For joining us for the planning and economic development standing committee on today, Thursday, January 29th.

Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll?

Good morning.

Councilmember Letitia Johnson.

Present.

Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero.

Member Santiago Romero indicated she is running a few minutes late, but she's on her way.

Council President Pro Tim Coleman Young.

Here.

Madam Chair, we have quorum.

Thank you.

Having a quorum present, we are now in session.

Good morning, Pro Tim.

Is there a motion on the minutes?

Motion.

There's a motion to approve the minutes.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

I do not have any chair remarks, so we are going to move into public comment.

If there's anyone joining us who'd like to make a public comment, please raise your hand.

Please raise your hand.

Seeing no one in the committee of the whole, if you'd like to make a public comment and you are joining us virtually, please raise your hand on Zoom.

Going once.

Going twice.

Going three times.

Public comment.

Has now closed.

Good morning, Ms.

Great.

How many hands do we have raised virtually?

Madam Chair, there are 10 hands raised for virtual public comment.

All right.

10 hands raised for virtual public comment.

We will give everyone two minutes.

This may be my last time given two minutes, noting that our agenda is starting to fill up.

So who do we have first?

And let's make sure the clock is set for two minutes and we will get started with our first caller.

Let's get the clock on the screen.

And who's our first caller?

Make sure your microphone is unmuted so I can hear you, Miss Great.

Madam Chair, our first caller is caller ending in 169.

Caller ending in 169.

You have two minutes.

Good morning.

Um hello, can you guys hear me?

Yes.

Great.

I just want to say um thank you for praying for Brother Cunningham.

Um, for everybody that's at home listening, everybody that's there listening.

Um, the next time you think about getting some transportation, um, don't call um Uber or Lyft or Cab.

Give Cunningham a call.

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

So um give Cunningham a call.

Thank you for my turn.

Thank you.

The next caller.

Our next caller is William M.

Davis.

William M.

Davis, you have two minutes for general public comment.

Uh good morning.

Can I be heard?

Good morning, yes.

Okay, I like to start off by saying, of course, the city of Detroit really needs to pay the debt that is it could never really truly be paid to the city church retirees.

This whole recovery has been and continues to be on our back.

We know many of us that have to pay the annuity cloud back.

See it every single month.

That helped to diminish the generation of wealth that we could be passing on to our kids and grandkids.

I have three grandkids now.

I just had uh a new uh William Marty Davis the third, um, born in Florida.

Uh I also I think that more needs to be done about re greatly reducing the impact that the land bank has.

You know, they have a they still have a tremendous amount of properties.

Uh they still it should it should be no problem about selling some of these side lots to to people who live on either side or around the lots.

You know, even if they sell it for a dollar, it'll benefit the city because we don't have to cut the grass two or three times a year, like we should at least be doing, but sometimes don't seem like that's happening.

And also the the occupied um structures that the land bank have, they should give the people who's living there an opportunity to buy those.

We need to be downsizing that inventory more than what's going on.

Um, and the land bank is the source of a lot of blight and problems in a lot of the neighbors throughout the city of Detroit.

As you know, I'm a former elected police commissioner, but that was over four years ago.

I've been out of office, but people still call me about problems all over the city.

I mean, all over the city.

And you know, we could you know make the city safer by getting rid of a lot of these properties the land bank has.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And we are working through the challenges that you indicated, and congratulations on your new grandmaby.

Madam Clerk, if you would please know that Member Santiago Ramiro has joined us.

Thank you.

Who's our next caller?

The next caller is Jadante Smith.

Jadante Smith, you have two minutes for general public comment.

Good morning, may I be heard?

Good morning, yes.

Good morning.

So I looked at the agenda today.

There are a lot of interesting items, uh especially the land quarterly report on the agenda today.

Um, I just want to give a shout out to uh councilmember Santiago Romero.

Your team has been excellent in responding to me and my uh inquiries around uh down zoning and things of that nature.

Um, I have took a look at the process and the application, and I know it will come before this committee, which is a nice thing to hear.

Um also I like to say there's a lot of interesting things that are on the agenda today, uh, just being the nature of this committee, and I got some good research in it.

This agenda is very, very big.

And uh, I think it needs to be gone over thoroughly.

Um, I would like to just ask is there any way to do a um is there any discount for the the down zoning request?

Because the application fee is $1,500 for one acre and $50 per acre after that.

So that's a pretty hefty fee.

I understand how these things may work, but when you come from actual grassroots, it's a little bit difficult to raise that amount of money.

Um, I'd also like to say that there was a question raised March 21st, 2024 about the fund uh for the city of Detroit that pays out lawsuits against the city of Detroit.

Um, and looking at the amount of in uh indemnifications for police officers.

Um, I haven't seen as many DDOT lawsuits, but we still seem to be paying out a lot of money from our fund um to these lawsuits that could be avoided.

Um, and I have a friend who is possibly going to sue the city of Detroit for a foyer request that is went unanswered for two plus years that was only answered after there was a threat of a lawsuit.

Um, I'd also just like to say I appreciate you, councilwoman councilwoman Johnson, for also uh your assistance and expedient responses.

Thank you.

I'll see the rest of my time.

Thank you.

And uh we'll look into the down zoning request fee uh and get back to you about that.

I'm not certain uh what it is for the community to apply for the fee.

The next caller.

Our next caller is Betty A.

Varner.

Betty A.

Varner, you have two minutes for general public comment.

Uh good morning to all within the sound of my voice.

I'm Betty A.

Varner, president of the Soda Ellsworth Black Association.

Uh congrats, Mr.

Davis on your uh grandbaby.

I'm gonna give some information in regards to uh that could help people who uh don't have health insurance.

There's a uh organization, the Detroit Community Health Connection, and they have multiple health clinics that are in neighborhoods.

I'm gonna give some information about uh the clinic that is located at 111 West Seven Mile.

It's in Detroit.

Their telephone number is 313 369 2600, again, 313, 369, 2600.

If you need dental services, that number would be 313 366, 5200.

3136, 5200.

They have it is not a free clinic.

They are a um a clinic with a sliding fee scale.

You can get um health services and dental services for a flat 20 with no um billing or anything.

Flat 20.

Walk in the door with 20, get service.

There is a process.

The name of the clinic is no land family health center.

They also have a uh 24-hour emergency number, and that's 313 822 900 for the on-call doctor.

313 822 0900 for the on-call doctor.

They have counselors, social workers, and caseworkers to assist you get to get.

Thank you so much, Ms.

Garner.

Thank you for always being a resource.

We appreciate you.

The next caller.

Our next caller is Owner Papa.

Owner Papa, you have two minutes for general public comment.

Good morning.

And through the chair, may I be heard?

Good morning, yes.

Thank you.

And yes, Ms.

Varner, for all of your the information that you provide to the city.

You are a wealth of knowledge and we appreciate you.

And uh congratulations, uh Mr.

Davis for your new grandson.

Um after listening to the audit meeting yesterday, I I thought that uh Miss Good Goodspee Speed was supposed to have a presentation as well, but we seem to have skipped that portion of it.

Um I think I think to dismiss the um problems that they had in home as just a um as nothing.

I I think people have been complaining about how the home funds are being spent.

And I think it's telling when um on the agenda has been a question about the money amount of money that was spent in district six on a basement uh abatements.

Um we also had Munes, of which there was no resolution to done.

I mean that we just let it drop off.

And one of the things was the type of housing that is provided.

Um I honestly believe that the planning committee should be planning more than just what you're planning uh for developers, but planning for uh disaster recovery for the citizens.

Uh, where would we go if the I mean we are we're in a we're in a climate not just of weather, but of um uh political and and and international.

Um I I really think that we need to focus too on disaster recovery for the citizens.

Where would we go as Ms.

Winston used to ask?

Where would we go?

But she left if anybody cares.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And perhaps you missed my response yesterday in regards to the home funds.

Um I did thank the auditors for um sharing that with us and let them know that as home fund requests come through the Planning and Economic Development Committee.

I will um certainly uplift the requirements that are expected of the federal government and making sure that we are meeting those requirements.

And we do have a disaster recovery uh task force.

Uh, it is co-chaired by myself, Member Santiago Romero, and Member Waters.

Um, and we are working on identifying how we are communicating, providing resources to address disasters that happen throughout the city of Detroit.

So thank you for elevating that.

The next caller.

The next caller is Tahira Ahmad.

Tahira Ahmad, you have two minutes for general public comment.

Good morning.

Sorry about that.

Uh thank you.

I'm glad to hear that it's going to be some disaster uh remediation.

Uh and that you all are heading it.

Um, I'm kind of concerned that uh when uh we experienced flooding in Detroit and called FEMA, we didn't get the uh relief uh thinking 2022.

