Detroit City Council Formal Session Summary - June 2, 2026
Detroit City Council Formal Session Summary – June 2, 2026
The Detroit City Council held its formal session on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. The meeting began with the approval of the journal from May 19, 2026, and an invocation by Pastor Matthew Jones of the Fountain of Truth Christian Centers (District Four). A key presentation on the Plan Detroit master plan update was delivered by the Planning and Development Department. The council also considered EMS ambulance contracts, adopted resolutions, set a public hearing, and heard extensive public comment.
Consent Calendar
- Journal of the session of Tuesday, May 19, 2026, was approved.
- Routine referrals of reports from various city departments to standing committees were made.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Cassie Jones McBride (Western Wayne County NAACP) thanked council for advancing a resolution recognizing post-traumatic prison disorder.
- Shawana Vaughn (Silent Cry) urged passage of the resolution, calling it her "life’s work."
- Jacqueline Robinson (COO, People’s Action): Supported recognizing incarceration-related trauma as essential for healing and public safety.
- Yusuf Qualls – Shared personal story of 28 years in prison; stressed need for mental health services for returning citizens.
- Angela Davenport (Executive Director, Voting Access for All Coalition): Supported the resolution, noting trauma often goes unrecognized in reentry.
- Ulrico Welch – Requested street naming for Nazi Harris and a day of commemoration for children harmed by caregivers.
- Darius Barron – Returning citizen who served 35 years; said nobody had asked about his mental health since release 21 days ago.
- Shaw Williams – Alleged corruption and illegal voting; called for enforcement of laws.
- Fidel L – Criticized the water drain-off fee; accused council of ignoring residents.
- Betty A. Varner (President, Soda Elsworth Block Association) – Supported a proposed mini-market with gas pumps at Fenkell and Wyoming, calling the area a food desert. Asked for redevelopment of the Fenkell Corridor and elimination of land use hearing fees.
- Pastor Lorenzo Sewell (Win Eddy Church) – Accused council of misappropriating funds, giving money to suburban billionaires instead of Detroit residents. Called for a movement to reclaim city resources.
- Josh Mann – Opposed Flock license plate readers and AI surveillance, citing privacy and security concerns.
- Simone Wilkes – Asked council to support Section 8 voucher holders becoming homeowners and address high car insurance costs.
- Online callers: Several urged support for the post-traumatic prison disorder resolution; others raised issues including property tax overcharges, city retirees’ pension cuts, master plan engagement concerns, and complaints about noise from Riverview Rehab.
Discussion Items
- Plan Detroit Master Plan Update – Deputy Director Dara O’Byrne and Project Manager Julie Connecticut presented the quarterly update. They reported over 800 participants in district place-types meetings and additional stakeholder interviews with Hispanic, Bengali, Caribbean, disability, youth, and parent groups. The final draft plan and map will be released for a required 63-day public comment period before going to the Planning Commission and then City Council.
- EMS Supplemental Contracts (17.1 – 17.3) – Three contracts for private ambulance services (Superior Air Ground Ambulance, Hart EMS, American EMS) totaling over $5 million. Fire Department Deputy Commissioner Hellman confirmed a potential 2-year timeline to purchase ambulances and estimated a $50 million increase over 4 years to bring EMS in-house. Council debated outsourcing vs. in-house services and protections for residents from ambulance debt.
- Post-Traumatic Prison Disorder Resolution (17.4) – Acknowledges trauma from incarceration and supports policies for trauma-focused therapy, stable housing, and re-entry programs. Sponsored by Councilmember McCampbell.
- Youth Curfew Ordinance (18.5) – A one-day curfew for fireworks (June 22 with a weather make-up date). Reported out of committee without recommendation; concerns raised about impact on 16- and 17-year-olds.
- Public Hearing Set (18.6) – For the curfew ordinance, initially date to be determined; later amended to June 15, 2026.
Key Outcomes
- Line items 17.1 – 17.3 (EMS contracts): Approved 6-1-0. Objections from members Calloway and Miller. Waiver request objected to by same members; motion failed.
- Line item 17.4 (Post-Traumatic Prison Disorder Resolution): Approved unanimously. Councilmember Young joined as co-sponsor.
- Line item 18.5 (Youth Curfew Ordinance): Approved on first reading. A public hearing was set for June 15, 2026 (18.6).
- Planning Department: Directed to continue engagement and provide updated maps and policies.
- Request for Cost-Benefit Analysis (City Club Apartments): Motion by Councilmember Johnson passed without objection.
- Adjournment: Council adjourned at an unspecified time.
Other Actions
- Walk-on Items: Approved without objection:
- Recognizing June as Gun Violence Awareness Month.
- Resolution in support of the “Let There Be Light Gateway” campaign for the Eight Mile-Greenfield intersection.
- Recognizing June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month.
- Memorandum to LPD to draft a buffer zone ordinance for health clinics (referred to Public Health & Safety).
- Appointments and Resignations: None noted.
- Media Services Issue: Deputy Director Cochrane reported a hardware failure affecting Zoom for public comment; vendor expected Thursday, June 4. Meetings would proceed with in-person testimony only until fixed.
- Waivers: Approved for items 18.2, 18.3, 18.7–18.10, and the Let There Be Light Gateway resolution.
- Items Removed: 18.11 removed from agenda after being addressed as 17.4 (amended resolution).
Meeting Transcript
Letisha Johnson present. Councilmember Denzel and Tom McCampbell. Council Member Reneda Miller. Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero. Member Santiago Romero sent a memo indicating that she would be absent or absences, excuse. Clerk will so note Mr. President. Thank you. Councilmember Mary Waters. Present. Councilmember Angela Whitfield Callaway. Council President Pro Tim Coleman Ayon the second. Here. Council President James Tate. Here. Mr. President, you have a quorum. Thank you, ma'am. We have a quorum, which means we're now in session. If anyone would like to provide a comment to this body during this meeting, please raise your hand now. Someone from the team will come by and provide you with a comment card. Keep those hands raised, please, so they can know who you are. They will provide you with a comment card. You will have an opportunity to speak before this body if you are online right now at home. Please raise your hand as well. We will place you in the queue because we will be cutting off the collection of public comment cards momentarily. We will now begin this morning's invitation. We have with us none other than uh Pastor Matthew Jones of the Fountain of Truth Christian Centers located at nine page zero one we district district four teaching men and women how to walk in power and victory when over others by their witness. Come on down. Come on down. Finish it. There you go. Appreciate you, sir. Thank you for being here. Let us pray. Father, we thank you for opportunity to gather it here today. Thank you that it would not just be another day for now coming. Coming together, Father, but that it shall be a day where decisions are made that will impact us for many days to come. God, we ask that you touch each and every member of this council, every person who is assigned to lead and to guide us. Father, let them serve with integrity. When your word says, when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice. And Father, let us all hear. Those on Council Lord God and those representing the community, Father, let us listen to each other with empathy. Because we all have a valid perspective. We all have an interest. And Father, let us all come together in unity and purpose to take Detroit where it needs to be. Father, we thank you that we will hear each other, we will understand, and that we will make decisions that shall benefit our kids, our children, our children's children, Father, and get Detroit to be who you've called it to be. A place of place of redemption, a place a place of prospering, a place of love, and a place that brings you glory. We give you praise, we give you honor, and we give you glory. It is in your son, Jesus' name.
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