Detroit City Council Budget and Finance Committee Meeting - June 3, 2026
Detroit City Council Budget and Finance Committee Meeting - June 3, 2026
The Budget and Finance Committee of the Detroit City Council met on June 3, 2026, at 1:00 PM (presumed) to discuss a range of items including contract amendments, a Neighborhood Enterprise Zone (NEZ) certificate request, budget memos, and public comments. The meeting was chaired by Councilmember Anton McCampbell, with Vice Chair Letitia Johnson and Councilmember Mary Waters present. Several items were deferred to future meetings for further information, while key contracts and the NEZ application were approved.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Land Bank and Property Rights: A speaker criticized the Detroit Land Bank Authority for allegedly taking property without just compensation, referencing a federal class-action lawsuit. They argued the state Land Bank Act prohibits eminent domain, and urged council to stop the practice.
- Property Maintenance: Another speaker expressed frustration with vacant lots and contaminated dirt, calling for urgent action and questioning the effectiveness of PILOT programs and tax breaks.
- Voter Fraud Allegation: A speaker claimed absentee ballot fraud in recent Detroit elections, demanding the elections director be called to testify.
- Community Announcements: Multiple speakers shared information about free haircut programs, senior support, and veteran discounts, and requested improved transparency (e.g., posting transcripts online).
- Housing and Land Bank: One speaker urged the council to transfer city-owned homes to residents who have maintained them for years.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the May 20, 2026, meeting were approved by unanimous consent.
Discussion Items
- Contract Amendment – Keen Mass Appraisal (Item 6.1): Deputy CFO and Assessor Alvin Horn presented a one-year, no-cost extension (ending June 14, 2027) to validate regression valuation models and train city staff. The contract, originally from June 2023, supports the property tax reform ordinance and mayor's executive order. Councilmembers questioned the vendor's familiarity with Detroit and the connection to the IAAO study. The item was approved as amended (original contract number 6005272-A1).
- Auto Wash Service Contracts (Items 6.2 and 6.3): Two contracts for fleet vehicle washing were discussed: Downtown Auto Wash ($383,532) and Star Auto Wash ($138,780), both for two years. Councilmembers inquired about geographic equity, noting a lack of east-side vendors. Raymond Green from OCP stated the city is actively seeking additional east-side vendors. Both contracts were approved.
- NEZ Certificate – David Whitney Building (Item 6.5): The Roxbury Group seeks approval for 79 condo units (former apartments) in the historic David Whitney Building. The building previously had an Oprah abatement that burned off at end of 2025; the hotel portion now pays full taxes (~$1M/year). The NEZ would freeze building-assessment portions for owner-occupied units. Councilmembers questioned workforce details, parking, and public benefit. The developer noted union labor and voluntary 20% affordable set-aside in the past. Approved.
- Budget Memos and Deferrals (Items 5.1-5.12): Several budget memos from Councilmember McCampbell and others were introduced and deferred to future meetings (ranging from one to three weeks) to allow for additional information, especially from the Office of Budget and LPD.
- Media Services Budget Questions (Items 6.6-6.8): Memos from Councilmembers Benson, Waters, and Johnson regarding the Media Services Department budget were received and filed.
- Public Safety Fee Calculation (Item 6.9): A memo from Vice Chair Johnson requesting information on how public safety fees for large events are calculated was deferred for one week.
Key Outcomes
- Approved: Item 6.1 (Keen Mass Appraisal contract amendment) moved to formal with recommendation to approve as amended.
- Approved: Items 6.2 and 6.3 (auto wash contracts) moved to formal with recommendation to approve.
- Approved: Item 6.5 (NEZ certificate for David Whitney Building condos) moved to formal with recommendation to approve.
- Removed from Agenda: Item 6.4 (duplicate of 6.1) was removed.
- Received and Filed: Items 6.6, 6.7, 6.8 (Media Services budget memos).
- Deferred: Items 5.1-5.12 (various budget memos) and 6.9 (public safety fee info) to future meetings.
- Adjourned: Motion carried unanimously.
Meeting Transcript
26 to order where the clerk please call the role. Councilmember the Anton McCampbell. Present. Councilmember Letitia Johnson. Present. Councilmember Mary Waters. Mr. Chair, you have a quorum present. Thank you so much, ma'am. Clerk. That'll move us on to the approval of the minutes. Uh members of the committee should have received received the minutes. And with that, is there approval of the May 20th, 2026? Motion to approve. Thank you so much, Vice Chair Johnson. With that, see no objections, the minutes should stand approved. For chair remarks, I would just say I thank everyone for bearing with us on the uh tech side of issues that we're having. Just for folks to know if you are watching virtually through channel 10 of streaming. Um, we actually do have capabilities now for you to join via Zoom and different public comment if you would like. Um so with that, so with that, if folks are joining us virtually and watching streaming, uh, give you a moment to join via public comment. So I will close uh public comment. Well, we'll move on to that, but we will leave it open for a little bit um so you can join right now. Right now. So if you would like to give virtual public comment, please join via the Zoom link. But with that, that'll move us on to public comment. We'll open up public comment. Request for public comment will close at 119. Please limit your remarks to two minutes. We'll start with those in the room. And for those participating remotely, as you get over to Zoom, please do use the raise hand feature and you will be called in order. I believe we have um one person here in person for public comment. If you want to come forward, Miss Ward. Oh testing one, two, three. It'd be nice if you could make sure the sound works well throughout this here. Hold on one second. I'm actually need to move to this first one. Okay. That that mic works pretty well. All right, all right. That didn't work as well. Hello? This one? No. No. This one. Which one? Hello? That doesn't hear? It's doesn't look like that. Is there some reason I can't use that mic?
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