Um, but uh there was quite a bit of relief in Southwest Detroit, not to disparage it uh them from getting it.

They needed to get it, but uh black homeowners are uh were snub because I guess because of uh Doug and so that's unfortunate.

I hope now that there will be some equity for black homeowners.

Um also uh this is a new age.

So uh we right now we need to think uh positive about how we're gonna get funding.

Excuse me, and I'd like to offer some uh ways of getting funding.

Uh Dan Gilbert and the um Hudson deal was a breach of contract.

Uh so we need to claw back that $600 million or get him to do more to help um $600 million wise because he was supposed to um uh bring in 2,500 new jobs and he went and got the the uh jobs from the GM building or from uh Renaissance.

So that we need to claw that back.

Also, uh the uh progress fund, uh the former mayor uh set up a progress fund and it was labeled as a secret fund, but uh if if the progress fund is still functioning and Mr.

Duggan is unable to take that money with him, get that money to help us repair our homes and uh to get those funds because uh I understand it's millions of dollars.

Thank you.

Have a blessed day.

Thank you.

You as well.

And I'm just like to remind uh residents that the private sewer repair program still has some funding.

Um it is a program that is available throughout the city and various neighborhoods.

The housing and revitalization department is administering the program.

Um so please look into that.

I know we've been sharing it throughout District 4.

Again, it is the private sewer repair program.

If you experienced a backup in your basement in 2021 and filed a claim, whether it was with the insurance company, FEMA, the Great Lakes Water Authority, the Detroit Water and Sewage Department.

Please be sure to reach out and get the information to have your private sewer line addressed.

The next caller.

You have two minutes for general public comment.

Sorry.

Can I be heard?

Yes.

Good morning.

Um council member Johnson.

I have two questions I'd like to ask.

I first want to say thank you for always being willing to listen and work with individuals, even if they're not in your district.

I've sent an email today.

My council member is Miller.

They will not reach out to me.

I've sent multiple pictures showing that the walkways off of West Graham Boulevard is not being shoveled and it's causing injury to the children and elderly.

People cannot use their wheelchair just to roll down uh West Graham Boulevard.

The bus stops is also not being properly um shoveled, and I'm tired of excuses.

You're one of my favorite along with council member young.

And I thank you for not being rude, uh, narcissists and racist, unlike some that only will focus on a race to represent their district while not helping uh other districts.

I'm very disappointed that no one will make this uh businesses be fined daily for not shoveling.

This is an emergency.

Can you do anything to help the children that go to Northwestern High School so they don't have to keep falling as we speak while I'm talking to you now?

Please let me know.

This is emergency.

And I'd also like for you all to make a ban to stop landlords from retaliatory eviction because we contact you all and make you aware of what is going on with these raggedy properties in Detroit.

I always come with receipts and I stand on that.

Thank you, Michael.

Um, as the liaison to the Detroit Public Schools Community District uh board, I will certainly ensure that Northwestern High School is elevated to them for them to address the sidewalks to ensure our children, our young people have clear access to and from the school.

Member Santiago Romero.

Thank you, Madam Chair, good morning, Michelle.

And just want to share being the only non-black city council member at this table.

Um our office responds to you daily, Michelle.

I know my staff is very responsive to your questions, although you are not in our districts.

Um we will continue to help you however we can.

Just wanted to put that out there because you said a thing that I also have receipts on when it comes to our communication with you.

Again, we are happy to help.

We'll continue to do so.

Um, but as you said that, I can only think of my staff who talk to me all the time about the issues that you bring forward for us to help address.

And I just make it very clear that we are also here to help you.

Thank you, madam chair.

Thank you.

The next caller.

Our next caller is inclusive community engagement matters.

Caller, you have two minutes for general public comment.

Good morning.

May I be heard?

Good morning, yes.

I'm sorry.

Good morning.

May I be heard?

Good morning.

Yes.

Okay.

And thank you for two minutes.

Um, well, member Johnson.

Um, it's nice to see a change at the head of the planning committee.

Um, I'm glad that you are concerned about how expensive the downsize zoning fee might be for residents.

You were concerned about the community appeals fee.

But I'd like to see some concern for the outrageous uh price for transcripts that the uh BZA is all of a sudden trying to impose on residents, even only just recently.

Um, even though Detroit City Code 50 266 requires the Board of Zoning Appeals to have uh transcripts of its proceedings, regardless of whether anyone appeals.

So, and also their current rule.

Uh, I think it's 3.05 requires uh verbatim testimony from their transcripts.

Well uh we've asked the council to look at this before.

The law department was interfering with their right to petition government for redress of grievances to look at this matter.

Um, this is not litigation with the city of Detroit, it's an appeal with the Board of Zoning Appeals, it's not the same thing.

And now being pushed by the law department, the uh Board of Zoning Appeals wants to change its rules and make people pay for the transcripts and some other things that violate due process.

There was even a Wayne State law school professor that showed up and told them how problematic the rules are, and they don't seem to have cared one bit about what the residents brought to them.

So you have a duty of oversight here, and if you're gonna care about the cost to other people, you need to care about the cost of the transcripts, and also we should be able to get the zone.

Thank you so much.

We will look into the concern you addressed.

My understanding was that there is access to a computer within the zoning, the Board of Zoning Appeals Department, um, to access transcripts.

So we will certainly look into that again and um work with BZA.

Thank you so much.

The next caller.

Our next caller is Cunningham.

Cunningham, you have two minutes for general public comment.

Cunningham, are you there?

Hello.

Good morning.

Can you hear me?

Yes.

Okay, I'm in Royal, dropping off a customer.

I'm pulling over to the side of the road for safety.

Myself and other passengers, I mean, uh uh drivers around me.

313 44491144914.

313, 4911.

That number was made.

You can remember it.

That is my catch up.

That is my phone number.

If you want to find me on Facebook, put in 313 444 9114.

If you want to pray, you want to hear the message on that line.

Please do thank you for everybody's birthday wishes via text and and just verbally.

It was uh a good 44th birthday.

Thank you, everyone on the sound of my voice.

I've been asking for years.

Those that come up to public comments should get their valid uh the voted ex at the desk.

Um, I don't know, probably falling on deaf ears, but that's such a simple thing to do for those who do come down to city council to give them a bus ticket and also um validate their parking.

I've been asking for years, yeah, but it is what it is.

Um, on Wednesdays, people do charitable work by bringing like hot chocolate, uh socks, adults, or not bus tickets.

I do bus tickets, some people do as well.

But the locations where people need um the transit centers are closed overnight, and so if you have a van, a warm van or something, maybe you can come down there and bring food and a blanket and let them stay warm for those four hours.

The Rosa Parks Transit Center is located at 1310 Cass Avenue, and Harbro Transit Center is 1121.

Either you can give me some hand warmers or give me some funds for bus tickets or just do it yourself.

The addresses, there's a need every single night.

It's cold up there, and people need mercy.

Thank you.

The next caller, Madam Chair, our last caller before you cut off public comment is caller ending in 039, noting that there was one hand raised after you cut off public comment.

Thank you.

Caller ending in 039.

You have two minutes for general public comment.

You're a chief and public official.

Okay.

Look over to your side there.

Gabriela Santiago.

You're a liar.

And the TV public official.

And I ain't live.

Say what now?

Please watch around.

You can't watch what I'm out.

I'm telling you.

I'm telling you too.

Since 2020.

2020, 2021, 2022, or 2024.

Definitely cheated.

And I gave the information to number 47.

Donald J.

Trump, the president of the United States of America.

And I think he used it to his advantage to become the president again.

Now, what I'm don't gonna do is I turned the city upside down.

Y'all don't know about it yet.

And Gabriella and um Letitia, y'all still got y'all faces on.

Now I'm about to make it shape.

And yeah, I'm Mr.

Rule.

Mimi gave me that man, and she won't what she won't.

She won't.

Y'all stop saying her mama killed herself.

Y'all didn't want to do it, so that's why I took it.

Now I'm getting ready to take it to the next level.

Right now, we got this gentleman.

This is seven residents.

How's foreclosed on it?

I'm not I'm non-black.

And then they're trying to evict him out the house.

No, it's not gonna happen.

Because we're not gonna allow it.

And I didn't say I said we man paid all his taxes.

I saw the receipts myself.

I looked at him.

He'd have paid all his taxes.

The city misapplied a payment, and that man's house should have never been foreclosed on by the county.

I didn't talk to the people I needed to tell.

All right, thank you.

That now concludes our general public comment, and we will move back to the agenda agenda, beginning with unfinished business and line item 5.1.

Line item 5.1 is the status of council member Gabriela Santiago Romero.

