Standing committee meeting.

It is Wednesday, April the 29th.

If the clerk could call the roll.

Good morning, Councilmember Angela Will Phil Calloway.

Present.

Councilmember Scott Benson.

Councilmember Renata Miller.

Madam Chair Dr.

Corm.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Do we have someone on for the invocation?

If not, we're gonna just read from our devotional.

Mr.

Brooks.

Madam Chair, we do not have uh invocation for this.

Okay.

All right.

We have something from the um every member commitment devotional from the Royal Oak First United Methodist Church.

And thank you, Peter.

He provides this to us every week, and we're just gonna read um the scripture that Peter has selected selected for us today.

All right, dear God, help us to be cheerful givers.

Help us to remember that everything belongs to you.

Help us to be good stewards of what you have entrusted to us.

Amen.

Thank you, Peter.

All righty.

Is there a motion for the approval of the minutes?

Motion.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

There are zero chair remarks.

Public comment will be um cut off in three minutes, so that'll be 1004.

Um public comment will be turned off at 1004.

Is there anyone here in the audience um in this space who would like to make public comment in person?

Ma'am, if you can just take the seat where the police offer is showing you where to sit.

Once you take a seat, you'll have two minutes to make public comment.

If you introduce yourself, you can press the the button at the base of the microphone.

It's gonna turn green.

If it's turned green, it's on.

And good morning.

Good morning.

My name is Felicia Victoria Bell.

Um I have been a long time Detroit uh resident.

And um, I'm just making an FYI.

I am in the process of uh resolving ID fraud.

Um I am a Ford Foundation for Social Justice grantee 2021 and 2023.

Um people need to know that the Ford Foundation is staffed by the CIA.

Um, Central Intelligence Agency, and um the Central Intelligence Agency works very closely with U.S.

Special Forces and the State Department, U.S.

State Department is pretty cool with all of those different agencies.

Um I am not in law enforcement and I don't I'm currently unemployed, but um my job has been to like get through the ID fraud as quickly as possible, and I'm looking for support to do so um with discretion due to the grassroots contacts that I have and um the uh high profile contacts that I have because I was a liaison between independent liaison between um community folks and uh I guess you could say philanthropists, um, and I have been doing that independently and successfully for many decades.

Um I wasn't able to do that at critical moments between 2022 and 2024, and um that led to my networks and my contacts being hijacked.

Um so I'm looking to again resolve the ID fraud as discreetly as possible, um, but also to bring light to um the fact that ID fraud is the gateway to human trafficking, and all of the inventions, the work that I've been doing is against um criminal activities.

Um, and yeah, I just need support in doing that.

Um thank you.

No, thank you, Miss Bell.

Thank you for joining us this morning.

Um, is there anyone else here in the in this space to make public comment?

Okay, um, seeing none.

How many callers do we have, Mr.

Brocks?

Good morning, madam chair.

We have nine hands raised for public comment.

Okay, if we turned off um public comment now, because it's now 1004.

We'll take the first caller, and the first caller is, and they'll have two minutes.

First caller is William M.

Davis.

Mr.

Davis, good morning.

You have two minutes.

Uh good morning.

Can I be heard?

You can be heard, yes, sir.

Okay, I think the city needs to do a greater effort to make sure more of our dollars are staying inside the city of Detroit.

We need to have a higher threshold for non-detroiders, uh, non-Detroid businesses and entities that's getting our dollars.

Uh, we should make it easier for determiners and Detroit-based businesses to get our dollars.

And um we need to have a you know, the Detroit needs to have more than 51%.

If it's our tax dollars exclusively, we should be able to make it 75%.

We need because a lot of communities don't give money to people outside their communities.

You know, I am tired of the city of Detroit than uh the big mama for everybody else.

You know, we have all these suburban communities around here.

That some of the people, some of the entities, man, once lived in the city of Detroit, but now they look like Detroit is like an aging parent that they ripping off.

You know, so I think a greater effort should be made to make sure our dollars are located and stayed inside our city.

The more our dollars turn over in the city, the greater the economic pie will be so that all Detroiters could do better.

And I think that starts with the city of Detroit, helping Detroiters first.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Davis.

And if the clerk could note, uh, Member Miller is present.

Clerk was a note.

And Member Miller, um, is it possible for you to come on screen?

If not, can you acknowledge that you are present?

I am on screen.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you, Member Miller, and welcome.

Yes, ma'am.

The next caller is you have two minutes.

Next caller is legendary Detroiter.

Legendary Detroiter, you have two minutes.

So listen very carefully.

Scott Vincent, you came over to the Holy Bowley restaurant.

You told people to ignore me in front of me, in front of my face.

I don't play games with people like you play games with people, and you're cheated in Angela Whitfield Callaway.

I'm a resident of district two.

So I gotta come over there and demonstrate to you.

And I'm saying that wholeheartedly, emphatically and telling the truth.

See, I know Kappas, a whole bunch of them.

And I know what I know.

Y'all covered up Kernisa's murder, the city of Detroit and committed election fraud.

Janice M.

Winfrey, Tina A.

B.

Walker, and Daniel Baxter.

And I'm not lying about sugar honey ice tea.

So now I'm getting ready to come out the bag, the black bag, and demonstrate to you.

Emphatically, truthfully, wholeheartedly.

I'm going to demonstrate to everybody in the city.

Everybody in the state of Michigan, the county of Wayne.

And United States of America, that I'm telling the truth.

The whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Kenisha Coleman, DPD case 20-112, did not commit suicide.

She was murdered, assassinated for 4700 worth of unemployment insurance move.

The next caller is next caller is please listen to Member Waters.

Please listen, Member Waters.

You have two minutes.

If you could move, please listen, Member Waters to the end of the queue.

We'll return to that individual.

And the next caller is.

It was like collective responsibility for bright to beauty in Detroit.

How will we move the needle?

And there was uh discussions, content, economic trends, and transformation in regards to different communities within our city of Detroit.

Part of the summary regarding the tour was to highlight the areas at different stages of the rebirth of the community.

I want to thank the administration for selecting Fink Accorder to be part of the tour.

There were about 30 to 35 guests who came to our think of corridor.

I got a chance to talk about our corridor.

I got a chance to talk about our neighborhood, the work that we have done, the work that needs to be done, and our missions and goals.

Thank you, Miss Betty A.

Verner.

The next caller is you have two minutes.

Next caller is Owner Papa.

Owner Popper, you have two minutes.

Yes, ma'am.

You can be heard.

Okay, this is the Internal Operations Committee.

And I think something should be called, uh hearing should be called on how we have all of these holes around the city with dirty dirt.

You all don't seem to feel like this is an important issue, but I'm going to the federal government.

This is awful.

Our people should not be looking at holes in the ground filled with dirty dirt.

We have someone mentioned that there have vendors that are supposed to check this dirt.

You need to find out from Detroit Land Bank or whomever was over this.

We need to have a hearing on how this happened because it should not have happened.

And we never want it to happen again.

I couldn't work in the city of Detroit without insurance.

I don't know how anybody is allowed to get almost a billion dollars in contracts without a without any insurance.

And we need to use the money for what we need.

We do not have a recreation center in District 7.

How you all are poised to give 42 million dollars to a corporate income to fill their shortfall is unconscionable.

And I really think you all need to be arrested.

But I'm sure it won't happen.

But you all have a blessed day.

So what do you advise?

What do you recommend that we do?

Okay.

Do I need to hit the gap?

It is 10:15.

We're calling the public hearing to order, and we are recessing that public hearing to the call of the chair.

We'll return to our regular agenda, and we are at line item.

Do we need to call the roll call?

Okay.

We are going to go to line item.

Uh we're going to have our after we finish public comment, we will have our interview with Ms.

Gill.

And the next caller is Mr.

Brox.

The next caller ends in number one two four.

Caller ending in 124.

You have two minutes.

Yes, you can be heard.

Good morning.

Yeah, excuse me.

I was uh please listen to Member Waters, but I couldn't find the tab.

Um so reason asking to listen to you to listen to Member Waters.

Um stunningly, one of Mary Sheffield's staff persons said to me last night, I said, Why do you let the land bank lie to you?

And he said, Well, we gotta take people's words for it.

I said, No, we're no, you're supposed to be a due diligence investigate.

Well, in that case, why didn't you listen to Member Waters when she told you that the nuisance abatement program is illegal?

Now I know that part of 9.4, this 6.37 million dollars going to think Brasard, a fancy law firm in Bloomfield Hills, is to defend the land bank against the class action lawsuit uh about the illegal nuisance abatement program.

And um, I would like to know is that all it's for?

Because the little clip paper clip doesn't tell any more.

That's a lot of money to defend that tape.

Or are they gonna represent anything else like the dirty dirt?

Like we need to know that before you spend six million dollars when you've been warned that that is that the nuisance abatement program is illegal.

Member Callaway, I sent you in your staff and member Miller.

Exactly how this is illegal, it violates the net nuisance abatement program, violates the second amended and restated intergovernmental agreement, and then specifically uh in section 5.05, it says condemnation is prohibited pursuant to for uh section eight of the land bank act of city authorities prohibited from using eminent domain or condemnation.

Uh and and what this administration is doing, the last one in this one if they keep it up, is they're just putting a different color lipstick on the pig and calling it a chicken.

It isn't a legal use of eminent domain, it is condemnation because they're saying something.

Thank you, Miss Um Warwick.

The next caller is you have two minutes.

You want to introduce yourself.

Madam Chair, that is the end of public comment.

Okay, thank you, Mr.

Brox.

Now we will go to our 1015 interview with Miss Gills.

If you can come forward, Miss Gill and take a seat right here.

Once you have a seat, you can um press the button at the base of that microphone, it's gonna turn green.

And once you get situated, you can introduce yourself.

And good morning.

Great great morning, and God bless what you guys do.

As I sit there in the back and listen.

But God bless you.

Thanks a very strong individual.

Um, my name is Tashana Gill, and I always first of all, it's very difficult me for me to talk about myself and actually what I do, so I'll keep it really short.

Um, I tell people first and foremost, I am uh I am God's child.

That's first and foremost.

Um, I am the daughter of Denise Gill.

I am a mother, and I hold so many titles, but the most important title to me that I love is grassroots organizer.

So those are the titles they can just look up.

Isn't those are not important to me connecting to the people are.

Um, I am born and raised in the city of Detroit.

I received my education from the Detroit public school system.

Um went on to attend University of Michigan and work for countless elected officials, but again, the most important that work that I do is with the community, empowering women, empowering people.

So I have this resume, you guys have it, but I'll just end it at that because it's so weird to talk about yourself.

Those are the things that I hold dear.

Um, people, community, people, community.

So yeah.

Thank you for that.

And we know the work that you do.

You're doing an amazing job in the community, connecting people to resources, connecting people to um exercising the right to vote, exercising their voice voices, and you're doing an amazing job in in that atmosphere.

And I'm glad to see when I saw your name this morning, I'm saying that's great.

Um, that you um are willing to serve um on this commission, and I don't have any questions for you.

I looked at your resume, so I'll turn it over to either member Miller or Member Benson if you have any questions for Miss Gill.

I do not okay.

Hearing no questions for mem for Miss Gill.

Okay, discussion.

All right, thank you.

Ms.

Gill, thank you for coming out today and your willingness to serve the residents of the city of Detroit.

