OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Mayor's Office Budget Hearing - March 27, 2026

City Council — Friday, March 27, 2026
BodyDetroit, Michigan
SessionCity Council
DateFriday, March 27, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:30:19

Transcript — Verbatim
0:12

The expanded budget finance and audit standing committee for today.

0:18

Um Friday, it is Friday, March 27, 2026.

0:23

Madam Clerk, good morning.

0:25

Morning.

0:25

You please call the roll.

0:26

Sure.

0:28

Councilmember Scott Benson.

0:30

Councilmember Letitia Johnson.

0:32

President.

0:32

Councilmember Denzel McCampbell.

0:35

Member McCamp will be uh tardees on this one.

0:38

Okay, the clerk will know.

0:39

Councilmember Reneta Miller.

0:41

Uh Member Miller is submitted a memo indicating that she will be absent today, so her absence is excused.

0:47

Okay.

0:48

Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero.

0:50

Present.

0:51

Councilmember Mary Waters.

0:52

President.

0:53

Councilmember Andrew Whitfield Callaway.

0:55

Council President Pro Tim Colman.

0:57

Yeah.

0:59

Council President James Tate.

1:01

Mr.

1:01

Chair, we have quorum.

1:02

Thank you.

1:03

We have a quorum, which means we're now in session.

1:05

We'd like to call the mayor's office forward for their budget hearing.

1:13

I told you already.

1:37

I believe Chief Staff is gonna be at the helm of this particular budget hearing.

1:42

Why don't you uh introduce yourself and the team and the floor is yours to begin.

1:48

Absolutely.

1:49

Uh to the chair, David Bowser, Chief of Staff, uh to the Mayor.

1:56

Good morning through the chair, Brian Peckenpah, Director of the Department of Neighborhoods.

2:01

Good morning.

2:01

Tricia Stein, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives for Mayor Sheffield.

2:08

So here to morning to present the mayor's office budget.

2:15

So we do have a presentation here.

2:17

Um next slide.

2:23

So wanted to make the point that the mayor's office budget and the positions associated with it reflect the mayor's uh priorities, reflect the changes that the mayor's off that the mayor has been mandated by Detroit residents to sort of push forward in the city of Detroit.

2:42

Uh what I wanted to do with this presentation is walk you through essentially the org chart as it relates to the budget so you all can understand exactly who is funded, what they are um kind of charged to do, and then what capacities sit under them as well.

2:58

One of the things we want to make sure that we're doing is reducing silos and being trans very transparent about who to contact for what particular issues that you all may have.

3:07

And so it's going to bode well for us to understand exactly what positions do what and sort of what the missions and the charges are.

3:15

So in general, mayor's office staff are charged with prioritizing collaboration with as many stakeholders as possible, from youth to seniors, small business startups to regional partnership groups and beyond uh to develop holistic solutions and sustainable strategies that move Detroit forward.

3:35

Um mayor's office staff or mayor's office principals are here to build and lead coalitions, strategize at a high level, and reframe the way essentially that Detroit residents experience city government.

3:47

Um the mayor's office objectives per the mayor are to ensure equity and improve quality of life for all Detroit residents.

3:54

And so as we sort of move forward through the slideshow when to kind of frame this a bit.

3:59

Any position that has sort of yellow verbiage is directly funded by the mayor's office.

4:05

Um but I'll put the entire org chart under the individuals there to let you know what they oversee.

4:11

If there are individuals or capacities that are not in yellow, that means that they are funded through a different source, but this is a capacity that the mayor's office oversees.

4:20

So going through each one here, and uh we're going to kind of do this at a high level and then obviously welcome your questions.

4:28

Um Deputy Mayor is charged with leading local, regional, and federal partnerships, designing and implementing uh major reforms and ensuring that the mayor's key objectives are solidified as lasting policies uh that not only impact Detroit today but impact Detroit's in the future.

4:45

There is a large build-out around um partnership under the under the deputy mayor.

4:51

There's a labor liaison to ensure that we are in constant contact with our labor partners.

