Detroit City Council Committee Meeting Summary: June 1, 2026
Detroit City Council Committee Meeting Summary: June 1, 2026
The Detroit City Council Committee met on June 1, 2026 to discuss a range of legislative items, including contracts, public safety technology, and a proposed emergency curfew ordinance for the annual fireworks display. The meeting featured detailed discussions on gunshot detection technology, responses to youth curfew concerns, and updates on city software systems. Several items were deferred for further review or public comment.
Consent Calendar
- Unfinished business items 5.2 (demolition contract) and 5.3 (DPD uniforms) were brought back for one week.
- Items 5.4 (hydrogen fuel buses report), 5.5, 5.6 (pre-sale inspection ordinance), 5.8 (DPD storage requirements), and 5.9 (Lee Plaza encroachments) were also deferred for one to three weeks.
- Items 5.7, 5.10, 5.11, 5.13–5.15, 5.16, and 5.17 were received and filed without discussion.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Virtual public comment was moved to the end of the agenda due to ongoing audio issues on Zoom; no virtual comments were heard before the meeting recessed.
Discussion Items
- Contract 5.1 (Contaminated Dirt) – Sent back from formal session for a closed session discussion; the committee deferred it to a future date (TBD).
- Contract 5.12 (Gunshot Detection Technology Extension) – A nine-month, $2 million extension with SoundThinking, starting July 1, 2026. Representatives from DPD and the vendor defended the technology, citing reduced response times (down to 6 minutes 49 seconds after removing outliers) and a 50% reduction in gunshot incidents in the 9th Precinct. Concerns raised by Chair McCampbell included the lack of a public audit, unknown sensor locations, and data retention by a third party. DPD confirmed that sensors only record one second before and after a detected gunshot, audio is stored in Oregon, and all data is deleted within 60 days of contract termination. DPD officers gave emotional testimony about lives saved due to rapid alerts, while the chair emphasized the need for preventive measures alongside detection. The item was deferred for one week to allow public comment.
- Item 6.19 (Fireworks Curfew Ordinance) – A proposed emergency ordinance for the June 22, 2026 Detroit Fireworks, establishing a superseding curfew at 8 p.m. for minors under 18 in a defined downtown area. DPD and the Law Department stressed it is identical to previous years and not related to recent teen takeovers. Council Member Waters strongly opposed the blanket age limit, arguing it punishes responsible 16- and 17-year-olds and that officers should focus on bad actors. Chair McCampbell echoed concerns about the message sent to youth, especially those who are caregivers. DPD clarified that curfew enforcement is secondary to other disorderly conduct. The committee voted to send the item to new business for introduction and public hearing scheduling with no recommendation.
- Item 6.1 (Building Permitting Software Renewal) – A two-year renewal of a licensing and permitting software system (Citysourced), valued at $1.78 million increase for a total of $5.18 million. BSEED General Manager James Foster explained the software enabled same-day permits and will be evaluated for an enterprise-wide solution. The committee approved the item and moved it to new business.
Key Outcomes
- Contract 5.12 deferred one week for public comment; chair committed to moving it out of committee before contract expiration.
- Item 6.19 forwarded to new business for introduction and public hearing with no recommendation.
- Item 6.1 approved and moved to new business.
- Virtual public comment postponed to next meeting due to technical issues.
Meeting Transcript
Council member Mary Waters. Present three have a corn. Thank you so much, Madam Clerk. So just to give folks an idea of how this will look. Just an update on things. We still have not solved the issue on the Zoom or folks being able to hear on Zoom. So what we're going to do moving forward for those who have joined us. So just one thing. Folks can act can watch on channel 10 to hear that audio is working on broadcast. Also online through the link on the city of the city council's website. So folks are able to hear us if they're watching through that streaming link. So we'll move forward for now. Hopefully, at some point, this will the audio will come back on. But we I know we have various folks from various departments. We'll hear from you all. If it's the will of the committee to bring some of these items back, I would look favorably upon that. But with that, just so we can make sure we are stand with the order. Is there a motion to move the virtual public comment to the end of the agenda in case it comes back online? Motion. There's been a motion to move public comment to the end of the agenda for our virtual folks. Uh seeing no objections, the action shall be taken. That'll move us on to unfinished business. Um 5.1 is from the Office of Contracting and Procurement. This is contract number 600 6589-A1. Um to amend a contract with Manick and Smith Group Incorporated. This was a contract that was moved back or sent back from formal session with the understanding that uh is the will of the city council to have a closed session around the contaminated dirt um and the overall plan there. So if is there a motion to bring this back uh TBD for 5.1? Motion. There's been a motion to bring back 5.1 TBD for that time period. Seeing no objections, that action shall be taken. Uh that'll move us on to 5.2 and 5.3. Um, these both are just over check. These both are uh demolition contracts. And um 5.2 is a demolition contract, so I'll just take these up one by one. Um the office of contracting and procurement. Um we've been asked to bring back 5.2 for one week. Motion. There's been a motion to bring back 5.2 in one week. Seeing no objections, the action shall be taken. 5.3. Uh it's also from the office of contracting procurement related to uniforms for DPD. We've been asked to bring this also back in one week. Is there a motion? Motion. There's a motion to bring back 5.3 in one week. Um 5.4 is from member Whitfield Callaway's office a memo relative to the request for report concerning hydrogen field buses. We've been asked to bring 5.4 back in three weeks. Is there a motion? Motion. It's been a motion to bring back 5.4 in three weeks, seeing no objections.
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