OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Detroit City Council Committee Meeting - May 6, 2026

City Council — Wednesday, May 6, 2026
BodyDetroit, Michigan
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, May 6, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:18:22

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Member Angela Whitfield Calloway.

0:02

Councilmember Scott Benson.

0:04

Councilmember Reneta Miller.

0:06

Renata Miller is going to join us, but right now she's going to be a little late.

0:10

Madam Chair, we have quorum.

0:11

Thank you so much.

0:33

Yes, ma'am.

0:35

Good morning.

0:36

Good seeing you.

0:37

Good morning, Councilmember Callaway.

0:39

It's good seeing you as well.

0:41

And thank you for your service on the human trafficking task force for the number of years that you um served.

0:47

We missed you last week in Lansing.

0:50

Yes, ma'am.

0:50

Thank you.

0:51

I've been uh recovering from an accident where I fractured my fibula.

0:56

So I haven't been moving around much lately.

0:59

All right.

1:00

Well, I'm glad you are here with us, and I hope you're feeling better.

1:03

Yes, ma'am.

1:04

Thank you so much.

1:05

It's a pleasure.

1:07

Let us pray.

1:09

Father God, creator of life, sustainer of life.

1:17

We pause to say thank you.

1:19

Thank you for every good and perfect gift which comes down from you, the father of lights in whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

1:29

We thank you for life, health, and strength.

1:32

We thank you for the gifts that you have given us, talents and abilities that you have shared with us so that we can impact the lives of others.

1:45

Uh for every uh elected representative that sits on this committee for all of those who come alongside them to do the work of this committee, the work of this council, and the work of this city.

2:00

We say thank you.

2:02

Thank you for Detroit.

2:04

Thank you for the spirit and heart of Detroit, a city that has literally and figuratively risen from the ashes time and again, a resolute and resilient city.

2:18

Thank you for the current leadership of our city, uh a leadership that is focused on helping everyone to rise again.

2:27

And so uh the deliberations of this committee and this council are of extreme importance uh not only uh to the greatest of these, but to the least of these in our city.

2:40

And it is our prayer today and every day going forward that everything they do, everything they say, ultimately has the goal of lifting all of the people of our city.

2:55

We could easily take credit for the advancements that have been made over the past few years, as our city has risen from the bottom uh back to one of the leading cities in our nation.

3:11

But we are reminded that except the Lord build the house, they that labor labor in vain.

3:18

And so we submit their work into your hands.

3:22

We ask that you lead guide and direct them in all that they say and do for your glory and for the benefit of your people, we pray, and we ask it in the name of our Savior Jesus, who is the Christ.

3:37

Amen.

3:38

Amen.

3:39

And thank you, Bishop.

3:40

You are um welcome to continue to join us on the call.

3:43

But again, we hope that you'll um experience a speedy, complete, full recovery from your injury.

3:49

Amen.

3:50

I want to get back to the committee and to the other work we're doing.

3:53

Thank you so much, Councilmember Callaway.

3:54

Yes, sir.

3:55

Have a blessed day.

3:56

Thank you.

3:57

Okay, there are no chair remarks.

3:59

Public comment is now closed.

4:01

It is 1004.

4:02

Public comment is now closed.

4:04

Uh Mr.

4:04

Brox, do we have anyone here in the audience who is here to make public comment?

4:08

If so, you can go right to that first microphone.

4:12

Take a seat.

4:13

You have two minutes for public comment.

4:14

If you can introduce yourself, you'll hit the base of the microphone.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████16%
Public Comment████████████████16%
Public Safety██████████10%
Land Bank████████8%
Economic Development███████7%
Zoning and Land Use███████7%
Parks and Recreation██████6%
Housing█████5%
Technology and Innovation█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Detroit City Council Committee Meeting - May 6, 2026

The committee meeting convened on May 6, 2026, at 10:04 AM with Chair Angela Whitfield Calloway, Vice Chair Scott Benson, and Member Reneta Miller (joined later). The meeting included public comments, interviews for board appointments, and consideration of various agenda items.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Adrian Tines (resident) expressed concerns about conditions at 375 W Grand Boulevard, alleging retaliation by the owner and failure of Southwest Solutions to address issues. Requested assistance from the city.
  • Mike Roken (VBK Towing) supported Peggy Goodwin's reappointment to the Towing Rate Commission.
  • Dr. Darnell (UCARistan LLC) provided an update on real estate development near the Joe Lewis Greenway.
  • William M. Davis emphasized the need for more attention to human trafficking, especially for Black girls.
  • Betty A. Varner (DeSoda Elsewhere Black Association) promoted a caregiver relief program.
  • Tyson Gersh criticized the Law Department's handling of the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) and called for the removal of Corporation Counsel Conrad Mallet.
  • Ms. Warwick raised concerns about land bank practices, illegal land taking, and the city's solar plan.
  • Julie Limberman (70s Towing/Detroit Towing Association) supported Peggy Goodwin's reappointment.
  • Legendary Detroiter made allegations against various officials.
  • Dante Smith presented voter roll issues and allegations against officials.