Can you just let us know what your understanding is of the entertainment commission and how you plan to serve there?

Uh yes.

So why I was just saying why the entertainment commission.

It was two commissions that I'm very interested in.

One is the women's commission, um, because I organize women around the country, and I've been doing it since I began in 2013.

But two, when I dug into the entertainment commission, it is literally about empowering.

Um I look at that, yes, you guys they work with organizations and corporations, but the most inspiring thing for me is working with the citizens that may have an idea that they want to come to life, and then they come to the commission.

And we either can, you know, we're like helping them bring that idea.

That is what I do on a day-to-day basis.

Just a quick example, as you guys know, I do a whole bunch of events, right?

And in March, I said I'm not doing any events personally.

I wanted the women who are around me to come up with ideas to do their own events, but ideas that help the community as well.

Like it serves a purpose, it needs to be purposeful.

So on the Detroit Entertainment Um Commission, I see it as a bridge between citizens, corporations, and helping get out the history of the city of Detroit.

Like all events need to be purposeful.

What are we achieving in the end with every event?

Um, so yeah, that's the part about the citizens that I like, you know, for the Detroit Entertainment Commission.

Okay, and then your appointment will be a unique one, not having an obvious nexus to the entertainment industry, but doing events that there's a nexus there.

Can you just talk about the type of and uh entertainment industries?

Now, I don't know if you've noticed councilman.

We've been bringing in some heavy hitters uh for entertainment over the past.

So the the obvious nexus is not there, but having the entertainment and doing the events, and so that's where I believe the nexus would be.

So, can you talk about that and then how you will bring that to the entertainment commission?

Me doing events, as you're trying to clarify.

And your obvious um enthusiasm for heavy hitters.

Can you just talk about that and and how you would help with the entertainment commission and maybe bringing those type of acts, those type of events to the city and partnering with your with potentially your colleagues on the entertainment commission commission?

I think again, it needs to be purposeful.

I think um anything that I do first and foremost before I bring anything to the table.

I just want to be very clear.

When if I should join the entertainment commission, I want to see what they are already doing, what is being cultivated.

You never go into a space just trying to do, right?

You have to see where they are and what they have done, and then I will display my ideas upon that.

But I think that um it's so many things that we can involve and bring, meaning how do we involve the youth more, right?

Those type of events, but on a positive level.

Like I like the idea of councilwoman Lopez, for example, who was trying to do the partnership with arts and the youth, and yeah, I saw that on the website, but that's how I only want to start and see where they are to see what needs to be brought.

I don't want to come in, you know.

Yeah, okay.

If that may thank you because that'd be rude and disrespectful.

I'm bringing it, you know.

Okay.

Any other questions?

That's it.

Thank you.

Uh any questions, member Miller?

She's on the screen.

Good morning, everyone to the chair.

Good morning, Miss Gill.

How are you today?

Great morning.

How are you?

I am blessed.

I have a question because uh to the chair, I do not have a resume, and I do not know whose appointment this belongs to.

My agenda does not state that that I have.

Can you uh answer those questions for me, please?

Yes, um, we we can send you her resume electronically.

Um, we'll make that happen right now, so you'll have it in front of you momentarily, and she is being sponsored by or promoted by or um by I think Colinet Young the Second's office.

Okay, it didn't state that on the agenda.

Thank you very much for the clarification.

Uh-huh.

I am familiar with Miss Gill and her activities.

Uh, she is very popular throughout the city and does amazing work with women.

Um she is um involved in quite a few things, and I I keep up with her on the internet and social media.

So I have no further questions regarding this.

I would have liked to have saw the resume.

I didn't know if it was intact, but I have no further questions.

Thank you, Ms.

Gill for joining us.

I you seem to be excited uh to bring uh some new profound energy possibly to this committee.

Um so I will with what I have in front of me.

Um I just say I am having other questions.

Okay.

I'm looking.

It looks like Member Miller usually sits here, but she should have gotten electronic copy of it.

There's a paper copy here, her copy, but that's not doing you any good because you're on the screen.

So if my staff can make sure that she gets the resume right now, um, she'll have an opportunity to um look through it, look it over.

Um, not have any other questions for myself, member Benson.

Any further discussion?

Elaborate on that, who you've had a chance to work with and some of the events that you've been able to be a part of.

Um, what is her name?

We just brought, well, every year, the number of events that we do.

Oh, okay.

So we do uh we I am the executive director of an organization called African American Leadership Institute.

Um, and every year we do uh award show.

Um and so this year we added entertainment.

This past year, last year we added entertainment, and it was the young woman.

Um, I call it the cheating song.

What is her name?

Anyway, it was a popular singer.

We brought, I can't her name skips my mind right now.

We brought in entertainment in the award show and African American Leadership Institute, just for those who don't know, we promote African Americans around the country now.

Um we raise money for them, we host fundraisers, we do big elaborate events around the country.

We have an annual event in DC every year.

Um, so we start bringing in more musicians um to get involved.

We do it at the DIA.

Um, and the thing about bringing citizen citizens in when it comes to the youth.

Just so you know, we have children come from high schools to attend this event, and this is the event that includes every African American elected official from around the state of Michigan, but also last year, well, every year is people coming from around the country, African Americans.

Um, last year we had all the African American mayors from around the country um join us in that.

And so that's just put on by us.

Um, but in everything we do, every event that I do is purposeful.

Like, what does it bring into a community?

What is it bringing to people?

How is it um getting out the history and culture of Detroit, right?

Um, and things like that.

So all right, thank you.

And so have you experienced any challenges bringing talent here, or is the message that you're receiving from talent yet?

We're really excited about coming to Detroit.

And these are the areas that can really be helpful to the entertainment commission experiences in that space, what you're hearing and any suggestions and how we can improve any thought on what the city could do to improve based on your experiences?

We have not, I have never received any challenges.

Okay.

Um, and I think it's just about how you cater and treat people and how you talk to people, and anybody's willing to come is actually who you have calling to do the acts, right?

And again, how you treat people and um what are you selling them?

Most likely what our journey just to share this, when I'm telling them that it's one to empower youth, educate, and all of that, they're willing to come to do anything if it's purposeful.

That word is so important in so many ways, and people don't understand it.

Um, so and I think it's too about energy and being energized and thinking outside the box, and but really thinking about how to connect all three entertainment, the citizens of Detroit, because still that's grassroots.

Grassroots creates all movements.

So, how do we partner with them to urge and excite them about whatever we're trying to do in Detroit?

They have to be a part of it before it's happening, like before it's put together.

It works as a whole.

So that's very helpful.

Thank you.

Yeah.

That's all my questions.

Okay.

Alrighty.

Um, thank you, Member Miller.

Any other questions for Miss Gill?

Um, Member Miller, you should have received her resume by now electronically.

Yes, I have it.

I want to say that my staff is letting me know that it was not uploaded electronically, and I don't want them to ever look bad.

So I do thank them for their hard work and diligence and providing that information.

But thank you, uh, Peter, for emailing.

I have it in front of me.

Um I was able to examine everything.

I just wanted to be able to die every eye across the tea that I seen everything that was presented.

Uh Ms.

Gill, I only have one question.

And because you do a lot, you do so much for the city of Detroit as far as events.

Um, so from you, what are the biggest gaps right now in Detroit?

What I was saying is, I'm sorry.

I'm not finishing it.

Let me finish.

I apologize.

It's okay.

What are the biggest gaps right now in the Detroit entertainment industry or ecosystem, whatever people might call it, that you feel this commission, because I'm I'm new also, can take to be more active now in closing those gaps.

What do you see need to happen right now as an outsider as far as our youth, our conserves, whoever brought to Detroit?

What do you think the biggest gap is?

Ms.

Hill.

Involving the citizens, involving the youth.

I knew nothing, I didn't even know this commission existed until I was on the website looking, and I read on it.

And it was the first time that I wanted to actually serve and be a part of something dealing with Detroit, right?

You know, besides what I do on my own.

So involving the citizens.

If this you have citizens out there that if they knew that they can help lunch or just be a part of, and it's volunteerism, it propels anything that we do, right?

And especially involving the youth, the youth are so talented that they have all these ideas of the new and upcoming, and and it keeps them out of the streets.

So that's the only answer that I can give you, councilwoman.

Like we really have to involve the citizens.

Oh, I appreciate that.

Um I appreciate that because a lot of you did not know this existed as well.

And I know we have some amazing talent in Detroit.

I am Detroit-based.

And the question is because so many times artists will come into our city, they make great money, the venues make money, the promoters make money, but we have artists right here, right here in Detroit.

And for me, knowing that our local artists will benefit and grow from this industry uh to help promote Detroiters.

We want to see them on the big screen.

We want to see them uh traveling throughout the country and bringing homage back to Detroit because with them that brings resources to Detroit, that means brings tourism to Detroit, and it isn't important that we have our residents showcase first and foremost.

So with that alone, I am truly uh satisfied and um I have no further questions.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Any other um discussion, member um Benson?

Okay, hearing no further discussion.

I don't have any questions.

I've had an opportunity to review your resume, and I've had an opportunity to interact with you in the community.

Um, and you um are amazing young woman, and I'm just very, very delighted.

Um, with your busy schedule, you are going to manage to um squeeze this in and volunteer on this committee because we all know how very involved you are in your community and the city at large.

So for you wanting to volunteer on another committee for entertainment to engage the youth, because I've not had this discussion when people come to um serve on the entertainment commission.

Youth, the conversation about youth has never come up in the four years that I've served.

Um so I'm happy that you're going to um if appointed, you plan to have a youth component added to the commission.

I think that's amazing.

So um, is there a resolution attached or the resolution through it to LPD with the resolution in support of, or is there a motion before I talk to LPD or moving to formal recommendation to approve motion?

Yeah, any objections?

Okay, there's been a recommendation that this um appointment be moved to formal session with a recommendation to approve and to LPD.

Um, is the resolution forthcoming?

Good morning, madam chair.

Uh yes, the resolution is forthcoming.

Okay, thank you so much.

Member Benson.

Okay, all righty.

Well, listen, we are sending this to um formal session with the recommendation to approve.

Any objections?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

You'll be hearing from our office, and thank you so much for your willingness to serve.

Thank you so much for having me.

Thank you for the questions.

They were questions.

I appreciate that.

I'm very honest, I'm sorry.

And I just want to say that we make time for what's important.

I'm busy, you are but I make time for important things.

So thank you.

Well, you willingness to serve.

Thank you.

Have a great day.

You too, ma'am.

Thank you for being with us.

Okay.

Thank you, LPD.

Thank you, Member Benson and Member Miller.

All right, we will go back to the agenda, and I will call the public hearing to order the public hearing for this proposed ordinance amends chapter 45 of the 2019 Detroit City Code.

Telecommunications, Article 3, Franchises, Division 2, uniform video, send ice.

I don't know if that is an error, but send ice local franchise agreements, or maybe it should be service local franchise agreements.

Correct.

Service.

So that is uh um an error.

Approval of uniform.

Should that be video?

Through the chair, correct.

Okay, so that should be video service local franchise to Direct TV.

LLC to provide a 10-year agreement to start October the 15th until October the 14th.

Well, okay.

To start October 15th, 2025 until October 14th, 2035.

All righty.

Um can we call for discussion?

Um, Mr.

Anderson.

