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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

June 15, 2026 Detroit City Council Committee: Solar Farm, Curfew, Contracts

City Council — Monday, June 15, 2026

BodyDetroit, Michigan

SessionCity Council

DateMonday, June 15, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:10:46

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:00

June 15th, 2026 to order.

0:03

May the clerk please call the role.

0:04

Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero.

0:07

Uh Councilmember Santiago Gramara has indicated she would be out today and her absence is excused.

0:12

So noted, Mr.

0:13

Chair.

0:14

Councilmember Denzel and Thomas Campbell.

0:16

Present.

0:16

Councilmember May Waters.

0:18

President, Mr.

0:19

Chair, you have a corn president.

0:20

Thank you so much, Madam Clerk.

0:21

That will move us on to the approval of the minutes.

0:24

Members of the community should have received a copy of the minutes from the June 8th, 2026 meeting with us.

0:31

There are motion to approve.

0:32

Motion to approve.

0:33

There's been a motion to approve the minutes from June 8th.

0:37

See no objections that actually shall be taken.

0:42

Just to note this is for general public comment, and we will close public comment at uh 10 fifth request for public comment at 1015.

0:51

If you'd like to give public comment for the 1045 a.m.

0:54

public hearing, you can do so then.

0:56

Um for general public comment, please limit your remarks to two minutes.

1:00

We'll start with those in the room and for those participating remotely.

1:04

Please use the reason raise hand function and you will be called in order.

1:09

And for here in pu in person for public comment, I see we have a list of folks so far.

1:16

Um we'll start with in person and then we'll go to virtual.

1:20

First, we'll start with uh Jameer Moses, followed by Reginald Carney, followed by Tanay Haskins.

1:28

Hankins.

1:29

Thank you.

1:33

Good morning.

1:34

You have two minutes.

1:35

Good morning.

1:36

Can you hear me?

1:37

Yes, we can.

1:37

I am here to make a public comment in support of the amendment for the DTE solar farm.

1:43

Um DTE has been using very responsible contractors that have been employing a lot of Detroiters on these jobs.

1:52

My local Union 1191, we've been on the boulevard for a long time.

1:56

We are very active in the community, and we support what is going on in these blighted areas.

2:02

DTE has been very responsible with making sure people have the proper training and people have the opportunity to come work on these jobs.

2:12

The Detroiters that we send there to work are very excited.

2:15

They're very happy to be there, and they're glad that something is being done with that blighted community that's over there.

2:21

So please allow this amendment to go through and support and make sure that DTE can continue this work that they are doing our community because it's badly, badly needed.

2:30

Thank you.

2:31

Thank you so much.

2:32

And thank you for being down here.

2:34

Uh next we'll have uh Reginald Carney.

2:45

Good morning.

2:46

And you just press the button there.

2:48

Yeah.

2:48

Good morning.

2:50

Uh I'm also in favor of the amendments that has been proposed.

2:55

Um I think DTE is in a great place to continue this project as they have been continuing doing projects uh at this present time.

3:06

So it's very important that we have uh responsible contracting, responsible contractors used on these projects.

3:15

So, yes, I'm in favor, and I wish you uh guys would do the same as well.

3:20

Thank you.

3:20

Thanks for coming down.

3:22

Next we'll have Miss Tanay Hankins.

3:36

Morning.

3:37

Good morning.

3:38

I is my understanding this opportunity to take uh make a comment about the suggested change in the curfew uh for the uh fireworks.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Public Safety████████████████████████████████32%

Procedural███████████████████19%

Youth Programs███████████████15%

Economic Development█████████9%

Environmental Protection████████8%

Public Engagement█████5%

Zoning and Land Use██2%

Contract Management██2%

Engineering And Infrastructure██2%

Summary of Proceedings

June 15, 2026 Detroit City Council Committee Meeting Summary

The Detroit City Council committee met on June 15, 2026, to discuss multiple agenda items including an amendment to the DTE solar farm project, an emergency ordinance adjusting the curfew for the annual fireworks display, and several infrastructure contracts. Public comment was heard on both the solar farm and curfew issues, with strong opinions on both sides. The committee advanced several items to the full council.

