asking for the city to do something with the walkway that leads from West Graham Boulevard at the corner of Linwood, going all the way to Northwestern High School, and they will not make sure that every day tickets should be issued to the gas station to the church that make it where those that are wheelchair bound cannot roll down the uh street properly.

I'm watching children this morning fall, and it's been falling ever since the snow has failed.

I also would like it if you all will consider introducing a bill to start finding these property owners when they do not shovel the snow on major walkways that affect school children, and it should be also something done to find landlords who retaliate because we bring complaints to city council and show pictures and video.

I sent your office and all council members' office, and member Miller has not even reached out to me.

Very disappointing.

You took over from Sheffield and have not even reached out.

And if you look at it, I sent it at 9 40, 100 7, and still is not getting the answers needed.

When your dad was in office, he was the best, and we loved him, we supported him.

This city hasn't been right since the real mayor, honorable Colin Young.

We love him, and it will never be another one.

That's a historical factor.

So you are the offspring.

We love you.

We support you 1,000 percent.

Please help the children if need.

Thank you, ma'am.

I appreciate that.

Thank you for those kind words about my father.

Umler, did you want to respond?

Yes, for the caller who just called in.

I've been in office approximately 19 days.

And 19 days, I just got my telephone on Friday.

I'm not even in an office, and my staff is not either.

For the discontentment that I can hear in your tone, I want to apologize because I inherited about 78 calls from December that did not pertain to me, where no one wanted to talk to me but the previous administration.

I can go through a whole list of protocol issues.

But what I am here to do is to serve, and I continue to do just that.

But please do come see me at KMAC.

I am here.

I am able to be reached out through Thelma Brown, my EA.

She has she's listed.

And if you have anything else to say, please feel free to um give her a call and step an appointment.

And we can do a one-on-one if you like.

I would very much like that.

Thank you, ma'am.

I'm sorry, it's uh Mrs.

Shea.

And from my understanding, Miss Shay, um member uh Johnson uh has also uh sent that request about the snow being removed to the Northwestern High School.

So she sent that over there to DPS C D be able to take care of that.

So I just want to let you know that.

All right.

Do we everybody else in the queue, Mr.

Bow?

That was the last caller for public comment.

Excellent.

Okay, we will now move on to new business.

Office of contracting procurement line item 6.1 contract 64353-amendment number three, 100% bond slash capital slash IPA slash city funding.

Amendment number three to provide an extension of time only to furnish fleet vehicle upfitting services contractor, uh canfield equipment services inc, location 2153 Mount Road, Warren, Michigan 48091.

Previous contract period, April 16th, 2023, 2022 through January 13, 2026.

Amending contract period, April 16, 2022 through January 13, 2027.

Total contract amount 12,249,360 and 40 cents.

Is there motion to discuss lineup 6.1?

Motion has been made or any objections here and now we will now discuss line on 6.1.

Uh to Mr.

Weatherup, it says 100% bond, capital, IPA, and city funding.

I I don't understand how that's 100% when you're going through a lot of different pots of funds.

Shouldn't that good afternoon?

Good afternoon, Alex Brotherup, Assistant Director General Services.

Um I see that as well.

Uh through the chair.

I am not sure why it comes through like this on some contracts, but this to me is just a list of every funding source that has been used on this contract.

Okay.

Um, fleet has diverse funding sources over time.

Sometimes it's capital, sometimes bond.

Um, so for this line item, we're just adding time to the uh the contract.

Oh, and I see director stalls here, so I'll see time to her.

Okay.

Thank you, Sweather.

I appreciate that.

Miss Hello, Sanders.

Yes.

How are you doing?

Good to see you.

Thank you.

Likewise.

Uh Sandra Stall, CPO.

Um, through the chair, uh, when we can't predict with certainty the distribution of funding sources, and there are multiple funding sources.

We list all of the funding sources that may be used against the contract.

Sometimes we know for certainty there's a specific uh percentage of city funds versus grant funds, for example, and we can say 8020, 7030, such uh so on, but with an as-needed multi-year contract where we're going to use capital funds as they become available.

It started out with UTGO bond funds.

We use IPA funds against it when the IPA was available.

Um, we may use other funds against it.

Um, that's why it is a mixture, and we don't want to we we just can't predict the exact percentage of funds in advance, and we don't want to give an incorrect description in the council agenda.

Okay.

Okay.

Anyone else have any other questions?

Discussion, comments, discussion chair recognizes Member Benson.

All right, thank you.

