OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Detroit Budget, Finance & Audit Committee Meeting - February 18, 2026

City Council — Wednesday, February 18, 2026
BodyDetroit, Michigan
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, February 18, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:54:57

Transcript — Verbatim
0:08

Present.

0:09

Councilmember Letitia Johnson.

0:10

Present.

0:11

Councilmember Mary Waters.

0:13

Present.

0:13

Mr.

0:13

Chair, you have a quorum present.

0:15

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

0:16

Now move us on to approval of the minutes.

0:19

Members of the committee should have received the minutes.

0:22

And with that, I'll entertain a motion to approve.

0:25

Motion to approve the minutes.

0:27

Without any objections, the mo the minutes will stand approved.

0:31

And we will now open public comment.

0:33

Request for public comment will close at 11.

0:38

Please limit your remarks to two minutes.

0:40

We'll start with those in the room.

0:42

And for those participating remotely, please use the raise hand feature.

0:46

And you will be called in order.

0:49

I'm seeing no folks in here in person.

0:55

Yes, Mr.

0:56

Chair.

0:56

As of now, we have eight hands raised.

0:59

All right.

0:59

Our first caller is Jadante Smith.

1:03

Mr.

1:03

Jadante Smith, good afternoon.

1:05

You have two minutes.

1:21

Mr.

1:21

Smith, are you there?

1:29

Okay, let's come back.

1:31

Next caller.

1:32

Our next caller is Betty A.

1:34

Varner.

1:35

Miss Varner, good afternoon.

1:37

Can you hear us?

1:39

Yes.

1:40

Good afternoon to you and all with that all within the sound of my voice.

1:44

I'm Betty A.

1:45

Varner, president of the Soda Els World Block Association.

1:49

But today I want to speak as a resident.

1:57

Now my concern is this program, the Lifeline H2O program.

2:05

I have been approved for the program.

2:15

My bill was due February 5th.

2:18

I paid my $34 on February 2nd.

2:23

I received my bill for March that is due March 6th.

2:31

And it states I have a past due amount.

2:37

And so I call the water department and I spoke with the agent.

2:43

And she confirmed that I am in the uh lifeline H2O program.

2:50

But she says how it worked is that the amount that I am not paying that's excess of that $34 is being frozen.

3:03

And in June of 2026, that amount will be unfrozen, and I would be uh have the option of paying that entire balance or going on a payment plan.

3:20

When we receive the information about this program that was never explained, I haven't received anything in writing, and that's the problem.

3:31

If that is the way this program is working, then it should have been explained.

3:36

So I'm asking that someone come from the water department and explain this program so we'll know what we thank you, Miss Varner.

3:49

Um, yes, we will follow up with the water department to get someone um after public comment.

3:55

I'll ask Mr.

3:56

Washington about that.

3:57

Thank you.

3:59

Next caller.

4:00

Our next caller is please look into BZA court reporting contract.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Budget█████████████████17%
Zoning and Land Use██████████████14%
Procedural██████████10%
Public Comment██████████10%
Affordable Housing██████████10%
Property Taxes█████████9%
Public Transit███████7%
Public Safety█████5%
Public Engagement█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Detroit City Council Budget, Finance & Audit Committee Meeting - February 18, 2026

The Budget, Finance and Audit Standing Committee met on February 18, 2026, to consider several items including property tax reform, neighborhood enterprise zone certificates, a quarterly special events cost report, and presentations on the city's long-term financial obligations. Public comment was heard on water affordability, transit, and tax issues.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of meeting minutes: Motion passed without objection.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Betty A. Varner (resident, Soda Els World Block Association) expressed confusion about the Lifeline H2O program's billing structure, noting her bill showed a past-due amount despite paying the required $34. She stated the program's rules were never explained in writing and requested a presentation from the water department. The Chair committed to scheduling such a presentation.
  • Miss Warwick asked the committee to investigate the BZA court reporting contract, specifically concerns about the BZA wanting to see transcripts before release. She also criticized the city's handling of the Gordy Hill bridge area eminent domain versus solar area displacements, arguing that homeowners in solar areas received unfair treatment.
  • William Davis requested an audit of the city's drainage fee, alleging that some churches and businesses receive disproportionate credits and that the fee has contributed to business closures and retiree deaths.
  • Renard Monchowski (District 6 resident, Detroit People's Platform) discussed a potential countywide transit millage and urged the committee to ensure the city does not cut its general fund subsidy to DDOT if the millage passes. He noted DDOT lacks stable funding and has reduced service.
  • Jadante Smith spoke about transit delays and upcoming efforts to address Chronos concrete and down-zoning. He criticized District Manager Keith Butler.
  • Phone number ending in 039 made unsubstantiated allegations about election fraud and a homicide cover-up.