5:00

There's a director of state government affairs to make sure that we are directly connected in with what's happening in Lansing so that we can uh organize and push together uh strategies to improve the city.

5:10

Regional partnerships is a sound if you don't mind, Chief, just give us some names of these top-level individuals.

5:16

Uh, have those as well, please.

5:18

Absolutely.

5:18

Yep.

5:19

Labor liaison is Marlowe Sean Franklin.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Community Engagement█████████████████████████25%
Land Bank█████████9%
Workforce Development████████8%
Economic Development████████8%
Procedural███████7%
Technology and Innovation███████7%
Environmental Protection██████6%
Youth Programs█████5%
Personnel Matters████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Mayor's Office Budget Hearing - March 27, 2026

This budget hearing for the Mayor's Office of Detroit took place on Friday, March 27, 2026. Chief of Staff David Bowser, along with other administration officials, presented the mayor's organizational structure, strategic priorities, and key initiatives. Council members engaged in extensive Q&A and adopted several motions related to neighborhood improvements, senior services, youth engagement, and administrative oversight.

Discussion Items

  • Mayor's Office Organizational Chart: Chief of Staff Bowser outlined the restructured mayor's office, emphasizing new verticals: Chief of Health, Human Services, and Poverty Solutions (led by Dr. Luke Schaefer); Chief of Housing, Planning, Workforce, and Economic Development (led by interim chief Brittany Hoskew); Chief of Neighborhood Affairs (overseeing Office of Senior Affairs, Office of Youth Affairs, Office of Neighborhood and Community Safety, and faith-based initiatives). The COO (Winnie Lau) and Deputy Mayor roles were also described.
  • Sustainability Initiatives: Tricia Stein, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives, reported accomplishments: 88 homes completed energy upgrades (target 250) under the Solar Neighborhood Initiative; 135 hybrid light-duty vehicles and 4 electric buses delivered; 8,500 pounds of food waste diverted via composting pilot; senior fresh food program serving 700 seniors weekly at 7 locations, with plans to expand to 25 sites and 2,500 seniors. Air quality monitoring dashboard now live with 75 monitors.
  • Neighborhood Affairs: Director Brian Peckenpah detailed expanded office hours (Mondays/Fridays 9-5, Wednesdays 2-6) at seven rec centers, block club mentorship, and faith-based engagement. Senior advocates have visited 87 of 91 senior buildings, identifying 14 tenant councils. Youth and Education Senior Director Dr. Chanel Hampton described a focus on absenteeism, transportation, and out-of-school time, plus a mayoral youth cabinet and 40 youth fellows.
  • Council Questions and Responses:
    • Member Callaway: Questioned recurring blight and littering; requested littering/illegal dumping signage. Motion to install signage adopted.
    • Member Johnson: Asked about planning department integration with COO; advocated for continuous community engagement. Made motions for a closed-loop water system at vacant properties (adopted) and later for crime prevention through environmental design (adopted).
    • Member McCampbell: Praised senior and youth offices; asked about senior outreach beyond buildings and youth engagement outside rec centers. Made motions to extend senior food access program and ensure youth programming is community-based (both adopted).
    • Member Benson: Discussed inter-departmental cleanups and sustainability; asked about DTE partnership for EV infrastructure. Made motions to support cultural institution millage and to study millage ROI (both adopted).
    • President Tate: Focused on Brightmore neighborhood; urged a coordinated plan for workforce training and infrastructure projects. Motion to fund next phase of Brightmore framework plan adopted.
    • Member Waters: Raised concerns about Detroit Land Bank Authority, side lot sales, and lack of transparency; demanded a liaison for complaints. Motions to re-fund workforce housing ($500,000) and for a land bank liaison (both adopted).
    • Member Santiago Romero: Questioned placement of lean team under chief of staff rather than COO; advocated for human-centered design. Motion for regular meeting cadence between administration and council adopted. Also added motion for Fort Wayne field upgrades (adopted).
    • President Pro Tem Young: Asked about advanced energy technologies (PISO, bladeless turbines, geothermal, hydrogen) and AI implementation. Motion to restore fresh food program at recreation centers adopted.