Through the chair Graham Anderson Law Department.

This is and yeah, there were some weird typos on that.

Uh but this is an ordinance which sets out to allow direct TV to provide video and cable services to residents of the city of Detroit.

It's it's a very straightforward ordinance.

It's it's not very long here, but I I want to highlight a few important things.

Um is uh what this contract grants is direct TV to operate cable services in the city of Detroit, which is the geographic region.

In exchange, what the city of Detroit gets is one public access channels that Direct TV will provide to the PEG fees, which that stands for public education government fees on cable bills.

Uh, we get two percent of their gross revenue will go to the city in that regard.

The franchise fee, five percent of their gross revenue will go to the city, and fourth and most importantly, this does not cost the city of Detroit or the city of Detroit residents anything at all.

Um and I want to go back to that two percent and five percent.

Um, because I'm I don't know, maybe we'll hear some public comments saying, Well, why can't we get more?

Why why did we get locked in at that?

And the reason for that is that's all regulated by state statute.

We're locked into those numbers, so is everyone else in the state when uh negotiating here.

There's really not much of a negotiation, it's it's pretty um locked in.

And uh it's um uh very straightforward.

If there's any questions, I'm uh available to answer any questions.

Thank you.

Okay, all righty.

Any questions from um my colleagues before we um ask for public comment?

Okay, is there anyone here in this space who would like to make public comment in person?

Seeing none, do we have any callers who are on the call to make public comment regarding line item six, the proposed ordinance amending chapter 45 of the Detroit City Code 2019?

Any callers?

Yes, madam chair, we have six callers.

Okay, thank you, Mr.

Brox.

Um, just letting everyone know your public comments must relate to this particular ordinance amendment.

It must relate to this ordinance, no other public comment will be um um allowed.

If you start making public comments about something outside of line item six, we'll have to cut you off.

So again, your public comment has to be has to pertain to line item six regarding this proposed ordinance amendment.

The first caller is the first caller is um caller ending in one through four caller ending in one two four, please keep your comments germane to this particular topic, which is the proposed ordinance amendment of chapter 45 of the 2019 Detroit City Code.

If you make comments outside of that, we will have to cut off the call.

Caller 124 yes, may I be heard?

You can yeah, so I was multi testing, so I missed some of this.

This is relevant, member Callaway.

Why isn't there more information attached to the little paper clip for people to understand?

Like some of these contracts also they say nothing.

Where's the explanation for what this is in paper?

You guys, I'm sure got a little packet of it in your board book, but how come we residents don't get that to look at that?

But if they're trying to get another service available to residents, if that's what I understood, then they would support that.

I haven't looked at the dollar amount and should always be questioning dollar.

Oh no, it's just the ordinance.

Excuse me.

See, it's very hard because all they had had was a copy of what they put in the Detroit legal news, which uh we all know most Detroiters don't read.

So um be nice if they could uh put more information up about it for people to be able to meaningfully comment and give us more information like you got you members get thank you.

Thank you.

Our next caller is our next caller is owner Papa.

On the popper, you have two minutes.

Uh good morning, and through the chair, may I be heard?

Can be heard.

Do they have do we have any other contracts that provide the service?

Um are you switching to Direct TV from another service provider?

And why would you do that now?

Or why are you doing that?

And um attorney Graham mentioned um that we get payback for um these franchise fees from these franchises.

And I'm wondering is if is that what the utility tax money comes from?

Um I know we had the utility tax of millions of dollars that we handed over to um PLA to pay down their bonds, and I'm wondering is that legal?

Could is that legal can we do that or could you do that?

Um, we talk a lot about ordinances, but we don't seem to follow any ordinances when it comes to the council.

Um you say this is an ordinance for us to have, so can we have more coverage of the meetings?

Like every public meeting should be accessible to the public.

And if you have a way to do that, whether it be like electronic, I think we should do that.

Is is direct TV offering us more access to more of the meetings?

Um, and I am in agreement.

Uh, putting it in the legal news is not reporting it to the people in the city because we don't read the legal news, and I know the council knows that, although we're paying millions of dollars for the legal news.

Off topic, but a fact.

So I would like to know how much money did we receive from the last agreement from last year's budget.

How much of that came from the franchise um gross that we got that we received, and how much was it?

And uh what do we do with it?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next caller is our next caller is William M.

Davis.

Mr.

Davis, you have two minutes.

Uh good morning again.

Can I be heard?

Yes, sir.

Um, you know, I I think we should have more coverage.

Is there any other economic benefits or economic uh cost that we're gonna have to pay for this?

You know, that's my only question.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Davis.

Thank you for your question.

Next caller is next caller is Blackbag.

Ruben Crawley, you have two minutes.

Uh yeah.

I wanted to read exactly what it is I know about ordinances.

Ordinance is a law, regulation or decree enacted by a local governing body, such as the city council, town council, or county board.

These laws govern municipal affairs and typically cover local issues like zoning, safety, noise, and traffic, which are not addressed by state or federal laws.

Now, the key aspects of ordinances are authority, they are passed by municipal governments acting on the authority granted by state law purpose to manage, restrict or prohibit certain activities within a municipality for public safety or welfare, and then there are types.

Now, examples zoning ordinance, Mr.

Mr.

Blackbag um Crowley.

You're I'm talking about ordinance.

I'm talking about line item six.

I don't know what you're talking about.

That's not zoning.

Can you cut him off?

Um, thank you, Mr.

Brox.

You're talking about something that's not pertinent to what we're talking about this morning.

This has absolutely nothing to do with zoning, sir.

And I gave you deference.

I gave you time.

And I thought perhaps you would start talking about what we're talking about during public comment, but obviously you weren't paying attention.

But thank you for that education moment.

Who's our next caller?

Our next caller is Mr.

Foster.

Mr.

Foster, you have two minutes, sir, regarding line item six regarding the proposed ordinance amendment, chapter 45 of the 2019 Detroit City Code.

Um good morning, and through the chair.

My concern is that we are revisited this 10-year contract two or three times within the last four years.

Right.

And so the last time it was already approved through ARPA dollars or some other form of money.

And 10 years is a long time.

That's two or three administrations to be making decisions right now with all foresight about future developments.

You know, technology evolves quite a bit.

Uh, the vendors may pop up within 10 years.

It's a long contract.

Three different city council boards, you know, have to deal with that.

And so I guess my questions would be the same as to what happened with the last few contracts that we had that were applied during the ARPA time.

Right?

With Comcast or DirecTV or whatever it was, and why are we revisiting these contracts multiple times within within the 10 year period?

And then thirdly, when we talk about giving our community access to these things, can you articulate what do that access mean?

Does that mean that they could plug up something in their house and have access to what it is that you're showing?

Do it means that they have to uh uh subscribe to something, you know, where would they be able to see these things?

How would they be able to see them?

How what access would they have to them?

And why do we keep revisiting 10-year contracts multiple times within a few years?

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Foster.

I hope Mr.

Anderson, we do have someone available to answer these questions, and hopefully that individual is capturing these questions because I've heard about six, six or seven.

Um, the next caller is you have two minutes if you can introduce yourself.

Next caller is Renard.

Renard, you have two minutes and good morning.

Good morning, uh, Madam Chair, Renard Myshewski, District Six resident for the record.

I wanted to speak to the line item um that's on the table about direct TV.

Just wanted to echo some of the questions that other folks have.

I feel like there's not enough background information as to who made the determination or why direct TV was that determination for this franchise, and then for the general public, um, what does it mean to franchise our cable lines or lines?

I thought that a utility can just come in, you know, long say have a permit with the city or something like that and just build up their infrastructure.

Um so I think and bears a general explanation to the public.

What does it mean to franchise a cable line or have direct TV or decide if Comcast could come in?

I thought the market decides that.

Um, and then my other thing is can we consider other cable companies other than Xfinity or Comcast, or would they sue the city or this thing?

So when I understand franchises, I understand a business owner using the name of a reputable business and to you know provide a service or a um product.

What is franchise mean in terms of direct TV and us being able to like that's an independent contract, right?

When I get an internet service, that's my business between me and that internet carrier.

What is the city of Detroit have to do with that?

So I think it bears more public education as to why we're making these decisions.

Lastly, to close my comment, um, were there equity and income considerations for this uh determination to choose them?

Um will they provide you know services for very low-income families or people behind the digital defied?

Um, where are those considerations as well?

And is it gonna be for the all of the neighborhoods of Detroit or the more affluent parts that are getting more investment?

I see the rest of my time.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, sir.

The next caller, if you can introduce yourself, you have two minutes, madam chair.

That is the end of public comment.

Okay, thank you, Mr.

Brox.

We are in uh public comments, and do we have a representative from um direct TV here with us to answer some of those questions?

Through the chair, no, we don't have anyone from Direct TV.

I should be able to answer all the questions, I believe.

Um, but to begin with.

Can I ask you a question, Mr.

Um Anderson?

Is there a reason why we don't have a representative from Direct TV here today?

Um you don't represent Direct TV.

I would like to see a representative for Direct TV.

And hopefully they should have been on the call because this is public, this is a public hearing regarding a 10-year contract.

So I would think that they would be here.

I I would hate to have to bring this back, but I would definitely, which means which lets me know.

They didn't even hear any of the questions.

We're not paying you to answer the questions for direct TV.

You don't represent direct TV.

You were you represent the city, so where's Direct TV?

Through the chair, I can't speak to that.

I will uh do my best to answer.

I can certainly answer all the legal questions, and I'll I'll do my best to answer uh the questions beyond that.

Um, but I I cannot speak for why there's not a direct TV representative.

I think that's unfair to the public.

Um some of the questions that were asked, they were asking on my behalf that I was going to ask.

I've had I haven't written down.

So um I'm gonna ask the parliamentarian what do we do about this if someone who um this is regarding direct TV.

I'm glad that our law law department is informed, but direct T someone from Direct TV should be here to answer these questions.

We're talking about a 10-year agreement.

And if they don't have um, if they're not interested in hearing, we shouldn't go with this.

We shouldn't even, you know, enter this franchise agreement for 10 years.

I would think, out of a courtesy, that they would be here.

If they couldn't be here in person, they should be here on screen.

So I'm not I'm not gonna move this forward.

I don't know what my um I guess I'd have to go through through you, I guess the law department or LPD to tell what my options are because they should be here.

I'm not gonna move this forward, and they all these questions asked by um nine callers, and our law department is going to attempt to answer them to the best of your ability.

You know, I know you would give us great answers, but direct TV, where are they through the chair if I may?

Yes, Mr.

Anderson.

It's not unheard of to have a public hearing continue on for another week if it is the will of this body that they want to hear from Direct TV representatives.

Uh, we can absolutely extend the public hearing into next week as well.

Um, make sure that all the questions that have been asked can will be communicated to them.

Um if that's the will of this body that that certainly is possible.

I'm gonna hear from my colleagues first.

That's that's that that would be my um that would be my um choice to make that happen.

Um member Benson or member Miller, discussion?

Discussion, member Benson.

Do you um what are your thoughts?

Because I'm just kind of disappointed.

I thought this gentleman was from Direct TV.

Um, I didn't know.

Member Benson.

Madam Chair, I I will support uh recessing or adjourning the uh public hearing uh for in for a indefinite period of time until we can reschedule having direct TV come.

