Detroit City Council Formal Session – February 24, 2026

The Detroit City Council held a formal session on February 24, 2026, addressing the ongoing Leland House tenant crisis, receiving updates on the Kronos concrete plant, and considering a range of resolutions, contracts, and public comments. Key discussions focused on the city's plan to retrieve tenants' belongings from the Leland House following a court hearing, and the health impacts of industrial operations in residential areas. Several items were postponed for further review.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Residents and activists raised concerns about D-DOT bus service reliability, particularly for disabled riders.
• Multiple speakers from the Cadillac Heights area urged the Council to down-zone land near the Kronos concrete mixing plant from M4 to SD2, citing health issues (sinus infections, lung nodules) from dust and particulates. They requested the city initiate the downzoning to avoid resident application fees.
• Several callers and in-person speakers demanded the city implement stronger protections against ICE, including declaring city property an ICE-free zone, ending any 287(g) agreements, and requiring judicial warrants for ICE access.
• Commenters also called for independent counsel for the Board of Ethics and the Board of Police Commissioners, criticizing Corporation Counsel's influence.
• A caller alleged that the city's property tax system has illegally overtaxed homeowners by $600 million and led to 100,000 wrongful foreclosures.
• A public commenter reported being drugged, sexually assaulted, and later ticketed by Detroit police, alleging mistreatment by the department. Council President Tate responded, offering to investigate and providing his office number (313-224-1027).

Discussion Items

• Leland House Update (2:10 PM – 3:10 PM): Council received an update from the Administration during the formal session, before a scheduled 10:00 AM bankruptcy court hearing on the Leland House. Trisha Stein (Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives), Graham Anderson (Law Department), and Julie Schneider (Director of Housing and Revitalization) presented the city’s plan for a potential court-ordered asset retrieval, including temporary electrical restoration and professional moving services. The city had spent the prior week assessing options, including temporary electrical restoration and a no-electricity move. The city’s preference was to restore temporary power to allow tenants to supervise the packing of their belongings. 14 households had found permanent housing; 3 more were awaiting moves. The city committed to providing storage and up to two months of housing for displaced tenants.
• Leland House Court Outcome (After Public Comments): Corporation Counsel Conrad Mallett reported back to the Council that Judge Oxholm had accepted the city's plan. Debtor’s counsel conceded that the sale of the building could not proceed until tenants' belongings were removed, strengthening the city’s position as a creditor. A written plan is to be submitted to the court by March 3, 2026, with a hearing for secured creditors on March 10, 2026.
• Kronos Concrete Plant: Several council members and public speakers echoed the request for downzoning and expressed frustration over air quality enforcement.
• Tree Trimming Contracts: Councilmember Miller submitted a memorandum expressing concern over $18 million in tree trimming contracts. She called for a presentation from the General Services Department (GSD) and the Forestry Department on expanding the city's in-house forestry capacity. A presentation with LPD was confirmed for March 5, 2026.
• Property Tax Appeals: Councilmember McCampbell reminded residents that the deadline to appeal property taxes is March 9, 2026 at 4:30 PM.
• Flock Camera Technology: A public commenter asked the Council to vote on removing Flock (automated license plate reader) technology from the city.

Key Outcomes

• Leland House: The city’s plan to retrieve tenants’ belongings was accepted by the bankruptcy judge. Debtor’s counsel admitted the sale cannot proceed without the removal of tenant property. The city will seek to be made a secured creditor. A written plan is due by March 3, 2026, with a hearing for secured creditors on March 10, 2026.
• Postponements:
  • Line Item 19.1 (DCD General Contracting Services contract) was postponed for one week at the request of Councilmember Callaway.
  • Line Items 20.12 through 20.16 and 23.5 (Tree trimming contracts) were postponed for one week at the request of Councilmember Benson and others, to allow for a presentation by the General Services Department and Forestry on March 5, 2026.
• Waivers Granted: Waivers were granted for Line Items 20.10, 20.20-20.22, and 20.2-20.8.
• Resolutions Approved: Multiple resolutions were approved, including
  • Items 16.1-16.3 (MCCampbell)
  • Items 17.1-17.11 (Various)
  • Items 18.1 (BD Venture Studio LLC)
  • Items 20.1, 23.2 (Pro Tem Young)
  • Items 20.2-20.10 (Santiago Romero – HIV services, police firing range maintenance, DDOT bus repairs) with an objection from Callaway to 20.9 (police firing range) and from McCampbell and Callaway to 20.19 (Auto theft grant)
  • Items 29.1-29.8 (Testimonials and special privileges)
• Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned without further business.