Uh Director You stall, thank you for uh being here.

Just looking at this contract, it is an extension of time only, and it runs through January 13th of next year.

What are the future plans as far as rebidding this contract to try at least to open up again to get some uh Detroit participation in this one?

Yes.

Uh we do plan to put the uh upfitting services back out to bid to get more businesses involved.

We are definitely seeking additional capacity um in it in addition to making opportunities available for local vendors.

Um this extension allows us to take advantage of the lower prices that we have from the beginning of the contract uh back in 20 uh 2022.

Um, which are better than uh prices that we've received more recently while we go back out to bid and um look for more vendors.

Okay, thank you.

Any other questions?

None of concerns all right.

Um is there a motion to move line on 6.1 to formal session with recognition for approval, we put on to new business.

Motion's been made.

Are there any objections?

Here in the line on six point one, we move to formal session with recommendation for approval, you put on to new business.

Line on six point two, contract number six hundred forty-three ninety-six, amendment number one, 100% city funding to provide increase of funds only for repair service, labor, and slash or parts for active fuel sites and the upgrades improvements or official closure for the inactive fuel sites and underground storage locations.

Contractor, Phoenix Environmental Location 12815, Premier Center Court, Plymouth, Michigan, 48170.

Contract period, July 1st, 2022 through July 30th, 2027.

Contract increase amount 418,000 dollars.

Total contract amount 1 million forty three thousand and uh 43,000 and zero cents.

Is there a motion to move line or six point two to formal session?

The record is for approval.

We put on to new business.

Motion to discuss.

Motion to discuss.

Chair recognizes member Benson Vice Chair Bence, excuse me.

Through yourself to the administration, uh just the same question regarding uh contract expires next year, 30 June.

Just looking at what the plans are for rebidding to uh get Detroit participation on this one.

Let's see something.

Alex Weather, Assistant Director General Services.

Uh yes, we do plan to be rebidding this um before the the new term.

Um we hope to find um several more vendors.

We love to find vendors in the city.

Um in this one instance, we are also in increasing the scope for the current contracts.

We're adding some DDOT locations, the DDC location.

Uh so that was the impetus for this for this increase.

Okay, and so this is going to ensure that our gas pumps for the city fleet, including the executive fleet work, and we don't have a situation where we go to a 10-pump location and one pump works.

Is that what we're looking at having here?

The through the chair.

The goal is to have them all working, which is why we're uh why we need this contract uh to make sure that we have maintenance repairs ongoing.

Our current pumps and tanks are about halfway through their useful life.

Uh so we know it's even more important to maintain them now.

What's the plan to um get new equipment?

Through the chair, um it's still several years away.

Um so we will be um, you know, we'll work with the capital team when the time is right to procure and uh plan on replacement.

All right, what's the total cost for uh replacement of our pumping system?

Through the chair, I I'd have to look it up.

I'm not too sure.

We've got several, I think, 10 or 11 underground tanks plus all the surface level pumps.

Um so I I can find out, but it'll just take a little while.

What's the useful ice of useful ice life of a pump and its tank in the system?

Uh through the chair, the useful life is about 25 years, and we're at the 15 year mark.

All right, all right, thank you.

All right, thank you.

Uh chair recognized member Miller.

Hello, Miss Dahl.

Um, member Millie speaking.

I could go each item today.

We have five on the list.

So I just wanted to say frankly, if you could provide because everyone uh on the list today is not in Detroit.

It is this is I'm not I'm new here and I see every contract that comes through, and it is disheartening.

So for me, if someone could provide for me the list of vendors for these six today that apply for these contracts and the bid amount that was asked.

I would like to see who all applied, and then that would give me an idea of who's actually participating.

Is the word really getting out?

Are we really advertising?

Are we trying to keep this in-house?

Because they have a list full of vendors today, and not one out of the whole uh agenda is Detroit based, it's problematic for me.

So if you can provide that list of vendors who applied, what the bid amount was, I would like to see that please.

Thank you.

Yes.

Um through the chair, thank you for the question.

Um at the uh OCP, it is also a goal to increase local participation, encourage as much uh um as possible for that reason.

The city has an ordinance um with local preferences where Detroit certified vendors get a competitive edge on bids.

Um the the uh LPD staff prepare a very detailed report for every um committee for every contract that is submitted, which includes every uh bidder and their um bid amounts or their scores in the rankings, um, and also Detroit certifications.

So that all of that information would be found in the reports that are sent out by LPD.

