Good morning, everyone.

Oh, I'm on your microphone.

Good morning, everyone.

Uh, and welcome to our committee of the whole today for the purposes of the mayor providing her first budget address to the city council.

Um, Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll?

Yes, good morning.

Council President James Tate.

Council President Pro Tim Coleman Young.

Here.

Councilmember Angela Whitville Callaway.

Present.

Councilmember Mary Waters.

President Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero.

Present.

Councilmember Reneta Miller.

Councilmember Denzel McCampbell.

Here.

Councilmember Letitia Johnson.

Johnson is on our way.

Councilmember Scott Benson.

Mr.

Chair, we have quorum.

Thank you.

We have a quorum, which means we're now in session.

And without further ado, we'd like to bring forward Madam Mayor.

Madam Mayor Sheffield, will you please come forward for your first budget address before this body?

And any of the members of the mayor's team who would like to join her, please come forward as well.

Just want to say uh this is a very historic moment.

We you know everything we do in this term is gonna in in history is going to be looked at as historic.

Um but as we talk about the history of it, we also have to talk about the impact.

So as we look at this historic moment, uh, that is definitely important.

But the the goal is to ensure that we make the best, most optimal uh decisions on behalf of the residents of the city of Detroit.

So the history books will talk about this moment uh from a historical perspective, but we want to make sure that the impact is even more heavy for our residents.

And as the mayor makes a way in the way that it's going to uh work.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Well, it's gonna work is that uh the mayor will provide uh the budget address.

Um at that point, colleagues, we will have an opportunity to ask uh two questions each, and we'll just have two questions.

The mayor does have a schedule she has to keep uh at that point.

Uh once we complete our questions, the mayor will depart.

Uh, but her team will remain uh here with us.

We will go into public comment as well.

So we've kind of been down this drill before.

Uh, and again, know that your schedule is jam-packed, uh, Madam Mayor, but uh welcome you back to uh the chambers of city council.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Um so today is your your first budget address, and uh would like for you to uh if you would like introduce your team and then the floor is yours, ma'am.

All right.

Well, good morning, honorable Detroit City Council.

It is an honor to be here to present my first budget for uh fiscal year 2027.

I will allow everyone to introduce themselves.

Good morning, I'm Tanya Studemer, City CFO.

Good morning.

Good morning, I'm Donnie Johnson, acting deputy CFO and budget director.

Good morning, David Bowser, Chief of Staff.

Good morning.

Brian White, Deputy Mayor.

Morning.

All right, so uh Detroit City Council again honored to be here to present my first budget.

Uh this budget reflects our continued commitment to fiscal responsibility and discipline, making smart investments that will allow our city to rise higher.

This budget focuses on building strong and safer neighborhoods, investing in our children, our youth, and our small businesses, and reducing poverty and supporting our most vulnerable residents.

Next slide.

So some of the 2027 budget highlights include, as you all know, we have proposed uh a new department of human homeless and family services, also known as HHFS.

Uh, this creates a more centered resident-centered and coordinated approach to how we address homelessness here in the city of Detroit.

This brings together all of our human services and direct homeless services under one department that were previously housed across multiple departments, creating a singular focus on how we address homelessness in Detroit.

This will serve now as a one-stop shop and no wrong door approach to quality of life and wraparound services for our most vulnerable.

Providing quality care uh to our city's homeless population is a key priority for this administration.

And so we are proposing in this budget a 10% increase, which equals 9.3 million dollars in additional funding for homelessness services as a part of the new HHFS department.

I just want to note that a major focus of HHFS will also be addressing childhood poverty in the city of Detroit.

Uh, very excited about having a new focus on that issue in our city.

Want to thank Council President Tate, Council President Pro Tim Young, Councilmember Johnson, Councilmember Miller, and Councilmember Santiago Ramiro, all for your support in the announcement uh of this office, and looking forward to working with you all and ensuring its success.

Next slide.

So these are some of the services that will now fall under the Human Homeless and Family Services Department.

As you all can see, this creates a continuum for Detroit residents.

Someone who is entering the system as in shelter or homeless can work their way all the way up to home ownership.

Some of the programs include down payment assistance, home repair grants, neighborhood beautification, rental escrow, our sister friends program, and many more programs.

The total funding is around 40 million dollars.

This includes federal, state, and general fund dollars to support the continuum needed for the wraparound care for our residents.

And I just want to also mention here that it's important to me that as someone enters shelter or enters the system homeless, that we provide the wraparound care to provide upward mobility for families so that they're not just moving from shelter to shelter but actually creating upward economic mobility for themselves and their families.

By moving the program centered on homelessness to the new HHFS department, HRD now has the ability to focus their full efforts on the primary objective of facilitating new housing developments across our city.

This reflects a $4 million investment in the rehabilitation and development of affordable housing.

Just a friendly note that the Affordable Housing Trust Fund does mandate that 70% of the funds must be used for incomes at or below 30% of the area median income.

And so this is really developing housing for the most vulnerable in our city.

Funding for the Detroit Startup Fund that provides initial support and funding for our innovative startups to be rooted here in Detroit.

And we are proposing two new funds as a part of this budget.

One is the business emergency fund that would provide business support for businesses who are in emergency situations.

And a part of our new aggressive retail strategy, and I want to thank Councilmember Callaway for her consistent advocacy around the need for more retail in our neighborhoods.

We all know that property tax relief is a major concern for our residents and our businesses.

And in total, thanks to the Detroit City Council, we have reduced our debt millage by six meals over the last four years.

A University of Michigan study found that only 36% of residents are earning a living wage.

Leaving many of our full-time workers struggling to make ends meet, and this is significantly lower than our peer cities like Chicago and Cleveland.

Ensuring that no public servant makes less than 44,616 per year.

This administration will continue to invest in our Department of Public Transportation.

This budget proposes a historic $220 million transportation operations budget, $30 million increase from the current budget.

Of that $30 million increase, $24 million will be set aside for a competitive wage increase in incentives for our bus drivers and our mechanics.

This includes a $6 in-hour starting bus driver pay increase, bringing the starting salary to $25 an hour, making DDOT driver pay more competitive with SMART.

And I know we have all heard the need to make sure we have competitive salary.

The additional $6 million will be set aside for operations, and the total $30 million increase will allow for improved repair and maintenance capacity, which will overall improve reliability and efficiency of our services.

Some of the other highlights in this budget include we are proposing a $10 million pro-rated check to continue to support our legacy pension retirees, continue funding for right to counsel through ARPA funding and grant funding.

We are proposing $1 million to fund a childhood at risk home repair program, and this is in alignment with our priorities to reduce childhood poverty in the city of Detroit.

And I have directed DPW and allocated in this budget $8 million to be set aside to clear the city's backlog of sidewalk request.

We have $6,300 requests that are pending.

And it drives me crazy that in the midst of the revitalization revitalization of our city, that we have so many generational Detroiters who are calling asking when their sidewalks will be repaired.

And so in this budget, we have allocated $8 million to clear the entire backlog.

And we are going to aggressively work to get that done within one year.

Additionally, we are proposing a $120% increase, a total of $2.2 million in funding for after-school program here in the city of Detroit.

And this is something that I talked about a lot throughout the campaign, ensuring that every child has access to after-school program within a two-mile radius of their school.

Investing in our families.

Just a couple of weeks ago, we announced the proposed Office of Neighborhood and Community Safety.

This office will advance a holistic public health approach to violence prevention and community safety, building our current community violence intervention efforts, as well as focusing on domestic violence and intimate partner violence prevention.

As a part of this office, we are proposing 10.8 million dollars for our nationally recognized community violence intervention work, 1 million dollars for our ceasefire program, and three additional FTEs to build out other support strategies for this newly proposed office.

This budget also proposes an expansion of our mental health co-response team, expanding the operations now to a third shift to provide full 24 hour coverage for our residents who are in need of immediate mental health services.

This budget also proposes a $1 million increase to the public lighting authority's operating budget to support this administration's light up Detroit mid block lighting program.

This will allow for additional lighting in all seven council districts.

There will be robust community engagement, but it will allow for neighborhoods who are experiencing the need for additional lighting to have access to more lighting within their communities.

We are also proposing a million dollars to reopen the city's dead dangerous and disease tree program.

And thank you, Council President Tate, for your advocacy in originally putting money towards this program.

We know that there is a great need.

Thousands of people are still waiting for that service.

And again, this is for dead and dangerous trees on private property.

We also have allocated a million dollars for the continued program of the beautification grant program for our organizations and nonprofits.

This administration is heavily focused on prevention.

As we talk about public safety, as we talk about gun violence in Detroit, we know that a lot of it lies on how are we preventing the uptick in gun violence that we oftentimes see in the summer months.

As many of you all know, Occupy the Corner was a huge hit in the community, and I'm excited now to expand what was once occupied the corner to occupy the summer as a part of our dedicated summer youth violence reduction strategy.

This budget proposes to extend nine of our recreational center hours to 11 p.m.

throughout the summer months for 10 weeks.

We are also bringing back midnight basketball to our recreational centers, and we will also have weekly program every Friday throughout the summer months to keep our young people engaged and occupied.

Our summer violence youth reduction strategy totals about 1.5 million dollars in this budget.

And we are also proposing an additional $500,000 for the Grow Detroit Young Talent Program.

Lastly, taking care of our seniors.

Within the first month of taking office, we launched the Senior Building Compliance Plan, protecting our seniors and residents with disabilities from living in unsafe and poorly maintained properties.

This budget reflects four FTEs for senior advocates whose goal is to really support the well-being of our seniors who are residing in senior buildings.

This budget also proposes a $750,000 senior food access program.

Currently, there is a pilot that is going on at seven of our senior buildings.

It has been very, very successful, and this budget proposes that all senior buildings now will have access to a senior food access program.

This budget also proposes $1 million in funding to provide transportation access to our most vulnerable residents.

The program is known as accessibility.

It is a shuttle program that will provide Detroiters age 62 years or older or those living with disabilities, the ability to reach essential destinations at no cost.

And so, in conclusion, a budget is a reflection of a city's values and priorities, and I am proud to present to you all a balanced budget for fiscal year 2027.

As you all review your budget books this year, at the very beginning of the budget book, you will see something different.

You will see a poverty alleviation and a youth impact statement to ensure that these priorities remain central to the work happening across all City of Detroit departments.

Thank you all for your time.

I know this is a very busy time for the City Council, and I'm looking forward to a very productive budget process and another balanced budget for the residents of our city.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I will now turn it over to our CFO, Taya Steidemeyer.

Good morning, everyone.

Good morning.

So let's start with the first time.

And let me just say this for those who are looking to uh ask questions.

We will now open up for public comment, the collection of public comment collection.

Thank you, President Caes.

Um, so the Detroit economic outlook.

So the forecast predicts the economy will continue to grow at a steady pace, marked by payroll job gains.

The chart on the left shows that both payroll employment within the city, which is the yellow line, and employment among Detroit residents recovered strongly following the pandemic, but have hovered near 2019 levels.

While Michigan's labor force has been shrinking, Detroit's average labor force reached its highest level since 2010.

The chart on the right shows Detroit's industries into three groups blue collar, higher education, and lower education.

Employment in the blue collar industry group declined in 2025 quarter four, mainly due to GM's factory zero transition to one shift.

Blue collar industries are expected to return to growth by the end of this year.

And the yellow line, which is the higher ed services, are expected to see moderate growth.

The expansion of Henry Port Hospital should help support growth in the health care sector.

Lower ed industries have lost jobs, about as many jobs and administrative and business support services as it added in leisure and hospitality.

This is the city's uh revenue outlook.

So the state law mandates that Detroit hold two revenue estimating conferences in September and February.

What you see here are the general fund recurring revenues from the February Revenue Conference, which sets the city's fiscal year 27 budget and the four-year financial plan.

The first bar on the left is this year's budget.

The second bar is the fiscal year 26 update that reflects the anticipated reductions in net corporate profits.

You may recall we have already set aside 42 million dollars for this.

When you compare the green sections for fiscal year 26 and 27 proposed, there is little change.

This is due to continued growth and wagering taxes.

Now I do want to point out to you that last week the Michigan Attorney General filed a lawsuit against a prediction market company to halt what she contends is the unlawful offering of online sports wages to Michigan residents.

The city receives just over $6 million annually in online sports betting, but that could be impacted by these prediction markets.

Prediction markets are an online platform where people can bet on future events.

Um is asking the court to issue a permanent injection.

The next slide is the retiree protection fund.

I think most of you are very familiar with this.

It was actually established back in 2017, and it was done to ensure that we keep our promise to our retirees to fund future pension payments.

The first draw was in fiscal year 2024, and we will continue to draw uh on this fund probably through fiscal year 36.

This chart indicates that what will be available uh through the pension funds, and we anticipate that there'll be dollars, not very much through fiscal year 36, about 2 million dollars.