But in the meantime, I'd like to uh hear the legal, the city's responsibilities and the legal side uh from the law department just to get for my own edification in the public right now.

The chair may I?

Yes, sir.

Yes, uh Graham Anderson Law Department again.

Um so yes, sir, a lot of great questions um from our residents.

Um let me start with um the posting.

It is the ordinances available online.

If if you look and you click the paper clip is with the agenda, the ordinances there for uh the city residents to follow along.

I wanted to address that to begin with.

I heard are there any other contracts?

Yes, we recently did this uh almost exact same contract with Comcast.

I believe it was maybe a year and a half ago now that we had this same contract approved, but with Comcast.

So this has been done before.

This isn't the they're not the loan provider with the city.

Um, why now the previous uh 10-year contract had expired with Direct TV, and that is why we are now uh handling this at this time regarding um cost, there are no other costs.

This isn't gonna cost the city anything.

Uh but I heard questions from Mr.

Foster about was this a it has not been approved recently, it has not been discussed recently.

He might have been maybe confusing that previous Comcast ordinance.

I'm thinking maybe that's what it was, but Mr.

Foster, if you're still listening, you know I'm always accessible to you.

I'm happy to have further discussion with you as well.

There was no ARPA money involved as well.

Uh wanted to address that.

Um it is for the entire city of Detroit, the entire geographic region of Detroit has access to this.

The entire geographic region of Detroit has access to this.

It's not just one community or another.

It is uniform across uh the city boundaries.

The um uh let's see, what does it uh why direct TV, direct TV because you know they are one of the largest cable providers in the country?

It makes sense.

This is something we want residents to have access to, one of the largest uh providers of internet and cable.

Same reason why we had Comcast, they're one of the larger providers.

We want our city residents to have access to that.

I do not have the answer for how much money we received from the previous 10-year contract, if it is the will of this body to uh extend this public hearing to next week as well that can absolutely figure that information out.

I'm not sure if uh media services or maybe the OCFO would have that information, but I I'm sure we can get that information and regarding the utility tax.

No, this is not a utility tax.

Uh OCFO would probably be able to answer it better than myself, but it's my understanding this money goes to the general fund.

Uh, but they they are the experts.

I'll I'll defer to them on that.

Other than that, I believe I addressed all the legal questions.

If there's anything else though that I missed, please let me know.

Uh, Councilmember Calloway.

Discussion.

Member Benson.

All right, thank you.

So is this modification now removing Comcast and replacing it with Direct TV?

Are we now adding direct TV to our portfolio of digital or media providers in the city?

And do we have just two now?

Through the chair, we're not replacing anybody.

This is all we're doing is we're we're um updating to the previous 10-year direct TV, which actually I think it was ATT, ATT transfer, then they you know rebranded as direct TV.

So uh technically it was ATT, now it's direct TV, but it's all the same umbrella of an of a company.

But no, this is not replacing Comcast or any other digital providers.

This is simply um taking the previous tenure contract, which is expired and extending it another 10 years.

And why the 10 years as well?

I think I heard that question actually um refreshing.

That's also governed by state statute.

We we didn't pick that number out of a hat or something that was dictated by Michigan law why we did the 10 years.

Okay, and then how many do we have in our portfolio?

Um, I I don't I'll be able to get that question answered to you next week, Councilmember.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Okay, any other questions or any other discussion?

No.

Okay.

Um seeing that is there a motion to adjourn this or extend this public um hearing to next Wednesday?

Motion to adjourn the public hearing until next Wednesday.

Any objections?

That action shall be taken.

Mr.

Member Mr.

King.

Madam Chair, I I I would like to defer to our parliamentarian.

However, the question is should we adjourn this public hearing or should we continue it?

I would think it will be continue.

That's what I'm thinking.

No, okay.

Okay, so um um Madam Parliamentary, what are you asking?

What are you saying we should be doing?

Okay.

Okay.

So uh just if you could fix your motion or amend your motion just to adjourn this public hearing today to extend it or continue to next Wednesday.

That was my motion.

That's what I yeah, I know.

But I just can you restate your motion?

Okay, uh, motion to adjourn this public hearing until next Wednesday as a continuation to be continued.

Yeah, any objections?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

Thank you, member.

I will give you the reference in the rules of order too.

It's in the rule of order.

Okay, okay.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, madam pardon me tell you.

Thank you, Member Benson.

Okay, and um we are now at uh unfinished business line item 8.1.

Status of council member Benson's memorandum relative to tracking incidents during city council.

Is there a motion to discuss?

Motion.

Uh, member Benson.

Um through yourself to LPD.

Any update?

Madam Chair, this item has been forwarded as a privilege and confidential document.

I would suggest we bring this item back next week and give the body time to look it over.

Yourself, madam chair.

So this has been sent via email.

Uh yes, Phil Keller LPD uh through the chair to member Benson.

It was sent on Monday.

From whom?

It was sent from Sandra from LPD.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

Motion to uh bring back in one week.

Okay, there's a motion to bring line item 8.1 back in two weeks, did you say?

One week.

In one week.

Any objections?

That action shall be taken.

Line item 8.1 will be brought back in one week.

Line item 8.2 status of member waters submitting memorandum relative to request for information on the status of the mayoral appointments to the tenants' rights commission.

Um PD.

Madam Chair, can we have two weeks on this item, please?

Is there a motion?

There's a motion to bring line item 8.2 back per LPD in two weeks.

Any objections?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

Two-week bring back.

We are now on line item 8.3.

Status of Council President James Tate's memorandum regarding a request for an updated report on boards and commissions, vacancies, and term expirations.

LPD, madam chair, this item is related to item 9.12.

Both of these items can be received and filed.

Okay, is there a motion to um receive and file line item 8.3 and 9.12?

Motion discussion.

Discussion.

Uh through yourself, madam chair, and line of 8.3.

Was a report sent out on 8.3.

Yes.

Okay.

Thank you.

Okay.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you, Collie.

There's a motion to bring there's a motion to um there's a motion to um move to we say bring back though?

No.

Yeah.

Receive and file.

Receive and file.

I'm sorry.

Um line item 8.3, 9.12.

Um motion to receive and file.

Uh motion.

Okay.

A discussion.

Just can you rescind line 8.3.

I haven't seen that one.

Okay.

I line item 8.3 is the memorandum requesting the boards and commission report, which is 9.12.

Got it.

Okay.

But we're still make with the motion still is to receive and file both items.

That is correct.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Line item 8.3 and 9.12 will be received and filed.

Thank you very much.

Hearing no objections, that action is taken.

Line item 8.4.

Um status of council member Denzel McCampbell's memorandum relative to rules for commit community advisory councils.

Um PD.

Can we have two weeks on this item, madam chair?

Is there a motion to bring line item 8.4 back in two weeks?

Motion.

There's a motion to bring line item 8.4 back in two weeks.

Any objections?

Hearing on that action.

Discussion.

Discussion.

Discussion.

Member Miller.

Yes.

Uh, concerning this line item here.

I I have a meeting today, so I just wanted to ask a quick question.

Uh, isn't the rules for the committees outline in the charter and on the city's website, or does that the same thing?

Um, uh missed through the um Mr.

King LPD.

I'm sorry, through the chair.

I apologize.

That's okay.

That's okay.

Member through the chair, yes.

That is correct.

Okay.

All right, thank you.

I just wanted to make sure I have a meeting today with my uh community advisory council, and I thought it was perfectly clear how we move forward and their um activities, rules, and and I just wanted to bring in that.

So I just want to be clear before I move forward.

I was hoping this was answered, but you're bringing it back, but I can definitely utilize those two uh places for information to move forward with my meeting today.

Okay, thank you to the chair.

I appreciate it.

Oh, absolutely.

Thank you, member Miller, and thank you, Mr.

King.

There's a motion to bring line 8.4 back in two weeks.

If there are if there aren't any objections, that action shall be taken.

Line item 8.4 will be brought back in two weeks.

Now we are down to um line item nine under new business, office of contracting and procurement, submitting a resolution, contract number 6007656, 100% city funding to provide a cloud-based software solution for secure file sharing box, contractor staples contract, and commercial LLC out of Framingham, Massachusetts, contract period upon city council approval is for three years.

Um, and this is a do it contract.

Is there any discussion on this one?

Is there anyone from do it that can give us some information about this almost million dollar contract going to Massachusetts?

Yes, sir.

You want to come to the table?

Once you take your seat, you can press the button at the base of the microphone.

Introduce yourself.

And thank you for being with us this morning.

Good morning, Madam Chair.

Thank you for having me.

Uh Brandon Sledge Mellon, Director of Technology Services and Do It.

Okay.

Can you tell us a little bit about this close to a million dollar contract for software?

Yes, ma'am, through the chair.

So this is a file sharing service.

So it allows us to share securely externally, so it's heavily used by law.

When we need to, for instance, share files with opposing council.

It's used in Department of Transportation, used in HRD.

The other big benefit of this software is that it's unlimited storage.

So per user, we actually have unlimited storage.

And maybe a couple years ago, we moved uh media services.

They're all of the video files that take up a lot of space and are very expensive to maintain.

We actually moved them all over into box and we experience a lot of cost efficiency because of that.

It's it comes out to about $16 per user per month.

So it's really just about cost efficiency.

The reason we we have this.

Okay.

Um I have a question.

Cost efficiency.

What was the cost before and where are we being more efficient?

And then you said sharing data or sharing information or externally.

Are you meaning internally?

Externally mean outside of the city with other parties or just externally in terms of different departments within the city.

I just I'm trying to understand that.

Yes, ma'am, through the chair.

Um so when I say sharing externally, I mean sharing information outside of the city.

So uh box.com can be used to share um to both receive information and to share information.

So an example of sharing information might be we need to uh as I mentioned with law share um files on a specific case.

We're obligated to obviously share that information, so it gives us a secure way to do that.

Email is not as secure, box is really the most secure uh form of doing that.

Another example of receiving information, especially during COVID, when we need to have citizens actually upload some information, we can create links in which people can upload but nobody else can see what's in the folder, and so other solutions don't really do that that well.

You have to grant access to uh the complete folder so a citizen could potentially see everything else that's in the folder.

So, in order to keep people's information secure, it's one of the reasons we use this software.

Um, I I also wanted to address your your your first question, which was cost efficiency.

So I I don't have the complete numbers with me right now, but if we were not to use um, if we were not to use box.com, then we would have to store that information on site, um, and that could be potentially three to four X what it would cost to procure a service that's cloud-based and has unlimited usage.

Okay, um, another question.

Um I'm getting back to the external um extern um providing our information externally to outside parties.

Are you redacting like people's social security numbers, birthdays, and other personal information?

Because that would be my concern.

I know the law department is sending out information regarding cases, but is some information that shouldn't be shared?

Who's taking the time to redact that information like social security numbers, birth dates, what a person like me wouldn't want to be shared?

How is that gonna work?

Yes, through the chair.

So we we've spent a lot of time over the past say six months to a year uh looking at our external data sharing policies and procedures.

So we we absolutely have a procedure in place where if a staff member has a need to share data externally, they first have to come through cybersecurity, and then they have to go through a law review, and then finally that um that request is granted as part of that process, they have to reveal to us what type of information is being shared and who it's being shared with, and then we're keeping a log of all that information.

Um, the other thing that's forthcoming very soon because I know council has had a lot of questions about external data sharing.