Um we do numerous outreaches um all year long.

In fact, our very next one uh takes place this weekend, Friday and Saturday for the construction outreach.

Um we have uh sold out.

We have almost 200 vendors coming to learn about construction opportunities across the various different committees, um, different contracts go forward, and there are certain commodities where we see a lot more participation from local vendors versus other ones, sometimes in fleet, we have a mixture.

Um I'll note that one of the contracts before uh this body today is for heavy duty truck repair.

That was a multiple award.

This is the final contract awarded out of that uh bid.

Uh, and we have awarded to um, for example, Kerry Brothers, uh Detroit um headquartered business as part of that uh bid.

Um we have uh local vendors who bid on the Americ uh on the sprinkler contract, but um even with equalization credits, American Sprinkler was the lowest uh response.

And um, those are the bid rules that we uh for an RFQ we must award to the lowest bid after uh equalization credits are applied.

So um I want to assure council that we care very much about local participation.

We uh for that reason we do so many outreaches.

Um we've moved to a new solicitation platform that has increased response rates and uh made it easier for vendors to respond.

Um we have a new construction contract that we are submitting this week that is a brand new um uh vendor located in the city that we'll be bringing in to work for the city for the first time.

So I'm excited to be able to share that.

Uh and um I hope that the information provided in the Tito report will give you the information that you're looking for in terms of who else bid and what were their uh bid prices.

Thank you.

Uh yeah, I just wanted to ask um I and I appreciate you because you're always thorough.

That's one of the things I really appreciate about you.

Um but I just want to ask.

Um looking at my tutor report, and the only contractor I see here Phoenix Environmental.

Is that the only person that bid?

No, uh so no, that should not be.

This is an amendment of an existing contract.

Okay, right, uh, where we have an immediate need to add the D dot sites and the D DC to ensure that those underground storage tanks are functioning properly, and we do our uh mandated regular inspections while we go out to bid for the next contract.

Okay, so do we have those people from the original contract who bid on it?

Yes, we would be able to provide that information.

I appreciate it.

Hold on for today.

Oh, what?

For today.

Oh, okay.

Well she'll provide it to you.

All right.

Any other questions?

Chair recognized member Benson.

All right, thanks.

Thanks, Chairman Banson.

I'm sorry.

Um Director You stall, not sure if you have the opportunity to invite our newest members to a uh one of the sessions where you are hosting the potential vendors.

I think that would be go a long way to letting them see what your office does to educate uh potential Detroit-based vendors on the opportunities of the city of Detroit.

I've in fact it's been a number of years since I've been to one.

I'd like an invitation as well to uh see what you all are doing and how you've modernized uh your uh recruitment efforts to get more Detroit-based businesses.

So I think that would go a long way to just letting people know what you all are doing to try to get these numbers up.

And then what is the city goal for participation by Detroit-based vendors?

Um as high as possible.

We don't okay.

Okay, that's a good metric.

100% 100%.

There we go.

All right.

Oh 100%.

Um we uh did have a specific written goal for Prop N, for example, that was exceeded.

What was that going?

Um and uh that was I believe 51% um for Detroit-based businesses and 30% for small businesses, small and micro businesses.

And so in those cases, we actually did set aside bids for the small and micro.

What's our participation rate now for general fund or just period for participation in Detroit-based businesses?

Right.

So I mean, participation, uh, if you if we mean awarded, yes.

So in terms of um contract dollars awarded, we're right around 30 percent for Detroit certified businesses.

I will note that the the uh awards are higher if you include businesses and nonprofits that are located in the city but don't happen to be certified.

And um our partners over at the Detroit Building Authority also do a pretty good job of um doing business with Detroit businesses.

So I would suggest that 30% doesn't sound great, although it may be much better than we've done in the past, but a goal of the as many as possible, 100%, 51% is great, and so I just hope that we'll have a metric um standard goal that we're shooting for, and then just start to measure how we're doing annually when it comes to awarding Detroit-based and located businesses, and get those invitations out to the colleagues for these uh job fairs or we will share information about this Friday's construction speed networking session if council members would like to drop by.

I would I would think a personal invitation from you to my colleagues would go a long way.

Uh we'll do all right.

Uh I just wanted to say um before we end.

Um, Director Stahl, you saw thank you for always being responsive, no matter what we ask, whether it's late at night or early in the morning.

Thank you so much for your professional courtesy.

Always good to work with you.

Thank you again.

Thank you so much.