So right now this is expected to last as another 10 years.

Next is the budget reserve or the rainy day fund.

The city's rainy day fund remains at twice the required minimum.

Uh so we will not be adding any additional dollars here.

We also do not need to use any of the dollars that are here.

And with that, I will turn it over to Johnny uh Donnie Johnson, who will talk about the um budget in detail.

Thank you, Ms.

Stademeyer.

Um, so the budget in detail, highlights of the budget.

This budget is a 1.553 billion dollar general fund budget, which is a 34.6 million dollar decrease from the previous general fund budget.

This highlights the tightening revenue environment.

Um, as Ms.

Sodemeyer sort of indicated, it is growing, but it's growing at a slower pace than we would like.

And so this budget is a little bit uh more conservative than we have been accustomed to.

Overall, that is a 2.2% decrease to the general fund uh year over year.

In terms of the all funds budget, we're looking at a 3.047 uh billion dollar all funds budget.

This is a 1.1% decrease uh from year over year.

In terms of FTEs, this budget anticipates 11,471 total FTEs, of which 7,594 are general funded, 3,877 are non-general funded.

This is an increase of about 74 FTEs, to be precise, 74.19 FTEs year over year in total for the city, a 0.7% increase.

I will also note that the general fund now constitutes 51% of the gener of the city's budget, followed by enterprise funds at 31% and other funds at 18%.

On this slide, we can see the breakdown of the general fund.

The primary uh expense driver in the general fund uh, no surprise is personnel at 56% of the general fund.

Personnel costs are the largest uh driver of our expenses here as an organization.

This is followed by contractual services, supplies, and other 27%.

And our debt service and legacy pension payments constitute 17% of our general fund.

If you break down our uh budget by public health and safety as one of the primary lenses through which we view our budget, you can see that 46% of the general fund is allocated to public health and safety.

Um 17% again for debt service and legacy pension, and the remainder 31% is everything else.

On this slide, uh we can we show in a little bit more detail about how revenues are keeping up with recurring operations and the retiree protection fund and its role in allowing us to phase in our legacy pensions.

On this slide, you can see that it's sort of in the middle of the slide the 65.6 million dollar retiree protection fund draw that is serving as uh the cushion as intended as we continue our ramp up to full general fund responsibility for the pension payments.

On the right side of the slide, you can see the use of what we call prior year surplus or one time dollars.

We are using 50.3 million dollars of the general fund balance, otherwise known as prior year surplus, and 2.8 million from one-time revenues that are being earned.

These are usually one-off payments, top-ups on certain revenue remittances from the state of Michigan.

You can see the use of these one-time dollars there on that lower right corner.

That these one time dollars are being allocated primarily to um community violence intervention, discretionary benefit enhancement for retirees, or the 13th check as we colloquially call it, public safety overtime, homeless services, and so on.

On the next slide, we see the four-year financial plan.

Um second on the wrong slide.

Um this is just another way of looking at the revenues and the so it's a revenue focused look at the top.

You can see all of the breakdown of the revenues and how they are projected out of the four-year plan, as well as their proposed uses by broad category.

So we're gonna see personnel, non-personnel, legacy pension, debt, and one-time expenses, and that's gonna walk through to the full general fund uh budget for 27.

On the next slide, this is a little small on the PowerPoint, uh, but it is in the budget book and on the PDF, so it's a lot easier to zoom in.

But this is essentially providing a breakdown of the general fund budget by recurring and one time by department.

So this will indicate, you know, in each department's budget, how much of their budget their general fund allocation is recurring and how much is from one-time resources.

And then as we move to the last couple slides, these are what we call the FTE detail by department slides.

This first slide is the all funds, and it provides the breakdown of FTE proposed FTE budgets for uh totals for each of the departments for their all funds, meaning general fund plus all of their other funds that department may rely on.

And the slide after this one is general fund focused only, and we'll provide that same breakdown but in the general fund only.

And the last slide is simply informational.

It's just a way of letting folks uh, especially the public understand how the budget development process works, how we get to today.

It is a long process that starts back in September, and it works all the way through to today and then all the way through the next month in partnership with this honorable body as we work through budget hearings and executive session.

But you can see all of the various key touch points throughout that process.

And so as I close out my part of the presentation, I really want to acknowledge the work of the team uh in the Office of Budget, the Office of Budget team.

We are a strong team, we're a big team, um, uh little team with big uh power.

And I want to uh thank them all for their very hard work.

Um, my deputy Matt Spath, uh, my assistant director Rachel Schaeffer, my principal analyst uh Steven Colbertson, and the rest of the team in the Office of Budget.

They are an incredible powerhouse.

They worked hard through the weekend um late into the night to make sure that everything was done and perfect for Madam Mayor for today.

And I want to thank them for everything they did.

Thank you, Danny.

Thank you.

All right, I think that is all of our presentation, so we will take questions at this point.

Thank you so much.

Thank you for this.

Just turned off.

Thank you for the presentation as well.

Want to note that we are now cutting off the collection of public comment cards.

And uh, Madam Clerk, if you can please note that we've been joined by member Johnson as well.

Colleagues, the way it's going to work, as I mentioned earlier, we're going to have two questions apiece um for the mayor and her team.

Um, and then we will uh allow for public comment and then go forward at that moment.

I'm gonna kick things off just a couple of questions again.

I'm seeing uh the umbrella of everything looks really good.

A lot of stuff I like, but it's always the details.

And we've got to peel them back.

We just received the budget this morning.

We're gonna go through line by line, page by page, um, but wanted to talk uh about one of the stats that um was mentioned during the uh revenue estimating conference.

And Ms.

Dademeyer, you I'm sure familiar with it.

It was indicated that Detroiters in the city of Detroit make about half of what non-Detroiters who work in Detroit make.

Um wanted to know uh what are there anything that uh any any items, any programs uh in place that uh will start to chip away at that uh inequity.

I mean, we've got a program in Brightmore.

Uh we put money into the budget last year that upscaled uh a number of our residents as we uh move forward towards the Brightmore framework plan and revisioning that area, but again, citywide, we're seeing that this this complete inequity.

Uh any programs or uh projects, initiatives that may uh be in place uh or in plan to will help close that gap, Madam Mayor.

Yeah, so first of all, thank you for raising it.

And I think you know, this uh living wage that we're proposing in this budget is us leading by example.

Um, one of the initiatives that I will be doing is going out and really advocating that more employers are providing livable wages for their employees.

And in order to do that, we have to lead by example.

And so uh this budget reflects, I think about si 7.9 million dollars uh that will be set aside so that all of our city of Detroit employees are making a livable wage.

Just a couple of numbers here.

Um it's roughly 900 Detroiters that 900 employees that will be impacted by this livable wage, and 70 percent of those are Detroit residents.

Um, I think it's a combination of one ensuring that we are attracting good quality jobs here to Detroit, but also properly trained Detroiters for that.

And this administration is definitely focused on doing both of those things.

Okay, appreciate it.

Look forward to working again closely with you on that.

The others, you know, uh everyone should know.

I'm all in on Brightmore.

Oh, yeah, we are too president.

Yes, but I know we've had conversations as well about it.

Um, but you know, we last year we toiled uh and pulled the community the last two years rather, uh, the community together for a number of meetings in Brightmore for the Brightmore Framework Plan.

But at the end of the rainbow, there's no money, there's no pot of gold just yet.

Are there any plans uh within this budget uh within the departments to advance this bright more framework plan so we can start to rehabilitate uh that particular neighborhood with the neighbors in in mind?

So, President Tate, I would and I don't know, Miss Dimar, if you want to add anything, but I would love to work with you on what that looks like.

This administration is uh very much so wanting to ensure that every neighborhood feels as if they're seen in value.

There's no winners or losers, and so we have a toolkit that we'll be releasing where whether it's people investments, right?

Some areas may not be ready for economic development, larger scale projects, but maybe the intervention of community violence intervention or workforce development programs or some of our human services that we're uh doing under Dr.

Luke Schaefer.

And so I believe that there is something there to support the work that you're doing and uplift the needs of that community, um, and definitely looking forward to working with you on that.

Thank you.

So be on the lookout for another edition of Be Next.

That's our program.

And by the way, I did talk with Terry regarding that program, and I think we were still waiting on a little bit more data to see the impact that it had on the residents in Brightmore.

But if it is successful, I will be right there with you to ensure that we continue it.

All right, thank you so much.

We're gonna now go to uh questions from colleagues.

I'm just gonna start uh from the outside and come in and we're gonna start with member Denzel McCampbell.

Everyone, again, two questions apiece.

Two questions apiece, please.

Thank you, Mr.

President, and good morning.

Good morning, Madam Mayor and the team.

Thank you so much for this uh budget presentation as the council president mentioned.

Um a lot of great things in it, and I really appreciate the statement on um the poverty alleviation and the focus on that.

So thank you for that.

I I had a question around um you mentioned the programs around getting more retail to uh our neighborhoods, and just wanted to say if you could go in deeper on like how you all are thinking about and how this budget relates to the bringing more retail to neighborhoods, and how are you addressing that in districts and targeting that?

Yeah, so um we have tasks, the planning department, and as they come before you offer budget, they probably will have a presentation on this administration's approach to how we bring more retail back into our neighborhoods.

We're looking at all of the factors that eliminate Detroit from being a consideration, oftentimes it's population, is income levels, it's the cost to do business, it's safety concerns in our neighborhoods, but we're not allowing that to be a factor of us not aggressively pursuing retail.

And so we're looking at things like de-risking, uh finding ways in which we can provide support for retail to come back into our neighborhoods and planning and development is working on an aggressive plan for each council district to ensure that retail is prioritized in every single council district, and so that will be presented during the planning and developments uh budget depart uh budget hearing.

Thank you.

Appreciate that.

And then just to touch on um transportation.

Uh I know you laid out the improvements there, and I know there's a lot of folks that are prioritizing that.

Uh, and I am very excited about the student free fare.

Um has there been uh conversation around how do we increase the safety at or how does budget relates to the safety at bus stops and on the buses as well?

Most definitely we know um we've talked about ambassadors, and that is a part of this budget.

I think we do have some funding for some additional ambassadors to be on the bus.

Uh Mr.

Cunningham, is he here?

I think we we just brought him on as an ambassador uh as well, so he will be advocating and supporting, and I think as well, I'm not sure if it's in this budget, but there are cameras that are proposed for our bus buses as well, too.

And so the safety of D DOT is extremely important, and as we have been engaging with our young people uh when it comes to absenteeism and getting to school, we've also heard that safety is a major concern as well.

And so it is something that we're prioritizing both with ambassadors and also with our camera program as well.

Thank you.

That's great to hear.

I appreciate that.

And the bass of the program um connecting those issues that we know folks are experiencing outside of the bus system as well will help.

So thank you.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

Uh, Member Callaway.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair, and good morning, everyone, and good morning, madam mayor, and congratulations again.

And thank you for putting um our families and children first on your first day in office, and I thank you for keeping all of your promises and um the vision shall come to pass.

I have a couple questions.

Risk management fund.

It was um in 2026, it was 42 million, and in 2027, it looks like it's going to be decreased to 12 million.

That's like a 70 percent decrease.

What new risk management programs will be started to prevent DDOT accidents and DPD incidents that result in huge lawsuit settlements every single week.

I now chair the Internal Operations Standing Committee.

And every week, we're suddenly millions in lawsuits.

With this decrease um in the risk management um fund, how do we address that?

Because I don't think it would be great and hopeful if those lawsuits would just go away if we wouldn't have to um be faced with them.

But we see them every single week on Wednesday.

So I don't know who can answer that question, and then I'll ask my second question after this one.

Yep, this is the chair uh to member Callaway.

So what you see in the budget is just a portion of the risk management budget that is uh specifically in the DDAP budget, but we actually have additional dollars available for risk management.

But to address your question as it relates to uh DDOT and the risk involved there, we really think that by paying our drivers more money, we'll get a different quality of drivers.

And the expectations that you know we'll be able to provide better training, we won't have as much turnover.

You know, there are a lot of benefits to the fact that now they make a much better wage and to be soon to be an even better one.

Um so I think that's gonna make a big difference too in terms of their training and you know, in terms of the safety concerns.

Um I'll keep hope alive.

I'll I I will because we see D DOT and DPD every single week with having to um deal with lawsuits and settlements.

Um my next question is for the see here.

I'm excited about the living wage standard um being um uniform across the board, and I'm also excited about the eight million dollars being set aside to clear the backlog of sidewalks.

That's what I usually hear in my district is trees and sidewalks.

So thank you for um hearing the people and um answering the call.

My last question is how much is it going to require to reopen the office of early learning?

That's one of my um one of my concerns is that we close it in the first place.

Yes, ma'am.

Um and I'm glad that you saw the need to reopen it.

So, what is it going to cost to fully fund the office of early learning?

Thank you ever so much.