Submitting memorandum relative to tax abatement in district six.

Colleagues, there is a request for a two-week bring back.

Is there a motion?

Motion.

There's a motion to bring line item 5.1 back in two weeks.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Moving on to new business line item 6.1 is contract number 6007573.

This is a lease agreement to rent 931 Selden as a construction staging area for the development of 900 Tuscola.

Contractor Manahan Proceder contract period upon city council approval through October 31st, 2028.

The rent is 500 per month.

Colleagues, is there a motion to approve or discuss?

Motion to approve.

Discussion.

There's a motion to approve with discussion.

Member Santiago Romero.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Wondering if we have anyone to discuss this contract, have a few questions about the development at the site.

Mr.

Mansoff, Mr.

Proceda, and Miss Elizabeth Johnson.

I'm not sure who is joining us to answer the question.

Mr.

Trong, please introduce yourself for the record.

Yes, sir.

The chair, this is John Trong, the Housing Revitalization Department with the real estate division.

I should be joined by my colleague JP Mansoff as well as uh Peter Precida with the development team.

Good morning.

Uh JP Mansoff here uh with housing and revitalization.

Morning.

Morning and hi, this is Peter Presido with the developer and contractor on the site.

Good morning, member Santiago Romero.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Good morning, gentlemen.

Just um a simple question, really.

This is phase two of this contract of this project.

Um, but during phase one, there were some concerns shared with our office.

Um and I you may or may not have heard about these concerns.

They're really related to fugitive dust as construction is happening um next to residents.

Um during the first phase, there was a fence that was put up around the sites that did help a lot.

We heard from residents, it did prevent some of the fugitive dust from going into their lots.

But once that was removed, um, the fence was removed suddenly um neighbors around the sites were covered in dust.

Um so just want to make sure, want to hear from folks what the plan is to make sure that we are mitigating impacts uh while this construction is happening.

Is there a plan um already in place to avoid any nuisance as construction is happening?

Yeah, I I can speak to that.

So there is a site fence up right now.

Um we are not aware of any current complaints as it relates to dust or or nuisance and and are uh open to and and willing to hear from community members if they have uh challenges or or comments or questions.

And you know, given that we are the um within the ownership team of the building across the street, which was phase one.

We have those residents who have an open line of communication with us and and have not heard any issues yet.

We continue to to speak with also our retail tenants, DOS Cafe and Detroit Dance Center about um their issues with construction.

Um, if any, and and thus far we haven't had any complaints.

Uh I will note that you know it's been winter and it's been cold and it's been wet, and you know, that helps a whole heck of a lot with dust.

Um, but yeah, right now there is a site fence up.

If if um there are any issues, we're happy to address them as they come up.

But we we think you know, given that we'll be building through the spring with most of our underground being done already, it should mitigate any dust concerns.

Through the chair, thank you.

Um, yes, and as I mentioned, these concerns we heard during phase one, um, and it was in the spring.

So when there is less snow on the ground preventing or supporting um the capturing of dust as you're doing your work.

Um, and happy to hear that you already engage with folks.

Um, then we will make sure to hear any concerns with you directly.

But just wanted to make sure that there was a plan to mitigate if you have that fence that really did seem um to to help um address these concerns.

Um, my only other question is how do we get to the $500 a month um uh price tag?

I can speak to that uh through the chair to council member Santiago Romero.

Um generally for us, this is a uh city supporter project with um you know city funds in it.

Uh generally for us for construction staging to support that uh per parcel is about $500, uh larger sites anywhere from you know upwards to a thousand.

Okay, thank you.

Um Madam Chair, just a few more through you.

In the tutor report, it does mention the insulation of a concrete and gravel um structure.

Wondering how big is this, how small?

Again, are there plans to make sure that we're mitigating um we live around a lot of industry, a lot of concrete crushers, um, and there are a lot of concerns from residents.

Um so if you wouldn't mind sharing with us, is this small?

Will it be um controlled?

Um that would be very helpful.

Yeah, so so overall the site is a partial piece of the the um of the full the piece that we are renting is a part of the full parcel.

Currently, um the J Hub school at the former Jefferson School is renting the balance of it for their parking during um their construction and finishing.

Uh we will be coded, you know, in an effort to mitigate dust, we're putt dust and and impacts, we're putting down gravel across the site.

Um, and so that will keep things down.

It's really for staging uh and access to the northern portion of our building so that we can finish the wall with um brick and and erect scaffolding and and come in and out uh once the building starts to go up and we get choked in from our other entry points.

Got it.

Okay.

And then just wondering what the parking plan is.

I know there's a lot of projects coming into this area um as reutilizing vacant lots.

What is the parking discussion that we're having and how we plan for that as we keep building?

So the the development uh is just shy of one-to-one parking zoning, only requires point seven five to one parking.

Um when you account for small cars and um like mopeds or motorcycles were above one to we're at one to one, sorry.

Um, and so that is the the parking plan for the future development.

Umce we are complete, we won't need this lot for any parking.

Everything will be contained on on the development site.

Okay, understood.

Thank you.

Uh thank you, madam chair.

Thank you.

And Mr.

Proceda, I think can you just clarify what you were referring to as it relates to the gravel?

Um, it's currently a gravel lot.

Are you just ensuring that it stays there?

It is not.

So the portion of the lot that we are renting is currently grass.

The portion of the lot that is rented uh by Invest Detroit is already gravel.

So we're essentially matching that condition on the portion that we are gonna rent.

Okay, and Mr.

Trong, um, the city is supportive of that.

Is are there any plans on utilizing this land in the future?

Yes, this will be part of future redevelopment plans.

I can hand it off the JPS to the later phasing.

Um, so yeah, I don't uh through the chair to council member job.

So um don't see any issues with the gravel um sort of providing any challenges for future development.

Um, and I believe this um this lot will be a future phase of the Midtown West project.

Um, and it's in a slave.

So don't see any challenges there.

Okay, thank you.

Um that that's interesting to me because I'm wondering now why uh we wouldn't just sell it to them instead of going through this rental process if it it'll be used for a future phase.

But um, it sounds like it looks like you may have had those conversations uh amongst yourselves.

Um would would be interested in understanding that I maybe mistaken.

I thought this was included in a purchase agreement that we had with the developer.

It it is included in a purchase purchase agreement.

The um the rationale is essentially that Invest Detroit wanted to extend their lease on the parking for another year, and in order to accommodate that, we agreed to push off our sale.

Um we need this piece to enable while Invest Detroit deals with their parking challenges.

We need this portion of the lot so that we can deal with our construction challenges.

All right, thank you.

Pro Tim Young.

Thank you, ma'am, chair.

Uh always good to see you gentlemen.

Appreciate you guys.

Uh I just wanted to ask you how do we come up with this $500?

Why wouldn't it be more uh than that?

Is there like a schedule?

Is there like something that goes along with this?

And is this normally what we charge?

I mean, I don't want to get in a situation where it's like, oh, advanced Detroit got 500, but there's another city property that's charged like three thousand dollars and call me and juniors out here giving sweetheart deals in these parking lots.

You know what I mean?

So just kind of walking through how you got to this, and is this what people charge across the board?

Generally for us for any projects again, or there's city funding and supporting uh this where you know the financials are already pretty tight.

Okay for us.

Construction staging generally for you you will see in the future or anywhere from 500 to a thousand dollars, especially you know, for light tech projects and things city supported.

Okay.

Uh, you know, it's it's it's to support the construction.

And that's it, and that's consistent.

Yeah, so that's consistent.

I'm I'm I'm not gonna see some other project, and it's like you know, they're paying 500 and so and so is paying like two dollars, right?

No, no, this is pretty nominal to be to be candid.

Okay.

Thank you.

I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

All right.

Colleagues seeing no additional questions.

There was a motion to send line item 6.1 to formal with a recommendation to approve.

Any objections?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

Uh thank you all so much for joining us this morning.

We appreciate the additional information.

Happy to help.

Thank you all for your support.

You're welcome.

Line item 6.2 is contract number 6007618, 100% city funding to provide home repair loan program design consulting services contractor, the ownership initiative consulting LLC contract period upon city council approval for a period of one year, total contract amount 108,000.

Colleagues, is there a motion to discuss line item 6.2?

Discussion.

Um I believe we have Chief Rico Razzo and Kelly Tremail who will be joining us.

I am just wondering if we know what type of engagement will take place as this design work is being done.

Good morning.

Uh you may be muted.

I can't tell, but we cannot hear you.

Can you hear me now?

Yes.

To the to the chair, good morning.

Um I missed that entire question being switched over as a panelist.

So if you could repeat it, I would appreciate it.

Absolutely.