Does anybody have any other questions, comments, or concerns?

All right, hearing none, thank you.

Right.

Okay, I swap.

Is there a motion to move line item 6.2 the formal session with record dates for approval?

We put on to new business.

Is there a motion?

Motion made.

Are there any objections?

None.

Hearing none, Lionel 6.2.

All right.

Oh, you want to say something?

Okay, just check me.

Okay.

All right.

Lionel 6.2, we move to formal session with recognition for approval, be put on to new business.

Lionel 6.3, contract number 67485, 100% city funding to provide heavy duty truck repair service and parts.

Contractor Southern Truck Equipment Incorporated, DBA STE Location 4310, Van Dyke Road, Alma, Michigan, 4803 contract period upon City Council approval for a period of three years.

Total contract matter, 250,000 dollars.

There are motion to move line on 6.3 to formal session with recognition for approval, we put onto new business.

Discussion.

Discussion.

Chair recognizes member Benson, Vice Chairman Benson.

Same question.

Uh through the chair.

I apologize.

The question about the Detroit base.

There we go.

For that one, I'll defer back to Director Stahl.

Dirk Stahl.

Or whomever uh might be hill Hillary Edwards as well from OCP.

Uh through the chair, I'm sorry, is this for the BSN contract?

Yes.

Yes.

Um discussion Southern truck equipment.

No, I'm sorry, so the truck.

So the truck is all right.

So the truck ahead of myself.

Southern truck uh quick.

Yeah, so Southern truck.

Um, so I shared before that this is uh this is the final contract awarded out of a bid that awarded three other vendors, which included Kerry Brothers, which is a Detroit headquartered business.

Okay.

Chair recognized member Benson.

You director Stahl, same question again.

What we what do we need to do to get more Detroit participation on something like this?

This is now a I think a two-year contract, three-year contract that's going out for 250,000.

So we won't be able to see something like this again for a number of years.

So it doesn't seem like a niche uh or unreasonable thought that we could see a Detroit-based business do this type of work, but I'm not the one doing the bidding.

We we do have a Detroit headquartered business awarded as part of this multiple bid.

I'm not sure if that was if I was clear enough in what I stated.

No, it was not.

We awarded four, and one of the awardees is a Detroit headquarter business.

Okay, so 25% on this one.

Okay.

We're moving the needle.

All right, thank you.

Any other questions?

Comments or concerns?

No.

All right.

Is there a motion to move line on 6.3 performance session with recognition for approval?

We put on to new business.

Motion.

Motion made our interjections.

None.

Yeah.

All right, line on 6.3, we move to formal session with recognition for approval, you put on the new business.

Line of 6.4, contract 67629.

100% city funding to provide athletic equipment, uniforms, and gymnasium supplies.

Contractor BSC and Sports, LLC location 1928 Starback Drive.

Rochester Hills, Michigan 48309 contract period to Paul City Council approval for a period of two years.

Total contract amount 750,000.

Is there a motion to move line on 6.4 to formal session with recommendations for approval we put on the new business?

Motion discussion, motion to approve with discussion, discussion, chair recognize member Benson.

So yourself to administration.

Same question.

Same question.

Through the chair, uh 33 vendors were invited.

Everyone who had registered to be able to provide this or similar items, we received two responses, one from BSN, one from Amazon.

Uh BN set BSN had about um half the cost uh of the other bidder, and we're awarded based on lowest bid.

All right.

And then just looking at Amazon, it's surprising they were able to be outbid.

Um glad to hear that local vendors can compete in that space.

Um, how often do we do work with Amazon as a city when it comes to this type of uh retail vendor services?

So uh we haven't had any large contracts with Amazon as um uh as yet.

Smo very small micro purchases have been made with Amazon.

Okay.

Or individual small purchase items.

Thank you very much.

That's very good information.

Um, and then I'll I'll just eliminate the need for you to come back on 6.5.

And this is something that my colleague said earlier that today, five contracts uh well, four contracts, actually three, because what there are two are holdovers, no Detroit participation on the new contracts.

This is something that comes up all the time.

It also might be helpful uh in the TEDA report or in to some type of document for before for each committee, is just to let us know if you see a situation like this, knowing that these are the questions are gonna come up, just letting us know what we're doing as a city or just some type of note why we don't see any uh Detroit-based or headquartered businesses as part of the contracts.

I'll really be interested in seeing how we're doing throughout the year, maybe quarterly, um, every six months, how we're doing as a city when it comes to the amount or percentage of contracts are awarded to Detroit-based or headquartered businesses.