Thank you, Member Calloway, and thank you for your advocacy on the city council regarding this office.

And uh, as we brought in our senior director of youth and education, we talked about wanting to have uh the support from cradle to career uh here in the city of Detroit.

And so we are proposing two FTEs for the Office of Early Learning, letting the new staff come in to build out the office to figure out what the needs are uh for that particular office.

But in this budget, as of now, it's just for two FTEs to start the office, and then after that, I'm assuming uh more funding will be needed once more policies and programs come forward from those two FTEs.

Thank you.

Thank you, Member Callaway.

Thank you.

Uh Member Johnson.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair, and good morning, Madam Mayor.

Good morning, everyone.

Um, I want to apologize for being late.

I-94 was just not cooperating this morning.

Um, but I was listening as I was on my way here.

Um, I do want to first just say I think the entire presentation is reflective of you listening and hearing what the community has been complaining about, has been advocating for.

And so I do just want to say thank you for that.

It's clear that you came from this body.

Um and we know that the residents are always here uh before us for um ways to address different things within the city.

So thank you so much.

Um, my two questions are going to be maybe focused a little bit more on the housing and revitalization department.

That is something that I'm always trying to help figure out just to make sure that we have housing for all of our residents that are currently here, which I believe attracts other people to come to the city.

Um you spoke about a hundred percent of the property sales going to the affordable housing development and preservation fund.

I think as we drive throughout the city, we see a lot of apartment complexes that are dark in the city.

Um would you give some thought to utilizing those dollars to bring the apartment complexes back online?

I think it's it's important to stabilize the current infrastructure that we have in the city as we look to build up, and my next question is relative to what was mentioned about building up our neighborhoods from a housing perspective.

So would you be willing to have uh conversations about that because we've seen a lot of apartment complex complexes just dark in our neighborhoods.

Yeah, most definitely the uh housing affordable, the affordable housing preservation fund is not just for the development of new housing, but also for the rehabilitation of existing units throughout the city of Detroit.

The only mandate again is that it be used 70% of the funds be used for incomes at 30% AMI and below.

So uh yes, I would love to be able to revitalize and rehabilitate existing structures uh without within the city of Detroit and ensure that we're providing affordable housing.

Awesome, thank you.

Um I I certainly look forward to having greater conversations with you about that just to see how we can ensure it's going to those those units because I think they are typically more in line with that 30 to 50 percent AMI.

So thank you for that.

Um the other thing that I'm not certain that I heard this morning, but I know we've heard maybe within the last few weeks um your quest to build more housing um in the city of Detroit.

Did that not come from you?

Oh, wait, yes, it did, it did.

Um, and so I would really love to know more about your plans in doing that.

Um, as you know, district four has the most vacant land uh than any other district in this city, and I've really been looking for ways to encourage developers to come in to do infield building, and I know there are some perhaps some infrastructure challenges that me we may be able to work through that may incentivize and encourage more in field building.

Well, thank you for for raising that.

Yes, we we have an ambitious goal of trying to build 1,000 new single family homes throughout the city of Detroit, and would love to partner with each of the council members to ensure that this is something that you want in your district.

I know Member Benson, we talked about possibly having a pilot uh in some in one of your areas in district three.

Um, and so yes, we are one um asking C uh the housing revitalization department to set aside a portion of CDBG funding for a pilot program to explore in field housing options.

We've also been working with the Detroit Land Bank Authority to figure out how they can set aside vacant land uh for the development of uh in field housing as well.

Uh and then just to assemble properties, try to clear title, try to prepare properties as much as we can so that it is ready for a development and to execute the goal of 1,000 new single family homes.

We know that there's a lot of challenges around the cost construction, things of that sort, but we've seen a lot of innovative models, whether it's modular housing or 3D printing, Councilmember Young, which I was very impressed when I saw a presentation on 3D printing.

But I think we have to look at all options and be innovative as we know uh Detroiters are in need of housing, and if we can build on the vacant land that we have in an innovative way, this administration will explore that.

So, yes, it is a very ambitious goal.

It has been done.

There are developers doing it, but we have to have a renewed focus and a commitment on wanting to build uh new family homes in this administration is committed to doing that.

Thank you for that.

Um, and part of District Five that I inherited now is where a lot of uh in field housing in field building is taking place, and so um I certainly do agree that that it can be done with the um support from the city.

Uh so certainly look forward to that.

Thank you.

Thank you, Member Mayor.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you, Member Johnson.

Member Benson.

All right, thank you.

And then Madam Mayor, congratulations and welcome to your first budget presentation and the first budget season of the new tenure.

Um and just looking at your focus and priorities around the elimination of poverty, that's something that I share, and we've had that conversation as well.

We just typically use the converse of that, which is the growth of our middle class.

And so the two statements are synonymous, just said differently.

And it's really exciting to see what's going to happen there.

Uh, a couple of the items when we talk about the focus on public safety around transportation.

We recently approved a code of conduct ordinance at this table regarding how we expect our writers to comport themselves, and I hope we'll look at how we can help with public safety utilizing that ordinance.

Um, looking at your focus on youth and the conversation we've had around Operation Hope and the ability to provide an initial savings for our young students from pre-K all the way to the age of 18.

You like the model that they're doing in Atlanta as well.

And then when it comes to public safety, as a father of a young child, we routinely use our our infrastructure when it comes to parks, when it comes to rec centers, and there's often a disconnect in the behavior of some versus what the expectations should be for young families and for young people, period.

And when we talk about young people not feeling comfortable, just like to see more of an emphasis around how we hold people accountable for their behavior at these facilities, i.e., bringing guns, open air, alcohol use, the serious behavior, those are things that should be kept at home or in your own private property and not brought to our public spaces.

I hope that we'll see a level of accountability and expectations that don't come though don't support that type of behavior.

Two items like to talk about.

Number one for middle class growth, zero percent interest loan program, last budget, this current budget cycle.

We have asked for a reprogramming, just a rethinking of that program moving forward.

And then when it comes, my second question is going to be around tangled title on page alpha 17 of your budget under the executive organization plan under the law department, tangled title, what we call life and legacy planning, what we call asset protection is now underneath the law department.

Can we talk about that program and how it's going to be funded and how we see zero percent interest loan program, hoping to move our families into the middle class and access to capital okay, okay.

Um so zero percent interest loan um definitely support.

You know, I'm a more of a proponent for those grants, home repair grants, but I do understand that some people do benefit from from the zero percent interest loan.

From my understanding, there will have to be a reprogramming of CDBG funds for that program, but definitely want to support you in that in that regard.

As relates to the tango titled, it was moved to the law department, and I wanted to turn it over to uh Chief of Staff Bowser just to talk about why we housed it in the law department, but we are here definitely to support the work that you've been doing as it relates to that particular program.

Uh through the chair.

Um so there's significant work being done to sort of build out that program and provide additional supports.

And so a lot of that work uh has to do with the legal aspect of ensuring that there's protections there.

And so there will be um uh a placement of that program under the law department, but dotted lines to pretty much every other initiative we have here.

We know there's other needs uh the individuals may have within that space.

So we have financial counseling and things like that that happen in other departments, but in terms of direct oversight, the law department is where some of the more concrete supports are going to be uh are going to be up.

Okay, thank you.

I just want to say that asset protection program helps to protect over a quarter of a billion dollars in equity that we have locked up in our airs property within the city of Detroit.

So that's critical.

And then in addition, the zero percent interest loan program, everybody wants a grant.

Of course.

But unfortunately uh qualifies for that grant, and it's always oversubscribed.

So this is another tool and toolbox to get capital into the hands of our homeowners, specifically our middle class homeowners who can afford and support the debt service on those type of dollars.

Thank you.

Through the chair uh to member Benson, I also want to add that we put nearly a million dollars of opera funds into asset protection, and it's been a very successful program.

So hopefully we'll find a way to continue to fund it.

Oh, I'm looking forward to your solution to this challenge.

Thank you.

Thank you, Member Benson.

Remero.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Through you, good morning, everyone.

I'm excited to be here and to hear about this new budget, agree on the excitements around the focuses of what we're gonna be spending our money on.

Um I'm gonna be focusing on questions that I keep getting asked um by my residents in district six.

Um, so trucking and industry and and the trucks that are around an industry around our city is huge around the impact that it makes.

And we had DPD going around sharing with everyone an enforcement unit that they wanted uh to be into this uh to be put into this budget.

Um wondering, assuming it did not make it, if not, what the plans are to ensure that we can get the units.

I know that there's grant opportunities.

Um, quite frankly, uh if there are vacancies, I look at the vacancies, but I also understand we have other priorities.

Um and if there's money out there that we can assume for this role, I'd rather do that.

Uh, but how quickly can we get a grant?

How quickly can we get this unit because it is necessary to address the trucking issues that we have in the city?

Yeah.

So wholeheartedly agree with you.

I support uh more enforcement around trucking trucking throughout our neighborhoods.

Uh we have um let Mr.

Klotz who is our liaison to the federal government and does a lot of our grants uh know about this program, and he did indicate that he is pretty positive that he could get a grant to support some of this work.

How long that will take, I could not tell you, I want to give you a false timeline.

Uh, but it was my understanding that the Detroit police department could absorb a pilot program within their own existing vacancies to allow the program to be implemented, and then it's budget neutral from my understanding.

And so moving forward, what they enforce those tickets will come back and pay for itself.

And so that is what we were proposing is that the uh Detroit Police Department use some of its vacancies to absorb a pilot to ensure that this program is implemented in this upcoming fiscal year.

Understood through the chair, thank you.

So we can look at that.

Um we can move forward uh and create this pilot because I think it's necessary and it'll be helpful across the city.

Um District 6 residents want sidewalk repairs, neighborhood improvements, dealing with their alleys, all the things that I think can be addressed in this budget.

Um, one thing that I'm not seeing though, and I'm assuming it is in here, um, but are we still funding our Office of Immigrant Affairs?

Um, I know that uh residents are asking that the city provide legal aid funding as well.

I know that this is something that is a hard discussion given the federal governments and the tensions that we're feeling.

Um, but I'm just wondering then what is the investment in our immigrant communities in this budget.

Yeah, so um, and I'll turn it over to uh our chief of staff, but we did move forward with the appointment of a new director of the Office of Immigrate Immigrant Affairs.

Uh I think they start one in the coming month, about a month.

So we're very excited about that.

And this budget does propose funding for the office as well.

Uh through the chair.

Um, I also believe that an important change here is the move from the Office of Immigrant Immigrant Affairs from under HRD into its own sort of space under the new chief of health human services and poverty solutions.

I think having a uh a direct um connection to a chief level individual in the administration provides that focus and that support uh that I believe and I think that we agree on that has needed to be there.

Uh and so with the new director, um, they will be building out exactly what that office will be doing.

But I expect to see a very different framework uh than what we have been sort of talking about, uh, and one that's actually integrated within other departments' um operations as well.

And so having sort of uh an approach that addresses you know policies, uh standards, you know, language access across the entire administration as opposed to just within a small division within a different department.

So you'll see some changes there.

Okay, thank you.

I'm again really excited.

Um agree with Member Johnson.

You definitely know what the issues are what we need to be addressing.

Um I just need to be honest that right now the most vulnerable are incredibly quiet and scared right now, that is our immigrant community.

Um, but they are pushing and we need to respond.

Uh so looking forward to ensuring that we find creative ways to find legal aid for them, um, to support them in whatever ways that we can.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you, Member Santiago Mero, Member Waters.

Well, thank you.

Mr.

President, good morning, Madam Mayor.

First of all, let me just thank you for addressing systemic poverty.

As an at large member one who represents the whole D.

Oh, that sounds good, right?

Okay.

Yeah.

The cost of doing business in Detroit for Detroit is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of Detroit is increasing by the hour for this council to exercise our budgetary responsibility for majority Detroit.

We can't spend what we don't have setting the 2026-27 fiscal year budget.

It's not about cutting deals to get the five votes.

This fiscal year budgeting must focus on this city of Detroit, must justify collective uh existence, line item by line item.

And I did hear uh president say he'll go through it line item by line item, and we want to shoot make sure that we do that for Majority Detroit to remain connected.

Uh and we have to remain connected to Detroit.

So my focus will be on a zero-based uh budgeting approach to analyzing this budget, focusing on outcomes for prior fiscal year.

So I want to know from you all how would the current economic downturn that we see, not just here in the city of Detroit, but throughout Michigan and in this country, how would that impact our budget?

Uh member waters, president Tate.

Uh so this budget, we are closely monitoring our revenues.

We monitor our revenues on a daily basis.

Uh as you recall, a few months ago we put 42 million dollars aside in the corporate income tax reserve fund.

At this point, it looks like we may have some cushion there.

So, as with all the uncertainty that is currently going on, we do have some cushion built into the budget that will be available probably when we get the CAFRA done in December, we'll know exactly how much of a cushion we have.

So we are able to manage, you know, what is occurring now.

