OpenPublica

Accountability starts with access.

© 2026 · Filed for the public record

Use casesAboutAPIPrivacyTermsLinkedIn
Home/Detroit, Michigan/City Council
OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Detroit City Council Formal Session - May 26, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, May 26, 2026
BodyDetroit, Michigan
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, May 26, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:05:47

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

Will you please call the roll?

0:02

Chairman, Mr.

0:03

President.

0:04

Councilmember Scott Benson.

0:06

Member Benson indicated that he would not be present.

0:08

Clerk will so note, Mr.

0:10

President.

0:10

The memo in advance.

0:12

Councilmember Letitia Johnson present.

0:15

Councilmember Denzel and Tom McCampbell.

0:18

Present.

0:19

Council Member Renata Miller.

0:21

Member Miller sent the memo in advance indicating that she would not be present.

0:24

Circle so note, Mr.

0:26

President.

0:26

Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero.

0:29

Present.

0:30

Councilmember Mary Waters.

0:32

Member Waters in the sent the memo in advance indicating that she would not be present.

0:35

Clerk will so note, Mr.

0:37

President.

0:37

Councilmember Angela Whitfield Callaway.

0:39

Member with Phil Callaway memo in advance indicating that she will not be present.

0:43

Clerk will so note, Mr.

0:45

President.

0:45

Council President approach him.

0:46

Hold me there on the second.

0:49

Here council president James Tate.

0:51

Here.

0:52

Mr.

0:52

President, you have a form.

0:54

Thank you so much.

0:54

Thank you, colleagues, for being here this morning.

0:56

Uh with the point present, we will now begin the session.

1:01

Before we move forward, if there's anyone from the public who would like to speak before this body, uh if you raise your hand if you would like to speak, if you have not received one of the public comment cards, please raise your hand and someone from the team will provide that to you as well.

1:14

If you are online, if you're online, if you raise your hand as well through Zoom, we will also place you in the queue.

1:22

We will be cutting off the collection of public comments very shortly.

1:26

I see him on the screen now.

1:27

I'm providing this morning's invocation.

1:28

We have none other than Pastor Nate Calwell, who serves as the senior pastor of Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church, located at 15125 Burke Road in District One.

1:40

Uh, Pastor Caldwell accepted his call to preaching into the preaching ministry, uh July of 2024, under the leadership of the late and great Dr.

1:50

James Allen Caldwell Senior of the Burnett Baptist Church.

1:54

Uh Pastor Nate Calwell is a proud member of uh BMEA, also known as Boldly Moving Education Ahead, a Detroit-based nonprofit dedicated to recruiting, developing, and retaining educators with a specific mission to transform the educational process of black and brown students.

2:13

Uh Pastor Callball has been the shepherd of Mount Vernon uh Missionary Baptist Church since January 15th, 2022.

2:22

Uh Pastor Calwell, the floor is yours.

2:24

Thank you again for joining us this morning.

2:27

Good morning.

2:28

Thank you all for this opportunity.

2:30

Uh let us pray.

2:32

Uh gracious God, our Father, we just say thank you for this day, because this is the day that you have made.

2:38

And so, Lord, we rejoice and we're glad in it.

2:40

God, we're praying that you would be with us even in this gathering and meeting of minds.

2:45

Uh God, we thank you for the city of Detroit.

2:49

Uh, thank you for where you're taking us.

2:51

God, all of those that are in leadership.

2:53

I pray that you guide us with wisdom, uh, knowledge and understanding for the betterment of people in absolutely every area of their lives.

3:03

We ask this in faith.

3:04

It's in Jesus' name we prayed.

3:06

Amen and thank God.

3:08

Thank you so much.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████████████32%
Youth Programs█████████████13%
Community Engagement████████████12%
Public Safety██████████10%
Contract Management█████████9%
Economic Development██████6%
Parks and Recreation███3%
Transportation Safety███3%
Housing███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Detroit City Council Formal Session - May 26, 2026

The Detroit City Council held a formal session on May 26, 2026, starting in the morning with a roll call followed by an invocation. The meeting included public comments, discussion of standing committee reports, and votes on contracts and resolutions. Key topics included youth programming, public safety, and property development.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Walter Brown requested additional bus benches and shelters, better grass cutting training, tree planting near Stellantis truck routes, and summer jobs for students in landscaping.
  • Denise Lomax presented 3,000 signatures and reported three children molested in her community, criticized the city’s response, and announced a community takeover initiative starting at Grand River and Plymouth.
  • Betty Lyons accused the council and former mayor Mike Duggan of corruption, mishandling property taxes, and failing Leland tenants.
  • Fidel L urged the city to open streets and parks for youth, create jobs, and redirect funding to community projects.
  • Michelle George raised concerns about salmonella from backyard chickens, pit bull ordinance enforcement, marijuana edibles packaging, and the need for more Black doctors.
  • Marshall Simons flagged a missing traffic signal at Woodward and Learned, calling for its reinstatement before summer for pedestrian safety.
  • Online Speaker Betty A. Varner (President Soda Els World Black Association) asked for fair investment in the McNichols corridor, support for a mini market with gas pumps, and a waiver of a $1,500 land use hearing fee.
  • Online Speaker Bobby Johnson argued that youth takeovers stem from lack of recreational spaces, criticized over-policing of teens, and called for more investment in youth programs.
  • Multiple other speakers addressed reparations for Black Bottom/Paradise Valley, property tax reform, affordable housing, teen takeovers, public safety in Martin Luther King Homes, and the living wage for city employees.