Discussion Items

  • 6.1 – Petition on Property Tax Fees and Interest (Wayne Ramagan Sr.): Mr. Ramagan, a volunteer with the Caribbean Community Service Center, called for reform of property tax interest and fees, describing the current system as predatory. He cited a personal example where a $57.91 tax bill grew to $329.72 due to fees and interest. The committee discussed options and Vice Chair Johnson moved to request the Legislative Policy Division (LPD) evaluate what it would take to amend the fees and interest charged for delinquent taxes. The motion passed without objection.
  • 6.2 – NEZ Certificate for 250 Elliott Street (Crosswinds NEZ): The applicant proposed rehabilitating a building into six rental units. After discussion about rental rates, Vice Chair Johnson noted the developer agreed to reduce rates from a previously mentioned higher amount. A motion to send to formal session with recommendation to approve passed without objection.
  • 7.1 – ARPA Neighborhood Beautification Initiative Audit: The Office of the Auditor General requested the item be brought back in three weeks. Motion to postpone passed without objection.
  • 7.2 – Quarterly Report on Large Special Event Charges (Q3 2025): Chief Deputy CFO John Naglik and DPD CFO Nevar Nazarko presented the report, showing $893,303 billed in the quarter ($874,000 from DPD, $18,840 from DFD). Members asked about the impact on neighborhood patrols and whether private EMS is used. The committee received and filed the report.
  • 7.3 – NEZ Certificate for 8133 Kirchalville (West Village NEZ): The petitioners plan to convert a former duplex back to a single-family home with $169,000 in rehab. Member Waters asked about eliminating a rental unit; the petitioner explained the duplex was not viable. The committee sent the item to formal with recommendation to approve.
  • 7.4 – NEZ Certificate for 9727 Dundee (Nardon Park NEZ): Developer Dolores McKinney (Eminence Group) plans a $54,000 rehab of a vacant house for rental at $1,400/month (80% AMI). She confirmed accepting housing choice vouchers. The committee sent the item to formal with recommendation to approve.
  • 7.5 – Resolution on City's Long-Term Financial Obligations: LPD director Mr. Corley presented an overview of the city's $1.5 billion in outstanding bonds, $1.6 billion pension liability, and remaining unsecured bankruptcy claims. He explained debt policies and metrics. The committee received and filed the report after discussion about aging infrastructure and potential bond authorizations.
  • 7.6 – Report on Mr. Ramagan's Request to Speak: Received and filed.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion to request LPD evaluate amending delinquent tax fees and interest passed (6.1).
  • NEZ certificates for 250 Elliott St. (6.2), 8133 Kirchalville (7.3), and 9727 Dundee (7.4) all sent to formal session with recommendation to approve.
  • ARPA audit report (7.1) postponed for three weeks.
  • Quarterly special events report (7.2) received and filed.
  • Report on city's long-term financial obligations (7.5) received and filed.
  • Report on Mr. Ramagan's request (7.6) received and filed.
  • Committee committed to scheduling a water department presentation on affordability programs and to follow up on questions about transit and police deployment impacts.

Meeting Transcript

Present. Councilmember Letitia Johnson. Present. Councilmember Mary Waters. Present. Mr. Chair, you have a quorum present. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Now move us on to approval of the minutes. Members of the committee should have received the minutes. And with that, I'll entertain a motion to approve. Motion to approve the minutes. Without any objections, the mo the minutes will stand approved. And we will now open public comment. Request for public comment will close at 11. Please limit your remarks to two minutes. We'll start with those in the room. And for those participating remotely, please use the raise hand feature. And you will be called in order. I'm seeing no folks in here in person. Yes, Mr. Chair. As of now, we have eight hands raised. All right. Our first caller is Jadante Smith. Mr. Jadante Smith, good afternoon. You have two minutes. Mr. Smith, are you there? Okay, let's come back. Next caller. Our next caller is Betty A. Varner. Miss Varner, good afternoon. Can you hear us? Yes. Good afternoon to you and all with that all within the sound of my voice. I'm Betty A. Varner, president of the Soda Els World Block Association. But today I want to speak as a resident. Now my concern is this program, the Lifeline H2O program. I have been approved for the program. My bill was due February 5th. I paid my $34 on February 2nd. I received my bill for March that is due March 6th. And it states I have a past due amount. And so I call the water department and I spoke with the agent. And she confirmed that I am in the uh lifeline H2O program. But she says how it worked is that the amount that I am not paying that's excess of that $34 is being frozen.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com