Neighborhood Community Service Standing Committee Meeting: February 19, 2026
Neighborhood Community Service Standing Committee Meeting: February 19, 2026
The Neighborhood Community Service Standing Committee of the Detroit City Council met on February 19, 2026, with Council President Pro Tempore Coleman A. Young II presiding. The meeting opened with a roll call, approval of minutes, and a tribute to the late Reverend Jesse Jackson, with President Pro Tem Young reading Jackson's "I Am Somebody" speech. The committee then heard public comments, discussed several street activity petitions and contracts, and received member reports. Councilmember Scott Benson was excused due to travel.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of the minutes from the previous meeting was moved and passed without objection.
Public Comments & Testimony
Five members of the public addressed the committee:
- William M. Davis expressed support for Reverend Jackson and urged the city to redirect spending towards local businesses and Detroiters. He criticized the outflow of dollars to outside entities and called for more support for Black-owned businesses and for the city to charge fees to venues like Little Caesars Arena.
- Betty A. Varner (President, Soda Elsworth Black Association) thanked council for addressing water department issues. She requested that the city budget allocate funds for Black clubs and associations to undertake neighborhood projects, and that the $1,500 land use hearing fee be waived for such organizations. She also looked forward to a presentation on the H2O lifeline program.
- Cunningham provided contact information, encouraged attendance at a DDOT meeting, and offered prayers and chocolates for staff.
- Owen Papa criticized the city for awarding tree-trimming contracts to companies located in Troy and Attica, Michigan, arguing that dollars should stay in Detroit. He expressed frustration with the focus on business over neighborhood needs, highlighted high unemployment, and raised concerns about AI displacing jobs.
Discussion Items
Petitions and Events
- Line 6.1: Backwoods and Bonfires – A petition to hold the event at Eastern Market Detroit on July 11, 2026, with setup on July 9–10 and teardown through July 12. Moved to formal session for approval.
- Line 6.2: A second petition for an event taking place March 26–28, 2026, moved to formal session without substantive discussion.
Contracts and Procurement Several tree-trimming and removal contracts funded by Major Street Funding were presented. All were three-year contracts (despite some documents showing two years, corrected during the meeting).
- Line 6.3: Grays Outdoor Services (Garden City, MI) – $3,000,000 for tree trimming and removal. Deputy Director Jarrell Harris (General Services) explained that the city’s in-house forestry crew of about 20 staff manages trees at parks and recreation centers but cannot handle all 350,000 public trees; outsourcing is necessary. Councilmember Miller questioned why the city does not expand its forestry department, citing high unemployment (8‑9%) and the need for good‑paying city jobs. Harris noted that the department struggles to retain staff due to low wages (starting $15.89/hour). The contract was moved to formal session with recommendation for approval, amended to reflect the correct three-year term.
- Line 6.4: Kirk's Automotive (Detroit, MI) – $135,000 for small engine repair. Moved to formal session.
- Line 6.5: Robles Tree Services (Detroit, MI) – $3,000,000 for tree trimming. Moved to formal session.
- Line 6.6: PPM Tree Service and Arbor Care LLC (Westland, MI) – $2,000,000. Moved to formal session.
- Line 6.7: Owen Tree Service Inc. (Attica, MI) – $2,000,000. Moved to formal session.
- Line 6.8: Rainbow Lawn and Tree Service LLC (Detroit, MI) – $3,000,000. Moved to formal session.
- Line 6.9: Tree Service to Troy LLC (Troy, MI) – $3,000,000. Moved to formal session.
- Line 6.10: $750,000 for tree trimming? (contractor unknown from transcript). Moved to formal session.
- Line 6.11: $750,000 for light duty, general repair and body work (Troy, MI). Moved to formal session.
Residential Parking Concerns
- Line 6.12 – Councilmember Santiago‑Romero requested a response from the Legislative Policy Division on residential parking alternatives. The report was received; the item was received and filed without objection.
Key Outcomes
- All contract items (6.1 through 6.11) were moved to the formal session of the full City Council with a recommendation for approval. (Line 6.3 was noted as amended regarding contract duration.)
- Line 6.12 was received and filed.
- The committee noted that a broader presentation on the tree canopy and forestry operations will be delivered in March, requested by Councilmember Benson.
- Councilmember Miller announced upcoming events: a coffee hour (Feb 21, District 5), a foreclosure prevention workshop (Feb 22), and a District 5 community meeting (Feb 24). She also reminded residents of the February 22 deadline for the Homeowners Property Exemption (HOPE) program and assessment appeals.
- President Pro Tem Young reported on a ribbon‑cutting for a DEGC Green Grocer Grant recipient and reminded residents of the HOPE program deadline.
- The meeting adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
Neighborhood community service standing committee will now come into order. Will the clerk please call the role? Council President Pro Temper Coleman A. Young the second. Here. Councilmember Scott Benson. Councilmember Renata Miller. Mr. Chair, you have a corn presence. Thank you. Thank you for that for time for you. I appreciate that. Is there a motion to approve the minutes? Motion. Motion made or any objections? Here now we will approve the minutes. Okay, now for chairmarks. I think we all are very heartbroken and sad about Jesse Jackson passing away and what he's done and what he represents, not this city but to the country. So in honor of him, uh I want to read this. Uh this was the speech that he gave in Chicago, Illinois. I am somebody. I am somebody. I am somebody. I may be poor, but I am somebody. I may be young, but I am somebody. I may be small, but I am somebody. I may have made mistakes, but I am somebody. My clothes are different. My face is different. My hair is different, but I am somebody. I am black, brown, or white. I speak a different language, but I must be respected, protected, never rejected. I am God's child. I am somebody. Thank you. We will now move on to public comment. How many people do we have in the queue, Mr. Bo. Mr. Chair, we have five individuals with a hand raised for public comment. All right. Public comments now closed. Public comment is now closed. Public comment is now closed. Who do we have first in the queue, Mr. Bo. Mr. Chair, the first caller is William M. Davis. Mr.
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