I think we'll also be able to cut down on some of the questions if we can see or have visibility in how we're performing in the city in that space.

Right.

Um, through the chair, if I may respond.

Um speaking specifically to 6.5, I do want to note that in terms of participation, we did have responses from Detroit uh certified businesses.

In fact, they have many certifications allowing them to have pretty high percentage discounts, but American Sprinkler still came in um by far the lowest bid.

So I just wanted to note that for that contract.

Um it's a quick interjection there then.

Then why would that be?

I mean, we have one is they have one, two, three, four, five different certification equalization point categories, yet the 15% um reduction in their or allowance to have be over the winning bid, but they still weren't competitive.

I mean, they are came they came in double at what the winning bid came in.

Why was something like that happened?

I mean, we work so hard to get these equalization points to get participation from our Detroit businesses.

Why or our disadvantaged businesses?

Why would something like that happen?

Why wouldn't they be able to be competitive?

So you'll notice that American Sprinkler and Landscaping is specialized in uh irrigation systems, whereas the other two vendors are pretty uh general and can do a variety of work and often use subcontractors to do specialized work, so that can increase costs.

Um as uh as vendors are specialized and do a certain uh a large volume of work in a certain niche, they are able to have very good supplier relationships for equipment and other things that allow them to have very competitive prices.

Um so between not having to subcontract and layer on administrative costs and having those uh really good supplier relationships for competitive pricing, they're often able to outcompete the more generalist vendors.

All right, I mean that's very helpful if you're able to as a special special idea, someone specializes to bid 50% less than someone who's more general and probably outsources.

I think that type of information will also be very helpful to my colleagues.

And so when we talk about your vendor fares and what you're trying to do to bring in a greater portfolio of Detroit-based businesses into our ecosystem, I think that type of information is also very very helpful because oftentimes we see this document, they're like, whoa, it's outside the city of Detroit.

We we don't see any Detroit-based businesses here, but now you're telling a more detailed story about why Detroit-based vendors may not be competitive in certain spaces, which I think would just be very helpful for us and how we go about engaging with uh small businesses to get them here.

Discussion.

No, no, sure.

Chair, um member, I'm sorry, member Miller, go ahead.

I look forward to sitting down with you and your department regarding this, how we come to these conclusions because for me sometimes when you hire in-house vendors, they hire Detroit's.

So our money stays in Detroit.

I I mean, I I'm looking, I'm gonna look through the report again because I'm sure if you're in Warren Plymouth, All Mount Road, Rochester Hills in Love Oh, yeah, those lawyers probably hire people in their cities.

So they come here to work, take through checks back to their cities in that becomes a difference for me.

That's really a big deal.

So I look forward to sitting down with you.

Thank you.

I look forward to it as well.

Uh yeah, I just wanted to ask you, um Director Stahl, what about subcontracting and Detroit representation in the subcontracts aspect of it?

Do we record that at all?

Do we record how that is?

Do we record how much business that is that goes to Detroit contractors versus other and to kind of piggyback off of uh Miller's brilliant question?

I don't know if that's you or that's DEGC or somebody else, but that they do analysis in terms of the cycle, the velocity of the dollar one and the cycle of it flowing through the city of Detroit.

How long does it stay in the city of Detroit?

Does it stay 28 weeks, it's day 15, does it stay two weeks, say two hours?

You know, what what is that?

I would really just like to know that I don't know if you collect any information or not, but I really just want to just out of curiosity know if you do what the answers to those questions are.

Um, through the chair, you had a few different questions.

I will note that um when we do request for proposals, uh the respondents do get credit for subcontractors who are certified Detroit uh businesses.

Um we have not uh maintained um uh what is the right word, metrics of subcontractors.

We don't have a legal relationship with subcontractors the way that we do with prime contractors.

Yeah.

Um and then for the final question regarding you should for subcontractors, and you should for joint venture too.

I forgot to say that.

Because people need to know because people need to know what they're doing.

Joint ventures we do, um uh there those are a little bit different than the subcontractor relationship because we're contracting directly with the joint venture.

Well, I got what you're saying.

Regarding regarding the cycle, the the life cycle of the dollar and in the Detroit economy, I would have to defer to um the economists um to give you an accurate response.

That's fine.

No, I I I appreciate it.

I just asked you because I know we're talking about contracts, so I didn't know if you did that, you know, internally or in house or if you work with somebody else, but that's fine.

