OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Public Health and Safety Standing Committee Meeting - February 23, 2026

City Council — Monday, February 23, 2026
BodyDetroit, Michigan
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, February 23, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:16:16

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Good morning.

0:01

I'd like to call the public health and safety standing committee of Monday, February 23rd to order.

0:07

Will the clerk please call the role?

0:09

Good morning.

0:10

Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero.

0:14

Councilmember Denzel Anton McCampbell.

0:17

Present.

0:17

Councilmember Mary Waters.

0:19

Present.

0:21

Mr.

0:21

Chair, we have quorum.

0:23

Thank you so much.

0:25

Chair Woman Santeo Romero's um feeling under the weather today, so we definitely send our well wishes to her.

0:32

Um and Bianna, I don't have any other chair remarks that'll move us on to public comment.

0:38

Uh request for a public comment will close at 1010 a.m.

0:42

Um, please limit your remarks to two minutes.

0:45

We'll start with those in the room and then we'll move to those participating remotely.

0:50

Oh, I don't miss the minute.

0:52

Oh, let me before we do that.

0:54

Let me go back to approval of the minutes.

0:57

Uh motion to approve.

1:00

Uh, without uh there's been a motion to approve the minutes.

1:03

If there are no objections, the minutes stand approved.

1:06

That will move us now back to public comment.

1:09

Um we'll start with those in the room and then move to those participating remotely.

1:14

Um, do we have folks in the room who would like to give public comment?

1:17

Please raise your hand.

1:19

Three of them.

1:19

Three folks in the room.

1:21

So we will start um with our first person.

1:34

Good morning.

1:38

Mr.

1:39

Cunningham, if you can just um your mic is on good morning.

1:44

You have two minutes.

1:46

Good morning, good morning, good morning, everyone in the sound of my voice.

1:50

313 444 9114, 313 444, 9114.

1:56

313 44 9114.

2:00

That number was made so you can remember it.

2:02

That is my Cash App.

2:04

That is my Facebook.

2:06

You can put in Google 313 444 9114, and you'll find a Patreon, um, my Facebook.

2:15

Um, I give all these love packages, hand warmers, gloves, and bus tickets at the bus stops.

2:24

I'm asking that you do the same.

2:27

Most council members and and this body is no different.

2:32

Have donated, have assisted, and I want to thank you for it.

2:36

Um the people just feel they warm up when someone cares about them.

2:41

Um, and sometimes bus riders feel like that no one cares about the the plight.

2:47

There is an equipment emergency.

2:49

They don't have enough equipment for the drivers.

2:52

There's drivers in the terminals not working every single day.

2:56

Uh and they have a high pay raise.

2:59

Uh, so it needs to be a sense of urgency with the executives of D Dot and City Council and the mayor's office, like a sense of urgency, a sense of urgency.

3:10

I drive around all day.

3:12

Bad bus service means good business.

3:15

But I wouldn't raise that way.

3:18

I care about others.

3:20

Uh, if you're in a nice warm vehicle, you should thank God and care about others.

3:26

Um, also on SMARP's uh website.

3:29

There's a board meeting this week.

3:31

And remember the fast bus that go down Woodward, Michigan, and grass it.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████20%
Public Comment████████████████16%
Public Safety███████████11%
Contract Management██████████10%
Water And Wastewater Management████████8%
Public Works████████8%
Public Health███████7%
Deed Fraud Education█████5%
Public Lighting███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Public Health and Safety Standing Committee Meeting - February 23, 2026

The Public Health and Safety Standing Committee met on Monday, February 23, 2026, with Councilmember Denzel Anton McCampbell presiding in the absence of Chair Gabriela Santiago Romero. Councilmembers McCampbell and Mary Waters were present, establishing a quorum. The committee approved the minutes from the previous meeting, heard public comments, and addressed unfinished and new business items. Key topics included building safety rescissions, emergency contracts, HIV services funding, public lighting decommissioning, and various memoranda. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

  • 5.1 (removed): Line item removed from the agenda.
  • 5.4: Memorandum on contaminated dirt from Iron Horse – received and filed.
  • 5.6: Memorandum on DPD interaction with ICE – received and filed.
  • 5.7: Memorandum on inspections of shelters – received and filed.
  • 5.9: Memorandum on notary publics and low-income services – received and filed.
  • 6.10: Contract with Metal Treatment Technologies for DPD fire maintenance ($150,000) – approved and sent to formal.
  • 6.12: Amendment to Grand Circus Park road contract (no cost increase, time extension to June 30, 2026) – approved.
  • 6.13: Contract with Midwest Bus for bus repair services ($6 million over five years) – approved.
  • 6.15: Dangerous building demolition orders from January 30 hearing – concurred.
  • 6.16: Fiscal year 2026 Dearborn Auto Theft Unit Grant ($56,691) – approved.
  • 6.17-6.19: HIDTA crime gun intelligence center grant ($50,000), drug overdose grant ($40,000), and similar grant ($19,008) – approved.
  • 6.22: Resolution for vacation of Auburn Avenue south of Glendale (utility easement) – approved.
  • 6.26: Resolution supporting Women in Construction Week 2026 – approved.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Brother Cunningham (313-444-9114): Requested city officials take urgent action on DDOT bus equipment shortages and driver issues; also noted SMART board meeting and flyers. He provides bus tickets and care packages.
  • Ruben Crowley Jr. (appearing as Mr. Rue for Kenesha Coleman’s daughter): Alleged mishandling of a DPD case (DPD case 20-1112), disputed the account of a shooting, and claimed election irregularities. Urged council to investigate.
  • Ronald Foster: Quoted Malcolm X on second-class citizenship; urged council to avoid colorblind policies and ensure representation. Expressed concerns about inequity in city services.
  • Carolyn Hughes: Highlighted inequality in recreational centers between districts (District 7 receives none, District 6 gets two). Called for investigation of “dirty dirt” using subpoena power. Criticized inaction on environmental hazards and senior issues.
  • Cecily McClellan (We the People of Detroit): Opposed proposed water rate increase (6% from GLIWA on Feb 25). Stated over 60,000 residents eligible for water affordability, but GLIWA contributes only $4M of needed $25M. Called for increased contributions and resident advocacy.
  • Betty A. Varner (President, Soda Elsewhere Black Association): Requested clarification on DWSD Lifeline H2O program presentation date (later scheduled for March 4). Asked council to allocate budget for 501(c)(3) land use hearing fees and support for beautification projects.
  • Tahira Ahmad: Opposed water rate increases, supported dirty dirt investigation, and called for reparations based on reparations task force recommendations noting 85% of low-value homes systematically over-assessed.
  • Resident (caller): Urged investigation of contaminated dirt and questioned contracts 6.1 and 6.2 ($68,000 and $200,000) for environmental testing and emergency make-safe. Criticized city demolition practices and alleged prioritization of developers.
  • iPhone caller: Discussed race and labor history; advocated for community involvement in planning and end to divisive policies.