If we need to start looking at our expenditures, we can do that as well.

You know, it may mean having to pause some hiring if necessary, but right now we really think that the best thing for us to do is just to closely monitor because it's so unpredictable.

But we do have um, in addition to the 150, uh, we do have about 25 million dollars that we think we can have as a cushion uh in case there's a downfall.

Okay, all right.

Well, that's helpful.

Now, um, Madam Mayor, I just want to go through to something um regarding something you said uh regarding your new department, HHS.

And um you were here and you certainly supported the tenants' rights commission that you know I sponsored it was approved by this body.

Um you also mentioned that your department will be dealing with similar issues.

So how um and and especially when it comes to our seniors, and you already know how I feel about that.

I I work very closely with them, which is why I wanted to sponsor the tenants' rights commission.

But I want to know from you so that we can avoid a duplication of services.

Um, how will this new department work with our already established tennis rights commission?

Yeah, I just think collaboration.

Um I don't think you can have too much support for our seniors, especially those who are living in um these high-rise senior complexes.

Our senior advocates uh are really going into the buildings two to three times a month.

They're building relationships with the management company, they're connecting them with resources, they're you know, just trying to improve their overall quality of life.

They're also be uh working alongside the food access program that I mentioned earlier.

Um, but the work that you're doing with the tenant rights commission is so important uh because primarily you're also building out tenant councils, understanding uh letting tenants know their rights as tenants as well too.

And so I see it as a collaboration and a partnership, not necessarily a duplication of services because the tenant rights commission I think meets regularly, monthly.

I'm not sure how often they meet.

The senior advocates are in and out of the buildings on a regular basis.

Uh, they're reporting concerns if there is issues with the condition of the building, they're getting it over to BC and ensuring that their overall quality of life is improved.

But right now, a major focus of this administration, of course, is the quality of life and the condition of our senior buildings.

Gotcha.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you so much, Member Waters.

Member Miller.

Good morning, everyone, Madam Mayor.

Thank you for joining us today.

This is my first budget hearing.

I am a little nervous.

So I have all these documents here, so I'm trying to roll them out.

I am truly excited about uh your new senior office of affairs for seniors.

Uh that is one of my main focuses.

I just recently joined the senior task force under Councilman Scott Vinson and at war at large waters, Mary Waters.

I wanted to know I have I have made a commitment myself to public safety.

And I have instituted in my and my staff the first director of public safety for district five because we have the largest concentration of senior buildings.

There is approximately 25 senior buildings in District 5.

And our director of public safe safety is our liaison between the police, the police department, the fire department, homeland security, management, emergency management, and BC.

That is the liaison for our department.

And with those buildings, we know a lot of things come with it.

You have been there hands-on.

I have seen your uh food delivery.

They're excited about the packaging that is being brought.

I've seen them a couple of times in the last few months.

But my biggest question is what is your plan to prioritize tenants against bad landlords?

And not just in senior buildings, just tenants, period.

So many of our residents are being evicted or are living in unsafe conditions that affects bad landlords.

So while our seniors are being uh in a position where they have to deal with certain things, I just want to know what is your plan for that, even outside of the seniors.

Yeah, thank you so much, Councilmember.

I want to commend you for jumping right in when it comes to the seniors.

You know, you have to in uh in district five, and so we appreciate your advocacy around senior um compliance.

So a couple of things.

One, um, with all of our MPOs, I've already directed them to actually spend more time in the senior complexes as it relates to safety.

Uh, they already are out patrolling the various districts, but a lot of our senior buildings are not even aware of their MPOs, and so they're now uh have a renewed focus of prioritizing our senior buildings and our senior complexes as well.

Um, as it relates to the compliance of some of our senior buildings, we have a goal to achieve 65 certificate of compliance by August of 2026.

That is it as it relates to all of our senior buildings citywide, to ensure that those are more into compliance and that residents are living in dignified quality housing.

And then overall, as relates to protecting tenants, I authored the right to counsel, right?

And this is in the budget currently that still provides uh tenants the right to a free attorney uh in if uh in the case of any type of eviction throughout the city of Detroit.

And we will continue to work to ensure that all of our landlords have the proper certificate of compliance, but also that our tenants have the proper uh support through uh eviction rights in defense as well.

Thank you.

My second question is I am I just started my first task force, and it's called the children and youth truancy and curfew violation task force.

I believe that we're on track for the same things look like, so I am excited about your creation of Occupy the Summer Youth and Adult Program Initiative.

I'm excited about the um rec centers being open till midnight, and that I believe will go hand in hand with my new task force for curfew violation and summer's coming.

I'm glad you're on it immediately.

And with the dedicated youth and education capacity, uh, the new senior director for youth and education.

I am excited and happy to work with the department regarding uh truancy.

I'm advocate for truancy.

I believe uh when I receive the endorsement for the AAFT, that was one of the biggest things.

So getting the rights to school and make sure they have that proper transportation to get there, but not only knocking on those doors and seeing what's behind the walls and how we can effectively help those households is a great um initiative of ours.

I am a recent volunteer at a public high school after school program, and that is one of our biggest challenges is truancy.

No one wants to speak about it, but I believe your new task force will help us exemplify amplify what's going on in in our households.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Looking forward to working with you.

Thank you, Member Miller.

Protein.

Thank you, Ms.

President.

Uh uh, madam.

I'm sorry, I was going to be very president.

Man, good to see you.

Congratulations, and thank you for allowing us to join in your historic uh election.

And uh I know there's been many budgets to come.

Um I just wanted to ask you really quickly one, uh, I really would my heart was really filled with joy when we talked about senior citizens.

I just wanted to ask you a question, as you know in some of our senior citizen buildings, there's been some issues of crime and violence and my father had a proposal um about um having police meeting stations.

I want to know what I and I think we did something we know when we we worked back with you on this side of the table.

We worked together on that.

I just want to know is that something that you're still interested in, is that in this budget?

And if so, how much money have you put aside for it?

From my analysis, now this is hypothetical, but for my analysis, if we were to do five places um for the Leeds for Innovation Technology staffing operation to stand it up, it'd be about 10 to 12 million dollars.

And so I just want to know is that have you done that analysis in that budget yet?

And if not, it's fine.

Yeah, so I I have not, it is not in this proposed budget, but I did indicate when I had a meeting with all of our captains in precincts uh for throughout the entire city.

I did indicate to them again to prioritize the frequency of how often they're in our senior buildings to create a presence and to build with some of the tenant councils.

But I am interested in exploring what many stations could look like and would love to work with you on it, but it's not in this current budget.

No, no, and I appreciate that.

I just want to make sure, just for my my clarification and distinction.

You are are you saying that's something where you would rather have micro police?

I know we have a program called Server Protect.

We have police officers that walk the beach in certain areas.

Would it be something more where police officers would be around senior citizens and they would check in, or would I talk about where you have an actual physical office presidents in the senior citizen building?

So this is just more presence uh right now going in.

They you know, currently a lot of our buildings have tenant council meetings, so they will be present there to talk about concerns within the community.

Um, but again, I'm not against your proposal.

We just would love to talk about the funding aspect of it.

Another aspect of this as well is a lot of senior buildings also want green light as well, too.

And so we can look at ways to expand those on senior buildings as well, too.

No, excellent.

No, I appreciate that.

And uh, this is my final question.

Thank you.

I've been president for your leadership.

I just want to ask.

Um I also sponsor some legislation with you involving reform in the small businesses and response business reforms and the steps.

Um last I checked, I think the city said it was like 183 steps.

The uh Institute of Justice said it was like 77 steps.

I just want to know is there a plan for how many steps you plan on reducing for small businesses?

And is that based on like a standard?

You know what I'm saying, in terms of what is because it I mean it depends on where you go, but um I know there's standards, you know, in terms of how you do that.

I just want to know like in Raleigh, North Carolina, they have no steps.

I'm not saying that.

Yeah, but I just want to know is that based on the standard in terms of how many steps you want to reduce that by?

Yeah.

And do we know from the steps that you reduce it, the amount of business leakage that we would have from that?

Because there's about 1.7 billion dollars of business leakage of money that goes from the city to the suburbs.

No, I appreciate that.

So uh the first ordinance that we passed, um, the make it easier to do business was really focused on restaurants.

And so uh our new COO, Winnie Alau, who is here who does a phenomenal job of transforming complex systems to easy, user-friendly, resident-centered uh reform.

And so her main mission is to make it easier to do business in Detroit to make it easier for our businesses to reduce regulations and zoning uh in a safe way.

And so we are moving into phase two.

Phase one was what came before council last year when I was on council.

Phase two now was how do we create a broader approach for uh businesses in general citywide.

So we're looking to eliminate as many uh steps as pro possible possible, uh as much bureaucracy as possible to make it uh efficient and effective for small businesses to thrive in Detroit.

Do we have a particular number yet?

Are you still trying to steps?

Yeah.

Oh, no, I I couldn't tell you how many steps, but we want the least as possible, the shortest amount of time uh that would not um you know just prohibit people from succeeding in Detroit.

I had to ask Madam Mayor.

Thank you so much for your time.

I appreciate that.

Mr.

President, thank you, Madam Mayor.

So uh you got your first budget address uh out of the way.

Uh now time for the hard work for all of us to pull this together through the budget hearings and executive session.

Um, and I'm certainly looking forward to it.

Like has been said earlier.

I'll say personally, and it's very clear that you've been listening uh to the residents, not just on the campaign trail, but certainly in your 12 years while you were on city council.

So looking forward to um as we move forward with this particular budget.

Want to give you an opportunity for any closing uh remarks before you go on to your next uh scheduled appointment.

Um, just again want to thank the honorable Detroit City Council for your advocacy, your work.

I know this is a busy time.

Um commend the work that you all are gonna do.

I know that there will be a lot of discussions forthcoming.

Again, want to thank the budget team who's done a phenomenal job of preparing and making sure that I was prepared today uh for this uh for this session and thank the residents of Detroit uh for their continued advocacy as well, too.

So looking forward to a productive process and another balanced budget for fiscal year 2027 that will deliver for our residents.

All right, thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right, colleagues, we're gonna now go to our public comment.

If there's anyone from the public who would like to speak, uh we've already collected your information.

Um we've got uh eight hands in the committee of the whole, and um I do know that Madam Mayor's team is going to be sticking around.

There are members that are going to be sticking around, adhering to uh or listening to the questions that are being presented and responding to them as uh possible.

I know there's still a whole lot of work still to do uh and a long way to go before we end uh the budget process, but today is the beginning portion, and we want to start with that now.

And I have the again the eight eight individuals in the committee of the whole.

We'll start off first with Ms.

Brother Cunningham, followed by Daryl Stewart, followed by Stephen Rimmer, and we'll give everyone uh two minutes for general public comment.

And again, if you can uh copy the questions down to your best of your ability to respond to them.

I know that some of the answers you may not have today.

Um wanted to ensure that residents were heard again, Brother Cunningham, followed by Daryl Stewart, followed by Stephen Rimmer.

All right, we have our clock up and we are ready to go with Brother Cunningham.

Brother Cunningham, the floor is yours, sir.

Okay.

Well, I do say a lot, and I just want to say thank you.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

She has been listening over those years, and the powers in her hands, and the power is now in your hands.

But uh Dot is in some dire straits right now.

Like uh when people hop in my vehicle, they just complain and they see I got laminated like uh articles and stuff inside the vehicle.

They say, What can you do about this?

Well, you can come down to meeting and speak yourself, but since they are reluctant to do so, um the buses are hour late, uh hour and a half late, all districts, uh, and mainly because of the uh the bus shortage.

Remember, it was the driver shortage for so many years.

Now they have plenty of drivers now, and they're still getting more drivers, is good, but now the new coaches that were purchased are breaking down.

So the fervent effectual prayers of the righteous available much.

I'm asking y'all to pray about the situation uh with um with D Dot.

Um that's that's we can uh focus our efforts, but I believe prayer uh matters, and we have a lot of issues in our country right now.

Um I have a bullhorn I keep on the side of my on this on my window, and it says uh P R A Y.

Don't forget to pray.

There is a lot going on, and then I talk about the hand warmers and things of that nature, but that being said, there is a lot going on, y'all.

Everybody, don't forget to do what you're doing, but also pray.

Um, if anyone want to reach out to get uh flyers for the D DOT meeting or anything else, 313-444-9114, 313-444-9114-313-444-9114.

That number was made, so you can remember it.

Thank you for your time, everybody, and be safe.

Thank you.

Our next speaker, Daryl Stewart, followed by Stephen Rimmer, followed by Marcellus Bell.

Daryl Stewart.

Thank you.

Good morning, counsel.

My name is Daryl Stewart, 68-year-old uh citizen of New Detroit.

Also, I'm a tenant in the Leland, the 21st uh multi-dwelling unit, which houses many other people besides me.

Here's the scenario and dilemma I want to talk about.

