Detroit City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting - March 12, 2026
Detroit City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting - March 12, 2026
The Detroit City Council Committee of the Whole met in an abbreviated session on the morning of March 12, 2026, to address pending legislation and hear public comment. The meeting was shortened due to budget hearings scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Following roll call and approval of the minutes, the committee heard public comment from residents on topics including housing, zoning, community benefits, and community events. The committee then acted on a series of unfinished and new business items, including housing choice vouchers, downzoning of a commercial corridor, proposed ordinance for the Fruit Pumping Station, and property sales.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Mr. Foster (in person): Commended the council for a four-year period without indictments, urging proactive measures to preserve assets for future generations.
- William M. Davis: Strongly supported the housing choice voucher home ownership option (5.1), stating that homeownership in the city has declined by nearly 25% since his earlier years; also called for stricter enforcement of community benefits agreements and criticized tax policies affecting homeowners.
- Cunningham: Announced a transit advocacy trip to Lansing, seeking support for improved public transit; thanked council for their engagement.
- Owner Papa: Expressed agreement with Davis on 5.1; asked about funding sources and spending levels for the voucher program; voiced concerns about the community benefits agreement for Future of Health, particularly regarding proposed behavioral health services.
- Caller ending in 905: Appreciated updates on the community benefits ordinance and development, but urged transparent monitoring and avoidance of past shortcomings (e.g., Herman Keefer).
- Unidentified caller: Raised allegations about the handling of a homicide case, claiming evidence was altered.
- Betty A. Varner: Announced a health fair scheduled for April 18, 2026, at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, offering free screenings.
Discussion Items
- 5.1 – Housing Choice Voucher Home Ownership: Councilmember Letitia Johnson explained that the resolution advocates enabling voucher recipients to use funds for mortgage payments. The committee opted to bring the item back in one week.
- 5.2 – NAP Suit Request (Leland House Apartments): Brought back to the end of the agenda; later extended by one week.
- 5.3 & 6.1 – Downzoning of 10631 Whittier (Cover Girl Strip Club): Mr. Bowser of the City Planning Commission detailed the property's legal non-conforming adult-use status and advised that downzoning the corridor would not affect that status. Chair Johnson stated the community was driving the process and requested a list of nonconforming addresses by district. The committee voted to receive and file both items.
- 5.4 – Hans Farms LLC Purchase Agreement: Brought back in one week.
- 5.5 – M4 Green Buffer Text Amendment: Brought back in two weeks.
- 5.6 – CRIO Community Benefits Ordinance Annual Report (Future of Health): Brought back in one week for further discussion.
- 6.2 – Proposed Ordinance Amendment (Fruit Pumping Station): Chair Johnson outlined community requests for infrastructure improvements, including funding for basement backup protection and pipe upsizing. She expressed that some questions remain unanswered but signaled intent to proceed; the committee sent the ordinance to formal introduction with a public hearing.
- 6.3 – Corrective Resolution for Property Sale (563 Harper Ave): Sent to formal with a recommendation to approve.
- 6.4 – Resolution re Michigan House Bills 5660 & 5661: Referred to Legislative Policy Division (LPD) and brought back in two weeks.
Member Reports
- Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero reminded residents about Narcan training at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday, March 15, 2026.
- Councilmember Letitia Johnson (District 4) announced a community meeting on Monday, March 16, 2026, at the Shepherd (1265 Park View St) focusing on tenant rights and landlord responsibilities.
Key Outcomes
- Received and filed: Line items 5.3 and 6.1 (downzoning report).
- Sent to formal with recommendation to approve: Line items 6.2 (ordinance) and 6.3 (property sale).
- Referred to LPD and brought back in two weeks: Line item 6.4.
- Brought back in one week: Line items 5.1, 5.2, 5.4, 5.6.
- Brought back in two weeks: Line item 5.5.
Meeting Transcript
March 12th, 2026. Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll? Morning. Councilmember Letitia Johnson present. Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero. Present. Council President Pro Tem Kulman Young. Pro Tim Young is on his way. Madam Chair, we have quorum. Thank you. Having a quorum present, we are now in session. Good morning, Member Santiago Romero. Is there a motion on the minutes? Motion to approve. Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken. And I just want to remind everyone that we do have an abbreviated session this morning. Our budget hearings start at 10 a.m. Uh, and so we may need to abbreviate our public comment time. I am now calling for general public comment. If there's anyone who would like to make a public comment, whether in person or joining us virtually, please raise your hand. Seeing one hand in the committee of the whole, please raise your hand. Public comment will be cut off momentarily. And madam clerk, if you will please note that council president pro Tim Young has joined us. Well note. Good morning. Thank you. Good morning. Public comment has now been cut off. Good morning. Ms. Great, how many hands do we have raised virtually? Good morning, madam chair. We have six hands raised for virtual public comment. All right, we're going to give everyone a minute and a half for general public comment, and we will get started with Mr. Foster, who's here in the committee of the whole. If we can please set the clock for one minute and a half. Thank you. Um good morning through the um chair. Just very briefly, I wanted to um speak on a few things. I think it's important that you guys hear it and be aware for yourself, do good self-reflection to make sure that you don't deviate from any morals or ethics yourself. Self-policing. But um the last four years have been the first four years that the city have not had an indictment for city council at all. I think that speaks volumes. Prior to that, there have been a lot of indictments down here. And take in the information that we get, listening to our community and um things of those sort. I missed some of those meetings yesterday, but I did want to speak about a comment that I heard in reference to seven mayors down the line. Just a different perspective. Seven mayors down the line is your grandchildren. And if we talk about a council here that inherited bad situations, then it's incumbent upon this council to be proactive and preserve things to make sure that future bodies and future organizations are in the best position to um take care of their residents. And so I'm not gonna keep coming down and speaking.
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