OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Detroit Public Health & Safety Committee Meeting - March 16, 2026

City Council — Monday, March 16, 2026
BodyDetroit, Michigan
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, March 16, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 45:32

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Everyone, I would like to call to order our public health and safety standing committee for today, Monday, March 16th, 2026.

0:09

Miller Clerk please call the roll.

0:11

Good morning, Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero.

0:14

Good morning, present.

0:15

Councilmember Denzel McCampbell.

0:18

Councilmember Mary Waters.

0:20

Present.

0:23

Thank you, Mr.

0:24

Clerk.

0:24

Given a quorum, we'll go right into the agenda for today.

0:29

Just want to remind everyone that we are in budget season, meaning that our meeting today will be constrained to one hour before we go into hearings for the rest of the day.

0:42

If you're interested in the hearing today, we will hear from the fire department's construction and demolition.

0:48

And then for the afternoon, we will hear from DDOP Transportation.

0:53

And if you're interested in any of those hearings, please join us.

0:58

But we'll go into the agenda for our session for today.

1:06

Motion.

1:07

Hearing no objections, our minutes will be approved from our last session.

1:12

Just shared brief chair remarks for uh this morning.

1:15

Again, reminding everyone of what's to come ahead for today and for the next few weeks.

1:27

Go into general public comment for this morning.

1:31

If the clerk can please note, we've been joined by our vice chair McCampbell.

1:35

Clerk will send out.

1:36

Thank you.

1:38

And with that, we'll go into general public comments.

1:41

I don't see anyone here in person.

1:43

If you are online, please raise your hands now.

1:45

If you would like to make general public comments, I will be cutting off public comment in two minutes.

1:50

So at 9 04, public comment will be cut off.

1:54

Please raise your hands now if you want to be added to the queue.

1:58

And we will begin with the folks online, noting that there's nobody here in person for public comments.

2:11

Morning, madam chair.

2:13

Um there are five hands raised online.

2:16

All right.

2:16

We will get everyone a minute and a half for this morning.

2:20

Again, we only have an hour for committee.

2:22

So we'll give everyone a minute and a half for general public comment this morning.

2:28

And I see the time is on the screen.

2:31

Thank you.

2:32

Whenever you're ready, we can begin with the first caller.

2:35

First caller is William M.

2:37

Davis.

2:42

Mr.

2:43

Davis, if you can hear us.

2:46

Good morning.

2:47

Can I be heard?

2:48

Yes, good morning.

2:49

Yes, I I like your um the questions you send into the water department.

2:54

I think more needs to be done with the water department.

2:58

As you may or may not know, I worked for the water department for 34 years.

3:02

And we used to actually do more preparative planning.

3:06

Um, you know, we had floods during the time that I was there, but very rarely we've had more floods in the last 13 years since the bankruptcy than I think than the whole 34 years I worked for the water department.

3:22

Uh also you might want to find out are they actually doing any uh emergent emergency preparedness planning?

3:29

Because we used to do mark exercises, you know, to deal with none of a different type of contingency.

3:34

Uh myself and a few others was you know, chant was uh trained with uh FEMA Instant Commander training, you know, to deal with a number of things because at the wastewater treatment plant where I worked at oh out in Southwest Detroit, you know, they have tank cars of chlorine, and you know, we had to deal with possibilities of leaks that could adversely affect the whole downriver community in Southwest Detroit.

3:59

So hopefully you can encourage them to do more than what they are doing and be a little bit more responsive and plan for more potential problems.

4:08

Thank you.

4:10

Thank you.

4:11

And there is a climate recovery task force that me and member Johnson, member waters as well, I believe are part of, and we are meeting with various departments, including emergency management.

4:24

Um we will talk with water because a lot of the reason why we are having this task force is because of flooding.

4:30

Um, so thank you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Comment██████████████████18%
Public Health███████████████15%
Water And Wastewater Management███████████11%
Procedural█████████9%
Contract Management███████7%
Elections██████6%
Youth Programs█████5%
Housing█████5%
Public Works█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Detroit Public Health & Safety Committee Meeting - March 16, 2026

The Detroit Public Health and Safety Standing Committee met on Monday, March 16, 2026, from approximately 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM. The meeting was chaired by Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero and included Vice Chair Denzel McCampbell and Councilmember Mary Waters. Due to budget hearings later in the day, the meeting was constrained to one hour. The committee approved several contracts, discussed flood prevention, rental fee reforms, and referred multiple items for further review.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes from the previous session were approved without objection.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • William M. Davis (former 34-year water department employee) urged the city to improve emergency preparedness planning, citing increased flooding since the bankruptcy and past FEMA Incident Command training. He called for more preventive maintenance of infrastructure.
  • Mr. Foster (in-person) raised concerns about the police union's history of defending officers without acknowledging wrongdoing, referencing a 1997 case. He requested the union acknowledge past wrongs.
  • Caller ending in 169 expressed gratitude to council members, using the word "gumption," and urged fixing DDOT (Detroit Department of Transportation).
  • Betty A. Varner (President, Soda Else for Black Association) promoted caregiver support resources through Community Solutions (Executive Director Deborah A. Roy), including in-home assistance and free activities, regardless of Medicaid status (phone: 313-438-0808).
  • Mr. Cunningham (Transit Riders United) reported that flowers were sent for Stephen Halloween (a transit advocate who died in a Florida car accident) and advocated for rehiring Corey Holmes at DDOT and making DDOT fare-free.
  • Caller ending in 482 (District 6 resident, self-identified as "young blood from the Brewster Project of 1980") accused Chair Santiago Romero of lying and alleged election fraud since 2020.
  • Carolyn Hughes was unable to speak due to technical difficulties.

