OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Detroit Public Health and Safety Committee Meeting - April 13, 2026

City Council — Monday, April 13, 2026
BodyDetroit, Michigan
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, April 13, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:35:05

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

I would like to call to order our public health and safety standing committee for today, Monday, April 13th, 2026.

0:08

Me, the clerk, please call the roll.

0:11

Good morning, Councilmember Gabrielle Santiago Romero.

0:14

Present.

0:14

Good morning.

0:15

Councilmember Denzel McCampbell.

0:18

Councilmember Mary Waters.

0:20

Present.

0:21

Madam Chair De De Quorum.

0:23

Thank you, Mr.

0:23

Clerk given a quorum.

0:25

We'll go right into the agenda for today.

0:29

First on our agenda are our minutes from our last session.

0:33

Member Waters, we did not see the minutes.

0:35

Did you happen to see the minutes from our last session?

0:39

No ma'am.

0:40

Okay, so we will bring this back until the end of the agenda.

0:45

Mr.

0:46

Clerk, if you can just make sure the committee members receive the minutes from our last session.

0:49

No problem.

0:50

Thank you.

0:51

So we'll come back to the minutes.

0:53

If everyone can make sure we do so.

0:55

Um for chair remarks.

0:57

Welcome back to regular council scheduled business.

1:01

Uh we will have our regular session today.

1:04

Agenda has been passed.

1:06

Good morning, Member McCampbell.

1:07

If the clerk can please note we've been joined by Member McCampbell.

1:10

Welcome to thank you.

1:12

Uh and now we have a lot more to do.

1:15

Um, now that we've passed our budgets, really happy uh for the things that we've included.

1:19

Uh now we need to make sure that we are replacing the sidewalks, getting our buses on time, making sure that we're supporting our residents.

1:27

Uh so looking forward to a very busy year.

1:32

Uh, with that, we can go into public comment to hear directly from folks.

1:36

Um any questions, concerns, uh, general public comments.

1:41

Well, we're gonna begin with the folks that we have here in person, and I'll be cutting off public comments.

1:46

I see two people here now.

1:47

I'll be cutting off public comment in two minutes.

1:50

So at 10 06, please raise your hands before 10 06 if you would like to be on our general public comments list.

1:59

We're gonna begin with the folks that we have here in person.

2:02

I see Jadante, I see Mr.

2:04

Cunningham, Brother Cunningham here.

2:07

And folks that are online, please raise your hands now.

2:11

How many hands do we have raised online?

2:15

We have 10 hands.

2:16

All right.

2:17

Everyone will have two minutes for general public comment this morning.

2:22

I'm gonna begin with the folks that we have here in person.

2:25

We're gonna begin with Brother Cunningham first, followed by Jadante Smith.

2:32

We're gonna put the two-minute clock on the screen.

2:45

And Brother Cunningham, whenever you're ready.

2:49

Thank you.

2:49

Good morning.

2:50

313 444 9114, 313, 444, 9114, 313, 444 9114.

2:59

That number was made so you can remember it.

3:01

Um that's my cash app, my phone number.

3:04

You can Google that number and get to my Patreon, Patreon, Brother Cunningham.

3:09

Um I think those that do nate donate so I can make flyers such as these and give them out just and take time off unpaid to do so.

3:20

Gas prices are up, and I do appreciate the help.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████18%
Youth Programs██████████████████18%
Public Comment██████████████14%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████████14%
Blight█████████████13%
Contract Management████████████12%
Environmental Protection██2%
Pending Litigation██2%
Public Safety██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Detroit Public Health and Safety Committee Meeting - April 13, 2026

The Public Health and Safety Standing Committee met on Monday, April 13, 2026, chaired by Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero. The agenda included public comments, review of memos, approval of demolition and other contracts, and a discussion on youth engagement.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Brother Cunningham announced a DDOT input meeting on Thursday and promoted his outreach work, requesting donations.
  • Jadante Smith, a candidate for public office, criticized officials including Scott Benson and Joe Tate, and raised concerns about Kronos Concrete's silicosis dust and district conditions.
  • Betty A. Verner promoted a health fair on April 18 at Mount Zion Baptist Church, offering free eye exams and health services.
  • Denise Darnell shared information about DPSCD board meeting, garden resource program, and water backflow device inspections.
  • William M. Davis supported a UN resolution on the transatlantic slave trade, suggested rainwater reuse for city facilities, and criticized drainage fees.
  • A resident (District 3) raised concerns about rodent migration from development, mowing practices, and a disappointing master plan update meeting.
  • A caller (Google Pixel) reported a dilapidated home on Van Dyke and truck traffic on a nearby street; Chair offered assistance.
  • Foster criticized city leadership for lack of action until election season and questioned representation.
  • Caller 124 accused officials of lying about a suicide case (not clarified).
  • Caller 039 echoed similar accusations.