We're living happily there.

Life is going on great.

All of a sudden, out of nowhere, the power goes out.

Okay, power's out, elevators down.

We got an emergency, which turned into urgency.

That urgency put us in evacuation, which we had to leave.

Due to safety, we leave, and now we're displaced.

And we need to create new lives for ourselves.

But to do that, the urgency caused us to leave the things we needed to move forward with documents and personal items to create this new life and move and get places to stay.

Now the problem we have is we need money to get power on so that we can't go into the building to get these things to move forward in life.

I'm going to commend uh council Miller.

All this is due to one thing she said last week.

That was joyous.

She said, all this is from neglect.

All that we going through this from neglect.

I'm asking y'all.

Can you see in your heart to see us through this?

Allocate some funding to get the power on that building.

Thank you so we can get on out of there.

Thank you, sir.

I've got to be out.

I've got to give everyone the same amount of time.

Oh, sorry.

No more.

No words.

We hear you.

Thank you so much.

And we're gonna work steadfast as we have as a body we've been doing this far.

Our next speaker, Stephen Rimmer, followed by Marcellus Bell, followed by Jadante Smith.

Mr.

Remer.

Yeah, Stephen Rimmer here, lead organizer for the Detroit Tenants Union.

Detroit deserves a real investment into our housing future.

Like member Johnson said, right now, we're seeing a pattern of properties being non-compliant, not safe, not fit for human shelter.

The city's only response is to shut the building down and displace residents, leaving buildings dark.

The city has failed.

They have failed to hold landlords accountable.

90% of our properties are not compliant, and our renters are being displaced because of this failure.

The city of Detroit must act boldly and with courage.

Renters make up 50% of Detroit.

Mayor Sheffield, what side of history will you be on?

You delayed our rights renewed ordinance when we can't when you were on city council.

Now you have abandoned Leland residence after you had a fundraiser at the Leland receiving money for your mayoral campaign.

History and has shown history has shown us you care more about property owners and developers than the actual residents of these properties.

The people who kept Detroit alive.

Take ownership of Leland, renovate the building, create a city-owned housing model that will actually benefit Detroiters.

Developments based on 80% AMI is not affordable for average Detroiters.

I wouldn't qualify with my current position.

Detroit is in an affordable housing crisis, and the city is making it worse.

We are asking you all to use money from this budget and take control of the Leland and create a truly affordable housing project.

As my ancestors have taught me, real change requires courage in the face of power.

And the Detroit Tenants Union is not afraid of that struggle.

Like we got to keep coming down here.

We're gonna keep coming down here.

There's too much going on in the city.

We are supporting the tenants' rights commission and getting contact with folks in these serial senior buildings, and we are here to do the work.

We're gonna keep doing the work, we're gonna keep coming down here, and it has to stop.

Like it really has to, y'all.

Like people are are they going through too much.

Like thing I'm saying on a daily basis is putting me through stress.

So please do something.

Now, thank you.

Our next speaker, Marcellus Bell, followed by Jadante Smith, followed by Charles Miles.

Yes, good morning.

Mr.

Bill.

Hit that button in front of you, let the red turn green.

Sorry about that.

Good morning.

My name is Marcellus Bell, one of the faces of Leland House Tenant Union.

I'm in here to say that the tenants that was at the Lila House were there because of remote.

Hold on one second.

Team, the clock needs to start, please.

All right, you may begin.

The tenants were there because of redevelopment.

Not because they couldn't afford to leave, not because they didn't know about escrow.

It's because they were promised redevelopment.

So now the promise is gone.

Can we get our promise back?

To right to return, live in their luxury apartment, affordable, like they were promised.

Uh all the tenants in Detroit, the landlords becoming slum landlords to push them out so they can up the rent.

That needs to stop.

I'm pushing everybody to Oakland County or something with the rent.

Uh that's it.

That's all I want to say.

Thank you so much.

Our next speaker, Jadante Smith, followed by Charles Miles, followed by Ronald Foster.

Good afternoon.

Uh well, good morning.

Sorry about that.

I was gonna say uh the way the Leland House residents have been treated is abysmal.

Um, I want to say that I asked a question last week in the committee meeting uh about the process that the Detroit Water and Sewage Department takes when it comes to leak credits.

I have an issue with the leak credit with the Department of Water and Sewage, and his voices is my voice.

Other people had the same issue, and uh Councilmember Johnson mentioned somebody who had an issue with a similar matter, who's a senior, lots of seniors who have these issues are not getting help.

And uh Councilmember Johnson mentioned somebody who had an issue with a similar matter, who's a senior, lots of seniors who have these issues are not getting help.

Uh also want to say that Detroit Solar Farms and DTDT just did a rate hike, and all residents are not able to pay their bills, as evidenced by uh councilwoman uh Callaway.

She said there was a house explosion in her district on Wildermere Street.

People are trying to stay warm uh last year uh because of their they're not being DTE in their home.

So I think we need to look at the solar farms and things that are being done uh with that with that work.

So is the speaker after me, Charles, he is having an issue with uh his his property taxes.

There's a church at 10531 Orangel Street.

They're four years behind for the second time on their property taxes for a church.

That's one acre that they bought from a um they bought from the Catholic church.

And so if we lose our properties for three years, how do people get to go four and five years?

I discovered this December 2025.

They were five years behind.

They owe 2020 taxes, 2021 taxes, 2022 taxes, 2023 taxes.

Um, it was 21, 22, 23, and 24.

Uh, and so I don't see how anybody can just continue to not pay taxes and keep their properties, and other people are held to a higher standard when it comes to their property and their taxes.

Also, the land bank has done a lot of bad work.

I just had a uh a block club meeting with my block club, and people have told me that this uh the the home repair program to open up today.

They made promises they not had any help with that.

Um, and so there's a policy that any block club or any neighborhood association in the city of Detroit has the ability if a lot, a side lot or neighborhood lot is not sold within six months to uh deed that lot over will sell that lot to any member within 500 feet, any resident.

So we're gonna make sure the land bank follows that and they don't have to build a house.

Hold them to the standard that we set.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Our next speaker, Charles Miles, followed by Ronald Foster and our last speaker, Gary Hunter.

Mr.

Miles, the floor is yours, sir.

Hi.

My name's Charles Miles.

I'm here again.

Been coming here for years with no solution, no remedy.

Uh this issue is about a property tax payment that was made to the city of Detroit for 2016 tax year that was paid on time to the city of Detroit that the city of Detroit misapplied the payment and sent it over to the county for collections.

This issue continues to go on with no remedy.

It's a seem like it's a simple solution to correct your error.

But you got me in court with your attorneys telling lies to the judge to believe that I've made payment to the county when you clearly know that I made payment to you.

So why is this going on for so many years that you all know about this?

And now it's new people that's finding out about it, and they know about it for months now.

And everybody said they're working on it, as it's been said for years, with nobody taking care of it.

Nobody, none of you guys that work here that's been able to do anything.

The mayor's office didn't choose to do anything.

The assessor didn't do anything.

And I'm also want to know what's going on with the millage race in the city of Detroit.

It's ridiculous.

I mean, you overassess everybody for properties that's 10,000, 15,000 assessed value.

There's no way people should be paying 2500, 1,500, $1,000 property taxes.

No way in the no way, you overassessing.

You charging too much, you're over the millage.

What do you think?

You can just do anything y'all want to do to people.

I mean, this is ridiculous.

This is city of Detroit handling business unlike very terrible.

Nobody wants to live here for real.

But you're pushing them out to do what?

Because everything you building is being destroyed.

Thank you so much, sir.

Uh, next speaker, Ronald Foster, followed by Gary Hunter.

Uh good morning through the chair, president.

Um glad to see the budget meeting, uh, setting quite a few of them.

And so until I read it, I won't speak on it until I can speak intelligently about them.

But I will speak on a few things today.

Um, I believe that the city should be exercising more prudence.

I believe when they talk about housing and affordable housing, that you have to take into account the abatements, subsidies, and consequences for when these things expire.

I believe when you guys have these conversations that a percentage of all those abates and subsidies should be set to decide for future repurposing of those properties and parcels after the developers um exploit what they exploit.

I would like for this um city council body to define what community is.

Who is community?

Is it more than one community in this city?

I would like for the city council to understand that every citizen here has a voice to be represented.

And as citizens, we are not subordinate to your idea of the 10.

Okay, and so uh we'll speak on those things.

Secondly, over the weekend, I was very happy to attend a procedural justice thing with the law enforcement.

I think it's very beneficial.

I think that it has to be more community and people involved in these processes.

I would like to see funding going towards humanizing the police.

At this point, gesture in our community with issues on both sides.

There has to be new directions and how we address our community.

I would like to see funding go to marketing, where officers can be humanized.

The word police officer and law enforcement is egregious in and of itself.

It brings tension in the community.

I believe that you can break barriers when one identifies themselves as I'm a mother that's a police officer.

I'm a father that occupies that office as a police officer.

You have to find new ways to break these barriers and find common grounds in our city.

Thank you so much.

I think Gary Hunter may have left Gary Hunter.

He's still here.

Is he not cute up?

Going once, Gary.

Going twice, Gary.

There he is.

Going three times, Gary, and call the name out.

Looking to get this meeting going.

All right.

We shall now go to our uh online public commenters.

Mr.

Woodfield, I believe we have 16 individuals.

Who's our first caller, please?

First caller is phone number ending in 169.

Caller ending in 169.

The floor is yours.

Two minutes.

General public comment.

Hello, can you guys hear me?

Yes, sir.

Great.

Um, brother Cunningham is worthy of kindness.

Everyone under the sound of my voice, keep Cunningham and your prayers.

This quote is by Helen Keller.

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet only through experience or trial and suffering.

Can the soul be strengthened and ambition inspired or success achieved?

Again, character cannot be developed and ease and quiet.

Only through experience or trial and suffering, can the soul be strengthened and ambition inspired or success achieved.

And that quote was by Helen Keller.

Thank you for my time.

Thank you.

Next caller, please.

Next caller is William M.

Davis.

William M.

Davis, the floor is yours.

You have two minutes, General Comment.

Let's set that clock back up at two minutes.

Thank you.

Mr.

Davis, the floor is yours.

Uh good morning.

Can I be heard?

Yes, sir.

Well, I'd like to start off by saying that it's very interesting listening to the mayor.

Of course, I think this mayor has to be better than the previous mayor.

Uh, because as a city retireing, many of us receive the, well, we all received gender fund retirees.

We see the pension cut of 4.5, cost of living cut of 2.25, an annuity callback from our own savings of 15.5%, which is 22.25%.

I don't think any of y'all could be living today on without 22.25% of less than what you was making 13 years ago.

Also, I was hoping to hear perhaps a restoration of at least the cost of living.

That would be a step in the right direction because during the time that Mayor Dutton was in office, over 4,000 general fund city retirees died.

And some would have died, but I think the numbers was more than it had to be if he had tried to help.

I don't think he tried to help.

I don't think he wanted to help.

I think his solution is like Hitler's solution is to let people die.

You know, city Trump retirees, especially most of the black city trunk retirees.

He had no care for us.

I also would like to hear more information as it relates to rights for uh seniors of 62 and older.

I they they mentioned that, but they didn't really go into any detail.

Also, um needs to be done to make sure that if more of the appointees lived in the city, that can make a big difference because since the time I left office, you know the mayor and city council and most of the appointees have received at least a 45% increase.

Wow, a 45% increase versus a direct cut of 22.25 plus the cost of living going up.

So we need help.

Help us.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next caller, please.

Next caller is Betty A.

Varner.

Ms.

Betty A.

Varner, the floor is yours.

You have two minutes.

General public comment.

Good morning to all within the sound of my voice.

I'm Betty A.

Varner, the president of the Soda Elsworth Block Association.

I'm hoping that uh the council and um uh Madam Mayor will consider uh the project, the Finkel Corridor.

I have been advocating my um association.

We've been advocating for years for the Fink Accorder.

Finally got attention last year.

There was a lot of meetings with good conversation, and but the reality is it's no money.

So I'm hoping that uh the Fink Accorder can continue to be a part of uh the communication with the mayor, and we would like the same focus on our area that has been happening in other areas without around the city of Detroit with other corridors, and that's a beautiful thing.

But sometimes we feel like, oh, it's so hard over here.

Uh we know we are lower income area, whatever, but we love our community as a uh smaller block club.

We're doing the work to do what we can to improve our community.

We need help, we need monies.

We also associations, we need help with that land use hearing.

We need monies to pay that $1,500 that the city is requesting that you have to that fee to have a land use hearing.

You've asked us to beautify these parks and make them useful, not parks, these vacant lots to make them beautiful and to improve the uh our communities, help us not uh make it harder for us to do what we are trying to do to improve our community.

We're trying to extend our park, and we can't do anything until we have that $1,500 to go before next caller, please.

Caller is number ending in 124.