Uh so we've been providing those answers, but also working on a policy that should be published uh in collaboration with law very soon.

Thank you so much.

Um, do any of either of my colleagues have any questions regarding this contract?

None.

Member Benson, okay.

I asked my error, thank you.

All right, thank you so much.

Um, hearing no other questions.

Is there a motion?

Motion to send a formal recommendation to approve.

There's been a motion to move line item 9.1 to formal with a recommendation to approve.

Are there any objections?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

Thank you very much for being with us this morning.

Thank you.

We are at line item 9.2, a contract 6007271-A, and it's 100% grant funding, amendment number one to provide a renewal for legal case management for the Detroit indigent defense services.

Um codify or codify LLC out of St.

Louis, Missouri.

It is from previous period is July 2nd, 2025 through July 1st, 2026.

This amends this contract, July 2nd, 2025 through July 1st, 2027.

So adding an additional year with an increase amount of 40,000.

Um is there a motion to discuss?

Motion.

Mr.

Anderson, um can you tell us about this contract?

We know it's 40,000 for company in St.

Louis, Missouri, but what is this contract all about?

Yes, through the chair, I'm actually joined by an associate here, is happy to explain.

Okay.

Good morning through the chair.

My name is Rob Mormando.

I'm the chief administrative corporation counsel for the Indigent Defense Services Department.

I do not refer Direct TV.

It's okay.

Uh understand.

Uh I'm happy to talk about uh ZLS.

It's it is codify.

We started using Codify last year, and as a reminder, this is 100% grant funded as part of the MIDC indigent defense services grant.

It it accommodates less than a half a percent of our total grant.

The majority of our grant, about 99% of the grant goes towards paying attorneys and investigators to help the citizens of Detroit who are charged with crimes.

This software helps us manage those assignments, both in getting requests for assignments from the court, also assigning those cases to the attorneys, and then it allows the individually contracted attorneys to enter their time in so that we can pay them.

The big factor with the software that I've seen, we we've just really completed our first years of implementation as of really the last two months.

And the thing that we're seeing that's uh helping us be more efficient is we don't allow attorneys to bill for the same moment in time, right?

So if they work two different cases in a day from nine o'clock to nine fifteen, they can't bill for that same 15 minute period for two different cases.

This automatically does that.

We don't have to manually check that process anymore.

Mistakes that mistake cannot be made anymore, which would if that gets audited by the state, which we are audited every year.

Uh those kind of mistakes could jeopardize our compliance, which could jeopardize a seven and a half million dollar grant.

Obviously, we don't need that.

Uh this was this is the company that the state of Michigan, the MIDC, the commission at the state level recommended that we interview and audit and and try out uh at as of this point, less than a year into it.

I I'm happy to say that it's a fantastic software.

Uh it is changing how we do everything and making us better at what we do, and it's allowing us to focus on the individual people rather than the paperwork.

And I'm happy to answer any other questions to the chairman.

Um thank you so much for that um information, and it's good to know that there is software that's helping helping attorneys to clock their time or put in their time where they're in those 15, 20 minute increments in this courtroom, but you're over here too, so you say mistakes, and I I look at it I look at it differently because you know you can't.

We've seen both.

Yeah, you know you can't be in two courtrooms at the same time.

Correct.

Um, but that's great.

I'm glad that it's working.

I'm certainly glad that it's grant funded.

Yes.

Um, that it's not coming out of the city's coffers.

But are there any um any further discussion on this from either one of my colleagues?

Member Benson.

What is the total value of the indigent services that we provide annually to our residents?

It's it's approximately seven and a half million dollars for the total budget.

And it's all grant funded.

It all but one million dollars of it.

The actual city share.

Give me one second here.

I need my glasses, I can tell you.

Next year, as an example, our our local share would be one million eighty-five thousand six hundred and ten dollars.

The rest of that is grant funded, and that city share is calculated each year by the state by statute.

It's it's fairly stagnant.

The the way they came up with that dollar amount is prior to the MIDC taking effect in 2018.

This the commission looked at the what was spent on uh court-appointed attorneys and those types of things for the prior three years.

They took an average of those three years, so 15, 16, 17, and then they said 80 percent of that, and that is statewide.

That's that was by the statute, the MIDC Act.

That is what our share, our local share is until legit state legislature changes it.

It can be adjusted by three percent based on uh inflation rates, but it never goes more than three percent of the original number.

The original number being the one million uh this number is the inflated number for next year, it's plus two percent right now, but uh it can go down to the original number, but it'll never be more than one million and ninety thousand is the max it could be.

And what's the income requirement to qualify?

Uh it there's several requirements, but the the primary one is if you make less than 20 percent more or excuse me, less than 120 percent of the poverty level, or if you receive any benefits, state benefits, bridge card, social security, disability, anything of that nature.

And then there are other factors that if somebody says, hey, I can't afford I make more than that, but I take care of my ailing mother.

I have all of these medical bills, they can appeal our the initial decision, and we we can give them access.

I have that discretion.

And our compliance plan with the state is with the city of Detroit, and and the state has approved this, the commission has approved this every year since 2020.

Our is uh if somebody asks for an attorney in the city of Detroit in the 36th district court, we give them an attorney.

The exception we we've not denied anybody because if they can afford it, they bring one.

There they're only only about 10 per quarter uh are represented by retained attorneys in 36th district court.

Repeat that stat again, please.

Only about 10 clients per quarter bring it within for people that are in the cases that are covered by us are covered by or represented by re uh retained attorneys.

How many cases do you cover per quarter?

Per annum it's about sixty to seventy thousand.

But we make sure I'm clear here.

Yes, just thousand cases divided by four.

Is fifteen thousand cases a quarter, and only ten people bring an attorney?

Approximately quarters it's some quarters it could be thirty, some quarters it could be two.

Are we providing attorneys for fourteen thousand nine hundred and ninety cases?

Cases, yes.

You are staffing fourteen thousand nine hundred and ninety cases per quarter.

That's correct.

And how much we spend annually?

Seven and a half million this year.

Okay.

All right, thank you.

I'm happy to talk about it at at length any time you'd like.

Uh I'm available.

I'd like to hear more about it.

But not here, but not right now.

Anytime.

That was an excellent question.

That's a lot of cases.

Um we are the busiest system in the state by far.

Yeah.

So Member Bince, do you have any other questions?

Because you've I have lots more questions.

That should be a different conversation, maybe even discussion.

Okay.

About that program.

Maybe actually give some more information information.

I would like to be have if you would, madam chair, to actually line item that as a discussion in the future.

Wow.

You want to make that motion now?

Yes.

That's a that's your discretion, Madam Chair.

For the chair, I'd love to set something up between this body and um our very talented attorneys here, as you know.

Um happy to brag about them.

That what they're doing is it's not easy.

Well, this sounds like a possible line item for further discussion, and we'll work out the details.

But um awesome.

Um, I have a question.

Does this have anything to do with right to counsel?

Or these two separate um programs?

It's a it's a very common question through the chair.

It it's it is uh two separate programs.

Right to counsel is uh that's the um landlord tenant, I believe, or is that correct, Ram?

Thank you.

Uh it is similar in in idea, but it is that those are not criminal cases, those are eviction cases.

We do not handle those.

We handle only cases that are charged as misdemeanors in the 36th district court.

Like retail fraud, retail fraud, possession of you know, illegal transportation of marijuana, drunk driving, things of that nature.

We also handle all of the arrangements for cases for people who are in custody that are charged with felonies that will be going to the circuit court for Wayne County.

But uh that's a separate uh part of what we do.

Okay.

And um I have another question.

Um where does the million dollars come from?

Does it come out of the law department's budget or where does the million dollars come from?

It's because you said um that is our commitment.

That's our payment, the cities.

A little over one million.

Where where are we getting that money from?

My understanding is it comes from the general fund into the law department budget, and we get it through that.

And we are obligated by statute to do that.

So I have another question.

So is this program a line item on on the budget for law?

Because I don't remember seeing this.

How where is it?

Where is it housed in the budget?

Is it has its own line item?

We are a separate line within the budget as of last year.

Previously, it had been under the uh court's budget, but uh because of one of the standards with the act, we have to be separate through standard five of the MIDC Act.

We have to be separate from the court.

Uh the city has to run the program independently of court input.

Okay, because I don't remember this.

Doesn't look familiar.

Um, I don't ever remember seeing this as a line item from the law department's budget.

Okay, for that as well.

Okay, all right.

Um any questions?

Um, member member Miller or Member Benson?

No, no further questions for me.

Okay, all right.

Um, hearing no further questions, is there a motion?

Motion is in the form recommendation to approve.

There's a motion to send line item 9.2 to formal with the recommendation to approve.

Any objections?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

Um, thank you so much.

And I guess we'll be having you back, and we'll have a full um full-blown conversation about the services, about the 60 to 7,000, 70,000 cases that you're handling.

That's a lot of cases, and um thank you for the work that you do, but I'm sure we are going to have this as a line item real soon.

Thank you, and I look forward to it.

Absolutely.

Thank you so much for being with us, sir.

Um, line item 9.3 submitting a resolution authorizing contract number 600 3597, revenue agreement, amendment three to provide an extension of time only for collections for department of appeals and hearings.

The contractors Lyingberg, Barger, Goggin, Blair, and Sampson LLP out of Houston, Texas.

Previous contract period was June 30th, 2025 through June 30th, 2026.

The amended contract period will be through June 2027.

The revenue rate is 70 to 90 percent of collections.

And um, is there a motion to um for discussion?

Motion.

Thank you, Member Benson.

Is there someone on from the department of appeals and hearings to give us some more information about this particular revenue agreement?

70 to 90 percent represent what dollar amount.

So, Mr.

Washington, is there anyone on for um from DA DAH or law department who can answer the question?

Because it has law down here, but it's a DH agreement through the chair director pastel should be available.

Okay, thank you, Mr.

Washington.

Good morning to the chair.

Yes, good morning, Mr.

Washington.

We were um hoping we can have someone from the Department of Appeals and Hearings regarding line item 9.3.

Yes, sir.

I believe Miss Pachula is online, she has her hand raised.

Oh, okay.

If we can um allow her to speak, good morning.

We just don't see you on the screen.

Here we are.

Okay, lower my hand.

Hello.

Good morning.

Good morning.

As you know, I prefer to attend in person.

Uh but I have a scheduling conflict, so I appreciate the opportunity and your patience for my virtual participation.

Yes, yes, ma'am.

You want to introduce yourself?

Yes, of course.

Good morning, everyone.

Um, my name is Julianne Pastula.

I'm the director of the Department of Appeals and Hearings.

Okay, um, I just have a quick question about it says revenue rate 70 to 90 percent of collections.

What is the dollar amount for this for these collections?

Um, like for the since the beginning of the contract, it looked like it started in June 2025.

There's an amendment to extend it.

This would be the third amendment.

What have the collections been looking like since the um the start of this contract and dollar so dollars and cents wonderful?

So um, madam chairperson, the exhibit B to the contract talks about the fee schedule.

So the 70 to 90 percent is how much they're paying back to the city uh based on on the type of file.

So in did you want me to go back to 2022?

I can I have all that information right in front of me.

No, just what I asked for 2025 through 2026, it because the contract period is from 2025 through 2026.

The extension is for time only through 2027, so just the last year, just collections.