Discussion Items

  • Line Items 18.10 (Living Wage Increase): Deputy Budget Director Matthew Space confirmed the wage increase is budgeted in the four-year financial plan. Councilmembers discussed potential local economic benefits and retention/recruitment improvements. Approved.
  • Line Items 21.1, 21.2, 21.4 (Ambulance Contracts): Councilmember Santiago Romero moved to postpone for one week after repeated delays; Council President Tate and Pro Tem Young emphasized the need for a final vote next week. Postponed.
  • Line Item 19.7 (Summer Camp Contracts): Assistant Director Alex Weatherup confirmed zero cost for campers this year. Councilmember Johnson noted east side host sites (Camp Restore Detroit, Perfecting Church) and called for more east side options. Approved after discussion.
  • Line Item 20.3 (Junction McGraw Brownfield Redevelopment): Councilmember Santiago Romero noted robust community engagement and commitments from the developer, with no data center or ice facility use. Developer identified potential users like Ford, DTE, FedEx, GM, Lowe’s. Approved.
  • Line Item 21.12 (Request to Speak on Gas/Food Prices): Councilmember Santiago Romero opposed granting special speaking time, suggesting town halls or public comment. Pro Tem Young supported allowing extra time. Motion to approve passed; referred to Neighborhood and Community Services Standing Committee.
  • Line Item 18.5 (Legal Representation for Housing): Initially approved, then reconsidered and failed (objections from Johnson, McCampbell, Santiago Romero).
  • Reconsideration of 18.5: Motion to reconsider passed; subsequent motion to approve failed.
  • Walk-On Items: Four items added to new business, including two contracts for firehouse renovations and DPD boulevard renovation (approved), a calendar amendment for District 6 evening community meeting (approved), and a resolution for Jada’s Promise Day (referred to Public Health and Safety Committee).
  • Pro Tem Young requested a DPD report on the 25 unsolved murders in Martin Luther King Homes, including community services and trauma support. Motion to assign a memo to DPD approved.

Key Outcomes

  • Living Wage Increase (18.10): Approved. Effective July 1, 2026, as budgeted.
  • Ambulance Contracts (21.1, 21.2, 21.4): Postponed to June 2, 2026 for final vote.
  • Summer Camp Contracts (19.7): Approved; all camps free this year.
  • Junction McGraw Brownfield Plan (20.3): Approved. 400+ living-wage jobs anticipated, no data center or ice facility.
  • Zoning Amendment (20.6): Ordinance passed (5-0 roll call) to rezone properties near West Warren and I-96 to B4 and M2 districts.
  • Legal Representation Contract (18.5): Failed on reconsideration.
  • Request to Speak on Gas/Food Prices (21.12): Approved and referred to Neighborhood and Community Services Committee.
  • MLK Homes Murders Report: Memo assigned to Detroit Police Department.
  • Gun Violence Awareness Month Resolution: Referred to Public Health and Safety Committee; assignment to draft a resolution for next week approved.

Meeting Transcript

Will you please call the roll? Chairman, Mr. President. Councilmember Scott Benson. Member Benson indicated that he would not be present. Clerk will so note, Mr. President. The memo in advance. Councilmember Letitia Johnson present. Councilmember Denzel and Tom McCampbell. Present. Council Member Renata Miller. Member Miller sent the memo in advance indicating that she would not be present. Circle so note, Mr. President. Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero. Present. Councilmember Mary Waters. Member Waters in the sent the memo in advance indicating that she would not be present. Clerk will so note, Mr. President. Councilmember Angela Whitfield Callaway. Member with Phil Callaway memo in advance indicating that she will not be present. Clerk will so note, Mr. President. Council President approach him. Hold me there on the second. Here council president James Tate. Here. Mr. President, you have a form. Thank you so much. Thank you, colleagues, for being here this morning. Uh with the point present, we will now begin the session. Before we move forward, if there's anyone from the public who would like to speak before this body, uh if you raise your hand if you would like to speak, if you have not received one of the public comment cards, please raise your hand and someone from the team will provide that to you as well. If you are online, if you're online, if you raise your hand as well through Zoom, we will also place you in the queue. We will be cutting off the collection of public comments very shortly. I see him on the screen now. I'm providing this morning's invocation. We have none other than Pastor Nate Calwell, who serves as the senior pastor of Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church, located at 15125 Burke Road in District One. Uh, Pastor Caldwell accepted his call to preaching into the preaching ministry, uh July of 2024, under the leadership of the late and great Dr. James Allen Caldwell Senior of the Burnett Baptist Church. Uh Pastor Nate Calwell is a proud member of uh BMEA, also known as Boldly Moving Education Ahead, a Detroit-based nonprofit dedicated to recruiting, developing, and retaining educators with a specific mission to transform the educational process of black and brown students. Uh Pastor Callball has been the shepherd of Mount Vernon uh Missionary Baptist Church since January 15th, 2022. Uh Pastor Calwell, the floor is yours. Thank you again for joining us this morning. Good morning. Thank you all for this opportunity. Uh let us pray. Uh gracious God, our Father, we just say thank you for this day, because this is the day that you have made.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com