No, because I I think it's important that people understand like the work that you're doing and how that impacts that, yeah.

You know, obviously the biggest room in the world is a room for improvement.

We can make improvement in terms of contracts that we give to Detroiters.

But if you got like a large number of subcontracts that are going out there, people need to know that.

If you got a large number of joint venture, you know, that's a little bit different.

People need to know that.

You know what I'm saying?

Because you don't want it, because you don't want the the stigma or the or the um or the optic that we're not handing out contracts to Detroiters if there's uh if there's if there's analysis that we're not including, you know.

Maybe we're not doing it in the general sense, but we are doing it subcontractually, you know.

Right, right.

Those are uh very contracts.

I mean the word go ahead.

Right.

Very good points.

Um I I want to note that in all of our solicitations, we as a standard encourage our vendors to subcontract with local vendors to work with Detroit at work to hire Detroit residents.

We do joint outreaches with um DESCO Detroit at work.

Um they uh we've been working with them to really target some of our hard labor, high labor contracts, such as janitorial and security, um, and blight remediation to really look at increasing Detroit resident participation.

Um, and also um help the vendor with their employment um needs as well.

Uh, I want to assure city council that we care very much about these goals.

Um, we are bounded by the parameters of uh how we can award, but we do everything that we can in terms of outreach and the equalization credits as allowed by our city ordinance.

Uh I do want to note that even if you're not located in the city of Detroit, you can be eligible for Detroit resident certification by having a certain percentage of Detroit employees.

All right, thank you so much.

I appreciate that.

Uh, Director Stahl.

Any other questions, comments, or concerns?

Okay.

Um Clerk, where are we again?

6.4.

Okay.

Is there a motion to move line on 6.4 to formal session with recognition for approval we put on to new business?

Motion.

Motion.

Hit the button.

There you motion.

Motion has been made.

Are there any objections?

None.

Here, none.

Line on 6.4 be moved to formal session with recognition for approval, we put on to new business.

Line on 6.5, contract 67619.

100% city funding to provide irrigation system repair and maintenance, median and public spaces.

Contractor American Sprinkler and Landscaping, location 3456, 7 Glendale, Lavonia, Michigan, 481 by zero contract period upon city council approval for a period of two years.

So a contract about 295,000.

Is there a motion to move line on 6.5 to formal session with regulations for approval to put on new business?

Motion.

Motion made are any objections?

None.

Here and there, line 6.5, we move to formal session with regulation for approval, we put on to new business.

We will now move on to member reports.

The chair has negative report.

We will now go to Vice Chairman Benson.

All right, thank you.

We have three more life and legacy planning sessions for our residents for state planning.

Please go and sign up for a life and legacy planning.

Please do a quick Google search on life and legacy planning.

Those are very important.

Those are $4,000 estate plans.

This is your Lady Birdie.

This is your power attorney.

This is your power of health.

This is your will.

These are critical documents to ensure that your property and your family's wealth, your estate is passed on to the next generation.

We have so many of our residents who don't have these conversations at the table.

They think we're never going to go on to glory.

And I just got news for everybody.

Everyone goes on to glory.

At one time or the other, we don't know when, but everyone does.

And what you don't want to do is be in a situation where your home is vulnerable, where your family is state, your wealth, your stocks, your bonds.

And if you don't like your family, or maybe you don't have a family, you would like for those items maybe to go to your church or go to your school or go to a friend.

Make sure that you have your estate ready to go and that you are taking care of your family.

And no matter what the age, we see attendees at these workshops are typically our senior women.

Free is fantastic.

Please go out and take care of your families and prepare your estates and prepare for your transition, which will come one day.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Member Miller.

Yes, I would like to thank everyone that came out to District 5.

First community kickoff.

There was over a hundred people present in the freezing temperatures.

And I wanted to say thank you to everyone in District 5 who attended.

And those that missed it yesterday, I apologize that we were not able to get it up and running on Zoom, but look for our date in February where we're attend we plan on attending typically around the third week in uh of the month.

But once again, to those hundred plus people that came out and the vendors from Detroit from the city of Detroit that came out and actually set up table.

I want to say thank you very much and to the media crew.

Everyone that came out, I appreciate the setup.

We had a tremendous turnout.

I am ecstatic about the residents that I had the opportunity to meet and look forward to serving in the coming future.

Once again, thank you, and I look forward to seeing you all soon.

Thank you, Member Miller.

Uh without objection, neighborhood community service standing committee will now stand adjourned.