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Record of Proceedings

Detroit Internal Operations Committee Meeting - April 29, 2026

City Council — Wednesday, April 29, 2026
BodyDetroit, Michigan
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, April 29, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:13:48

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:00

Standing committee meeting.

0:02

It is Wednesday, April the 29th.

0:05

If the clerk could call the roll.

0:08

Good morning, Councilmember Angela Will Phil Calloway.

0:10

Present.

0:11

Councilmember Scott Benson.

0:13

Councilmember Renata Miller.

0:15

Madam Chair Dr.

0:16

Corm.

0:17

Thank you.

0:18

Thank you so much.

0:19

Do we have someone on for the invocation?

0:23

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

0:26

Mr.

0:27

Brooks.

0:28

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

0:33

Okay.

0:33

All right.

0:34

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

0:43

And thank you, Peter.

0:44

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

0:53

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

0:57

Help us to remember that everything belongs to you.

1:00

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

1:04

Amen.

1:05

Thank you, Peter.

1:07

All righty.

1:07

Is there a motion for the approval of the minutes?

1:10

Motion.

1:11

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

1:14

There are zero chair remarks.

1:16

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

1:22

Um public comment will be turned off at 1004.

1:25

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

1:30

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

1:35

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

1:38

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

1:43

It's gonna turn green.

1:45

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

1:46

And good morning.

1:48

Good morning.

1:48

My name is Felicia Victoria Bell.

1:51

Um I have been a long time Detroit uh resident.

1:56

And um, I'm just making an FYI.

2:00

I am in the process of uh resolving ID fraud.

2:04

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

2:11

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

2:17

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

2:25

Special Forces and the State Department, U.S.

2:29

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

2:34

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.

3:18

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.

3:30

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.

3:53

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

3:57

Um thank you.

3:59

No, thank you, Miss Bell.

4:00

Thank you for joining us this morning.

4:02

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

4:08

Okay, um, seeing none.

4:10

How many callers do we have, Mr.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Contract Management████████████████████████████28%
Procedural███████████████████19%
Public Comment██████████████████18%
Personnel Matters█████5%
Economic Development████4%
Arts And Culture████4%
Public Safety████4%
Pending Litigation████4%
Youth Programs███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Detroit Internal Operations Committee Meeting - April 29, 2026

The Internal Operations Standing Committee of the Detroit City Council met on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at 10:00 AM. Chair Dr. Corm presided, with Councilmembers Angela Whitfield Calloway, Scott Benson, and Renata Miller present. The meeting included public comments, an interview for a commission appointment, a public hearing on a Direct TV franchise ordinance, and consideration of several contracts and resolutions.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Felicia Victoria Bell (Detroit resident) spoke about resolving ID fraud, alleging CIA involvement with the Ford Foundation, and seeking support for discreet resolution.
  • William M. Davis (caller) urged the city to increase the threshold for non-Detroit businesses receiving city contracts, arguing for 75% retention of tax dollars within Detroit.
  • Legendary Detroiter (caller) made allegations of election fraud and cover-up of a murder (Kenisha Coleman case), threatening demonstrations.
  • Betty A. Verner (caller) thanked the administration for including the Fink corridor in a tour and highlighted community work.
  • Owner Papa (caller) called for a hearing on "dirty dirt" in holes around the city, criticized contracts without insurance, and opposed $42 million for a corporate shortfall, stating District 7 lacks recreation centers.
  • Ms. Warwick (caller ending 124) argued that the nuisance abatement program is illegal, referencing a class action lawsuit, and questioned the $6.37 million contract with Fink Brezak to defend it.
  • William M. Davis (second call) asked about economic benefits and costs of the Direct TV franchise.
  • Mr. Foster (caller) questioned why a 10-year contract is being revisited multiple times, and asked for clarity on access.
  • Renard Myshewski (District 6 resident) asked for background on why Direct TV was chosen, what franchising means, and equity considerations for low-income neighborhoods.
  • Mr. Blackbag Crowley (caller) was cut off for not speaking to the agenda item.

Discussion Items

  • Interview with Tashana Gill (Entertainment Commission appointment): Ms. Gill, a grassroots organizer, expressed her interest in the commission to empower citizens and youth, bring purposeful events, and bridge between citizens and corporations. She highlighted her work with the African American Leadership Institute. Councilmembers praised her focus on youth. The appointment was moved to formal session with a recommendation to approve.
  • Public Hearing - Direct TV Franchise Ordinance (Line Item 6): Proposed ordinance to grant Direct TV a 10-year franchise (2025-2035) to provide video/cable services, with 2% PEG fees and 5% franchise fee on gross revenue (set by state law). Law Department representative Graham Anderson explained the contract. Public comment raised questions about lack of information, absence of Direct TV representatives, and concerns about long-term contracts. The council voted to continue the public hearing to May 6, 2026, at 10:15 AM, after reconsidering the earlier motion to adjourn.
  • Contract 9.1 (Box software): Cloud-based file sharing for secure external sharing, unlimited storage, $16/user/month. Director Brandon Sledge Mellon explained cost efficiency and security. Approved.
  • Contract 9.2 (Indigent defense case management): Amendment to extend contract with ZLS/Codify, $40,000 increase, 100% grant funded. Rob Mormando from Indigent Defense Services detailed the software's role in managing 60,000-70,000 cases annually. Approved. Councilmember Benson requested a future discussion on the program.
  • Contract 9.3 (Collections services): Amendment to extend contract with Linebarger Goggan for collections, revenue rate 70-90%. Director Julianne Pastula reported $5.016 million returned in 2025 and $1.036 million in early 2026, totaling $17.9 million since contract start. Approved.
  • Contract 9.4 (Fink Brezak law firm): Sixteenth contract with the city, $6.37 million (no increase, time-only extension). Chair Calloway expressed frustration that the firm never appears before council and called for them to present and discuss subcontracting with minority/women-owned firms. Motion to bring back next week.
  • Contract 9.5 (Flexible spending account services): Time-only extension for Navia Benefit Solutions. HR explained the need to rebid. Approved with admonishment about contract lapses.
  • Settlements (9.6, 9.7, 9.8, 9.9): Approved as presented, including a rescission.
  • Legislative Agenda Work Group (9.11): Resolution to convene a work group. Councilmember Benson moved to add language requiring consensus vote on final agenda. Approved with amendment.
  • Memoranda (8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 9.12, 9.13, 9.14, 9.15, 9.16): Various requests for reports and updates were brought back on different timelines, including a memo on the "Judge Gilmore list" of sexually oriented businesses and a memo on estate planning programs.

Key Outcomes

  • Tashana Gill appointment sent to formal session with recommendation to approve.
  • Direct TV public hearing continued to Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at 10:15 AM.
  • Contracts 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.5, 9.6, 9.7, 9.8, 9.9, 9.10 approved and sent to formal session.
  • Contract 9.4 (Fink Brezak) brought back one week for further discussion with firm representatives.
  • Resolution 9.11 amended and approved, sent to formal session.
  • Line items 8.1, 8.2, 8.4, 9.13, 9.14, 9.15, 9.16 brought back on specified dates for further updates.
  • Line items 8.3 and 9.12 received and filed.

Meeting Transcript

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.

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