Discussion Items

  • Water Department Flood Prevention (5.1): Chair Santiago Romero discussed a memo on water department planning for citywide flooding. She emphasized the need to replace old infrastructure and highlighted preventive maintenance of catch basins. She noted that street flooding often involves debris and leaves, and encouraged residents to clean up leaves. Vice Chair McCampbell echoed the need for preventive vacuum trucks and mentioned constituent flooding reports. The item was received and filed.
  • Commercial Buildings with Liens (5.2): Requested to be brought back in one week; motion passed.
  • RX Kids Program Contract (6.1): Contract #6007651 with Michigan State University for $1.5 million, funded 100% by opioid settlement funds, to administer the RX Kids program providing cash transfers to pregnant Detroiters and families with infants ($1,500 mid-pregnancy, $500/month for 6 months after birth). Luke Schaefer presented: independent research showed improved prenatal care, reduced preterm birth, fewer NICU admissions, reduced evictions, and decreased postpartum depression. He noted state funding covers three years, with broad bipartisan support. The contract was approved for new business.
  • HIV/AIDS Contracts (6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5): Multiple health department contracts totaling over $10.7 million for HIV services and WIC programs were approved.
  • Vehicle Repair Contract (6.6): Contract #600726 with Curry Bros. Truck Repair for $60,000 (city-funded) for light duty vehicle/truck repair; approved for new business.
  • Dangerous Buildings Orders (6.7, 6.8): Findings and orders for February 20 and February 27, 2026, were received and filed.
  • Rental Fee Ordinance (6.9): Councilmember Waters sponsored an ordinance to amend Chapter 22 of the 2019 Detroit City Code to limit pre-tenancy fees and application fees for renters. Referred to the Law Department for approval as to form.
  • Ordinance Enforcement Report (6.10): Chair Santiago Romero noted a disconnect between resident complaints about enforcement of the healthcare facilities ordinance and DPD's report stating no issues. She committed to following up. Received and filed.
  • Street Vacation Petition (6.11): Detroit International Bridge Company petition to vacate streets/alleys in the Ford Street, Savoy, and West Lafayette area (within the plaza footprint). Mr. Doherty confirmed the vacation is within the existing footprint. Approved for formal session.
  • Memo on Data Center Regulation (6.12): Resolution in support of House Bills 5594 and 5596; response received, filed.
  • Severe Weather Awareness Week (6.13): Memo from Member Johnson's office; brought back in two weeks.
  • Rental Certificate of Compliance (6.14): Memo requesting draft review; brought back in two weeks.
  • Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (6.15) and National Social Work Month (6.16): Proclamations approved for new business.
  • Securing City Property Against Federal Overreach (6.17): Memo to codify barring certain ICE activities on city property; brought back in one month.
  • Women's History Month (6.18) and Don Ison's Day (6.19): Proclamations received and filed.
  • Safe Storage of Cannabis Ordinance (6.20): Request for report and draft ordinance; brought back in one month.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved contracts (6.1–6.6) sent to new business with recommendation to approve.
  • Referred ordinance (6.9) to Law Department for review.
  • Set return dates for various memos: 5.2 (one week), 6.13 (two weeks), 6.14 (two weeks), 6.17 (one month), 6.20 (one month).
  • Chair announced next budget hearing at approximately 10:15 AM (Fire Department), followed by DDOT Transportation in the afternoon.
  • Member Waters reminded about the Skill Trade Task Force meeting on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, from 4-6 PM at IBEW Local 58.

Meeting Transcript

Everyone, I would like to call to order our public health and safety standing committee for today, Monday, March 16th, 2026. Miller Clerk please call the roll. Good morning, Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero. Good morning, present. Councilmember Denzel McCampbell. Councilmember Mary Waters. Present. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Given a quorum, we'll go right into the agenda for today. Just want to remind everyone that we are in budget season, meaning that our meeting today will be constrained to one hour before we go into hearings for the rest of the day. If you're interested in the hearing today, we will hear from the fire department's construction and demolition. And then for the afternoon, we will hear from DDOP Transportation. And if you're interested in any of those hearings, please join us. But we'll go into the agenda for our session for today. Motion. Hearing no objections, our minutes will be approved from our last session. Just shared brief chair remarks for uh this morning. Again, reminding everyone of what's to come ahead for today and for the next few weeks. Go into general public comment for this morning. If the clerk can please note, we've been joined by our vice chair McCampbell. Clerk will send out. Thank you. And with that, we'll go into general public comments. I don't see anyone here in person. If you are online, please raise your hands now. If you would like to make general public comments, I will be cutting off public comment in two minutes. So at 9 04, public comment will be cut off. Please raise your hands now if you want to be added to the queue. And we will begin with the folks online, noting that there's nobody here in person for public comments. Morning, madam chair. Um there are five hands raised online. All right. We will get everyone a minute and a half for this morning. Again, we only have an hour for committee. So we'll give everyone a minute and a half for general public comment this morning. And I see the time is on the screen. Thank you. Whenever you're ready, we can begin with the first caller. First caller is William M. Davis. Mr. Davis, if you can hear us. Good morning. Can I be heard? Yes, good morning. Yes, I I like your um the questions you send into the water department. I think more needs to be done with the water department. As you may or may not know, I worked for the water department for 34 years. And we used to actually do more preparative planning.

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