Caller ending in 124.

The floor is yours.

Two minutes, general public comment.

Caller, are you there?

Mr.

Whitfield, let's put this caller at the end of the queue and go to the next caller, please.

Okay, next caller is Sky Devices X63 Max.

Okay, sounds like their caller's here.

Caller, are you there?

Caller, are you there?

Yes, I am.

Can I be heard?

Yes, floor is yours.

Good morning.

Uh I uh was listening to Madam Mayor, Sheffield.

She poured out a lot of points.

But I um what I was doing, I was writing down some of the things.

She's talking about the one was with the seniors.

Well, she was saying that let me turn to my page.

Hold on.

But she was saying that the seniors wouldn't have to pay to go where they need to go.

So I was trying to find out is she talking about the buses or lift or what?

I leave I'd like to know about that one.

And uh let me see.

Um I I appreciate her saying that we need more lighting lighting in our neighborhoods because actually we didn't get no extra lighting, and it's not extra, and my neighborhood that I have been talking about for years.

Uh I used to have to walk in the dark to go to the store or to the corner store to the gas station.

So I appreciate that.

Also, I wanted to know how can if I want to have a meeting with Madam Mayor, how can I go about um getting a meeting with her because I need to talk to her about some other issues also.

So and councilwoman Mary Sheffield, stand up, not Sheffield, Councilwoman at large, Mary Waters, and at large Coleman Young.

Keep standing up for the seniors because we need a lot of help, a lot of assistance, especially people that's been in their homes for a while.

And even though some of them have had work done in their house, but we need other assistance, and it was approved by the city council.

Well, they ran out of money, and I would like to have that what we were supposed to get.

And I know I'm not the only one because there'd be a lot of people called about the letter.

Thank you so much.

Next caller, please.

Next caller is Cecily McClellan.

All right.

You have two minutes.

General public comment.

Thank you very much for this opportunity.

What I did not hear in the budget and would like to hear in the budget that there be uh a water affordability program codified into law, built into the water department to ensure that low-income residents, persons below 200% of poverty, can be guaranteed that they will receive water, uh clean, safe, and affordable water.

And so um uh um Mayor Sheffield was the champion before for water affordability, so it's my hope that she will continue that endeavor and ensure that it is codified into law and that the there will be funds allocated specifically for that purpose.

Also, additionally, I am a retiree of the city of Detroit.

And I agree 10% with what uh Mr.

Davies has indicated, trying to live off of what you uh received uh over 10 years ago.

A 22% reduction is not uh it's is moving you more and more toward uh property is nice that there's a consideration for a 13th check, but that 13th check uh only covers slightly over uh one month of the clawback that the bankruptcy imposed upon certain people in uh the bankruptcy.

Not everybody, just people between 200 um three and two thousand thirteen were uh uh I mean were uh uh made to pay that 15.5 percent.

So, you know, at this point in time with the number of people that have passed on, uh, there needs to be a revisiting of the bankruptcy, and there needs to be uh some effort to make retirees whole because as it stands, we are going backwards in terms of being able to live um affordably.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Next caller, please.

Next caller.

Sorry, next caller is owner Papa.

All right, caller, the floor is yours.

You have two minutes, general public comment.

Uh good morning, and uh thank you, honorable uh uh madam mayor.

Um congratulations.

And uh through the chair, uh may I be heard.

Yes.

Uh Carolyn Hughes.

I have a few questions about um the state of Detroit.

Um we understand that uh the state of Michigan has let out twice the number of liquor license that are allowed by the state themselves, and I want to know how you're addressing this.

We understand that there is a direct correlation between violence, crimes, um, uh mental issues when it comes to alcohol.

And I'm wondering if we're going to take a direct action, first of all, a moratorium on liquor license, and then a program to reduce the number of licenses to a legal uh level.

And um, I would like to know also if we're going to do a study, which CREO was given the 300 uh thousand dollars to do that they neglected to do was over 300,000 on a disparity study.

It's it's interesting to me that the city of Detroit, a majority black city, where the Detroit residents uh make less than the people who are non-Detroiters is that by design, and I think we need to have someone look at into that in terms of a study of how this happened, an investigation, even and I also think we need an investigation into the Leland House, how we got here, how they are in non-compliance, how how they how these landlords get away with not paying their uh B said uh fines and still get to exist when you take away people's homes for the very same things.

I would I would like to understand uh how 42 million dollars of our surplus tax dollars can be considered as income for uh uh business owners to use as their own money.

Thank you.

Next caller, please.

Next caller is 75-year resident.

All right, caller, the floor is yours.

We have two minutes, general public comment.

Caller, are you there?

I already spoke, thank you.

All right, next caller, please.

Thank you.

Next caller is Renard Monchunski.

All right, Renard Manchunski, the floor is yours.

You have two minutes, general public comment.

Mr.

Manchunski.

Good morning, Mr.

President.

Can I be heard?

Yes, sir.

The floor is yours.

Mr.

President and honorable members of council.

My name is Renard Vashovsky.

I'm a district six resident and long-term resident of Detroit.

And I organize on transit with Detroit People's Platform.

I'm extremely encouraged to hear the budget proposal from the mayor.

Though I haven't been able to read the text of the budget just yet, whenever it's published and out and available for the public.

This is how elections have consequences, both negative and positive.

I am so encouraged that this mayor has finally put some meaningful investments into public transit with operations, um, with uh safety with shelters and seating and things of that sort.

And I look very much forward to working with the department and the city council and residents, of course, of equitable placement of these stops and shelters.

A lot of areas are not covered yet.

However, I just want to remind us that a budget is a moral document as well, too.

What you put into it is what you value.

And it's about time we start to value the left behind and the least of the right.

And you know where that comes from in the Bible.

So I really appreciate that.

And I think that these investments would actually get DDOT and other departments that have long been starved over the past 12 years.

Meaningful investments in their ability to meet their objectives, which is on time bus service.

This mayor's highest priority is making sure the buses are frequent and on time and reliable.

And I think this budget will reflect that as well, too.

Um when it comes to lawsuits, I share concerns with people on this call and also these studies.

We don't need to be studied to death.

We know what's going on.

We just need to get it done.

We need to have a more results-oriented city government this time with this new council and mayor, and I implore you to do that.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next caller, please.

Next caller is Casey.

Casey, the floor is yours.

You have two minutes.

General public comment.

Thank you.

Good morning.

This is Casey Peller.

I'm a resident in District 4 and with Detroit Disability Power.

And I apologize.

I can't see the timer, so I may run out before I get done talking.

But I'm very, very encouraged and excited to hear the overview of the mayor's um first budget this morning as a mother and a caregiver and a disabled resident myself.

Like thank you, thank you.

Thank you, Bear Shaffield, for prioritizing children and prioritizing families and seniors and disabled people.

I really look forward to digging into the details when they are um publicly available, and we'll be sending along um an analysis and some accessibility and disability focused recommendations to the council members to consider.

Um, but off the top, it is fantastic to hear that 100% of the the proceeds from the land bank sales are going to be going to the housing trust fund for more accessible and deeply affordable housing across the city.

Um, I'd agree with council member Johnson that we um should focus those dollars on rehabbing and fixing the assets that we have in the city.

I also would support um expanding the rental modification voucher that was started by President Tate last year in that budget.

Um, also very excited to hear about the clearing of sidewalk repair um request and the increased funding for more lighting.

The safety on the streets out here is a huge issue for all of us.

It's incredible to see that accessibility prioritized.

Um, also really excited about the increase for D DOT for the higher wages for staff.

Um, it's gonna keep our our transit safer.

Uh the zero fares for students year-round and expanding the transit ambassador program.

That is huge.

Um, also want to see uh the city prioritize pushing the needle on building more shelters and benches at the stops.

Um, but I do wonder about the accessibility program funding.

Is that to continue the piloted coverage area or to also uh just cut off the last part of that question, but B, I'm sure you'll have at least some response to that partial question there uh to the uh mayor's appointees who are still here.

Next caller, please.

Next caller is Tahira Ahmad.

Caller, the floor is yours.

We have two minutes, general public comment.

Good morning.

What a great morning.

Um mayor Sheffield, I'm so proud of you.

Thank you so much for this budget, and finally we have a budget that we can be proud of that you presented.

I know I had have been very critical of you in the past, but uh uh please let's uh kiss and hug and and forgive everybody.

In the words of Coleman Young, uh I am uh proud of you all.

I'm I'm looking forward to working with everyone.

I'm part of the uh ACET, uh, which is African Centered Education of Detroit.

We're working with VD and uh trying to uh reestablish African centered education, which I uh helped spearhead in the 90s, um, so that we can get our students to stop dropping out.

They don't want to read about how uh uh C spot run, they want to know about Lewis Latimer, who um built uh made the uh filament that made uh Edison's light bulb last forever.

I'd like to uh hear the um the mayor talk.

I would have liked to have heard her talk a little bit more about the task force and reparations task force, where we with that, how um would that fit into the budget?

And also I'm encouraged about uh her 100 days uh that she agreed to with the coalition for property tax justice.

Thank you for that.

Looking forward to helping with the senior initiative and also going to business for myself and others.

I appreciate uh this budget.

I appreciate the new uh and existing city council members looking forward to working with you guys.

Uh roof repair and repairs.

We need the seniors need repairs and wraparound services, uh, would be great because there is a limit uh for 10 years if you've had um help from the city.

You it'll be 10 years before you can get help again, and our houses are older.

Um, and the LLCs or PREs take them off.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next caller, please.

Next caller is Kevin Tellis.

All right, caller, the floor is yours.

You have two minutes.

General public comment.

Hello.

Hello.

Uh, my name is Kevin Phyllis, and um I wanted to speak today in support of affordable housing as for this budget.

I know that the mayor has a transition committee, the housing development planning committee, which I support.

Uh, you know, some of these members are experts and professionals in their own right.

And I've spoken before the council to support policy for affordable housing.

Um called the community opportunity to purchase act or tenant opportunity to purchase act.

And so I think the city of Detroit is um building plenty of affordable housing that maintains the market rate.

You know, research shows that uh that may maintain the market rate, but I think plenty of residents understand that affordability is an issue, and you know, the wage uh is is a struggle throughout the city.

Uh so as we're continuing to build making lots, I see land as a commodity and property structures as a commodity that uh the city can do more to slow down that you know, market rate from rising through community land trusts that I've spoken about before.

And so I think the budget should include funding for community land trust nonprofits that are continuing to support affordable housing and uh you know doing lots of innovative uh community work.

So in the zoning, you can also include community land trust.

Um, definitions, and I want to speak on that today.

Uh as well as supporting what another resident talked about earlier, zoning and fees, uh, just to continue to beautify uh city.

So I want to speak on that today.

Thank you so much for hearing me out.

Thank you.

Next caller, please.

Next caller is number ending in 039.

Caller ending in 039.

The floor is yours.

You have two minutes, general public comment.

Caller, are you there?

Yeah, I'm right here.

Allow me to reintroduce myself.

I'm Mr.

Roo.

And Mimi, Tanita Coleman's daughter.

That's exactly what the F she wants.

Removed from her mama.

A double dollar sign, bogus a double dollar sign.

Tag of suicide removed from Tanita.

Now, I just recently had words at the Board of Police Commissioners meeting in the hallway with uh commander of the homicide unit, Rebecca McKay.

And she said there was evidence.

I know she's lying.

I want to repeat that.

I know she's lying because to me she did not shoot herself.

And I've already said the name, no need to say it again.

Uh the homicide unit has been covered up murder.

Not only Kenita, Isaiah White and Cavie Cremio as well.

Now I want to say congratulations to Mayor Mary Sheffield.

For my own personal reason, and uh because of the fact that she would support the something special project, along with some other projects who are gonna put forth.

Now, every member uh Detroit City Council, the same America Act is now in the hands of the United States Senate.

And I am the 93rd Precinct, Michigan, 93rd Precinct Republican delegate for the state of Michigan.

My Republican peers voted, nominated me and voted me to be on the executive republican.

Thank you.

Next caller, please.

Next caller is the Jai Singletary.

All right.

Um you have two minutes, general public comment, sir.

Good to hear from you.

Yes, sir.

Good morning, uh, Council President T.

Can you hear me?

Yes, sir.

All right, good morning once again into all city council members.

My name is Jai Singletary.

I'm the executive director of Woodbridge Neighborhood Development, or WD.

Uh, we are a community development organization that has served the Woodbridge neighborhood with home repair and neighborhood planning and park activation since 2002.

I'm calling in today uh in support of general fund dollars to continue the life and legacy planning program sponsored by Councilman Benson and the Generational Wealth Task Force.

W and D along with Sinai Grace CDC and the village's CDC have partnered together and received grant funds for income and age eligible residents to receive minor home repair services and comment upon that they uh have a the homeowner excuse me um has an estate plan or they complete an estate planning workshop.