And uh please make sure you introduce yourself for the record.

But my question was um, can you speak to the type of engagement that will take place as the design work is being done for the program and share with the public what the uh program is?

Yes, uh, to the chair, Rico Rosso, chief of home repair and neighborhood services, HRD.

Um, and to your question, uh the ownership initiative is um through this contract would be brought on as a consultant to help us redesign the home repair loan program as it exists right now.

It's a zero percent interest home repair program where you can borrow up to 25,000, pay it back over 10 years at zero percent.

And so uh the original um program that was launched a decade ago, the the housing market in the city is a lot different.

So at this point, uh Lisc local um uh initiative support corp, I always forget that acronym, has been the contract holder uh for that entire period.

Uh that contract has been through city council, I think nine times for amendments to continue the contract.

And uh last year we decided to put a pause on the zero percent program, um, finish every house that we had in the pipeline, get get the houses through underwriting through construction, complete those, but also at the same time look at redesigning this program so it serves residents a lot better for the market as it exists today.

So the ownership initiative uh would be brought on.

They would work not only with um housing and revitalization department, gather all of the data that we have.

They would also uh gather all of the data that LISC has uh compiled over the last 10 years.

Uh, we will be working with our uh all of our nonprofit agencies and partners that have been part of the intake uh and application process with the zero percent program.

We'll be working with residents who have gone through the zero percent uh program.

So everybody that has touched this program over the last decade will be part of that um process, and we're hoping that uh right before the summer, we will have compiled all of our findings, all of our feedback, um, and have created a an updated program and have an RFP ready to go uh to put out and and ultimately bring on a new service provider for a home repair loan program.

All right, thank you.

Uh and within that list of individuals that will be engaged to help design the next phase, I would love to have someone from my office uh involved in the design process.

So if you can please add us to the list, we would appreciate it.

We will do that.

All right, I saw Pro Tim Young's hand first.

Pro Tim Young.

Thank you, man.

Ms.

Rosal, always good to see you.

Man, I'll see you more and more this week.

Um I just wanted to ask you really quickly.

Um, do we track like what the benefit of this is?

How many people uh demographically, you know, apply for this, how many do they get, you know, in terms of uh gender, in terms of race, in terms of um in terms of um age?

Do we also uh track what the economic impact of this is, how much this how much this increases um uh property values in the community?

really quickly um do we track like what the benefit of this is how many people uh demographically you know apply for this how many do they get you know in terms of uh gender in terms of race in terms of um in in terms of um age do we also uh track what the economic impact of this is how much this how much this increases um uh property values in the community how much how how much does this in terms of rebuild actual housing and and stabilization of neighborhoods in these communities these loans in terms of what they get do we also do we also measure this in terms of um employment do we measure this in terms of the zini index and what I mean by that in terms of income inequality in terms of how many of these loans get out but does it have an impact economically in terms of income inequality in terms of reducing that gap at all do we measure this at all and if we do how do we measure to the public is it is there a dashboard are are we talking about like artificial intelligence and blockchain technology what are we doing for people to be able to see what this program what you do on a normal day basis so we're not just talking about what we need you're actually showing people what you're doing and how does it impact the city of Detroit for the better.

Yes through uh through the chair to Pro Tem Young uh that is going to be part of closing out list contract so their contract ends um 630 of this year so the end of the fiscal year uh that 10 year run with with Lisc will be completed and we'll have a full report of the entire program I I will I can give you preliminary numbers right now over the last decade we've helped 825 uh households through the zero percent interest home repair loan program that is uh 16.7 million dollars that has been borrowed uh the average age of residents 58 years old average length of ownership uh is 25 years average credit score 685 uh average income is 41,000 so I can give you those preliminary numbers right now I will say I think we've had you know somewhere uh one I want to say it's somewhere around 2% of of loans that have defaulted so overall it's proven to be a model that residents pay you know they pay back the loan and the dollars they borrow um and it's been a very effective tool for households that normally can apply or be approved for uh grant funded home repair um in the city just because their income may be a little too high or they just don't meet the other eligibility criteria so it has served a great purpose and I think before it's all said and done serving close to 900 households through this program is is a pretty successful program.

Mr.

Razo that's exactly what I'm talking about.

Thank you.

You understand the assignment I appreciate that I just think we need to kind of add a little bit more and fine-tune it a little bit I think you know you probably have to measure it in terms of if anything in terms of crime reduction because of um you know environmental design and neighborhood stabilization I think that's something I would like to see um I would also like to see more in terms of you know people be in terms of property value increases as well in these places where it's been given you know I mean I know we talked earlier about income inequality I think that's important and also about um about uh property wealth I think those are things in terms of being able to build generational wealth long term the opportunity of that I think that's something that's important as well we might even we might even be able to see if we can measure this in terms of the amount of dollars that these communities spend in the city Detroit so we know how many times those dollars bounce in the community you know because I I think that's something that we have to talk about too from a cooperative economic standpoint but so far this is good stuff.

I just think it needs to be somewhere online where people can actually see it.

I don't know if it's like I said it I would prefer a blockchain but it doesn't have to be that because the immutable digital ledger but it could be you know a dashboard it could just be you know a website but something where you can actually I actually point constituents to so they can see it so they can look at it so they know what this is they know what it does in the community and also the amount of growth of loans that has been able to do from this as well how if there'd been more people that received it than they received previously I like to be able to see all that as well but otherwise thank you so much sir and I appreciate it.

I'm done thank you thank you.

Member Santiago Romero thank you madam chair through you too Mr.

Razo good morning.

I have similar questions along um the lines of our pro time glad that we are collecting demographics that we have that information and data but my questions are around how we're evaluating the program um how often we evaluate the program um do you know if we do this annually or is this really the first time that we're gonna do a comprehensive look um at our programming and the results um that that have come from it through the chair to council member Santiago Romero um so I've been in in my position going on uh three years at this point um the last couple years we have been working to serve the households and at times we've had to amend the contract to continue it I think the plan has always been to reevaluate redesign the program um when I got when I got into this role that was discussed we're here at this point now I think it's taken a little bit longer than than we anticipated but um to your question I think this will really be the first time that we're taking a deep deep dive into the program looking at all the numbers demographics how it served people to to uh protest

I think the plan has always been to re-evaluate, redesign the program.

Um when I got when I got into this role that was discussed.

We're here at this point now.

I think it's taken a little bit longer than than we anticipated, but um, to your question, I think this will really be the first time that we're taking a deep deep dive into the program, looking at all the numbers, demographics, how it served people to to uh pro tem Young's question, um, gathering even more data than I think um you know than I just laid out here in terms of some some smaller demographics.

So, yeah, we're gonna take a look at everything.

I think we're uh very excited.

Uh this contract will bring on the ownership initiative, who has had uh extensive and extensive background in several landscapes across the city related to housing, down payment assistance, land bank authority, side lots.

I mean, all of those programs, the ownership initiative has been part of the banking industry.

Um, so we're we're gonna lean on that knowledge and experience as well as gather all the other other information from our partners so that we can uh provide a comprehensive and full report of the program.

Okay, that's great.

Um I I believe that we should be doing this annually and that we should find a way to do so, um, even if it's something simple, um, like how are your experience today, happy, sad face medium, like that really matters for people's experiences as they utilize these programs.

And as someone that you know, we help start the down payment assistance program, we really push for 0% loan programs and services.

Um I want to continue to do that.

I want to continue to make sure that we have funding for these programs, but I'm hearing some really heartbreaking, frustrating and scary stories and experiences from people that are going through our programs, which makes me not want to promote them because we are providing these opportunities to folks that are very vulnerable, teachers, folks that are you know, working class, middle class, you know, having like doing what they can to go up the pipeline.

Um, and what I've heard are that sometimes the contractors that we work with leave people's homes worse than how they found them.

Or what's even more heartbringing and scary is that our own inspectors um are overstepping their boundaries and their power.

Um, and I'm glad that you're gonna be speaking to people directly because I have some people in mind that I would like you to talk with, and it might be an anonymous conversation testimony that they have because in the stories that I'm hearing, our contractors may not be doing the work that they're supposed to be doing, and our own inspectors I have heard are hitting on women, are are being inappropriate, and this is an abuse of power when you have loans and funding and a program that's supposed to help you fix your home to now be scared that there is somebody with this power over you.

And I'm gonna assume this is not the first time, and these are not the first questions.

So if we can ask people, and I think people are scared actually, and I think people don't want to have inspectors be in trouble or contractors lose their job, I don't think it's any of that.

What I'm asking is that we evaluate that we take these stories seriously, that we address the problems before they become bad and before people don't trust our programs anymore and don't even want to be a part of our our zero percent loan programs.

