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Record of Proceedings

Internal Operations Standing Committee Meeting - June 3, 2026

City Council — Wednesday, June 3, 2026
BodyDetroit, Michigan
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, June 3, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:46:11

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:14

We will get started.

0:16

And we now have a forum and the chair has arrived.

0:21

Clerk will still not remember Benson.

0:26

We just called an order.

0:28

We now have a line item number one.

0:31

Okay.

0:42

Madam Chair, good housekeeping from my colleagues, all the microphones all the time.

0:47

We are especially consciously conscious now.

0:50

Everything can be recorded as well.

0:52

So any chatter from the gallery silence silently have already let everybody you know if the gallery cannot report itself or itself.

1:01

That member will be removed from the gallery from the gallery.

1:04

Thank you, Member Benson.

1:06

And good morning, everyone.

1:07

And welcome.

1:08

I'm just gonna look at this real quick.

1:10

Welcome to the internal operations standing committee meeting.

1:14

It is due to the okay.

1:18

All right.

1:19

Welcome to the internal operations standing committee meeting.

1:23

And it is Wednesday and it is June the third.

1:27

All righty, and Miss Um JC, if you can turn off the public comment.

1:32

Public comment is now.

1:34

We're not having public comment anyway.

1:36

Virtually, because the system is down, is that correct?

1:40

Technical difficulties?

1:41

We've made the corrections.

1:42

Oh, this is part of that correction.

1:44

Oh, cool.

1:45

Okay, all right.

1:45

So public comment is now closed off.

1:47

It is 1004.

1:48

Public comment is now closed off.

1:50

Is there anyone here in the chambers who would like to make public comment?

1:55

Just raise your hand.

1:57

Okay.

1:58

Okay.

1:58

I'll identify you in a minute.

2:01

If the clerk can so call the role.

2:05

The clerk has called the role.

2:06

Do the chair have called the role.

2:08

Okay.

2:08

Okay.

2:08

Can you note that member Miller is here?

2:12

Thank you so much.

2:13

And um, we're gonna skip the invocation.

2:15

Is there a motion for the approval of the minutes?

2:18

Motion.

2:19

Okay, any objections?

2:20

Hearing on that action shall be taken.

2:22

There are zero chair remarks.

2:25

And we will now go to public comment.

2:28

If you are here, please take the microphone.

2:29

You can press the button at the bottom of the base.

2:32

It'll turn green, and you you will have two minutes if you can identify yourself for the record.

2:37

And good morning.

2:38

Good morning.

2:39

Good morning, Detroit D5 resident Joanne Warwick.

2:43

Is there some reason the all the Grand Prix bear page are still up?

2:48

Um anyway, here today to uh discuss the Detroit Land Bank Authority and to make sure that the nominee currently the City of Detroit and the Detroit Land Bank Authority are being sued in a class action lawsuit in the Eastern District Federal Court here in Detroit for the illegal nuisance abatement program, which Mr.

3:11

Scott Benson, Mary Shaffield, and James Tate all voted for it.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Land Bank██████████████████████████████30%
Procedural██████████████████18%
Housing█████████████████17%
Community Engagement████████████████16%
Pending Litigation█████████9%
Contract Management█████5%
Homelessness█1%
Blight█1%
Public Transit█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Internal Operations Standing Committee Meeting - June 3, 2026

The Internal Operations Standing Committee met on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 10:04 AM to consider multiple appointments, settlements, contracts, and other business. The meeting featured public comments on land bank issues and tenant rights, followed by interviews for nominees to the Detroit Land Bank Authority and the Tenants Rights Commission. Several settlements were approved or postponed for further review.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Joanne Warwick (Detroit D5 resident) criticized the Detroit Land Bank Authority, citing a class action lawsuit over the nuisance abatement program and lack of transparency. She also questioned lobbyist spending and the absence of a right to counsel for property owners losing land to solar farms.
  • Ronald Foster spoke about inappropriate relationships in government, urging officials to listen to the community and ensure appointees can articulate visions.
  • Tanisia Sanders (D1 resident, outreach commissioner on the Tenants Rights Commission) expressed concerns about a mayoral appointee to the Tenants Rights Commission and called for a collective plan to address homelessness.
  • Betty A. Varner (president of Soda Elsewhere Block Association) announced free haircut programs for youth, seniors, and veterans at D's Corner Unisex Salon.
  • William M. Davis encouraged voter turnout, especially among young people.
  • Ona Popper raised issues about lawsuits, the Qline, immunity for officials, and toxic dirt holes requiring cleanup.
  • Angela (caller) made allegations of voter fraud and threatened to expose officials.
  • Ms. Shea requested more notices for art fairs in Palmer Park, improved bus routes, and stop building and safety retaliation against tenants.
  • Mr. Smith criticized demolitions of habitable homes, land bank practices, absentee ballot irregularities, and zoning issues.

Discussion Items

Appointments Interviews

  • Erica Hill (nominee to Detroit Land Bank Authority, nominated by Councilmember Benson): Discussed her 20+ years of city service, community engagement on Spirit Plaza, and plans to improve transparency, resident education, and a point system to favor local bidders. She committed to keeping council informed. Motion to bring back in one week passed.
  • Princess Brown (nominee to Tenants Rights Commission, district 4 appointment): A registered nurse and case manager, she shared her experience of illegal eviction and desire to educate tenants. Councilmember Miller objected to an email from the commission president suggesting prior consultation, calling it a dictatorship. Motion to bring back date to be determined passed after clarifying it was a council appointment.
  • Krista Pate (nominee to Detroit Land Bank Authority, nominated by Councilmember Johnson): A former land bank banker who founded several programs (Own It Now, Side Lot improvements), she emphasized financial self-sufficiency, reducing sold-but-not-compliant homes, and reviewing program bottlenecks. Motion to bring back in one week passed.