Uh the three organizations again will be working with the neighborhood legal services and Michigan Elder Law and Advocacy Center to provide such workshops and the continued funding of the city's program would increase the options for eligible residents to receive workshop assistance.

Uh that concludes my call today.

I thank you all for accepting my public comment and looking forward to the city's funding and advocacy in this generational home home ownership opportunity.

Thank you.

Have a safe rest of your day.

Thank you.

You as well.

Next caller, please.

Next caller is Teron Hayes.

Caller, the floor is yours.

You have two minutes of general public comment.

Oh, hello, I'm uh can I be heard?

Yes.

Can you hear me?

Okay.

Yes.

Good morning.

Oh, good morning to the honorable city council and attendees.

City Council President, may I be heard?

Sir.

Uh, first off, I want to congratulate City Council on both their reelections and new appointments.

Special consideration to my city councilwoman Renata Miller.

I am a resident of District 5, and I'm here to discuss my disapproval of shot spotter contract renewal.

Shot spotter is in no way a crime reduction tool and at best a very ineffective tool at solving crime.

According sound thanking the company for shots in 2025.

There are almost 10,000 shots fired or triggers with a recorded 100 luxury.

Two additional aspects that I would like to add is that there's there is someone who has a gunshot wound, they need an ambulance.

That concludes my comment.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next caller, please.

Next caller is Tyson Gersh.

Tyson Gersh, the floor is yours.

You have two minutes, general public comment.

Hi, can you hear me?

Yes.

Hi, thanks.

Um, I guess I just wanted to chime in about the budget, um, which I haven't been able to review because it doesn't seem to be published anywhere.

So my ability to comment is super limited.

Um, but I think you know, the city previously has done a good job showing transactions at the department level.

Um, open checkbook Detroit was a really good program.

I don't know why we stopped doing that.

Um it was incredibly transparent and showed taxpayers exactly how their dollars are being spent.

Um I know the city is kind of panicked right now to figure out how to up its revenue, and I know it's been able to achieve that on paper.

Uh, but I know it's a real concern um to keep solvency.

Um, but I I worry that a lot of really potentially illegal stuff has happened um at the departmental level to generate these revenues that may not be legal, um, specifically under Headley.

Um, you know, we have a lot of unusual departmental uh changes, uh you know, revenues tripling, costs going down, and um the process by which any of that happens is very regulated, and without showing the transaction level data of how money is being spent, uh there's no accountability.

Um I do think there's gonna be some mitigation in the future, or maybe even already happening around this, and I think the city has better options to um, you know, balance its budget, but um I just encourage city council to not accept the category level numbers as legitimate or um sufficient.

We need to know exactly how these dollars are being spent to know if they were spent legally or if the savings were saved legally.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next caller, please.

Going back to caller once before.

This will be the last caller.

Caller, the floor is yours.

You have two minutes, general public comment.

Caller, are you there?

Yes, good afternoon.

Can you hear me?

Yes, we can.

Good afternoon.

Yeah, okay.

Well, uh, I saw there was a meeting in Rouge Park for the master plan.

There needs to be a meeting in every neighborhood about the master plan instead of the secretive stuff that's going on with the master plan advisory group.

Also, if you truly care about residents house, get rid of the speed hump that damage people's cars and add particulate manner.

Um it's nice to hear people talking about building single family homes now.

That's what people wanted in the lower north end, but no, we were disregarded, disrespected, and um we voted for a massive rental complex to be owned by uh out-of-town developers, except we got that held up in the in the courts now because the board of zoning appeals wasn't doing things properly, and I believe it's being misguided by the law department in trying to charge people for transcripts that are already required.

So, yes, Coleman, I am on your do net help list because they've asked you to help about that, and you haven't helped out about that, but you sure seem to want to support this developer who was non-inclusive and has been race baiting.

So, you know, I support building single family homes, you know, but there's also plenty of room, like in District 4, where you could build north end landing and probably not make people so upset.

So stop the secretive planning, get rid of the street home.

No, no, no more uh solar farms on private land, put it on public land already, or make the big warehouses put it there instead of put people through the misery of eminent domain.

And spend money on the health department.

We're supposed to have a fully functioning health department.

I haven't seen that in the last 12 years.

And you also need to fully implement nine-thank you.

Thank you so much.

Next caller, please.

Sir, all right, thank you.

All right, so we have a few questions, not many in there, mostly statements that were provided, but want to give you an opportunity to respond to those that you were able to take in.

Floor is yours.

What we can respond.

I'll start.

So uh council president, one of the questions.

Well, there were a lot of questions related to D DOT.

So broadly speaking, um we have increased year over year the budget by six million dollars as it relates to services and reliability.

Uh we also just received 45 new buses, and there are grants for another 80 buses later this calendar year.

So we recognize that those are still issues, even though we've addressed the issue as it relates to salary, but we still need to work on service and reliability.

Um I think that this budget does address that with the 30 million dollar increase.

Uh there was also oh Donnie, I think you had accessibility.

Yes, uh Mr.

President, there was a question um from Ms.

Peller about uh accessibility.

It is a relaunch of the pilot that we did that ran um last uh in 2024 to 2025, and so we are going to relaunch with another pilot.

So the million dollars in the budget covers um four manually operated shuttles for the first year of the program.

In year two of the program, it is expected that we will relaunch the autonomous vehicle shuttles.

Um obviously with a human at in there to monitor, but um we that was very successful in our pilot, so we're going to work toward re-implementing the autonomous vehicle shuttle program, hopefully by uh the middle of 2027 would be the goal.

I know there was a question about water affordability plan, anything uh altering what we currently have in place uh for those in need.

Yep, Mr.

Chair.

I haven't heard anything.

We probably should rely on DWSD to answer those questions.

But there was another question uh from Mr.

Miles, and he had a case that I'm not familiar with, but I reached out to our current treasurer, and she indicated that the last two treasurers have looked into this and it was not an error on the city's part.

And we provided him with a follow-up email uh on February 4th, 1920, uh 2024.

Need to go back and take a look at it again, right?

Have to dust it off.

All right.

Uh any additional I don't want to say no.

So I know someone called and asked, how do I get on the mayor's agenda?

Uh Mr.

Washington, what's a phone number that folks can reach out to the mayor's office?

Because a lot of times the issues, concerns that uh folks present to us are not really city council issues, at least on the front end.

We certainly want to receive them and listen to them, hear them, address them as best as we can and work with the administration to do so.

But the first stop in many situations uh could and should be the of course the dons in the neighborhood, but when when that doesn't work, folks want to reach out to the mayor's office.

What's a phone number that folks can reach out to?

Yes, and good afternoon through the chair.

Um, if constituents would like, they can call the number 313, 2240.

Again, that's 313, 224-340.

We'd be happy to assist.

All right, thank you.

Mr.

I think you you may have had some additional before we go to colleagues.

Okay.

I did have another um William Davis also called, and I wanted to let him know that this budget does include the pro-rated 13th check, and the amount for GRS is about 475 dollars, and for uh police and fire is about 660.

Okay, thank you.

Discussion with further discussion, I have uh pro Tim Young, followed by Member Waters, followed by Member Benson.

Pro Tim Thank you.

Uh, I just wanted to ask about the assessed deal uh accessibility and also pride that because I think a lot of that came for the transportation innovation zone as well.

So I'm very proud of that program.

I just want because I sponsored transition innovation zone, just case anybody know.

Um I just wanted to ask you, um, is that just for the autonomous?

So you are you saying that it's gonna be one is gonna be shuttles that aren't autonomous, and then it's gonna come behind with the autonomous vehicles.

Are they all gonna stay on the same route?

Or are we going to expand the routes of um of where those vehicles are gonna go?

And is that measured with is that measure just based on this the system we have now, or we plan to use artificial intelligence to be able to kind of narrow where the best routes could be possible, the most optimal routes could be for the best transportation services.

Uh through the chair uh to uh pro Tim Young.

The in terms of the AI use of AI, not 100% sure.

That's something that I think I would need to defer to the Office of Mobility Innovation in the Department of Transportation.

Um in terms of uh the first the first year of the vehicles, they will be manually operated regular standard manually operated vehicles.

Um the autonomous vehicles would would roll out in theory next year is the plan to roll back out to that.

I think part of that is just for us to evaluate what the current state of play is with autonomous vehicles and and making sure that um vendors have them and that we have the ability to help support their use of those vehicles.

Um in terms of uh expansion of the route, uh right now it's uh I believe the plan is something like the greater downtown area and the original sort of 1.0 footprint in the neighborhoods that we had in the first pilot.

Um I believe as we use the pilot and we understand the needs and we kind of see how it how it could scale, we would look at data from that.

Okay.

Um also I so but basically you're just saying so basically it's gonna be the second year, and when you said that you meant like human in the loops, you mean a human being will actually be in the vehicle, it'll still be driving by itself, but it's someone who is human will actually be in the vehicle in case things happen and things are going with the autonomous aspect, correct?

Uh I believe so, yes.

Okay.

Okay, actually, I just want to say and um I also wanted to ask do we have anybody from the law department that's on?

I think Graham here may be able to assist.

I don't I I I don't I I don't know.

I'll yeah, I'll I'll just throw it out anyway.

Um since we're already here might as well.

Um Grail, good to see you, sir.

I wanted to ask you about guaranteed income.

And uh part of the reason why we've had issues with implementation of guaranteed income, and let me back up by saying um RX kids is targeted, so it's targeted versus a certain group of people, which is a great thing, we should have that, but it's targeted, and it's also their state money that's provided for that program, whereas guaranteed income does not have a state source identified as a yet, and it's based on income, it's not based on um a targeted group of people, but both these programs are based on no strings attached, whether it's for a target group of people or for based on your income, which is what I want to know.

But part of the reason why that is is because Article 7 section 26 constitution talks about um uh that the city cannot give out loans of credit, even though what we're talking about here that this is a um this is a welfare program, it's basically a program that's doing in terms of people in terms of the financial assistance.

Most of the most of Article 7 such 26 talk about the city not being on the hook for private liabilities, you know, and say whether it be for like uh municipal insurance or sureties or things of that nature.

That's not what we're talking about here.

We are talking about basically being able to, there's a there's an actual uh human benefit and city municipal benefit in terms of helping people who are poor and reducing poverty.

And it's a pilot program, so it's not something that's gonna be guaranteed on forever.

I'll I see maybe 12, 18 months uh off the top of my head, 125 people, maybe 500, you know, per month in that program.

I just want to say because of that, there's also a constitutional amendment, Article 8, Section 8 of the Constitution that refers to the general welfare.

Now, most of that talks about disability, but also the but the laws have said court cases have said uh legal press didn't say that also includes general welfare as well.

I want to know does that plus the uh the laws that we have in terms of social welfare program, plus also case law that have shown that guaranteed income is not a loan of credit.

Would that be enough to meet the legal test in order for this to be legal?

Through the chair to Councilmember Young, or to pro Tom Young.

I think it's a fantastic question.

It's something that I don't have all the the information in front of me right now to be able to give you a full detailed answer, but I think that is a it's a fantastic approach to help be a shot on the arm to provide these type of resources to people who need it in need, obviously, is the mayor spoke that's uh priority to this administration.

So I I'm sure if you provide that question to our office, we would gladly look into the details and see what can be done there.

Okay.

Thank you.

I appreciate that.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

Member Waters.

Uh thank you, uh Mr.

President.

I I was not gonna mention guaranteed the income, but I was gonna say when um Member Young and I first arrived, we were both pushing for it.

I do believe that it will help to address the systemic uh poverty as outlined um by uh Mayor Sheffield.

So I wanted to just kind of you know lift that up.

Um but what I would like to lift up also is jump start.

And I know we used Opera Dallas the last time, but I've got to tell you all if there's any way to find some additional dollars for for that program, it works.

Uh it has helped a lot of people get uh new skills.

So it is it's been tested and it and it works.

And so I would like to see uh some additional dollars um added to jump side if it's possible uh because it is a program that that helps a lot of our residents.

Now the I just wanted to ask you to explain just a little bit more about the additional FTEs, you know.

You had additional FTEs in the various departments uh and maybe I missed it, and and even when it comes to um the loss of the um audition of uh online revenue that supports midnight basketball, so we have what the the extended hours.

So how how are we gonna support those those things, those two things additional FTEs and the online uh midnight uh basket recreational hours for um midnight sports?

I think I got it all up uh through the chair, um the what we've done with recreation is we've identified 1.5 million dollars that will be used for various occupy the summer uh programs that are gonna be held.

And what we did was re-prioritize a lot of those vacancies.

Okay.

Uh there were pretty much every department in the city has a number of vacancies where they have just been there for years.

And what we're doing now is taking a look at those long-term vacancies and creating new positions with those.

So that's part of how we were able to pay for that program.

And then if you're also referring to the new department, when you talk about the FTEs, that was the situation where we took HRD and we divided the positions among three different departments.

