Neighborhood Community Service Standing Committee Meeting - May 7, 2026
Neighborhood Community Service Standing Committee Meeting - May 7, 2026
The Neighborhood Community Service Standing Committee of the Detroit City Council met on May 7, 2026, at an unspecified time. The meeting was called to order by the Chair, with a quorum present. Topics included public comment on a variety of neighborhood issues, updates on proposed development at the Butzel Family Recreation Center, and approval of special event permits for two festivals. The committee also received a report from the Law Department and made motions for future consideration.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Betty A. Varner, president of the Soda Elsewhere Black Association, spoke in support of the Fink Accorder corridor, requesting continued city funding for cleanup and development. She highlighted a husband-and-wife team opening a home care agency on Finco and Monica, and a brother team proposing a mini market with six gas pumps on Wyoming and Finco. She urged the council to support the Dabish family's business efforts.
- Owner Papa expressed concern that the city of Detroit owns but cannot control the Butzel Center, stating that government pulling against residents is a serious problem. He also questioned why the committee was discussing a memorandum on Butzel development rather than addressing neighborhood issues like “dirty dirt holes.” He criticized the agenda items, including the Soul Food and R&B festival (line 6.1), and argued that the city is losing control and that some officials have an inferiority complex leading to outsourcing of work.
- Legendary Detroiter alleged that the death of Kenisha was not a suicide but a cover-up involving the Wayne County Medical Examiner, the homicide division, and others. He demanded that the “tag above Nini's mama” be removed, referencing a request from February 12, 2021.
- Resident criticized the proposed apartment building on the Butzel Family Center parking lot, calling it a violation of the Detroit City Charter and noting the city's abundant vacant land. He also argued that the city's solar farm project lacked due diligence and alternative studies, and that the nuisance abatement program is illegal under the Michigan Fast Track Land Bank Authority Act and the intergovernmental agreement. He urged council members to read the charter.
- Cutting Him expressed frustration with clergy and Christians who are unresponsive to low-income individuals seeking to improve their economic situation. He complained about D-DOT service being untimely and unclean, and offered a phone number (313-444-9114) for donations of bus tickets or ride-along volunteers.
Discussion Items
- Unfinished Business – Line 5.1: Status of Council Member Renata Miller's Memorandum on Butzel Family Recreation Center Development – Phil Keller from the Law Department reported that a written analysis had been submitted to the committee about an hour before the meeting. Vice Chair Scott Benson moved to bring the item back in one week for further discussion, and the motion was approved without objection.
- New Business – Line 6.1: Petition of Said Abdul to Hold the Soul Food and R&B Festival – The festival is scheduled for June 27, 2026, from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Roosevelt Park, with setup beginning June 26 at 8 a.m. and teardown concluding June 28 at 11 a.m. A motion to move the item to the formal session with a recommendation for approval was made and passed without objection.
- New Business – Line 6.2: Petition of Tech Troit Electronic Music Festival – The festival is scheduled for June 26–28, 2026, at 1151 Taylor Street, with setup beginning June 26 at 8 a.m. and teardown concluding June 29 at 8 p.m. A motion to move the item to the formal session with a recommendation for approval was made and passed without objection.
Memorial Reports
- Vice Chair Scott Benson announced a community at-large evening meeting on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at the Northwest Activity Center (1800 Myers Road). A dinner will be held at 5:30 p.m., followed by the meeting at 7:00 p.m. He also wished a happy Mother's Day to all mothers.
Key Outcomes
- The committee voted to bring back line item 5.1 (Butzel development analysis) in one week for further discussion.
- Line items 6.1 (Soul Food and R&B Festival) and 6.2 (Tech Troit Electronic Music Festival) were approved to move to the formal session with recommendations for approval.
- The meeting was adjourned without objection.
Meeting Transcript
Neighborhood community service standing committee will now come into order with a clerk. Please go roll. Council President Pro Tim Coleman A Young the second. Here. Councilmember Scott Benson. Councilmember Renata Miller. Mr. Chair, you have a quorum. Excellent. Is there a motion to approve the minutes? Motion made. Are there any objections? Hearing none. The minutes will be approved. Negative chairmarks will now go on to public comment. Seeing there is no one here in the audience. How many people do we have virtually, Mr. Bo? Mr. Chair, we currently have six individuals with their hand raised for public comment. All right, public comment is now closed. Public comment is now closed. Public comment is now closed. All right. Who do you have first in the queue, Mr. Bo? Mr. Chair, the first caller is Blackbag. All right, Blackbag. Floor is yours, two minutes. All right, black bag once. Black bag going twice. Black bag going three times. Black bag going three times in the third. All right, black bags. Submit your uh questions in writing. Who do we have next in the queue? Mr. Bo. Mr. Chair, the next caller ending 039. All right, 039. Floor is yours. Two minutes, 039. 039. 039 going once. 039 going twice. 039 going three times. 039 going three times on the third. All right, thank you, 039.
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