Um and and really if we can figure out a way um based on these evaluations to really strengthen our program.

So, can we evaluate contractors and rehire them based on results?

Bring them back based on um how people felt that they did their work.

Um I think it's a very different conversation with our inspectors.

I hear they are unionized, they have their own protections, which we can have a conversation offline about what that means.

Um, but if we can find a way to evaluate to get into the questions and conversations that are being had, not at these tables, but that are variable experiences, and if we can figure out a way to better our programs by utilizing that feedback and correcting action and also rewarding the contractors, the inspectors, the people that are doing their jobs and actually caring for our people.

That was a lot.

Just wanted to put that on the record because these are things that are happening and conversations that I want us to be having.

So thank you.

Thank you, madam chair.

Through through the chair, can I respond to council member Santiago Romero?

Absolutely.

Thank you.

Um council member, yeah, uh customer service.

I I take that to heart.

I think my staff knows whenever issues arise, I'm probably the first one on the scene in somebody's house talking through the situation, correcting anything that needs to be corrected.

Um that is that is warranted.

Obviously, we we have situations where um some residents are upset that a contractor won't do additional work that wasn't in the scope of work.

And so we have to we have to balance that too.

I will say in the zero percent program, and again, in my my role in HRD, uh been the chief for three years, almost three years.

Um we've we've serviced the 825 homeowners, and we we have warranty issues.

We've we've had some complaints about inspectors, staff, um, and contractors.

I I won't sit up here and say that that doesn't happen.

I think it happens across the board, but I will say um anytime those situations happen.

I know some people may want to be anonymous, but please pull me into that.

Um I think every council member at the table right now understands that that we react pretty quickly if issues arise because that's the last thing I want.

You know, our our residents to serve deserve the best customer service possible.

And again, I think this whole redesign is gonna help do that.

Uh we've heard one of the issues that residents don't like in the in a home repair loan program, is they don't have the ability to uh uh select their own contractor.

Obviously, here at the city we have procurement rules, we have vendors that are certified through the city because they have insurances, they have their licenses, they have they check all the boxes needed to be a uh certified contract.

Mr.

Robress any and all concerns, and we're hoping to redesign the program to make it better.

Thank you.

Well, no, you were fine.

You just blanked out for a moment.

I'm not sure if it's the internet, but I think we got the gist of what you were saying.

Okay.

I I didn't know if I was taking up too much time.

I'm I'm very passionate about customer service.

I I want all of our residents to be uh treated with respect and and have uh the proper work being performed.

So uh we will get on any of those situations.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

And um, I certainly hope that you would.

And I know when we've raised issues um that has taken place, and I always share with residents to elevate the issue sooner than later.

There are times when residents might wait a couple of years and the contractor has already been paid, and that just makes it so much more challenging to actually address the issue.

Uh, so certainly want to encourage residents to raise the issue as soon as it becomes an issue.

Um, I also just want to um just express appreciation for providing access to capital for people because that can be very difficult for residents in the city of Detroit.

And so I'm hopeful that the redesign will take into consideration a number of of challenges that we've heard.

Um, hopefully that we will um, and I don't know what the default rate is, that we will look at whatever the default rate is has been for this particular program to make sure we're addressing that as well, but um providing access to capital to even more people to be able to utilize the program for uh home repair, home improvement.

So uh thank you for that.

I believe Pro Tim Young has a question.

Pro Tim.

Yes, uh, it's more it's it's more of a statement, but I just want to say again, thank you so much for all that you do and your service, and this is really important work that you're doing.

I appreciate you.

Um, but I just also kind of wanted to piggyback on off of Romero.

When I don't get rid of say it's kind of dorky here, so forgive me.

But um she was talking about happiness, and she was talking about uh emojis and I and there's there's an actual like happiness index that economists use in order to measure economic spending in the community.

And so I think not only is it important for us to be able to approve um how um these uh contractors are performing, what she said was serious because a lot of this stuff goes into sexual assault and goes to other such things where I think is fundamentally wrong and is um and is a crime.

It should be people should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, quite frankly.

But it's also an economic case as well, because there's economies that measure based on that feeling what their spending will be like and what the economic analysis is.

It's the it's something called the happiness index.

I'll send it to you.

I don't remember all the terms.

Kind of it's kind of wonky a little bit, but I just want to make sure that I got that out as well.

That this is not only just a case in terms of just protecting people and keeping people safe and in in terms of um sexual assault and abuse uh for men and for women or them and they, but it's also about making sure that economically this is measured as well.

So you understand what the gigs of the program is.

I know you already do that, so I guess what I'll kind of ask you is just kind of expanding on that, building on that, and then the platforms that you're using to get that out, just how that is.

So but I just want to get that across.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right, thank you, colleagues.

Uh is there a motion on line item 6.2.

Motion.

There's a motion to send line item 6.2 to formal with the recommendation to approve.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Thank you, Chief Razzo, for all of the insight and information.

Thank you.

All right, colleagues, moving on to the City Planning Commission and line item 6.3.

Uh and I will share if someone wants to come forward.

I'm not sure if um Mr.

Fizzini.

All right, line item 6.3 is to amend chapter 50 of the 2019 Detroit City Code zoning by amending article 17 zoning district maps, section 50-17-49, district map number 47 to revise the zoning classification for a parcel generally bounded by Richton Street to the north, Potaski Avenue to the west, DeWayne Street to the south, and Homer Street to the east, commonly known as 4094 DeWayne Street from the R2 district, two family residential zoning classification to the SD1 special development district, small scale mixed use zoning classification.

Is there a motion to discuss?

Motion.

Discussion.

Good morning, Mr.

Fazini.

Please share with us what we have here before us.

Uh good morning, madam chair.

Uh so before the committee is uh request today to um send to council a recommendation regarding setting up public hearing.

Um so this item would come back um if that's done in approximately a month or so, and at that time we would have the development team um and others here um with a more expanded presentation prior to the public hearing.

Um so this is an ordinance to consider uh rezoning to City Council District 5 in the Narden Park neighborhood, um formerly City Council District 7.

Uh it's one block west of Dexter Avenue and one block south of Cortland Street.

Um it's the former Alice Burney Elementary School site at 4094 Dwayne Street.

Uh the school was closed in 2009 and the building was demolished in 2016.

Um so it's approximate approximately five and a half acre, um, one parcel site on that the city owns um and has a request for proposal out on that developers responded to, and um, this development team is the petitioner on this rezoning.

Um, so it would be a rezoning from R2 to SD1 to permit multifamily and mixed use with the senior housing component um developed um and managed by Presbyterian villages of Michigan.

Um so that's all I have at this time, Madam Chair, but can answer any questions.

Thank you.

Member Santiago Romero, any questions?

Not at this time, no.

All right, thank you.

Uh I don't have any uh at the moment.

So Member Santiago Romero, is there a motion to send line item 6.3 to formal for introduction of an ordinance and setting of a public hearing?

So moved.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Thank you.

Line item 6.4 is submitted report and proposed ordinance to amend Chapter 50 of the 2019 Detroit City Code zoning by amending Article 17 zoning district maps, Section 50-17-48, district map number 46 to revise the zoning classification for certain properties generally bound by an alley to the east, residential homes to the north, 15th Street to the west, and Marquette Street to the south, commonly known as 6106 15th Street, 6116 15th Street, 6122 15th Street, 6128 15th Street, 6134 15th, 6140 15th, and 6146 15th Street from the existing R2, two family residential zoning class classification to the R3 low density residential district zoning classification.

Is there a motion to discuss?

Discussion.

Discussion.

I believe Miss Paralis is here.

I actually have a question relative to this particular line item.

Um just understanding why if you can share what the particular project will be and why are three.

Good morning.

To the Territory CPC staff.

The request is from Northwest Goldberg CARES to develop a nonprofit center designed as a miniature schoolhouse.

The activities on the site already do take place in an outdoor recreation type of area.

The development itself would to would be to create a one-room school house center that would operate as the organization's nonprofit unit to allow for these academic classes to occur for these students over the summer and potentially uh winter time, which is not able to be done right now due to the outdoor location that it is presently.

The reason for R2 to R3 currently with the R2 zoning district with the proposed um school uh nonprofit center, it would be on a conditional um basis, so it would have to go through the special land use hearing.

Um additionally, because um within the R2 district, there is a minimum lot size for a neighborhood center, which is 10,000 square feet, and that would then require a variance.

If um it is rezoned to R3, the requirement then drops to 7,000 square feet, which would meet the current square footage the lot has, where the current um parcels and the development is well under 10,000 square feet, hence the reason why for our uh maneuvering to R3.

The petitioners were not um did not feel comfortable moving forward with the conditional land use and requesting that variance, they felt more comfortable um with the development going for R3.

