Detroit City Council Formal Session - April 28, 2026
Detroit City Council Formal Session - April 28, 2026
The Detroit City Council met on April 28, 2026, for a formal session. The meeting began with an invocation by Reverend R. Patrick Johnson, who emphasized justice, mercy, and humility in leadership. Presentations honored the Children's Center of Wayne County (97 years of service), Ford Philanthropy President Mary Culler, and Children's Center CEO Desiree Jennings. Councilmember Denzel McCampbell presented a Spirit of Detroit Award to Jamie White for rescuing neighbors from a house fire. Councilmember Mary Waters recognized state champion chess students and coaches from Bates Academy, Cass Technical High School, and Renaissance High School.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Multiple speakers from the Detroit Community Action Committee advocated for a Sanctuary City ordinance, arguing that local resources should not fund ICE operations and that protections are needed for immigrant communities. Speakers criticized council inaction and urged support for mutual aid.
- Joe Pico (Detroit Anti-War Committee) called for canceling the ShotSpotter contract, citing racial profiling and lack of crime reduction, and supported sanctuary city policies.
- Betty Lyons asked for accountability regarding alleged property tax theft and criticized lawyers involved in the Leland tenants' case.
- Brother Cunningham spoke about homelessness outreach and personal struggles.
- A resident (name not given) requested referral to Internal Operations Committee to address complaints about executive branch land development policies, including the proposed sale of part of Butzel Family Rec Center land to a private developer.
- Fidel L. criticized Councilmember Waters for contracts awarded to white businesses and alleged corruption, urging resignations.
- Josh Man advocated for designated motorsports areas to reduce street racing and dirt bike takeovers, citing success of prior drifting pit.
- Ruben James Crowley Jr. raised concerns about replacement cost of a house and election integrity.
- Smith (Detroit Hand Tram Coalition) questioned contracts awarded to Avanash Roshmail (over $74 million in 2025) and called for down-zoning of a concrete plant in District 3.
- Marshall Simons (Motor City Pedicab) thanked the council for supporting small businesses.
- Myra Black (Workforce Staffing Solutions) promoted local staffing for returning citizens and compliance with executive order 2014-4.
- Virtual callers included: Ms. Mayberry seeking updates on reparations for Paradise Valley and Black Bottom; William M. Davis criticizing parking costs and emergency management orders; a caller praising the awards but questioning soil cleanup and contractor regulation; Frank Hammer (multiple calls) opposing ShotSpotter and drone surveillance, and supporting sanctuary city; Betty Varner promoting free eye and dental clinics; Darren McLeskey criticizing land bank nuisance abatement and solar farm land takings; a caller supporting labor and immigrant rights for May Day; and a caller urging action on various issues.
Discussion Items
- Ambulance Supplemental Contracts (Items 18.1-18.3): Three contracts (Hart EMS, American S of Michigan, Superior Air Ground Ambulance) totaling about $4.5 million per year for supplemental emergency ambulance coverage were debated extensively. Councilmember Whitfield Callaway opposed, citing triple-dipping (billing residents, insurance, and standby payments) and advocating for in-house service. Councilmember Miller supported a one-year extension as a signal to phase out private services. Councilmember Benson and Johnson expressed concerns about immediate service gaps and supported sending to committee for a phase-in plan. Fire Department administration (Alicia Mill, Deputy Hillman) stated that private providers handle 25% of calls and that a phase-in would require 2-3 years and $11 million annually for 18 additional ambulances and 120 staff. Union representatives (Jeff Pegg, Gerald Stewart, Andrew Schwedler) countered that the city has only 26 ambulances, not 42, and that private response times are slower; they urged a vote down or committee review to develop a phase-out plan. Councilmember McCampbell motioned to send back to committee, which passed 4-3 (Young, Benson, Johnson, McCampbell in favor; Waters, Whitfield Callaway, Miller opposed).
- Walk-On Contracts for Clever Devices and Giro (Items 24.1 and new business): Two contracts for DDOT bus technology and scheduling software were considered. Clever Devices provides onboard hardware and dispatch software; Giro provides scheduling and payroll integration. These were previously part of a single contract but now separate. Director Kramer explained that switching vendors would take years. Councilmember McCampbell raised concerns about prior payroll audit issues with Giro's Hastus system and manual input needs. After discussion, both contracts were approved with a waiver of rules.
Key Outcomes
- The three ambulance contracts (18.1-18.3) were sent back to committee by a 4-3 vote (Yeas: Young, Benson, Johnson, McCampbell; Nays: Waters, Whitfield Callaway, Miller).
- Walk-on contracts for Clever Devices (contract number not provided) and Giro (contract number not provided) were approved, with a waiver of rules.
- Testimonial resolutions (29.1 and 29.2) were approved.
- Routine referrals and approvals of journals and consent items were completed.
- The meeting adjourned with no further business.
Meeting Transcript
Councilmember Scott Benson. Councilmember Letitia Johnson. Councilmember Denzel and Tommy Campbell. Present. Councilmember Renata Miller. Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero. Councilmember Mary Waters, present. Councilmember Angela Whitfield Callaway. Council President. Pro Tim Culminate Young a second. Here. Council President James Tate. Mr. President, you have a quorum. Thank you very much, Madam Clerk. I just want to say that president Tate as well as Member Santiago Romero's absences are excused. Clerk will so note Mr. President. Thank you. Well, the quorum being present, Council being session. We will first start off with an introduction of our clergy. The pastor of our invocation today is none other than the honorable Reverend R. Patrick Johnson, who is the lead pastor at Mount Zion Baptist Church at 3600 Van Dyke. And at MAC, and he is also the pastor at Greater Burnett Baptist Church at 16801 Schoolcraft at Aberton. So he is uh was double portion blessed, blessed in the field, blessed in the city. Uh so Pastor, will you please come up? Can you get a round of applause to pass everybody? He goes to two churches on Sundays and preaches a sermon at birth at both churches. So, Pastor Johnson, we are thankful. It's always good to see you, brother. My man, always good to see you. Good morning. Our council president is absence and our president from brother. All distinguished members of the council, honored guests, citizens of Detroit. I am Ryan Patrick Johnson, senior pastor at Greater Burnett Baptist Church, located in District One, lead pastor of the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church located in District 4, and I reside in District 2. Let me get begin with a word that has guided leaders across generations. Micah, the sixth chapter and the eighth verse. What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. That verse is not just spiritual guidance, it is leadership framework, justice in your decisions, mercy in your disposition, and humility in your posture. In this place where policy meets people, where ideas become impact, and where leadership is tested, not just in public moments, but in private decisions. Leadership carries weight because of this the decisions made in this room, don't stay in this room, they travel into neighborhoods, they show up in classrooms, they affect whether a family feels safe, whether a business can thrive, whether a child has an opportunity, leadership is weighted because it requires you to hold competing interests in the same hand, progress and preservation, urgency and patience, accountability and grace. Because behind every vote is a conscience, behind every policy is a principle, behind every decision is a legacy being written. But here's the encouragement. Not to be perfect, but but to be purposeful. Because alongside the weight, there's also the wonder of leadership. Because leadership gives you the opportunity to make a difference that outlives you. And the wonder of your position is this. You get to be a part of that story. You get to help write the next chapter.
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