Neighborhood Community Served Standing Committee Meeting - March 12, 2026
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Neighborhood Community Served Standing Committee Meeting - March 12, 2026
The Neighborhood Community Served Standing Committee met on March 12, 2026, with Council President Pro Tempore Common A. Young II presiding and Councilmembers Scott Benson and Reneta Miller present. The meeting covered approval of minutes, public comments, several event permit requests, a confidential legal memorandum, and member reports.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Betty A. Varner, President of the Soda Elsewhere Block Association, spoke about the MI Choice Waiver Program for seniors and disabled individuals not eligible for Medicaid, urging the council to advocate for land use hearing fee relief and for equitable funding to improve business corridors, specifically her Mack Avenue corridor.
- Owner Papa (caller) thanked Councilwoman Miller for her representation, criticized the Drew Center (a detention center), and expressed frustration that her tax dollars are not returning to her community. She threatened to file a federal lawsuit against the council if federal dollars are not distributed fairly.
- A third caller, Andrew, lowered their hand and did not speak.
Discussion Items
- Approval of Minutes: The committee initially approved the minutes. Councilmember Benson then made a motion to reconsider the vote, citing a missing modification regarding a $4 million budget amendment to the Forestry Department. The motion was granted, and the minutes were modified to include that amendment. Later, Benson requested to see the modified minutes before final approval, so the minutes will be brought back for approval at the next committee meeting.
- New Business – Mayor’s Office Line Items:
- 6.1 – Washington Entertainment: Request to hold the RIVS RB Music Festival on August 7–9, 2026 at Hart Plaza (with setup August 6 and teardown August 10). Moved to formal session with recommendation for approval.
- 6.2 – Black Girl Conglomerates: Request to hold the Black Girl Picnic on August 15, 2026 at Roosevelt Park (setup August 15, teardown same day). Moved to formal session with recommendation for approval.
- 6.3 – March of Dimes: Request to hold March for Babies on June 13, 2026 at Roosevelt Park (setup June 12, teardown June 13). Moved to formal session with recommendation for approval.
- 6.4 – Michigan Humane: Request to hold the Michigan Humane Tailgate Run Walk Adopt on May 9, 2026 at Roosevelt Park, Joe Louis Greenway, and Ralph C. Wilson Centennial Park (setup May 7–8, teardown May 9–10). Moved to formal session with recommendation for approval.
- Law Department – Line 6.5: A confidential memorandum dated February 26, 2026 regarding Detroit Public Library bond issuance authority was presented. Councilmember Benson noted the library’s ability to unilaterally issue bond debt for capital improvements was the subject of the opinion, and that a resolution to remove privilege had been submitted and would appear on formal session Tuesday. The item was received and filed.
- Member Reports: Councilwoman Miller announced a Women’s History Month event, “Unapologetic Leadership,” on March 20, 2026 from 12–3 p.m. in the City Council Auditorium, co-hosted with Councilmember Mary Waters.
Key Outcomes
- The committee voted to approve the minutes with a modification (adding the $4 million Forestry Department budget amendment), but later decided to defer final approval to the next meeting after the modified minutes are reviewed.
- Line items 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, and 6.4 were all moved to the formal session of City Council with a recommendation for approval.
- Line item 6.5 was received and filed without further action.
Meeting Transcript
Neighborhood community served standing committee will now come into session with the clerk. Please call the roll. Council President pro temporary common A. Young the second. Thank you for that pro temporary on there. Councilmember Scott Benson. Councilmember Reneta Miller. Mr. Chair, you have a quorn present. Thank you, man. Clerk. Uh Mr. Vice Chair Benson is on his way. Clerk was on note. Is there a motion to receive and file the minutes? No, I mean, is there a motion to approve the minutes? I'm sorry. Motion made. Are there any objections? Hearing none, the minutes will be approved. Uh now, negative chair remarks. So now we will move on to public comment. Mr. Bo, how many people do we have in the queue for public comment? Good afternoon, Mr. Chair. We currently have two individuals with their hand raised for public comment. Okay. Public comment is now closed. Public comment is now closed. Public comment is now closed. All right, who do we have in the queue, Mr. Bo. The first caller is Betty A. Verner. All right. Ms. Varner, floor is yours. Two minutes. Good afternoon to all within the sound of my voice, Betty A. Varner, president of the Soda Elsewhere Block Association. If you are a senior or you're disabled and you need help in your home and you're not uh eligible for Medicaid, please call uh DAA at 313 446 4444 and ask to speak to someone for the my choice waiver program that's MI Choice Waiver Program. And when you talk to the people, you let them know you're not eligible for Medicaid, but you need assistance in your home, they will come out, do an assessment and will find out exactly what is needed. Uh they have caregiver services, uh, they do uh whatever it is to help you to be able to stay in your home and not be in living assistance or a nursing home. Again, that's 313 446 444. And if you have a problem getting through, which uh people have told me, be consistent, continue to call. I'm in the program. There is the program, and it is a good program. And if you have called three or four times and don't get a response, then the operator who answers you asked to speak to a supervisor. And I'm asking that the council will consider uh advocating for to help us with the land use hearing fee, and also to help the uh organizations who need help to get improvement and work done on their business corridors.
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