Thank you for that.

So when I hear R3, I think there's going to be some level of residential uh development on the the land.

Um, but there is none for this particular project.

Uh to the chair, that is correct.

There is not a residential component to this land.

Um within the R2 and R3 districts, uh, neighborhood center nonprofits are allowed to exist within that zoning district.

Um within R2, it is just um on a conditional basis, whereas to R3 it would be a by-right basis.

All right, thank you.

That that was the only question that I had for now.

Um member Santiago Romero, any discussion or is there a motion?

Um just to your point, um, and this is indeed five.

There's a lot of the development and housing happening, though I don't think a lot of it affordable in this area.

Um I too want to make sure that we're building housing where needed.

Um, that I also believe in this area a community center would be great.

So Ren, I'm just talking through your thoughts, um, because I agree um and I hear you.

Um I guess to that end, would you happen to know of any other housing projects coming down the pipeline in this in in the neighborhood?

Um uh councilmember Santiago Romero.

At this time, I I'm unsure within the Northwest Goldberg neighborhood uh directly.

I do know last year we had a rezoning um with Bellevue Village with Church of the Messiah.

Um they were working on affordable housing development in district five, um, but within Northwest Goldberg directly.

Um I myself am unsure of any developments coming down the pipeline, but I do know, and this is something that um again, this is uh request for the public hearing.

So once the developers here and we are able to have a more formal presentation, they're able to touch, they will be able to touch on some of the development that they've done within the community.

Um, Northwest Goldberg cares as a nonprofit itself is also a contract entity, so they work to redevelop housing within the neighborhood as well.

Okay, thank you.

And we're going from housing to housing, but with um less less restrictions and building a community center.

I um have nothing else to share at the moment, Madam Chair.

Uh you motion to send this to formal for an introduction of the ordinance and setting up a public hearing.

There's a motion to send line item 6.4 to formal for introduction of an ordinance and setting of a public hearing.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Thank you.

And Member Santiago Romero, I do just want to share that Northwest Goldberg is also involved in doing some housing development or rehabilitation work in the community.

I believe they came before PED last year or maybe the end of the prior year.

Um I was just curious about the R3 zoning as opposed to something else.

Um thank you.

All right, line item 6.5 is submit a report and propose ordinance to amend chapter 50 of the 2019 Detroit City zoning by amending Article 17 zoning district maps, section 50-17-9, district map number nine number eight to revise the zoning classifications for certain properties generally bound by Melborne Street to the north, Oakland Avenue to the east, Mount Vernon Street to the south, and Kingsley Street to the west, commonly known as 656 and 662 Melbourne Street from the existing R3 low density residential district zoning classification to the B4 General B business district zoning classification.

Is there a motion to discuss?

Discussion.

Discussion.

Good morning.

Good morning, Madam Chair, committee members.

This is a request from uh Patrick Lynch and this request to rezone to B4 for the subject parcels.

Currently is the owner of the Switch uh health club.

Uh goes back to the 1930s, is operated historically as a bath house.

And um currently they are proposing to rezone uh two adjacent parcels to the existing building, uh, and they want to do that to expand.

And so the expansion would allow for uh HVAC equipment as well as to expand for a lounge area.

Um they've also working with uh CPC staff, they also uh because they want to expand for an outdoor lounge area, that's a future expansion.

The most immediate need is for HB HVAC equipment to uh support the indoor uh rehabilitation.

They want to, there's a ballroom in the upstairs uh of the facility that they want to get back running, and so to you know get circulation and ventilation going, they want to uh get the HVAC system going, and so that's the most immediate need, but in the future they want to get a outdoor lounge area, which I believe you have some depictions of in our reports.

Um, but that's futuristic, but even in that endeavor, uh we work with them to let them know that they probably would need a buffer, and so you know, just to be cognizant of their neighbors, and so in that they've purchased the most immediate residential home to create a buffer, and so that if you know they move forward with that part of the plan, they won't be impacting their immediate neighbors.

Although, even in their proposal, it'll be acting as a health club and not as they won't be uh anticipating any parties.

Um they already have an outdoor portion to their current facility to their current operations, and um in their history, it hasn't bothered bothered anybody in in their current operations, and so they anticipate that that would be the same case with you know any future expansion that is a health club, it'll be closing at 10 p.m.

Um, so they expect that to be the case with this.

It's not to be meant for parties but for a health club type of environment.

Um tranquil type of environment and no more, no less.

So with that being said, they are on the line in case there are any questions.

Um, but uh they have been here.

Uh also want to note that uh they are historically uh the Schwitz was men only and also has some history of uh only allowing certain um racial classes, but they wanted to be known that they have opened it for all to be welcome since they have taken ownership.

So everybody is welcome.

They even have uh women's nights specifically, they have all types of uh welcoming environments for everybody to be um invited into the club these days.

And so um I would just leave it at that.

And if there's any questions, feel free to ask.

All right, thank you.

Colleagues, pro Tim Young.

Yeah, um they say they don't expect any parties.

Why why wouldn't they expect any parties, man?

You know, you this a health club they want to hit the party.

Why can't they?

Let's do what's the big deal through the chair.

I would say no uh parties outdoors that would impact the neighbor the neighborhood.

The neighborhood.

Okay.

So okay, so no outdoor kegers or something like that.

Okay, okay, I got it.

All right.

Okay, okay, okay, okay.

Um do we know is is there any sort of uh uh expand.

Um I'm looking at some of the stuff for expansions, okay.

Um do we know what kind of economic benefit this potentially could have in that area in the city in terms of in terms of maybe property values or in terms of neighborhood stability or quality or things that nature.

The chair, I would uh let the uh development team speak to that, and maybe maybe that might be even more appropriate for the public hearing.

But I will say that uh they are the owners of multiple uh properties in the city.

They even uh own um uh uh a donut uh shop that many of us are familiar with in the city.

Um what's that?

Dutch girls.

Oh, okay.

And some other some other businesses that that folks are familiar with.

So I think they'll probably be speaking to that there on the line, but uh maybe it's more appropriate at the public hearing.

No problem.

Okay.

No, that's all I want to say.

Thank you.

I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Member Santiago Romero.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I just want to share that I'm a big fan of the Schwitz.

I think it's really wonderful.

They have come a long way from their origins.

I mean, we will see pictures of just white men in their towels and that health club.

And it is open to everyone.

Um, it is really great.

And member Young, to your question about what it would do with the expansion.

I think it would just continue to um support uh people's health and well-being.

This is very much like a self-care space um where people go.

It's to your question about parties, they they party, but I don't think this is that space as is where that you go, you you're in the sauna, you take a cold plunge, you talk to people, you read a book, you take a nap.

Um, those are the vibes in this space.

Um, and I just really appreciate that they are open, that they are welcoming to everyone.

Um, and it's a really wonderful place to go to um when you need to recharge.

Uh so looking forward to continued discussion when we have the hearing, uh, but no concerns for me at the moment or questions, just want to say that I am a big fan.

Uh, thank you, madam chair.

Thank you.

And as we um move this forward and have uh this the discussion, I will be interested in community engagement and um what the cost is to make sure that it is accessible for everyone, uh particularly residents in the city of Detroit.

Um I have never visited, I've heard about it, but I've never visited, but um interested in seeing the progress for them.

So, colleagues, is there a motion on line item 6.5?

And with that with that, I should ask is there a motion to send line item 6.5 too formal for introduction of an ordinance and the setting of a public hearing.

There is a motion hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Moving on to line item 6.6.

Line item 6.6 is the 2026-2027 community development block grant neighborhood opportunity fund CDBG NOF list of applicants and disclosure of any potential conflict of interest.

Is there a motion to discuss discussion?

Discussion.

I see Mr.

Gulak here, and he has some information he'd like to share with us.

Mr.

Gulak.

Morning.

Uh Chris Gulach, CPC staff.

Uh yes, uh, as council knows every year HRD releases an RFP in the fall to distribute C D B G NOF funds.

And um, then that'll be part of your budget review process.

Um but we wanted to share the groups that applied earlier rather than at the last minute, so council members could look at the list and then contact our office if they have any potential conflicts of interest, and that'll give us time to work with you know law department and HRD and possibly the Board of Ethics to re evaluate those different scenarios.

So um this year the city did receive 67 groups, and they're attached here.

There's a lot of uh the the same groups from the past, but there's some quite a few new groups as well.

So um, I guess our office is um recommending that each council member each council office you know review the list and contact CPC staff if they have any potential conflicts of interest.

So we're recommending that you receive and file this, but uh hopefully the word will spread through council offices to review this list and get back to us.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Gulak.