So just the last year, just collections.

Wonderful.

So in 2025, they returned to the city $1,600.

Or $5.016 million.

And currently in 2026, January through March 31st, it is 1.036 million dollars.

Return back to the city.

Since the contract began, they've collected over 17.9 million dollars on behalf of DAH.

Okay.

And where are these collections coming from?

Which which population of our residents?

Who are we collecting from and for what?

So through the madam chair, uh to respond to your question, these uh amounts would be for unpaid judgments that would be both residential and commercial.

We any unpaid judgment after 30 days is automatically transferred to our collections vendor.

So we send all of our files to them if they have not been resolved within 30 days.

Okay.

And what type of commercial judgments?

And then what type of um residential judgments?

For commercial judgments, an example, madam chair, would be uh no certificate of compliance, uh no certificate of occupancy, uh residential for the under the property maintenance code would be uh items uh like excessive weeds, the corval containers being out, or uh unlawful occupancy could be another uh residential one how would your by way of example how would your department get involved with um buildings that are um vacant, not kept up in bad poor condition, and they're squatting.

What happens in those instances where the big the building is not in good condition?

Um overgrown weeds, broken windows, open to trespass, but they're squatters inside.

What is your role, your department's role in that?

Or or do you get do you have to wait to take action or do you have to wait to get something from the law department or B seed to take action?

What is your role in that?

So, madam chair, uh to respond to your question.

The vacant uh buildings that are in disrepair could come to DAH in two ways, either through blight ticketing by one of the ticketing issuing agencies, either B seed or DPD, and that would go on our blight docket.

They could also come to be uh advanced to DAH's attention through the dangerous buildings process where we conduct the hearings before those items are sent to your honorable body for consideration, but in your specific example noting squatting, that would be a criminal uh matter handled by DPD, and those items would not come to DAH.

We're an administrative tribunal, so those criminal matters would go to 36th district court.

All righty, thank you for that clarification.

Um any other questions from my colleagues?

No.

Okay.

Hearing no other questions, thank you so much for being with us.

Is there a motion?

Motion to send a formal recommendation to approve.

There's a motion to send line item 9.3 to formal with the recommendation to approve.

Any objections?

That action shall be taken.

Thank you, Ms.

Pastula.

Thank you.

Yes, ma'am.

Line item 9.4, contract number 60054-A 16, 100% city funding to provide an extension of time and increase of funds for legal services.

The contractor is Fink Brezak PLLC.

This is their 16th contract with the city.

They have been having contracts with the city for the last decade.

And um, I've never met anyone from this law firm, and I've been asked, but now that I'm the chair of the internal operations standing committee, they have to come before us.

They have to.

They're working on multiple contracts, and they just seem to just stay out in Bloomfield Hills and not have to appear before this body, but I'm gonna have to insist if there's a motion and if or further discussion before I ask for a motion to bring this back with the attorneys.

This is a lot of money.

This is over six million dollars of the people's money, and they never come before us.

And I've been asking, going on my fifth year, never met them.

They don't tell us what they're working on.

You do a great job.

It's like you're one of their partners.

You do a great job explaining what they do, but I wouldn't mind their billable right.

Absolutely.

I know you wouldn't, but I'm going to have to um I'm gonna ask for discussion before I ask for a motion to bring this back in a week or two.

But I'm going to have to um I'm gonna ask for discussion before I ask for a motion to bring this back in a week or two.

Um to give Mr.

David Fink an opportunity to pull his files together because we're gonna have questions.

I just want to know um what he's been working on for the last decade, which of those cases are closed out and which new ones, because we had a couple of residents today, namely Miss Warwick.

Um, I want to know what they're working on.

Um discussion, yeah, discussion.

Member Benson discussions after Member Benson, it'll be Member Miller.

Thank you.

Uh, through yourself to, I believe this will be to um procurement.

The current contract amount is six point three seven million, and it talks about an increase of funds, but doesn't say how much the increase is for this contract.

How much is the increase for this proposed contract?

Uh through the chair.

This uh Anthony Johnson legislative policy division.

My apologies, my camera's not on.

That's okay.

Good morning, Mr.

Johnson.

Good morning.

Through you, uh, Madam Chair to uh council member Benson.

Uh that is a typo uh member Benson.

I recent another tutor report removing that plus sign from the uh contract amount.

So there's no increase that that was just a typo uh while I was drafting a report.

Uh and I do offer my sincerest uh apologies for that typo.

Thank you, madam chair.

So just for my own edification.

So this is an extension of time only, not an increase of funds.

Through the chair, correct.

Okay.

Then the question becomes what's their burn rate?

Uh if they're at 6.370 uh million, they are getting extension of time only.

What are we burning um on this contract annually?

Through the chair, I won't uh get into those details as uh the the chair uh mentioned.

She wants to hear from uh uh representatives from the Fink Brezek office themselves uh work with their office, have already begun discussions.

I'm hoping for next week, but if not, we'll we'll try um uh a previous week.

Um, but it is various matters that they're working on.

Um I count a good one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine different matters, all very high stakes, complicated litigation matters.

Um, but I will allow them to advocate for themselves next week.

Okay, this is that's about a guy.

Well, how much do they build to date on this?

I'll make sure that information is available next week.

Yeah, okay.

Can't forget okay.

All right, thank you.

You're welcome.

Okay, and we seem to give Fink um a huge piece of the pie around here.

He's been getting it for over a decade.

And we have uh minority law firms, women law firms who get nothing, who are based in the city, they're not based in Bloomfield Hills, they're based right here in our city in our communities, not all downtown.

We have some up and down six mile, we have some up and down seven mile.

Um, and they never get any.

They don't even get a crumb from the city, and we have to change that.

I'll continue to say that.

Um, they're not building these huge buildings out in Bloomfield Hills and getting these huge contracts from us, helping these law firms build to capacity, but we're not helping the law firms that pay property taxes and brick and mortars and and and hire Detroiters.

We're we're not doing that, but there's a new sheriff in town, and that's Mayor Sheffield.

And so um, I'm hoping that we can change this and help these minority law firms get a piece of the pie that Fink seems to get every single year, not even having to come before us.

I've never met him, and I've been asking for five years, and he continues to get 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 contracts, got nine contracts right at his law firm, but nothing for Detroiters.

And um maybe we can um renegotiate some of this, and he can have some subcontractors, some some law firms that are not as large as his because he got large off of the city of Detroit over the last decade and help our smaller law law firms, women law firms build to capacity that like we've helped him.

It's time for him to pay back, it's time for him to give back to the city.

He's gotten a lot from the city, he's gotten a lot, and I've been complaining about that for uh five years.

Um, member Miller, do you have any um any further discussion on this matter?

To the chair, it is a blessing to sit on this committee with you.

I am always concerned when there's that long-term contract, tears is a very long time.

And you just said that this company has six contracts with us.

They should I'm sure it's only uh a little water under the bucket for them, but maybe they should relocate to Detroit.

You can get six contracts, and this one here alone is uh six million dollars.

I can only imagine what the accumulation of all of them are.

Um may consider coming to Detroit and employ our residents and and hire some internal um attorneys, like you just suggested.

But for me, I was wondering uh when this is over, does it come back for a rebid?

Will someone else get the opportunity to rebid this contract?

Um, because the longevity is just really too long for me.

I'm gonna let more like maybe three, four year contracts and then go back out for rebid, and then maybe someone else get the opportunity.

But with long-term contracts, no one else ever get the opportunity.

So here we are asking for a year extension for services.

So I'm sure they're gonna come before us and explain uh how much more time to finish it off.

And then this should go out for a rebid immediately.

It's time for someone else to uh provide work if we can find someone replicable.

I'm sure they probably give a heavy heavy discount, but we need to find out uh contract and procurement uh need to come before us, and I would like to know um after that ends.

What's next steps for this long-term?

Thank you.

Thank you, Member Miller.

Um, Mr.

Anderson from the law department.

Did you want to?

Uh Councilmember Miller's question.

Legal contracts are very unique at the city of Detroit that they typically are not bid out.

They typically it's the law department selecting a law firm that would best handle specific matters.

Um because of that.

Um they usually do not go out to bid.

We're not looking for the best deal.

So you have to remember first when a matter comes before the law department, we first make the determination who at the city of Detroit law department could handle this matter.

After the determination is made that particularly maybe a specialized uh niche form of legal understanding is needed that we don't staff at our team uh we then reach out to uh select firm and make the selection uh based on the needs for that particular matter.

So it is uh I I know it's it's a little different.

You usually think, you know, the bid process, but um uh the the Detroit City Code allows the law department to provide that, and uh but so so it is not uh a bidding process in this case.

That's not how uh Fink was originally selected via bid.

Thank you very much.

Uh uh back to what um member Miller.

Uh uh chair mentioned she's been talking about this same contract for five years.

So sometimes it leaves the people thinking to think it's been it's if it's not bid it, then it's friends and family.

So we just need to be conscious of that.

I am new, so I'm gonna ask those questions.

Um I would I look forward to just sitting down and hearing the remainder of the uh discussion with this law firm.

Thank you very much, good chair.

Thank you.

Thank you, Member Miller.

And I'm also looking forward to meeting with Mr.

Fink.

I would love to know if he has subcontract work out to smaller law firms based in Detroit, minority law firms and women law firms, um, because he has cut his teeth on this city.

He is living off of this city.

You just said he has nine active cases, I guess.

Nine, and I definitely want to know what those are.

And then um, is there anyone from contracts and procurement, Mr.

Mr.

Malik Washington?

I have a question because before Mr.

Uh Fink comes, I want to know how much has he generated in income cases, payments from the city um for the last uh I guess maybe 16 years.

I just want to know what has been the total amount this law firm has um generated from this city.

So, Mr.

Washington, because we need to be fair, we really do.

And and and I know we say, you know, we need expert law firms.

There's a lot of we don't give other law firms an opportunity.

He it's like a monopoly here.

He gets all these contracts, it's just not fair.

And I'm gonna continue to fight for minority law firms and women law firms as long as I'm sitting here, and the people put me in this position to do that.

And um, I don't have anything to lose.

Nothing.

So, Mr.

Malik Washington, is there anyone on who can tell us or be able to report out when we have Mr.

Fink here exactly how much has this law firm um been paid by this city?

I would have to defer to attorney Anderson.

Um, he coordinates that sort of information with the law department.

To the chair, I'll make sure we have those numbers.

I want a full accounting so we can see where the people's money and I know he does great work, and I'm sure he's uh he settled a lot of lawsuits in favor of the city, but I want to know details.

Absolutely, and I've been asking for a minute, and we've I we he's never been before us since I've been here, but he just seems to get whatever he wants, whatever he wants.

I'm not saying he's not doing a good job.

I'm sure he is excellent.

I've heard all about him.

Would just like to meet him, and um, you know, um, and the amount of money that he's um saved the city, gotten from the city, etc.

So I would definitely have all my questions ready.

Is there a motion?

Um, I think we were in the process of having a motion to bring this back, and in what length of time do we need to bring this back?

Mr.

Anderson.

The chair, just one week.

I'm gonna confident we can coordinate uh next week to have them available, and if it comes next week and it's not available, we'll push it back further.

Okay, and who will be extending the invitation to Mr.

Fink to be here before us?

We'd like to meet him.

