Detroit City Council Holds Budget Hearing for General Services Department on March 25, 2026

The Detroit City Council held a budget hearing for the General Services Department (GSD) on March 25, 2026. GSD Director Crystal Perkins and her team presented the proposed fiscal year 26-27 budget, emphasizing neighborhood activation through recreation, safe spaces, and improved service delivery. Council members discussed key issues including the dangerous, dead, and diseased tree removal backlog, recreation center development and security, animal control reforms, fleet management, and freeway maintenance costs. Several motions were approved unanimously, and additional items were referred to executive session or added to the closing resolution.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jadante Smith accused Council President James Cate of accepting campaign contributions from the Maroon family despite claiming otherwise, and questioned the council's priorities regarding public safety and homicide investigations.
• James Bichek spoke in support of his father Marvin Walker and the community organization at 14943 West Chicago, asking why the city is attempting to shut down the building.
• Ross Kennedy of Detroit Community Research Activity Center requested city support for veterans and community programs.
• Ronald Foster argued that recreation centers require better organization and community insight to effectively engage youth and reduce violence.
• John Kittleza credited Detroit Community Outreach with transforming his life and raised concerns about inadequate police response to his assault.
• Sven Toronto asked for assistance with a delayed green card renewal application.
• Jennifer Van Papa, a veteran, thanked Councilmember Mary Waters for supporting veterans' events and urged the city to stop targeting the West Chicago building.
• Aaliyah Harris described being homeless for 10 years and stated that Marvin Walker provided her housing when shelters and the state did not.
• Douglas Adams, a veteran, affirmed the value of Detroit Power in helping veterans access benefits and reintegrate into the workforce.
• Lawrence White alleged that the city evicted residents from the West Chicago building without providing rehousing, resulting in one death.
• Ruben James Crowley Jr. criticized the city's opposition to the West Chicago facility and asserted that it would remain open.
• Online callers raised issues including a hazardous tree at Conley and Desner, funding for block club land use application fees, low wages for seasonal recreation staff, the cost of freeway maintenance versus state reimbursement, the legality of the Johnson Recreation Center sale, lack of recreation centers in District 7, cold pool water, and the Office of Sustainability budget.

Discussion Items

• GSD Budget Presentation: Director Crystal Perkins outlined the department's role as "the operational backbone of the city," with priorities including expanding after-school partnerships, enhanced programming in high-need areas, and ensuring recreation centers operate as hubs for youth and seniors. Performance metrics include tree remediation times, park conditions, youth engagement during peak hours, fleet uptime, and animal care outcomes. The department's theme is "lead with purpose, serve with excellence."
• Triple D Tree Program: Councilmember Scott Benson pressed for details on the backlog of dangerous, dead, or diseased tree removals. Director Perkins reported that of over 7,000 initial requests, inspectors completed 5,000 surveys and identified approximately 3,906 eligible trees, with only 73 remaining to be serviced. The proposed additional $1 million would fund about 350 more removals. The department plans a more strategic reopening, prioritizing high-risk trees in coordination with the Department of Neighborhoods and city council.
• Recreation Center Development and Security: Councilmembers discussed several recreation centers. Councilmember Daniel McCampbell raised the timeline for the Brennan Recreation Center at Rouge Park, funded by a $20 million Detroit Pistons donation and $3 million city contingency. Groundbreaking targeted for mid- to late April, pending the Pistons' playoff schedule. Councilmember Benson highlighted the Chandler Park dome and other facilities, while expressing concerns about disruptive behavior at parks. He moved to add $1 million recurring to security, which passed. Councilmember Letitia Johnson emphasized the need for adequate staffing for extended hours.
• Forestry Investment: Councilmember Benson moved to add $4 million recurring to the forestry budget and increase FTEs from 33 to 57 (adding 24 positions), below the recommended moderate level of 77 FTEs but described as incremental steps. Both motions passed unanimously.
• Detroit Animal Care and Control: Director Perkins announced new leadership: Rachel Williams as DACC director and Dr. Marcy McCarthy as senior veterinarian. Improvements include enhanced training, stronger partnerships with DPD and Michigan Humane, a foster program, and increased adoption rates. Councilmember McCampbell noted dogs abandoned in Rouge Park and requested more enforcement.
• Freeway Maintenance: Councilmember Coleman Young II questioned the cost of freeway maintenance (approximately $5.5 million annually) versus MDOT reimbursements (roughly $650,000). Deputy Director Jarell Harris explained the city took over from MDOT, performs more frequent cleanings, and seeks higher reimbursement based on current costs.
• Fleet Management: Fleet management returned to GSD in February 2026. Councilmember Callaway requested a vehicle inventory by department and expressed concerns about employees taking city vehicles home, especially outside city limits. Director Perkins said GSD is updating vehicle policies.
• Palmer Park Band Shell: Councilmember Callaway criticized being excluded from programming discussions and moved to establish an official nine-member advisory committee for the band shell, with one representative from each district and two at-large members. The motion passed.
• Senior Services and Safety: Councilmember Mary Waters requested updates on the new senior center on Mount Elliott and Lafayette, with renovations nearly complete, and asked about free weekly smoothies. Councilmember Johnson stressed rec center memberships must prioritize Detroiters; Director Perkins confirmed training will reinforce this.
• Office of Sustainability: Public caller Kendall Kuhnman noted that the Office of Sustainability budget falls under GSD but the office reports to the mayor, and referenced Mayor Sheffield's campaign promise to double the budget.

Key Outcomes

• Approved Motions (all without objection):
  • Add $4 million recurring to the forestry line item.
  • Increase forestry FTEs from 33 to 57 (adding 24 positions).
  • Add $1 million recurring to the security line item.
  • Add language to the closing resolution urging GSD security to partner with DPD and the sheriff's department to re-establish park patrol.
  • Add language that the administration will ensure needed funding for the Brennan Recreation Center new build.
  • Add DACC enforcement in Rouge Park to closing resolution.
  • Add improvements to signage and wayfinding at Rouge Park to closing resolution.
  • Establish an official advisory committee for the Palmer Park band shell (seven district members, two at-large).
  • Add alternative recreation center near former Johnson Recreation Center to closing resolution.
  • Add Conor Creek Trail reactivation to closing resolution.
  • Add designation of recreation centers as resilience hubs to closing resolution.
  • Continue partnership with DPSCD on community use of schools with pools.
  • Allocate $500,000 for a water feature at Kemani Park (executive session).
  • Allocate $500,000 for animal care improvements (executive session).
  • Discuss senior smoothie costs (executive session).
  • Add $50,000 for Hyde Park gazebo roof repair (executive session).
  • Discuss pocket parks deployment in closing resolution.
  • Include veterans affairs in executive session.
  • Include discussion of the "next up 313" and DEGC in executive session.
  • Include discussion of family entertainment center in executive session.
  • Include discussion of geese management strategies in closing resolution.
  • Add $1 million to recreation (approved for executive session; clarified that recreation base budget is $22.1 million in general fund).
• Additional Items: Councilmember Benson requested a detailed memo on the tree program backlog and strategy. Councilmember Callaway requested a full vehicle inventory by department. Councilmember Waters requested cost estimate for senior smoothies. Public comment raised $1,500 land use hearing fees for block clubs, referred for consideration.