So the detail is in your book, but uh I'm happy to go over it with you more thoroughly.

But that's how we were able to do that and still balance the budget.

Okay, well, thank you.

And we will be um taking um a look at the the details more specifically.

And certainly uh I appreciate that.

Do you have any thoughts about jump start at all?

Uh through the chair, I know that that program, ERPA program ended probably a good maybe almost a year ago.

So there aren't any dollars uh currently available to continue it.

Nowhere.

No.

Geez, okay, you know it works.

Yes, I do.

But I think also we're just at the point now where we would we would run out of time because my understanding is that that was like an 18-month program.

So that's why you had to end so early because we need to make sure that those ARPA dollars got spent timely.

Okay.

And I just want to thank you for looking at all of the FTEs, you know, throughout the city, each year, departments come to us and they have all these vacancies.

Oh, we intend to fill them, but then they come back this the next year and they still have the vacancies.

We've got to do something uh with that.

And so I am happy that that you are addressing that because we don't well, I don't want to see them uh come back again this year with all those vacancies.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Member Benson.

All right, thank you.

Um just the 13th check air quotes.

How much are we looking at per check for our retirees?

Uh for GRS, it's just over 475 dollars, and for police and fires, just over 660.

All right, thank you.

Any further?

Okay.

All right, so uh well, I I'm loving the opportunities that we're having at the rec centers, uh, recreational activities, you know, midnight basketball.

Uh I've also been advocating for a number of years for us to have some level of mental health, uh, behavioral health um opportunities there for our young folks and residents, period, who show up in many situations, our uh residents don't know exactly where to go uh and don't have someone to just talk to.

So whether we talk about individual uh group conversations, uh group therapy, whatever we want, however we want to phrase it and what we want to call it.

I think as we talk about these opportunities and avenues to um uh get folks busy, we also need an opportunity for them to uh focus on their um internal selves.

And so I'm gonna be asking again and reaching uh in your direction.

I had a previous conversation with the mayor.

I don't know if that's in the budget, um, but as we talk about uh recreational opportunities and using the spaces that we currently own as the city of Detroit, uh I am again looking and requesting for an opportunity to have uh some level of uh group therapy, group conversations, uh individual therapy or conversations with the community.

We'll talk about what that looks like, but um really looking forward to that.

Is it something like that already in the budget?

Have you all discussed that yet?

Um Mr.

President, we have not discussed specific programs, but we did uh increase the funding that's available for mental health co-response.

So uh you know, the having the third shift so that it's around the clock.

Uh and then there was an additional one paid 1.8 million dollars that was added, which was previously ARPA funded, so we're actually shifting those ARPA funded positions now to the general fund.

So that is an effort for us to show that it's going to, we know that that's something and effort that needs to continue.

Okay.

Well, again, um that's one that's one space that I'm looking for us to have some level of uh human touch uh in those spaces, rec centers.

Thank you.

Next, uh we have Member McCampbell, followed by Member Johnson.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Uh just a few questions and I'll uh go through them.

One on has there been any discussion, I had a conversation with uh Madam Mayor uh on long term, but has there been any discussion around participatory budgeting and how that fits and is there anything in this budget or anything that we can do to help set the groundwork on that?

And then also when we think about we've heard a lot for folks on uh resources for our blog clubs and neighborhood associations.

Just want to think uh I know it was mentioned about neighborhood funding, but then if there's been any thought around that.

And then the last point to piggyback on what um Mr.

President has stated.

Uh I think it's great to see that third shift in the co-response.

But what we've also heard from a lot of folks is that beyond that, and um, you know, when folks are needing that more mental health resources and services, uh including our health department and such and opportunities in neighborhood, just would really like to see a robust conversation around those commitments.

But uh, those are the three areas.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh through the chair, as it relates to participatory budgeting, it's not reflected in this budget, but we've had conversations about um starting a program this summer so that we can really see what that looks like.

Various places do it different ways uh in terms of you know the amount of funding we would need, we need to figure that out.

Do we want to do it by district?

Uh I think for certain we would want to make it one-time dollars as opposed to recurring dollars.

Uh, but that is something that is already on our agenda.

Um we weren't able to include it here, but we know that it's important uh to Madam Mayor, but we want to make sure that we start that like early uh in the summer so that we can get uh the community engaged and see what that looks like for the city of Detroit.

Thank you.

And as it relates to um the mental health co-response, and I I think a lot of those questions might be good for the Office of Neighborhood and Community Safety.

I think that they're also gonna be heavily involved in uh mental health.

So I think that if some of those questions could be shared uh with that group, I think that would be a great idea as well.

And for neighborhood beautification, this budget does add a million dollars for that.

Okay.

And thank you for that.

And that would the block clubs and neighborhood associations will be able to get access to the funding through various ways.

Yeah.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you.

Member Johnson.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um just a one question with two um, I guess, asks of the community or the philanthropic community.

Um, has there been any conversation around concentrating services in areas, particularly around schools?

So where GSD, DPW, um other forward-facing department to provide cleanup support, boarding up houses, things of that nature in a concentrated area to make a significant impact in any area.

And and when we went to Philadelphia, that was uh something that came out of um successful work that the city was doing throughout the city, but if if there was a defined area in each district where um the departments would go and do cleanup, do board ups, do work that the the community could clearly see where there were improvements.

I know there was there were conversations about that, but I'm wondering if the conversations continue.

Uh through the chair.

Yes, ma'am.

I think that it might make sense to have maybe annual around the year activity like this.

And I think that it probably makes sense for us to see if we can actually extend that throughout the year as opposed to just having it in May.

So that's one thing we can uh have further conversations on.

Okay, thank you.

I'll make sure I bring that up with the various departments as well.

Um I do appreciate the living wage that the mayor touched on.

Um member McCampbell and I met with a Cleveland City Council member who's doing a pilot for guaranteed basic income just to ensure that jobs, not necessarily city jobs, but jobs of individuals within the city are making a living wage, a livable wage.

Um much of it is supported in Cleveland by the philanthropic community, and so I think it's a great opportunity for the philanthropic community to provide that support, just um recognizing that Madam Mayor is taking the first step.

So I really do appreciate that.

I do want to uplift another question that was asked during public comment, which was um, and we can send a memo over to you all about this.

There have been some individuals that have been brought on to work with the administration, and I believe their salaries may be outside of that of what's in the white book.

Um, and so I'm curious to know if um the philanthropic community is playing a part in paying, helping to pay their salaries.

Um but we will again just be sure to send a memo to you if you can if you all can just identify and outline any individuals where that might be the case, where additional funds would be coming from.

Thank you.

Through the chair, I'm not aware of where that may be occurring, but um I would recommend reaching out to HR to get more.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you.

Uh Member Miller.

Uh, once again, I heard Mary uh councilwoman Mary Waters mentioned that her jumps start needed some attention, but you said there were zero dollars left to entertain that.

Well, under your improving neighborhood and community safety, I started the new mental health and public safety task force, and we've already have some city um uh extraordinaires on that on that committee, and I'm hearing uh President Um Tate's request.

Is there a way?

Because I actually find out if some of the funds can be moved around to uh accommodate mental health, because if we're trying to talk about mental health and community safety, we cannot eliminate the fact that mental health is a large reason why we have some of our safety issues.

Um mental illness is serious, and I would say it accommodates for a large part of crime, just not being directed from the mental health aspect.

So I would like to maybe work with one of the departments, see how we can maybe move some things around to include mental health beyond a 24-hour coverage for city mental health and co-respondent unit.

Um health is an issue, not just 24, uh, not just for um the response unit, but just for the individual, our residents.

We've had um my years, we've had um mental health facilities, and they're all closed down.

Every last one has closed down, and I'm not seeing the gap in between where we can help our residents.

So I look forward to hearing how we can put somebody towards that.

Thank you.

So uh through the chair, uh throughout the budget process, you will have an opportunity to perhaps move dollars uh between programs if that's something that's a priority for you.

Thank you.

All right, so we're gonna go first with Member Santiago Romero, and I saw Member Waters had her hand up for the last um comment for this session to allow us to uh move on to the rest of our days and actually start diving into the budget.

Umber Santa Romero.

Thank you, Mr.

Presidents.

Uh I will take this opportunity since we're here to just briefly share um would love help, would love to help with the info housing project that you guys have going on in 42 time.

Um so around Lauren Avenue.

Um when it comes to the mental health um uh and emergency management, emergency management, I believe was moved under DPD.

Really, they should be moved under fire or under the mayor's office where it was, and um I I believe they want to be under fire.

Um so if we can think about these systems and how they work, um, really our mental health response unit should also be under the fire departments.

So I continue to push that our mental health response unit be under our fire departments.

I think if we can put them all in alignments with emergency managements, and quite frankly, it just makes sense if it's not a violence occurrence that we don't send folks with guns or with unlethal weapons, whatever the case may be.

But as we're talking about mental health, uh we should talk about the system that it's in right now.

Um I'll continue to push that it goes on under fire.

Last two quick things.

Another thing regarding systems, um, the homelessness solution, I think, and and the new department, I think is exciting.

Um, but just wondering what we're doing around supporting all of the systems.

I just recently came from a write-along with one of our outreach um uh contractors, and everyone's doing incredible work, um, but I do believe that we all need to be communicating with each other.

So I'm not sure if D WAN or the city or who can create that system that everyone can tap into because people need to report where folks are, services that are being supported, where they are in the process, and it just seems like they they would all benefit from a system, and they wonder if that's something the city can provide or support D WAN with that would support all of our um service providers.

And last thing I wanted to share is when it comes to participatory budgeting, it is a really really hard thing to do.

And many cities begin by first doing an RFP because there are professionals that do this.

So maybe we want to uh send out an RFP uh to recruits um consultants that can help us do this for the city.

But before we roll out any kind of uh PB, as I call it, because it's very hard to say.

Um I think we need to be ready and prepared.

Um, and we need some help with that.

So thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you, Ms.

Thomas.

Um we're actually looking at perhaps doing an RFI request for information just so we could get a better understanding.

And um if it is too big of a lift, it might make sense for us to do RFP, but we wanted to start off with the RFI just to kind of get a feel what was required.

And then as it relates to mental health co-response, uh, we actually budget that in the health department as well as some training dollars for police.

Thank you.

And our final question comment from the body before we adjourn will be from member Waters Waters.

Okay, I better get it in.

That's right.

All right.

Um yeah, it really is a comment.

I first I want to just support my colleague from uh district seven who pointed out the fact that this is a um a legislative uh process when it comes to actually doing the budget.

And so I agree with that, and we're gonna work uh long and hard um to find dollars to support programs like the jump start.

Uh even if if people if they come to us with vacant positions, they can look.

We might want to take some take those positions, move it around, support programs like the jump start program, the senior accessibility program, that those are the kinds of things that I'll be looking to do.

If you're not using a position, if they're not field by now, uh by the time you get to us, don't bother.

Um the other thing I want to say to somebody to someone that called in uh regarding um the compliance, you know, making sure that we have compliance in in our buildings and and so forth.

Listen, we we we don't even know who all the landlords are.

I sponsored the ordinance um last last year.

We made it easier for landlords to come into compliance.

They're they're not doing it.

So if you rent from someone, you need to check to see if in fact they're on our list so that we we can force them to be to register with us and so that we can hold them accountable.

Um the other piece of it that I just want to point out, uh, Mr.

President, and that is um the right of refusal.

We we've been looking at that.

I want to say that somebody in the audience had asked about it.

Um it's a state law issue.

So a lot of things that that that you all want, we've already uh lifted up those things to our state uh partners.

In fact, it is a rent controls right of refusal, those are state issues, and it's very difficult.

All we can do is to say to them, hey, we need you all to take a look at those those issues, just like they're doing with deed fraud right now, and they are putting together a package of bills.

So we need your help.

We need you to also reach out to your state lawmakers as well.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

And I just want to make make it known for the record the B next program that we have that's in Brightmore that I mentioned with the mayor, uh, it is modeled off of the jumpstart program.

So we're going to be looking for some additional funding, as I mentioned before.

Um, but the reality is we don't have the dollars that we had before to do the entire city.

So I think it's imperative for us to really um focus on those areas that have the highest level of uh poverty and and those uh areas that have the highest level of uh individuals that we can upskill uh as opposed to trying to find money for the entire city of Detroit.

That would be my request, my goal as we move forward, but certainly have the ability uh to move forward to uh improve the lives of the residents of the city.

And I know Member Warders, I get it, but we're again as we said is our this is our legislative process, and we're gonna go through all that through executive session.

So thank you all for being here.

Thank the uh residents of the city of Detroit for um responding and being present as well, colleagues.

Thank you as we uh begin our budget process.

Um we have now beginning.

Thank you so much.

And if there's no objection, is there a motion to adjourn?

See no objections that action shall be taken.

This meeting is adjourned.

We're starting next week.