Um, madam I I believe this particular line item um was requested to be brought back in two weeks as there may be adjustments to the calendar.

Mr.

Gulag Madam Chair, that would be the next line item.

Um that would be 6.7.

So um 6.6.

Oh, I apologize.

That's what I'm looking at.

Okay, thank you.

Uh colleagues, any questions relative to 6.6 question.

Member Santiago Romero.

Through you, Madam Chair, too, Mr.

Gulag.

Good morning.

Just if you wouldn't mind reminding us, what is the conflict of interest?

Because this list I have worked through before, previous board member, all and many of us.

So can you just be very clear again?

What does that mean for us?

Uh, through the chair.

Uh, we do list a little bit in the report here, and um some of it is dictated by HUD.

But what we list in the two bullet points is that a conflict would arise if a council member or a family member has an unpaid relationship with one or more of the groups.

That's fine, but the council member would have to publicly disclose that information.

So if it's unpaid, you have to disclose it.

Second one we list here is if a council member or family member has a relationship with one or more of the groups where there's compensation, that information will need to be publicly disclosed, and the council member will have to recuse themselves from participating in deliberations and voting.

Um but if we want to dig deeper into you know uh what is a uh the relationship, you know, how far you know, is it is for I assume it's for spouses and family members by family by blood or marriage, but how far it goes if you have a uh second cousin who has a job, then we can we can research that.

Um if there is a past employment but there's no current relationship or financial interest, then I you just let us know, but I assume that would be fine.

Thank you.

Thank you, madam chair.

Thank you.

Pro Tim Young.

Thank you.

Uh Mr.

Gulag.

This is just this is a list of people who are applying for CBDG funds that have conflict of interest.

Correct, or this is just the this is just the entire list, right?

Through the chair, yes, this is the groups who applied in the fall.

Okay, and HRD is currently vetting these, and then they'll make they'll be bringing recommendations to the council in the near future.

And then council will have to deliberate on them.

But if a council member had a conflict, we want to declare that as that approaches.

So this list is locked.

Yes, this is all apply, right?

You can't add any addendums or anything else to this list.

Is locked of who's gonna apply?

It's locked, but they'll they'll we assume Major Day would be opening it up again next September.

Right to apply again.

Okay, okay.

Okay.

Okay.

And I'll I'll probably get into even though I have nothing to do with this, but probably gonna look like a conflict of interest, but I'm about to say right now, but uh because I'm looking at here, I'm not seeing the the Coleman Young Education Foundation on his list.

Is that again, full disclosure?

I have nothing to do with that, no part of it, don't sit on the board at all.

Just carries my name's say.

So is that because they applied and didn't qualify, or is it because they didn't apply?

I assume that group did not apply this year.

Yeah, thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you.

Colleagues, is there a motion to receive and file line item 6.6?

Motion.

There's a motion to receive and file line item six point six.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Line item six point seven.

Is the calendar, the two thousand twenty-six-2027 community development block grant neighborhood opportunity plan program schedule and hearingslash appeals notice and resolution.

Mr.

Gulak, is is there a motion to discuss?

Motion.

Um thank you.

Mr.

Gulag, would you just like to share briefly dates or anything?

Uh thank you, madam chair.

Chris Gulak, uh CPC staff.

Uh each year around this time we we provide council members a um schedule for the NOF review.

And in the last several years, it's taken place right before budget, and we drafted this schedule in in the fall with the administration.

Um, but we're we're informed that the current the new administration is now reviewing um what schedule they want to uh follow.

So um there's a real good chance that this would change.

So we're we're asking that this could be a placeholder, maybe bring it back in two weeks, and hopefully we'll have updated uh inf of inf updated timeline at that point.

There's a chance um the administration might want it to be happening during budget or even after, like we do with the homeless uh review.

So um so we're asking uh if if the committee could bring this back in two weeks, and then we'll have hopefully have more information at that time.

Thank you.

Colleagues, is there a motion on line item 6.7?

Motion there's a motion to bring back line item 6.7 in two weeks.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Without objection, I'd like to combine line item 6.8 and 6.9.

These are community benefits ordinance by annual reports um just in general, and line item 6.9 is for the future of health.

If there is no discussion, um, there is a request to bring these two line items back to set a date for discussion for both of them.

Is there a motion?

Motion.

There's a motion to bring line items 6.8 and 6.9 back for a date to be determined.

Hearing no objections, those actions shall be taken.

Line item 6.10, submitting report relative to city council quarterly report, second quarter fiscal year 2026.

Detroit Land Bank Authority update.

Is there a motion?

There's a request to bring line item 6.10 back in one week for the discussion to take place.

Is there a motion?

Motion.

There's a motion to bring line item 6.10 back in one week.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

And just noting to all of my colleagues that we will review the quarterly report next week.

And we will also uh just notice a quorum if there are any other colleagues who'd like to join us.

Line item 6.11.

Submit a report relative to the planning and development annual sign waiver hearing report for the 2025 calendar year.

Colleagues, any discussion?

If not, is there a motion to receive and file?

Motion.

Discussion.

There's a motion to discuss.

Member Santiago Romero.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Is there anyone online that can discuss 6.11?

We do have, I believe, Mr.

Greg Moots from the planning and development department as well as Edwina King, who should be joining us.

Madam Chair, they're being moved as panelists.

Thank you.

Good morning.

Please introduce yourself for the record.

Good morning and happy new year, everyone.

Edwina King from the Planning and Development Department.

And I'm grabbing my colleague Greg as well.

Good morning.

And happy new year.

Okay, and while he's joining, um, yeah, I'm prepared to answer any questions.

Um council members may have.

Ms.

King, I'm not sure if it's you or Mr.

Moots who'd just like to give us an overview of uh the signs that came before you all and um the disposition of the requests.

Sure, absolutely.

So the um PDD is required uh per the ordinance to produce um an annual report on um the waivers uh for the signed ordinance and so um as required the well so there were approximately 27 applications that were received, and out of those uh 24 of those were eligible to be determined or eligible for a waiver.

Um out of the 24, there were 20 hearings held.

Um three of those um chose not to proceed, and then one modified plan did not require a waiver after the modification.

Um out of the 20, 13 were approved, and then seven were approved with conditions, and of course, those um signs that were approved were in all um seven council districts, and then at the bottom of the report, um there are some recommendations from the blessing uh from the planning and development department as far as um recommendations for amending the signed ordinance.

Um we have been in conversation with council member Benson who sponsored the ordinance, um, and we look forward to continue collaboration and then at some point hopefully bringing those recommendations before your honorable body.

And then I see Greg is on, so if you have anything else you'd like to add.

Morning.

And then I see Greg is on, so if you have anything else you'd like to add morning, Mr.

Moots.

It looks like he may be searching to unmute himself.

Mr.

Moots, can you hear us?

No, I can.

Thank you.

Okay.

Well, I'm not sure if he wants to add anything if he didn't hear your presentation.

Uh so we will just um allow Member Santiago Romero, uh, if she has any questions to ask.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

You um got to the answers I was looking for.

I was going to going to ask around the status of those recommendations that were at the bottom of the reports, um, and who was taking action on that.

Uh so thank you, madam chair.

All right, thank you.

Colleagues, pro Tim Young.

Thank you, uh Chair.

I just wanted to ask, and and I and I might butcher how you pronounce this, but so forgive me.

But are these sign waivers, do these apply for special districts?

I think use signs.

I know there's been some signs, you know, particularly within the canvas industry that had to go through the special district.

And I was wondering, can they also apply for these waivers?

Uh if it is determined that they're not eligible for a building permit, or is this just you know, specifically for um signs outside of that process?

Yeah.

Through the chair, I can answer that um uh to councilman young.

The this sign waiver process applies to any business anywhere in the city.

The these there are standards for um uh you know, we the sign that, for instance, you're only eligible for a sign waiver of up to 125% of the sign and of the sign area permissible for that business.

But the type of sign, the type of business um the ordinance doesn't frankly can't under the first amendment address.

So any business is eligible for this.

We have worked with at least one cannabis business, the one at 8 Mile and John R.

I remember we had a hearing for fairly recently.

I don't remember others.

There may have been others, but no, any business is eligible for this in any zoning district.

Um the PD districts, there's a bit of questions sometimes, and that's actually one of the recommendations that was submitted several years ago to be a little more clear on special districts such as uh a PD district, plan development district, which goes through council.

How does you know how do those intersect?

That was one of the requested amendments.

Um, and also to the to an earlier question.

The these um the reports from the last several years have been submitted to the law department for review as the law department drafted this ordinance.

Um, they've been referred each year to the law department for um for status on those and to to begin to address those changes um of that.

