OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Budget Financial Audit Standing Committee Meeting - March 25, 2026

City Council — Wednesday, March 25, 2026
BodyDetroit, Michigan
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, March 25, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 52:47

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Noon, I'd like to call the budget financial audit standing committee meeting of Wednesday, March 25th to order.

0:08

Will Madam Clerk please call the role.

0:10

Yes, good afternoon.

0:11

Councilmember Denzel Anton McCampbell.

0:14

Present.

0:14

Councilmember Letitia Johnson.

0:16

Present.

0:16

Councilmember Mary Waters.

0:19

Mr.

0:20

Chair, we have quorum.

0:21

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

0:22

And that'll move us on to approval the minutes, which um members of the committee should have received.

0:27

Is there a motion to approve?

0:29

Motion to approve.

0:30

Thank you so much.

0:32

Without any objections, the minister will stand approved.

0:36

I will uh pass on chair remarks today, just to please continue to tune in to our budget hearings um through the end of budget season on April 7th.

0:47

Um that will now move us on to public comment.

0:50

Uh request for public comment will close at 108.

0:55

Um please limit your remarks to one minute and 30 seconds.

0:58

We'll start with those in the room.

1:00

And for those participating remotely, please use the raise hand feature.

1:04

You'll be called in order.

1:05

Do we have um folks for public comment in the room?

1:08

All right, please come forward.

1:15

Good afternoon.

1:16

Um, if you can just press the button on the mic, state your name, and then you could proceed.

1:21

You have one minute and 30 seconds.

1:26

Good evening.

1:27

Uh good evening, good afternoon, we heard.

1:33

Okay.

1:34

Well, I'd like to tell you that I just was down at the Board of Zoning Appeals office.

1:39

I wanted to look at that nice shiny computer that was made in the presentation.

1:43

Except I wasn't allowed to look at it.

1:46

I was told I wasn't sure if it worked.

1:49

Then the lady called Mr.

1:51

Ribrine or Mr.

1:52

River and said to send them an email to ask for the stuff, some of which I've asked for before, but I was not allowed to get.

2:01

Um regarding speed humps.

2:04

I heard some people talk about speed humps last year.

2:07

We need to take away take out the speed humps that were put in against members' wishes, like what happened in front of my house.

2:14

I didn't know what they were doing because so much secretive stuff goes on in my neighborhood.

2:18

And then Cindy Dara pointed out that when they spray painted the pink line across the street, she goes, Oh, they're gonna put a speed hump in front of your house.

2:25

I'm like, wait, wait, wait, I don't want that.

2:27

I don't want that.

2:28

And then I saw the guy Justin from G S D or whatever, he was there, and he said, Well, talk to your district managers, which I did, and they installed it anyway.

2:41

And I have a flyer that says we only put speed humps with the consent of the residents.

2:46

And then I was told, well, if I get a majority of the residents on the block, that's I can pay to remove it.

2:52

Well, guess what?

2:53

I was the only full-time resident on the block at the time.

2:56

So I have to deal with the room room the all the the noise particle closing and all of that.

3:03

So if we can please do something about that and check into the BZA presentation was not all 100.

3:10

All right, thank you.

3:11

All right.

3:12

Anyone else in the room?

3:15

That'll take us on to folks joining us remotely.

3:17

How many folks do we have on Zoom?

3:19

Good afternoon, Mr.

3:20

Chair.

3:21

Uh, as of now, we have four hands raised.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Budget Oversight█████████████████████████25%
Fiscal Sustainability██████████████████████22%
Procedural████████████████16%
Zoning and Land Use████████████████16%
Public Comment██████6%
Revenue Sharing██████6%
Water And Wastewater Management████4%
Parks and Recreation███3%
Historic Preservation██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Budget Financial Audit Standing Committee Meeting - March 25, 2026

The Budget Financial Audit Standing Committee met on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at noon to review financial reports, consider a neighborhood enterprise zone application, and discuss several resolutions. The meeting was called to order with a quorum present. Minutes from the previous meeting were approved unanimously.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of the meeting minutes (motion passed without objection).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Speaker 1 (in person): Expressed frustration with speed humps installed against resident wishes, lack of transparency in the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) process, and requested removal of the speed hump in front of their home. Also questioned the BZA presentation and computer equipment.
  • William M. Davis (remote): Urged public service announcements for item 6.6, requested that the Thomas Edison Library branch be open seven days a week, and asked about the impact of the city's bankruptcy on DWSD debt service. Advocated for reducing debt and proper oversight.
  • Owner Papa (remote): Called for a forensic audit of DWSD, raised concerns about tree cutting on Oakman Boulevard and lack of public access to answers for questions asked in council meetings. Requested allocation of funds for recreation center access and bus service for children in the 7th district.
  • Tyson Gersh (remote): Criticized lack of transparency from BZA, noting difficulty accessing public documents. Suggested that BZA issues could be solved with technology and data openness. Urged council to ask more questions about revenue.
  • Galaxy Tab A (remote): Requested that the NAP Library be repaired (boilers down) and noted that Lasky Recreation Center opens too late. Also asked for removal of a hazardous tree on Conley and Dazner.