Discussion Items

  • Appointment to Detroit Land Bank Authority: Javon Glenn interviewed, nominated by Councilmember Mary Waters. Discussed community trust, blight, and the nuisance abatement program. Motion to move to formal session with a resolution.
  • Appointment to Downtown Development Authority: Sauda Ahmad Green interviewed, nominated by Mayor. Discussed affordable housing, sustainability, and the need for family entertainment and retail in Detroit. Motion to move to formal session with a resolution.
  • Appointment to Tenants' Rights Commission: Catherine Nelson Richardson interviewed, nominated by Mayor. Shared advocacy for seniors and concerns about safety in senior buildings. Motion to move to formal session with a resolution.
  • Appointment to Board of Zoning Appeals: L. Renee Johnson interviewed, nominated by Councilmember Tate. Discussed community input, data centers, and variances. Motion to move to formal session pending a resolution.
  • Reappointment to Towing Rate Commission: Peggy Goodwin interviewed, nominated by Councilmember Santiago Romero. Questions about predatory towing (company G-O-C-H) and hardship policies. Motion to bring back date to be determined.
  • Unfinished Business: Updates on various memoranda and reports; several items brought back for additional weeks.
  • New Business: Settlements and contract approvals. Line item 13.3 (Fink Braz contract) corrected and approved. Line item 13.8 (Truck Trust Street Advisors) brought back due to a scrivener's error. Other settlements approved.
  • Inspector General Report: 2026 first quarter report received and filed.
  • AI Policy Report: Report received and filed.

Key Outcomes

  • Javon Glenn appointment to Detroit Land Bank Authority moved to formal session (pending resolution).
  • Sauda Ahmad Green appointment to DDA moved to formal session (with resolution).
  • Catherine Nelson Richardson appointment to Tenants' Rights Commission moved to formal session.
  • L. Renee Johnson appointment to BZA moved to formal session.
  • Peggy Goodwin reappointment to Towing Rate Commission brought back for further review (date to be determined).
  • Line item 13.3 (Fink Braz contract) approved and sent to formal.
  • Line item 13.8 (Truck Trust Street Advisors) brought back one week for correction.
  • Several other settlements approved.
  • Inspector General and AI Policy reports received and filed.
  • Committee adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

Member Angela Whitfield Calloway. Councilmember Scott Benson. Councilmember Reneta Miller. Renata Miller is going to join us, but right now she's going to be a little late. Madam Chair, we have quorum. Thank you so much. Yes, ma'am. Good morning. Good seeing you. Good morning, Councilmember Callaway. It's good seeing you as well. And thank you for your service on the human trafficking task force for the number of years that you um served. We missed you last week in Lansing. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. I've been uh recovering from an accident where I fractured my fibula. So I haven't been moving around much lately. All right. Well, I'm glad you are here with us, and I hope you're feeling better. Yes, ma'am. Thank you so much. It's a pleasure. Let us pray. Father God, creator of life, sustainer of life. We pause to say thank you. Thank you for every good and perfect gift which comes down from you, the father of lights in whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. We thank you for life, health, and strength. We thank you for the gifts that you have given us, talents and abilities that you have shared with us so that we can impact the lives of others. Uh for every uh elected representative that sits on this committee for all of those who come alongside them to do the work of this committee, the work of this council, and the work of this city. We say thank you. Thank you for Detroit. Thank you for the spirit and heart of Detroit, a city that has literally and figuratively risen from the ashes time and again, a resolute and resilient city. Thank you for the current leadership of our city, uh a leadership that is focused on helping everyone to rise again. And so uh the deliberations of this committee and this council are of extreme importance uh not only uh to the greatest of these, but to the least of these in our city. And it is our prayer today and every day going forward that everything they do, everything they say, ultimately has the goal of lifting all of the people of our city. We could easily take credit for the advancements that have been made over the past few years, as our city has risen from the bottom uh back to one of the leading cities in our nation. But we are reminded that except the Lord build the house, they that labor labor in vain. And so we submit their work into your hands. We ask that you lead guide and direct them in all that they say and do for your glory and for the benefit of your people, we pray, and we ask it in the name of our Savior Jesus, who is the Christ. Amen. Amen. And thank you, Bishop. You are um welcome to continue to join us on the call. But again, we hope that you'll um experience a speedy, complete, full recovery from your injury. Amen. I want to get back to the committee and to the other work we're doing. Thank you so much, Councilmember Callaway. Yes, sir. Have a blessed day. Thank you.

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