But each year these reports are received by city council and then referred to the law department for um for updates.

There was only one recommendation this year.

That's on the the last page of the report regarding um dynamic signs at churches.

That's come up, I believe, in certainly several, maybe all of the council districts, and that was a recommended change um to the ordinance to figure out how to address dynamic signs at churches where they're in a um a residential district.

Okay, okay.

Yeah, and I just want to ask when you say all signs, um that includes like I said, it's includes canvases.

It also includes like adult use or adult entertainment signs as well, or do they go through a special process for that?

I'm sorry, no, through the through the chair to councilman Young.

This for under the First Amendment, all signs have to be treated the same.

Okay.

You know, that's how we had to amend the ordinance because the Supreme Court said you couldn't treat a temporary sign for a church temporary differently than a temporary sign for I believe it was a furniture business.

Okay.

Um so you know, all businesses have to follow the same rules.

Their council has requested, you know, amendments regarding adult use signs, and I believe that there are, you know, and or cannabis signs or cannabis uses, and sometimes there's spacing from a use, but I don't believe the sign has a different regulation than the business associated with it.

I just wanted to ask, because that's what because that's what we're gonna that's that's what I'm gonna get questions about.

I'm not gonna get questions about cannabis or questions about adult use.

I, you know, I'm not gonna get questions about the I didn't know that about the church issue.

I I I you know those are not the questions I'm gonna get about churches in turn in terms of their signs.

Is you know, it's usually the adult entertainment signs, or is usually the candidate signs.

So I just want to make sure that we're gonna be able to do that.

And I would have to re I'm sorry, go on, sir.

No, I'm just gonna say, because that it's all the same process because that's what I get complaints about.

I get complaints on both sides, either from the canvas business.

Hey, can we change the process or can be a little bit easier for us to put up this sign?

Or I get complaints from the neighborhoods about, you know, this is inappropriate, you know, why do we have you know the sign of you know Lady Godiva on the on the billboard over here, or you know, why do we have the sign of you know, um I I remember there was this um radio show, and they had like these expletives like on the sign, like up there.

And so those are the questions I asked.

So I just want to make sure they go through the same process or they go through a different process because of what that represents.

But you answered that question, so I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Yeah, I would request that you you know, for further clarification, you'd have to ask the law department for you know the specifics of First Amendment, what the city's limits are on regulating sign content.

Um, you know, that runs into First Amendment, and I won't pretend to be the expert on that.

But so far we have reviewed at least one sign for cannabis business, you know, the however many cannabis businesses in the city have to go through the same building permit process for a sign as Joe's auto repair does.

They get the same sign area, the same illumination standards, all those things apply to cannabis retail or anything else.

The adult businesses, we haven't seen any sign waivers for an adult business because I don't believe any adult businesses have been established or changed their signage since the ordinance went into effect.

Or if they have it was just uh a routine sign permit that bowlings and safety reviewed without a waiver, which is more likely.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I appreciate that answer.

Uh uh, thank you.

All right, seeing no additional discussion.

Colleagues, is there a motion to receive and file line item 6.11?

Motion.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Madam Chair.

Yes.

If I may, um do you want to ask that the requested amendments be um investigated by the law department, or do you uh wish to request that the that the that they be um that the amendments be uh be implemented or or just receive and file for now and that there is a a sign where a um working group or something in the future to take all of them under review?

So we can receive and file it for now.

We can work with member Benson's office to determine how he'd like to proceed with the amendments.

Thank you.

Thank you.

That brings us now to line item 6.12.

Councilmember Scott Benson submitted memorandum regarding the M4 Green Buffer Text Amendment timeline and process.

Colleagues, is there a motion to refer line item 6.12 to the city planning commission and bring back in four weeks?

Motion.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Line item 6.13, Council President James Tate.

Submit a memorandum requesting Graham River corridor update with follow-up questions.

Is there a motion to bring back in two weeks?

Motion.

There's a motion to bring line item 6.13 back in two weeks.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

And line item 6.14, Councilmember Mary Waters submitting memorandum regarding the formal commencement of negotiations with the Michigan Land Bank Authority over intergovernmental agreement for the Detroit Land Bank Authority.

Colleagues, I've had a conversation with member waters, and um I am requesting that this item be removed so that we can internally identify the amendments that we'd like to see to the intergovernmental agreement, work with the administration, and then uh work with LPD to produce an amended agreement and then send to the Michigan Land Bank authority.

Any discussion?

Pro Tim Young.

Thank you.

Uh Madam Um Chair, I just wanted to ask, are we is this is this the I I let me recommend instead.

I think that this discussion should also include somebody from the land bank authority.

And I would just like I would like them, maybe I have to request this myself.

I'll probably do an writing maybe later on, but I would like just uh uh analysis of the history of what it was like before the land bank and how we dispose of properties and how and what we're doing now, just so we have that full historical context of this.

I don't know if this is necessarily the proper way to do that.

Maybe we'll have a committee of the whole later on and do it that way.

But I just think it's just important for the discussion for the changes that we're gonna make, that we have a robust discussion and deliberative discussion in terms of how we got here, where where we're going now, and what needs to be changed.

So just want to put that out.

All right, thank you, Pro Tim.

And just to let you know, the um suggested amendments that we're hearing um won't necessarily impact um the way the land bank is operating.

I mean, you know, what we're hearing thus far is about the makeup of the board, uh residency of the board, things of that nature.

Um, I'm not sure if anything substantive that you referred to is going to be uh requested or suggested by any of our colleagues.

Um and so just keep that in mind.

Um perhaps that's something that you want to take into consideration once we identify what the suggested amendments are.

Yeah, um, because it may not even be problematic, but uh certainly understand your thoughts.

Um with that, is there a motion to remove line item 6.14?

Motion.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

That now brings us to member reports, and I will start with Pro Tim Young.

Uh negative report.

Thank you.

Member Santiago Romero.

Thank you.

Madam Chair, just want to briefly share with everyone that today I will be testifying for Senate bills 508 through 510.

Uh, these bills would help ensure sensitive locations, um, the unmasking of agents in our cities, and also for more data protections.

These are all things that we are talking with um Mayor Sheffield as well, and we have a meeting with her on next Friday.

My hope is that shortly after that conversation, we are able to talk about uh the policies that we'll set in place here.

Um, just wanted to provide that update as well.

I saw that member waters announced that she's looking at a uh masking ordinance as well.

That's fantastic.

I'm glad she also finds this all very important.

Um, and hope that we're able to do that together because these are efforts that we've been working on um for a while now.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member Santiago Romero.

And I am very interested in the policies that we set forward for the Detroit Police Department, um, recognizing that they are our law enforcement uh officials, just ensuring that they are protecting Detroiters, um, all residents in the city of Detroit.

And so looking forward to uh what comes out of your discussions and um policies um that are to come forward.

So, you know, there have been people asking whether or not I support the work that you're doing, and um I have shared that I do support it.

I'm looking forward to codifying um, you know, the conversations into some policy amendments if necessary, um, so that we can ensure that Detroit's feel supported, uh, feel protected um and feel like they are Detroit residents uh as we all are uh and have all of the rights that are um provided to us equally.

So thank you for the work that you're doing.

Uh we're done with member report.

No, I'm together.

No, no, thank you.

Thank you for your patience.

Uh I know I'm coming in late not.

But uh I I just wanted to say, I think it's important that you know why, you know, I'm not trying to take away from the mask ordinance, but I think it's also important that we do an economic analysis of the contributions that um Latinos and particularly or immigrants excuse me, or undocumented workers make to the city of Detroit, especially the FUDA, uh the federal unemployment tax and uh and the food of the Suda, as well as uh Social Security.

I know nationally it's like I think it's 80 billion or something to that effect, where they're paying into the economy that they do not receive back in Social Security.

So I think there's a lot of things that we have just from an economic standpoint, what they contribute now and how that would be harmed with this aggressive um universal um deportation, which I think is wrong for a lot of reasons.

So I just think if we just have that economic analysis, we kind of understand what they contribute, and we also understand what the harm would be to the city to the state if we were to um interrupt that, especially people who have lived here for a very long time.

Because that's what we're talking about that I think that's different here is the universality of this.

We're not just talking about people who are criminals or people who are we're talking about people who have lived here who set a roots here, who have jobs here, who work giracially here, who contributed durationally to what this country is.

I think it's important that we have those contributions.

Thank you, and I'm done.

Thank you, Pro Tim, and I appreciate all of that.

I think for irrational folks, irrational thinkers.

I'm not sure that any of that matters, but yeah, um, it certainly matters to us and appreciate um your thoughts.

I do not have any member any member reports, and so if there is nothing else to come before this body without objection, we shall stand adjourned.