Discussion Items

  • 6.1 Financial Report for Seven Months Ending January 31, 2026: Deputy CFO Donnie Johnson and Acting Treasurer Valeria Goalie presented the executive highlights. The city projects a $56.9 million shortfall in income tax revenues and a $7.1 million shortfall in state revenue sharing, offset by an estimated $16 million underspend in expenditures (mainly from vacancies), yielding a projected operating surplus of $2.2 million for fiscal year 2026. Wagering taxes are performing 19.7% above estimates due to retail and internet gaming. The income tax reserve of $42 million remains untapped. Councilmembers asked about hiring freezes, the role of vacancies in surpluses, and the composition of wagering tax growth. The presenters indicated no hiring freeze is anticipated and that the surplus is not solely vacancy-driven. Accounts payable is 99% current.
  • 6.2 NEZ Certificate Application for 1806 Leverette (Corktown): Chris Gulag (City Planning Commission) presented the request for a neighborhood enterprise zone certificate to rehabilitate a single-family house. Developer Dylan Towler plans to purchase the home, live in it during renovations (finishing work, subbing out electrical/plumbing), and sell it for $650,000–$750,000. Estimated rehab costs: $100,000–$120,000. Councilmember Waters questioned the projected sale price, accessibility features (none added due to historic restrictions), and the developer's residency timeline. Councilmember Johnson raised concerns about affordability and the need to re-examine NEZs in active markets. The item was sent to formal session without a recommendation.
  • 6.3 Resolution Supporting Michigan Senate Bills 559/561 and House Bills 4211/4212: Motion to bring back in four weeks for further exploration of revenue sharing options. Passed.
  • 6.4 Resolution Urging State to Reduce Fees and Interest for Delinquent Property Taxes: Motion to send to formal session with a recommendation to approve. Passed.
  • 6.5 Resolution Urging Wayne County Treasurer for Moratorium on Property Tax Foreclosure on Occupied Homes: Motion to remove from the agenda. Passed.
  • 6.6–6.17 Budget Hearing Related Memos: Motion to bring back in one week. Passed.

Key Outcomes

  • Financial report for seven months ending January 31, 2026 received and filed.
  • NEZ application for 1806 Leverette sent to formal session without recommendation.
  • Resolution on state bills (6.3) held for four weeks.
  • Resolution on state fees for delinquent property taxes (6.4) sent to formal with recommendation to approve.
  • Resolution on foreclosure moratorium (6.5) removed from agenda.
  • Budget hearing memos (6.6–6.17) to be brought back in one week.
  • Member reports suspended.
  • Meeting adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

Noon, I'd like to call the budget financial audit standing committee meeting of Wednesday, March 25th to order. Will Madam Clerk please call the role. Yes, good afternoon. Councilmember Denzel Anton McCampbell. Present. Councilmember Letitia Johnson. Present. Councilmember Mary Waters. Mr. Chair, we have quorum. Thank you, Madam Clerk. And that'll move us on to approval the minutes, which um members of the committee should have received. Is there a motion to approve? Motion to approve. Thank you so much. Without any objections, the minister will stand approved. I will uh pass on chair remarks today, just to please continue to tune in to our budget hearings um through the end of budget season on April 7th. Um that will now move us on to public comment. Uh request for public comment will close at 108. Um please limit your remarks to one minute and 30 seconds. We'll start with those in the room. And for those participating remotely, please use the raise hand feature. You'll be called in order. Do we have um folks for public comment in the room? All right, please come forward. Good afternoon. Um, if you can just press the button on the mic, state your name, and then you could proceed. You have one minute and 30 seconds. Good evening. Uh good evening, good afternoon, we heard. Okay. Well, I'd like to tell you that I just was down at the Board of Zoning Appeals office. I wanted to look at that nice shiny computer that was made in the presentation. Except I wasn't allowed to look at it. I was told I wasn't sure if it worked. Then the lady called Mr. Ribrine or Mr. River and said to send them an email to ask for the stuff, some of which I've asked for before, but I was not allowed to get. Um regarding speed humps. I heard some people talk about speed humps last year. We need to take away take out the speed humps that were put in against members' wishes, like what happened in front of my house. I didn't know what they were doing because so much secretive stuff goes on in my neighborhood. And then Cindy Dara pointed out that when they spray painted the pink line across the street, she goes, Oh, they're gonna put a speed hump in front of your house. I'm like, wait, wait, wait, I don't want that. I don't want that. And then I saw the guy Justin from G S D or whatever, he was there, and he said, Well, talk to your district managers, which I did, and they installed it anyway. And I have a flyer that says we only put speed humps with the consent of the residents. And then I was told, well, if I get a majority of the residents on the block, that's I can pay to remove it. Well, guess what? I was the only full-time resident on the block at the time.

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