We'd like to know where who is you know on the receiving end of um, and we'd like to know who's representing us.

Absolutely right, Mr.

David Fink.

So maybe somebody from his staff is listening, maybe he is.

Um but is there a motion to um parliamentarian, Miss Parliamentarian or Madam Parliamentarian?

Ma'am chair, it needs to be amended to strike increase of funds and increase of funds.

Okay, so that would be the total contract amount that 6.3 million dollars is what you're referring to.

I know that it was stated that that was an error uh the increase in funds.

So you need to at least amend it by striking out those words.

Okay, so is there a motion to well, we're not moving it forward.

What we're doing is we're bringing it back in a week, and that dollar amount won't even be there because the Mr.

Anthony Johnson just said that it is an error, so we we can make the change now, but the dollar amount just the I'm not talking about money.

Okay, I'm just talking about the wording.

Discussion discussion, member Benson.

I appreciate that update.

I'd rather wait for that correction letter before we make any motion before we make any uh changes here.

I want to see that document before then we're gonna have to make changes at a later time after I see their correction letter.

Yeah, so if you bring this, excuse me, excuse me, excuse me, madam chair chair.

So if you bring this back, you'll have to bring it back as it is on here.

Okay, so that's what we'll do.

I'm sure Mr.

Anthony Johnson is listening, and the clerk's office is listening.

Um, and we're gonna bring it back, and I know that those changes will be made.

Is that correct, Mr.

Anderson?

With the chair correct.

Okay, is there a motion?

Motion bring back in one week.

Okay, there's a motion to bring back TBD line item 9.4, noting the corrections that need to be made.

Um, is there um any objections?

That action shall be taken.

And Mr.

Um, yes.

Through the chair, this is Anthony Johnson, let's say policy division.

Uh just for the record, uh, I have sent an updated internal operations standing committee report that reflects that correction.

Okay, also that's already uh in pro you know been sent out.

So just wanted to put that on record.

I can recirculate it if need be, but just wanted to make sure that was um stated.

Thank you.

Mr.

Johnson, when did you send that correction out?

Uh yesterday.

Um I don't have the exact time, but I sent it yesterday.

Okay, thank you.

And thank you, Madam Parliamentarian, for that.

Thank you, Mr.

Johnson.

There is a motion to bring back line item date to be determined.

Um 9.4 hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Mr.

Anderson, you got a lot of homework.

We're looking forward to meeting Mr.

Fink.

I look forward to coordinating.

Thank you.

Absolutely.

Line item 9.5.

Um submitting a resolution authorizing contract number 600 3176-82.

So 100% city funding amendment number two provide extension extension of time only for flexible spending account services for our employees.

This company is Navia Benefit Solutions out of Renton, Washington.

Is there a motion for discussion?

Motion.

There's a motion to discuss line item 9.5.

Is there one?

Is there someone here from HR who can um give some background information on this particular contract?

Yes, Mr.

Washington.

Yes, we have um Marcus Holmes online.

I believe Miss Starr may be joining as well.

Okay, Miss Starr, Mr.

Holmes.

You want to introduce yourself and um your position in HR and you want to share what you can about this line item 9.5, Mr.

Holmes.

Mr.

Washington, are they available?

Through the chair, I do see Marcus Holmes online.

I'm not sure if he's being promoted now.

Okay, if we can promote Mr.

Holmes from HR, Mr.

Holmes.

Mr.

Holmes has been uh promoted.

He's just muted.

He's he's checking it now.

Mr.

Holmes, good morning.

Good morning to this honorable body, Marcus Holmes, Human Resources Operations General Manager.

Thank you.

Can you give us some information about this line item?

Um, it is 9.5 flexible spending account services for our employees.

Absolutely.

This is our request for an extension of time so that we can put the contract out to bid.

The services that are provided are the flexible spending account services that our employees enjoy to help to supplement any cost, medical cost or dental cost, any type of help cost, so it kind of bridges the gap in that coverage.

And employees access this benefit during open enrollment or a life quality of the life event change, and it is a bi-weekly deduction.

So this company manages that flexible spending account.

Okay, quick question for you.

It expired last month.

And are we going with the same company?

Is it it is a temporary extension of services, or have we put this out for bid for a new company?

And why the lapse?

I mean, HR, you guys are notorious since I've been on this council for allowing your contracts to lapse, and then we're backed up against the wall, and we're forced to honor them.

We're forced to honor these extensions.

I don't understand it.

I just I just don't understand it.

And I uh this one already expired, so this is an extension.

Um what's the total amount for the extension $380,000, or it's just extension of time only?

I see, but I don't understand how our contracts lapse.

This is a very important contract for our for our our our employees, and we I don't understand it.

Mr.

Holmes.

Um Madam Chair, I don't disagree that there have been uh times when contracts have lapsed.

However, HR is doing the very best that we can to help our vendors get through the process of making sure they have all clearances and all affidavits, all um uh required licensings to to continue business with us.

This particular vendor, we did have some trouble getting them through the process.

Um, Chris Jones, who is my colleague from OCP, might be able to shed a little bit more light on this um specific set of circumstances.

What we believe we're very close to the point of being able to have everything in place.

I tried to emphasize at the outset that we're planning to put it out to bid so that we will be able to give all vendors the opportunity to go through the process.

Any questions from my colleagues?

Okay, member Benton.

All righty.

Um, this is a very important contract.

We are not um here to hold it up at all.

It'll interrupt services for our very important um employees who do a great job every day.

So is there a motion?

Motion to send a formal recommendation to approve.

There's a motion to send line item 9.5 to formal with a recommendation to approve.

Any objections hearing none, that action shall be taken.

Mr.

Holmes, before you leave, can you let Director Starr know that um the lapses for these contracts?

Um, I'm hoping that we'll decrease the number because it's it's it's it's on a regular that our contracts with HR, your vendors lapse.

And we're you know, I don't want to have someone just kind of take a look, inventory or go back and look, but it this is kind of like regular for HR to let their contracts lapse, and it puts us in a precarious uh position because we have to approve them.

If not, we impact thousands of employees' lives, and that's not what we're here to do.

So if you could take that message back to her, if we could work on not allowing these types of very important contracts to lapse and then forcing forcing us to have an extension after the fact.

Thank you so much, Mr.

Holmes.

Thank you.

Absolutely.

We'll take it back.

Thank you, sir.

Law department line item 9.6 submitting a resolution settlement in the lawsuit of Sharona Williams versus the city of Detroit.

D dot for the amount of $15,000.

Um is there a motion?

Motion send the formal recommendation to approve.

Any objections hearing none, that action shall be taken.

Line item 9.6 in the settlement of lawsuit.

Sharona Williams will be sent to formal with a recommendation to approve.

Line item 9.7, submitting a settlement resolution for Tony Dork Dorsey versus Officer Towns, Officer Grove, and the City of Detroit in the amount of $5,000.

Police department.

Is there a motion?

Motion to approve is informal.

Recommendation to approve.

There's a motion to move line item 9.7 to formal with a recommendation to approve.

Any objections that action shall be taken.

Line item 9.8 DPD again.

Lawsuit in the amount of $37,500 in full payment for any and all claims in the lawsuit of America Bennett versus Andreas Torres Lopez, City of Detroit.

Is there a motion for discussion?

Motion to discuss.

Mr.

Anderson.

Through the chair.

Yeah, we talked about safety driving.

I've been talking about that for going on five years now.

Um Mr.

Washington is I don't know his title.

Um I'm just gonna say um chief, assistant chief ha Grant Haw.

Is he available?

Because he was working on extablishing a safety driving program with some incentives for our police department, because this is a police officer running a red light with an innocent 17-year-old driver.

Yes, through the chair, um uh DC High is not available, but we do have Patrick Emory from the police department online.

Okay, Patrick Henry.

Line item 9.8.

Can you kind of give us some information about this one and what the program is to help our officers not cause these types of accidents, not be involved in these types of accidents, take more care, um, and not run red lights and a high speed chase, and I know there's some um some restrictions in terms of police chases, high speed chases.

Maybe you heard yes, yes, sir.

Patrick Emory, uh, executive manager risk management DPD.

So as far as the specific program that you're referencing with uh DC Grant Ha, I'm not familiar with that.

I can speak to the processes that go into place whenever whenever we do um have a any type of a crash.

Um, if you'd like, I can go into those details.

Um no, I just wanted to know about not unless my colleagues want to hear that.

No, I wanted to know about the program that was supposed to start be established three years ago under the leadership of DC High.

How is that working for these types of police officers who are engaged in these types of driving behaviors?

That was my question.

Um, not unless my colleagues have any other questions.

I'm not trying to hold this up or anything, but I just wanted that question and answered because it's okay to have our police officers um take um, I don't want to say driver's ed again, but some type of classes, and um, I don't want to engage in too much of a discussion regarding the high speed chase running a red light causing injury.

Um I just want to know if that program is working or has it been deactivated?

And you said you can't answer that question, so I really don't have any other questions, not unless my colleagues do.

Questions, madam chair.

Okay.

All righty, um, member Miller.

You have any questions?

No, yeah.

Okay.

Um, hearing no further um discussion on this, is there a motion?

Motion to approve is in the formal.

Okay, there's a motion to approve line item 9.8 settlement in the lawsuit of America Bennett versus Andreas Torres Lopez and the amount of $37,500.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Thank you, um, Officer Patrick Emory.

Line item 9.9, rescission of a settlement for Germany, Treveras Hernandez versus the City of Detroit, case number 24-0126, no 2656 innocent Nancy Effes and Frank, file number Ellison Love 24-01279 AS.

Rescision of March 17th, 2026 resolution authorizing payment of $9,500.

Um Mr.

Anderson, can you tell us what's going on with this rescation request in this settlement?

Yes, through the chair.

This there was a Claire Claire in this uh case, and uh the law department thought it was best to rescind this, make the correction, and it'll be resubmitted.

In addition, uh speaking with workers' compensation, there's also a working cop compensation settlement with this matter.

So if you do see that come up in the future, that's the reason for uh the multiple.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you so much, Mr.

Anderson, for that clarification.

Is there a motion um to move this to formal session decision of the settlement?

Motion okay.

There's a motion to um there's a motion to move line item 9.9 to formal with the recommendation for approval, just rescinding the settlement hearing no objections that action shall be taken.

Thank you so much.

Answers entering budget from the Detroit Police Department.

Okay, okay.

Thank you, Peter.

All right, line item 9.10, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Office of Delp Development and Grants, submitting a resolution request to accept an appropriate cash donation from the election center.

Is there a motion?

Motion to discussion.

Discussion.

Member Miller.

No, I'm sorry, item.

Oh okay.

Is there a motion to approve this informal?

Okay.

Motion to send line item 9.10 to formal with the recommendation to approve to approve hearing no objections that action shall be taken.

Legislative policy policy division.

Line item 9.11 uh resolution convening a legislative agenda workshop or I'm sorry, work group, and this is from council president James Tate.

Um I will defer to LPD, line item 9.11.

It's to the chair, the resolution is attached.

Okay, the resolution for line item 9.11 is attached.

And what line item is that?

Is that 911?

Or is there a different line item number?

Is 11?

9.11.

Okay.

So is this a motion just to receive and file?

No, to send to formal with recommendation.

To send to formal.

There's a is there a motion to send line item 911 to formal with a recommendation?

Well, recommendation to approve.