Discussion Items

  • Memos (5.1-5.17): Various memos were discussed, including those on 36th District Court accessibility, language access, construction/demolition, and ICE property restrictions. Memo 5.15 on limiting ICE activities was noted as difficult due to legal challenges; brought back in two weeks.
  • Contracts for Commercial Demolitions (6.1, 6.6, 6.8): Councilmember McCampbell questioned communication with property owners and cost recovery. BC Chief Arthur Russian explained two mailings and certified letters. Law Department's Jason Harrison outlined cost recovery lawsuits and promised quarterly reports. The contracts were approved.
  • Contract 6.16 (Diesel Filter Services): Discussion on why a Canadian vendor was selected. OCP's Hillary Edwards explained bidding process: four respondents, two unqualified, one in Sterling Heights at 150% higher cost, no Detroit-based bidders. Council urged proactive outreach for specialized services. Contract approved.
  • Youth Engagement (Teen Takeovers): Dr. Chanel Hampton and Director Terry Brent provided updates on the administration's response to teen gatherings. They emphasized the peaceful nature, collaboration with CVI groups, and a listening session with youth. They announced "Occupy the Summer" from June 12 to August 14. Councilmembers expressed support for creating third spaces and hiring youth.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved minutes from April 6 meeting.
  • Approved numerous contracts and memos including: 5.6, 5.8-5.14, 5.16-5.17, 6.2, 6.4, 6.5, 6.7, 6.9, 6.10, 6.11, 6.14, 6.15, 6.16, 6.17, 6.20. (All with recommendation to approve.)
  • Approved commercial demolitions 6.1, 6.6, 6.8 after discussion.
  • Referred memos: 5.1 (1 week), 5.2-5.5 (2 weeks), 5.7 (2 weeks), 5.15 (2 weeks), 6.3 (2 weeks), 6.12 (1 week), 6.13 (1 week), 6.21 (2 weeks), 6.22 (2 weeks), 6.23 (1 week), 6.24 (1 week), 6.25 (2 weeks), and a walk-on memo on curfew violations (2 weeks).
  • Sent 6.10 and 6.20 to new business.
  • The law department will provide quarterly reports on demolition cost recovery.
  • The administration will continue listening sessions with youth and develop summer programming.

Meeting Transcript

I would like to call to order our public health and safety standing committee for today, Monday, April 13th, 2026. Me, the clerk, please call the roll. Good morning, Councilmember Gabrielle Santiago Romero. Present. Good morning. Councilmember Denzel McCampbell. Councilmember Mary Waters. Present. Madam Chair De De Quorum. Thank you, Mr. Clerk given a quorum. We'll go right into the agenda for today. First on our agenda are our minutes from our last session. Member Waters, we did not see the minutes. Did you happen to see the minutes from our last session? No ma'am. Okay, so we will bring this back until the end of the agenda. Mr. Clerk, if you can just make sure the committee members receive the minutes from our last session. No problem. Thank you. So we'll come back to the minutes. If everyone can make sure we do so. Um for chair remarks. Welcome back to regular council scheduled business. Uh we will have our regular session today. Agenda has been passed. Good morning, Member McCampbell. If the clerk can please note we've been joined by Member McCampbell. Welcome to thank you. Uh and now we have a lot more to do. Um, now that we've passed our budgets, really happy uh for the things that we've included. Uh now we need to make sure that we are replacing the sidewalks, getting our buses on time, making sure that we're supporting our residents. Uh so looking forward to a very busy year. Uh, with that, we can go into public comment to hear directly from folks. Um any questions, concerns, uh, general public comments. Well, we're gonna begin with the folks that we have here in person, and I'll be cutting off public comments. I see two people here now. I'll be cutting off public comment in two minutes. So at 10 06, please raise your hands before 10 06 if you would like to be on our general public comments list. We're gonna begin with the folks that we have here in person. I see Jadante, I see Mr. Cunningham, Brother Cunningham here. And folks that are online, please raise your hands now. How many hands do we have raised online? We have 10 hands. All right. Everyone will have two minutes for general public comment this morning. I'm gonna begin with the folks that we have here in person. We're gonna begin with Brother Cunningham first, followed by Jadante Smith.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com