Settlements and Contracts

  • 9.1 Settlement ($45,000, police): Approved.
  • 9.2 Catherine Richardson appointment to Tenants Rights Commission: Brought back in one week.
  • 9.3 Councilmember McCampbell memo on Community Advisory Council rules: Brought back in two weeks (LPD request).
  • 9.4 Councilmember Waters memo on mayoral appointments to Tenants Rights Commission: Brought back in two weeks.
  • 9.5 Councilmember McCampbell memo on data-sharing contracts: Brought back in one week.
  • 9.6 Settlement Quinnetta Anderson ($200,000, police): Councilmember Miller expressed concerns; motion to bring back in one week.
  • 9.7 Councilmember Benson memo on estate planning program income eligibility: Brought back in four weeks.
  • 10.1 Contract increase ($210,000): Brought back in one week.
  • 10.2 IT asset disposal contract (Troy, MI, $0 city cost): Removed from agenda at administration's request.
  • 10.3 Right to Counsel grant extension (legal representation for eviction cases): Approved.
  • 10.4 Motorola radio system contract ($16 million, 5 years): After questioning Public Safety IT Director Robert Millinder, moved to formal with recommendation for approval.
  • 10.5 Additional funding for legal counsel in eviction cases (federal grant): Brought back in one week, with request for in-person presentation from law department.
  • 10.6 Settlement Shakira Cooper ($600,000, alleged injuries): Approved.
  • 10.7 Legal questions on acquisition of 400 Bagley (Leland House): Brought back in one week.
  • 10.8 Settlement Allstate vs. City ($10,000, DOT): Approved.
  • 10.9 Settlement Patricia Duncan ($50,000, police): Approved.
  • 10.10 Settlement Antonita Fleming ($15,000, DOT): Approved.
  • 10.11 Settlement Brian Diaz ($5,000,000, DOT): Brought back in one week for further discussion.
  • 10.12 Settlement Joshua Heard estate ($40,000, police): Approved.
  • 10.13 Settlement Heather Price ($25,000, DOT): Approved.
  • 10.14 Indemnification for John Roach (Media Services): Approved.
  • 10.15 Representation for paramedic David Ghesquiere: Approved.
  • 10.16 Settlement Gerard Townsend ($12,000, DOT): Approved.
  • 10.17 Settlement Scott Geronda (representing estate, $22,500, DOT): Approved.
  • 10.18 Detroit Land Bank appointment (Jayvon Glenn): Sent to formal.
  • 10.19 Detroit Right to Counsel grant ($1.5 million): Approved.
  • 10.20 Michigan Urban Youth Alliance charitable gaming license: Approved.
  • 10.21 Detroit Festival of Books charitable gaming license: Approved.
  • 10.22 Closed session request (Gayanga vs. City of Detroit): Moved to formal, scheduled for June 16.

Key Outcomes

  • Erica Hill nomination to Detroit Land Bank Authority brought back in one week.
  • Princess Brown nomination to Tenants Rights Commission brought back date to be determined.
  • Krista Pate nomination to Detroit Land Bank Authority brought back in one week.
  • Motorola contract ($16M) moved to formal for approval.
  • Multiple settlements approved: 9.1, 10.3, 10.6, 10.8, 10.9, 10.10, 10.12, 10.13, 10.14, 10.15, 10.16, 10.17, 10.19, 10.20, 10.21.
  • Several items brought back for further review: 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5, 9.6, 9.7, 10.1, 10.5, 10.7, 10.11.
  • Closed session on Gayanga lawsuit scheduled for June 16, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

We will get started. And we now have a forum and the chair has arrived. Clerk will still not remember Benson. We just called an order. We now have a line item number one. Okay. Madam Chair, good housekeeping from my colleagues, all the microphones all the time. We are especially consciously conscious now. Everything can be recorded as well. So any chatter from the gallery silence silently have already let everybody you know if the gallery cannot report itself or itself. That member will be removed from the gallery from the gallery. Thank you, Member Benson. And good morning, everyone. And welcome. I'm just gonna look at this real quick. Welcome to the internal operations standing committee meeting. It is due to the okay. All right. Welcome to the internal operations standing committee meeting. And it is Wednesday and it is June the third. All righty, and Miss Um JC, if you can turn off the public comment. Public comment is now. We're not having public comment anyway. Virtually, because the system is down, is that correct? Technical difficulties? We've made the corrections. Oh, this is part of that correction. Oh, cool. Okay, all right. So public comment is now closed off. It is 1004. Public comment is now closed off. Is there anyone here in the chambers who would like to make public comment? Just raise your hand. Okay. Okay. I'll identify you in a minute. If the clerk can so call the role. The clerk has called the role. Do the chair have called the role. Okay. Okay. Can you note that member Miller is here? Thank you so much. And um, we're gonna skip the invocation. Is there a motion for the approval of the minutes? Motion. Okay, any objections? Hearing on that action shall be taken. There are zero chair remarks.

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