Okay.

There's a motion to send line item 911 to formal with a recommendation.

Discussion, member Benson.

Did we close that vote out?

Motion to reconsider the line item.

Which line item?

9.11.

Okay, 9.11.

Regarding the legislative agenda work group?

Yes.

The resolution is attached.

Did you want to have further discussion on it?

Uh I want to make a pin and ink modification.

Okay.

Uh motion to modify the second whereas.

The quote city council shall vote to approve the final legislative legislative agenda by 31 January of the next year.

Motion to pin and ink the resolution that city council shall vote with consensus to approve the final legislative agenda by January 31.

So there'll be an insert.

Um discussion.

Yeah, discussion.

Mr.

King or Mr.

Keller?

Duly noted.

So would that modification be prepared by next Tuesday for a vote?

Through the chair, yes.

We can we can prepare an amended resolution for Tuesday.

Okay.

And you've captured uh member Benson's language for that um for that change to the whereas.

If you could repeat it just so I make sure I have everything correct.

This is in the second whereas in the third line, and it reads first year, comma quote, and that quote city council shall vote to approve.

My change will be comma with consensus, comma, the final legislative agenda, which should mean that there will be a consensus approval of that legislative agenda.

Does that text is that clear?

That's clear.

Well, it'll be reflected in the resolution.

Now I'm looking for your opinion as attorneys.

Does that make that clear?

It does.

I I believe the language in the resolution um just mirrors uh the what the council rules state, but I don't I don't believe uh stating that there will be a consensus conflicts that I'm aware of.

This should add a greater level of clarity then.

Yes.

Okay.

Okay.

Thank you.

So LPD, you have the language for the amendment to the whereas?

To the chair, yes.

Modification, rather?

Yes, we do.

Okay, so there's a motion to um bring this back next week with the modifications to the whereas.

Madam Chair?

Yes.

Remember this.

We can move this forward with that modification.

I'm okay with that.

Okay.

So is there a motion to move um line item 10 point with I'm sorry, line items?

Yeah.

9.12 to 11.

9.11 to formal with the recommendation to approve pending the modifications to the um to the whereas?

As modified motion.

Okay.

All righty.

Any objections.

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

Thank you, member.

Um, member Benson.

Um, can we go back to line item 10 point I'm sorry, line item six regarding how we moved it forward.

Um I know that there was a motion and there was some discussion as to whether or not we're continuing the public comment or adjourning the public comment.

And I thought that we were clear on that we're going to continue, we were adjourning, but we're going to continue the same public comment and whether or not there would have to be a notification requirement to the residents.

Um Mr.

King?

Madam Chair.

Uh I've been in contact with the clerk's office, and the recommendation is to continue the public hearing, not adjourn the public hearing, because if you adjourn it, it might bring into the issue of issuing notice again.

Okay.

So I think this I think you should reconsider the vote.

To a specific date and time.

Okay.

So um Mr.

King, um, I want to make sure I understand what you're saying.

We should have a vote to reconsider our vote on line item six regarding the continuation of the public hearing from this morning.

Is that correct?

Continue it till next Wednesday.

Yes, that that is correct.

Okay.

All right.

All you're eliminating is the word adjourn.

Okay.

So we're eliminating the word adjourn because both were used this morning.

Exactly.

And um all we're doing is simply continuing the public hearing from this morning to next Wednesday.

Is that correct?

Yes, the date and the time.

The date and the time, but before that happens, we have to reconsider our vote from earlier.

Is that correct?

That is correct.

Because the word adjourn was used.

That is correct.

Okay, is there a motion to reconsider our Madam Chair?

May I?

Yes, um Madam Parliamentary.

For the Detroit City House.

3.3.

Adjourn session.

Shall me a session that is a continuation of the immediately preceding or special session.

Robert rules for order.

22 point one.

The object of the motion to fix the time to which to adjourn.

Also referred to as the motion to fix the time for an adjourned meeting.

Is to set the time and sometimes the place for another meeting to continue business of the session with no effect on when the present meeting will adjourn.

Okay.

Either or the parliamentary so there you are.

Thank you, madam parliamentarian.

So what do you recommend that we do to take the law department's uh recommendation?

Although your rules state right now for the sake of this session, take the law department's advice.

Okay.

And I'm also um Mr.

King, Mr.

Keller, our law department.

Sorry, sorry, take the LPD's advice.

Yeah, our that's our law department.

Legislative policy division, attorney Keller.

Yes, the the rule, uh the city council rule, I believe speaks to uh an adjournment of of a meeting that was immediately proceeding.

We're talking about into the future, and after speaking with the clerk's office, I think they're in agreement that it should be continued to uh a date and time specific.

Okay.

So in order to to take that action, we need to reconsider this vote on line item um six.

Is that correct?

Yes.

All right.

Is there a motion to reconsider the vote um on line item six?

No, okay.

Okay, so there's a motion to reconsider the vote on line item six.

Are there any objections to reconsidering the vote?

Okay.

Now, clerk, would you have to call the roll so we can reconsider our vote?

We don't?

Okay.

So there's been a motion to reconsider the vote with no objections that action shall be taken.

Is there a motion to move line item six to formal, if I'm not mistaken, right?

No, to continue.

Not a journey.

We're going to continue the discussion, the public hearing line item six next Wednesday.

Is that correct?

Yes, and at a specific time as well.

Okay.

So the specific specific time will be 10 15 a.m.

for the public hearing, which is the continuation of this morning's public hearing regarding proposed ordinance amendments of chapter 45 of the 2019 Detroit City Code.

The time will be 1015.

The date is what's the date?

Um Mr.

Clerk for next Wednesday.

May the second can one someone pull out their phone?

Through the chair May 6th.

Okay, so uh there's a continuation of the public hearing at 1015 on May the 6th Wednesday.

Are there any objections for the motion?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

The continuation of this public hearing from this morning will be next Wednesday, May the 6th at 1015.

Thank you so much, madam parliamentarian, and to our law department, the legislative policy division.

All right.

Now we are at line item 12912, which I think we already took up earlier with line item 8.3.

So we will go down to line item 9.13 under miscellaneous.

This is Councilmember Denzel Anton McCampbell submitting a memorandum relative to further follow-up on city contracts involving data sharing with third parties.

Um LPD, any updates on this one, madam chair.

Can we have an additional two weeks on this item?

Is there a motion to bring line item 9.13 back in two weeks?

Motion.

There's a motion to bring line item 9.13 back by per LPD.

Are any objections?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

Line item 9.14 submitting a memorandum relative to request settlement resolution concerning motor city law PLLC.

We did ask for a three-week bring back for this settlement, and we had discussions in terms of where the money would go in terms of collections.

We had a discussion with um another individual from the law department.

I can't remember that attorney's name, along with corporation counsel mallet.

There's a possibility that the money that's collected can go into a home repair for victims of the overassessment and repaying some of our retirees, however that looks.

The discussion was had.

Mr.

Anderson?

The chair asked for a one-week bring back.

I believe that continued discussion will be next week, so that would align with next week's discussion.

Okay, is there a motion to bring line item back, line item 914 back in a week?

Motion.

Any objections?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

Line item 9.14 regarding motor city law pl in the city of Detroit will be brought back in a week.

Line item 9.15, submitting a memorandum relative to the request for report concerning Judge Gilmore list.

Um LPD, madam chair.

Can we have three weeks on this item, please?

Is there a motion to bring line item 9.15 back in three weeks?

Motion.

There's a motion to bring line item 9.15 back in three weeks.

Any objections?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

Thank you.

Discussion.

And Madam Chair, what is the Judge Gilmore list?

I'm going to defer to um the law department or Mr.

King.

Through the chair.

Judge Gilmore's list is a list that was generated many years ago, um, listing um sexually oriented businesses in the city of Detroit.

And the reason why we're asking for this, my office, there's a uh strip club club, I think on the east side called cover girls, and they've been out of business for a number of years, and there are another number of strip clubs.

Well, they were licensed to do or approved to be strip clubs, and they have not been active in the number of years, and this is the list that we um are going to have provided to us.

We'll know the list of those strip clubs, just in case one is in a neighborhood near you.

We just want to know where they are, where they've been licensed or approved, and we know that one has been problematic.

There's been a lot of discussions about whether or not they can open.

I'm hearing that they can legally open since they were licensed to do so.

Um, but the residents don't want it, they don't want cover girl back over there, and I think that's in district four, the east side.

So that's what this list will provide.

We want to know where all those strip clubs were um approved to be located.

Is that correct?

Okay, because I want to know if there are any um approved for my neighborhood.

So there's a motion to bring this line item back in three weeks.

Are there any objections?

Discussion, discussion.

I hope that BC will be weighing in on its land use, SOB land use as well.

That is a land use granted by B seed also.

Thank you.

Thank you for doing this.

We have a uh we have the list for the third district.

We are well aware of where those SOBs are located and which ones have been open and are dark now.

And we fought and successfully had that land use removed from several.

So more than happy to work with anybody who's interested in how to get that done.

Yeah, well, we would like to work with you to get that done because we want to make sure that they're not in our district where we work, play, worship.

Right?

And madam chair, we've also successfully um modified the SOB ordinance to incorporate a way to close ultraviolet uh SOBs as well.

Okay, all right.

This is good work, good work, good work, good work on behalf of our uh residents.

All right, so there is a uh motion hearing no objections that action shall be taken in three weeks.

Line item 9.15 will be brought back.

We are at line item and almost at the end of our agenda, line item 9.16.

Councilmember Scott Benson submitting a memorandum relative to a state planning program, income eligibility requirements.

Member Benson.

Thank you, madam chair.

Discussion, discussion, sir.

Um, and this uh memo and our motion to bring it back is requesting an opinion.

I've had a conversation with a law department this morning about this, and my question really is can we utilize general funds for the staffing, not for the actual state plans, which I'm hoping is the case.

And so I've made that clarification this morning as well.

And then I know that there are income restrictions for certain monies that are used for estate planning.

I want to make sure there's no prohibition for no income requirements.

I want to make sure this type of service is available to every resident in the city of Detroit while using general funds.

And so I just want to make sure I provide that level of clarification, uh, which I did.

And then through yourself, madam chair.

Any questions from the law department on this opinion?

The chair not at this time, we'd ask for a three-week bring back on this matter.

Okay, and then madam chair, the law department has provided an opinion in the past, but that was for a state the actual use of providing estates.

And that uh thought at the time and to clarify that that is a lending of credit, but one clarification if we can use general funds for the staffing of the program, not for the provision of actual state plans.

Understood.

Thank you.

Excellent.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Motion to bring back in three weeks.

Three weeks.

Well, motion to be back in three weeks, three weeks.

There's a motion to bring back line item 9.16 in three weeks.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Thank you so much for this, Member Benson.

This is this is great.

This is great work.

Thank you so much.

Thank you for um all your concern about making sure that we take care of our estates, and we leave nothing on the table for the state to take.

Okay, that's what it's all about.

Making sure our family members and our loved ones um receive or benefit from our hard work.

All right, uh, members' reports.

Member Benson?

No report.

No report from Member Benson.

Member Miller, do you have a members' report that you'd like to share?

No report.

Okay, and neither do I.

That is zero member reports.

Is there a motion to adjourn if there's no other business?

This meeting will be adjourned.

Thank you so much, everyone.