Key Outcomes

  • Adopted Motions (all without objection):
    • Signage for littering and illegal dumping.
    • Closed-loop water system at vacant properties (DWSD).
    • Brightmore neighborhood framework plan funding and workforce prioritization.
    • Disparity study ($350,000) via CREO.
    • Fort Wayne feasibility study ($40,000 additional).
    • Blight patrol ordinance implementation ($50,000).
    • Workforce housing fund ($500,000) for capital improvements.
    • Land bank liaison in mayor's office.
    • Extension of senior food access program to more homes.
    • Youth affairs programming outside rec centers.
    • Crime prevention through environmental design (multi-department review).
    • Fort Wayne field upgrades.
    • Mosquito abatement along Rouge River.
    • Regular meeting cadence between Department of Neighborhoods and council offices.
    • Support for cultural institution millage and ROI study.
  • Other Directives: Administration agreed to form a working group for Brightmore, follow up on land bank complaints, and coordinate on AI policy and energy partnerships.
  • Roll Call: Councilmember McCampbell arrived late; Councilmember Miller excused; quorum present.

Meeting Transcript

The expanded budget finance and audit standing committee for today. Um Friday, it is Friday, March 27, 2026. Madam Clerk, good morning. Morning. You please call the roll. Sure. Councilmember Scott Benson. Councilmember Letitia Johnson. President. Councilmember Denzel McCampbell. Member McCamp will be uh tardees on this one. Okay, the clerk will know. Councilmember Reneta Miller. Uh Member Miller is submitted a memo indicating that she will be absent today, so her absence is excused. Okay. Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero. Present. Councilmember Mary Waters. President. Councilmember Andrew Whitfield Callaway. Council President Pro Tim Colman. Yeah. Council President James Tate. Mr. Chair, we have quorum. Thank you. We have a quorum, which means we're now in session. We'd like to call the mayor's office forward for their budget hearing. I told you already. I believe Chief Staff is gonna be at the helm of this particular budget hearing. Why don't you uh introduce yourself and the team and the floor is yours to begin. Absolutely. Uh to the chair, David Bowser, Chief of Staff, uh to the Mayor. Good morning through the chair, Brian Peckenpah, Director of the Department of Neighborhoods. Good morning. Tricia Stein, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives for Mayor Sheffield. So here to morning to present the mayor's office budget. So we do have a presentation here. Um next slide. So wanted to make the point that the mayor's office budget and the positions associated with it reflect the mayor's uh priorities, reflect the changes that the mayor's off that the mayor has been mandated by Detroit residents to sort of push forward in the city of Detroit. Uh what I wanted to do with this presentation is walk you through essentially the org chart as it relates to the budget so you all can understand exactly who is funded, what they are um kind of charged to do, and then what capacities sit under them as well. One of the things we want to make sure that we're doing is reducing silos and being trans very transparent about who to contact for what particular issues that you all may have. And so it's going to bode well for us to understand exactly what positions do what and sort of what the missions and the charges are. So in general, mayor's office staff are charged with prioritizing collaboration with as many stakeholders as possible, from youth to seniors, small business startups to regional partnership groups and beyond uh to develop holistic solutions and sustainable strategies that move Detroit forward. Um mayor's office staff or mayor's office principals are here to build and lead coalitions, strategize at a high level, and reframe the way essentially that Detroit residents experience city government. Um the mayor's office objectives per the mayor are to ensure equity and improve quality of life for all Detroit residents. And so as we sort of move forward through the slideshow when to kind of frame this a bit. Any position that has sort of yellow verbiage is directly funded by the mayor's office. Um but I'll put the entire org chart under the individuals there to let you know what they oversee. If there are individuals or capacities that are not in yellow, that means that they are funded through a different source, but this is a capacity that the mayor's office oversees.

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