Discussion Items

  • 5.2 (12731 Lynn Wood property rescission): Assistant Chief Dili Patel reported that the building has no roof on half the structure. Owner has not responded despite email contact in December. Committee voted to concur with department recommendation for rescission.
  • 6.1 (Emergency make-safe after fire): Gert Malil (Planning & Strategy Specialist) explained the emergency request from the fire department for 1944 McCormick. The contract with Domo Demolition ($68,977.11) was not competitively bid due to urgency. Approved.
  • 6.2 (Environmental training services): The $200,000 contract with Environmental Testing & Consultants over three years will provide EGLE and OSHA training for current demolition staff. Approved.
  • 6.3-6.9 (HIV services contracts): Leah Smith (Detroit Health Department) presented sub-recipient agreements for Ryan White Part A and Ending the HIV Epidemic programs. Ryan White served 3,676 clients in FY24 (88.5% viral suppression); EHE served 1,329 (86.2% viral suppression). Services include prevention, case management, housing support. Contracts include Matrix Human Services ($1,792,722) and others. All approved.
  • 6.11 (PLD cable repair contract increase): Dan Vich Levich (Public Lighting Department) stated the department has no employees capable of the work. The increase allows harvesting of scrap copper for sale; revenues ($2.3M so far this FY) exceed expenses. Committee approved the $1.5M increase (to $4.5M total).
  • 6.14 (DWSD hydrant trucks): Procurement for 10 utility trucks from Bob Maxey Ford ($2,049,920) replacing inoperable vehicles. Bids were advertised 21 days; Bob Maxey was lowest responsible bidder, Detroit-based with CRO certification. Approved.
  • 6.20, 6.21: Memoranda on property management agreements and notary publics – received and filed.
  • 5.3, 5.5, 5.8, 6.23-6.25, 6.27: Memoranda on various topics (commercial building liens, public restrooms, quit claim deeds, ordinance updates, city cameras, flooding response, blight violations) were deferred to be brought back in two weeks.

Key Outcomes

  • All items voted on were approved or concurred unanimously.
  • Several memoranda were scheduled for return in two weeks (5.3, 5.5, 5.8, 6.23-6.25, 6.27).
  • Councilmember Mary Waters announced upcoming deed fraud town hall meetings: Feb 24 in District 4 (Samaritan Center), Feb 27 in District 7 (Central Baptist Church), Feb 28 in District 3 (Considine Recreation Center). The February skill trades event was well attended; next is March 18.
  • Councilmember McCampbell promoted the deed fraud event in District 7 on Feb 27 and a coffee hour on Feb 28. He also noted the launch of the Office of Neighborhood and Community Safety by the mayor.
  • The committee adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning. I'd like to call the public health and safety standing committee of Monday, February 23rd to order. Will the clerk please call the role? Good morning. Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero. Councilmember Denzel Anton McCampbell. Present. Councilmember Mary Waters. Present. Mr. Chair, we have quorum. Thank you so much. Chair Woman Santeo Romero's um feeling under the weather today, so we definitely send our well wishes to her. Um and Bianna, I don't have any other chair remarks that'll move us on to public comment. Uh request for a public comment will close at 1010 a.m. Um, please limit your remarks to two minutes. We'll start with those in the room and then we'll move to those participating remotely. Oh, I don't miss the minute. Oh, let me before we do that. Let me go back to approval of the minutes. Uh motion to approve. Uh, without uh there's been a motion to approve the minutes. If there are no objections, the minutes stand approved. That will move us now back to public comment. Um we'll start with those in the room and then move to those participating remotely. Um, do we have folks in the room who would like to give public comment? Please raise your hand. Three of them. Three folks in the room. So we will start um with our first person. Good morning. Mr. Cunningham, if you can just um your mic is on good morning. You have two minutes. Good morning, good morning, good morning, everyone in the sound of my voice. 313 444 9114, 313 444, 9114. 313 44 9114. That number was made so you can remember it. That is my Cash App. That is my Facebook. You can put in Google 313 444 9114, and you'll find a Patreon, um, my Facebook. Um, I give all these love packages, hand warmers, gloves, and bus tickets at the bus stops. I'm asking that you do the same. Most council members and and this body is no different. Have donated, have assisted, and I want to thank you for it. Um the people just feel they warm up when someone cares about them. Um, and sometimes bus riders feel like that no one cares about the the plight. There is an equipment emergency. They don't have enough equipment for the drivers. There's drivers in the terminals not working every single day.

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