Public Comments & Testimony

DTE Solar Farm Amendment: Multiple speakers expressed support, including Jameer Moses (union member, Local 1191), Reginald Carney, Scott Allen Davis (SEAL LLC), Synia Williams (IBEW Local 58), Sandra Turner (community leader), Diane Van Buren (co-chair of Green Task Force), and Diane Checklich (District 6 resident). They highlighted job creation for Detroiters, blight removal, community upgrades, and renewable energy benefits. Opponents included Jadante Smith (objected to eminent domain and use of private land), Yvette Williams (family property affected by condemnation), and a speaker identifying as "stop black bottoming residents" who argued the project illegally uses a blight definition to take property. Others raised concerns about contaminated soil, contractor responsibility, and lack of transparency.
Fireworks Curfew Ordinance: During the 10:45 a.m. public hearing, many speakers opposed the proposed 8 p.m. curfew for minors on fireworks day. Critics included Jadante Smith (unfair to youth, especially homeless), Sheila Ward (criminalizes youth, lack of alternatives), Mr. Foster (asks for resources like free rides), owner Papa (find inclusive alternatives), Susan Stegerwalt (studies show curfews ineffective), Tahira Ahmad (stop criminalizing), and others. Support came from Betty A. Varner (wants family safety) and William M. Davis (wants clear definition of responsible adult).

Discussion Items

Emergency Curfew Ordinance (Chapter 29 amendment): Graham Anderson (Law Department) and AC Hayes (DPD) presented the annual request to set a curfew for minors starting at 8 p.m. on June 22, 2026 (fireworks date) in a bounded downtown area. They argued it helps DPD manage safety, citing that in 2025 there were 156 juvenile citations, 126 parent citations, and 18 juveniles carrying firearms. They emphasized that the ordinance penalizes parents, not minors. Councilmember Waters expressed discomfort with restricting youth but acknowledged the need for parental accountability. Chair Campbell questioned the rise in citations and suggested involving youth events like Occupy the Summer. The committee ultimately moved the ordinance to full council without recommendation.
DTE Solar Farm Amendment (Items 6.5, 6.6): The committee discussed transferring the solar park account to DTE. Councilmember Campbell noted concerns about the number of Detroiters employed (below 51% expectation) and asked DTE to provide a list of potential jobs. Member Waters requested job details. The items were sent to new business with a recommendation to approve.
Water Infrastructure Contracts (Items 7.2 and 7.3): Deputy Director Sam Smalley and Sonali Patel (DWSD) presented two contracts: $28.8 million for emergency sewer repairs citywide and $12.8 million for water main replacement in Palmer Park, Denby, and Maple Ridge. They noted the contractors are Detroit-based. The committee asked for breakdowns on union labor and Detroiters employed. Items were sent to new business with recommendation to approve.
Fire Prevention Ordinance (Item 7.5): A proposed ordinance to amend emergency service cost recovery and add EMS cost recovery. Referred to the law department for review and to return in three weeks.
Other Items: Traffic speed cushion contract (Item 7.4) brought back in one week; dangerous building findings (Item 7.6) brought back in one week; multiple grants (Items 7.7-7.13) approved and sent to new business; encroachment petitions (Items 7.15-7.16) approved; DDOT quarterly report (Item 7.17) brought back in three weeks; resolutions for Immigrant Heritage Month and African American Music Month (Items 7.18 and 7.19) handled (7.19 brought back in one week).

Key Outcomes

Fireworks Curfew: Emergency ordinance sent to full council without recommendation for deliberation on June 16.
DTE Solar Farm: Items 6.5 and 6.6 approved by committee and sent to new business with recommendation to approve. DTE to provide job list.
Water Contracts (7.2, 7.3): Sent to new business with recommendation to approve. Additional job and union data requested.
Fire Prevention Ordinance (7.5): Referred to law department for three-week review.
Various Contracts and Grants: Approved or rescheduled as noted above.
Member Reports: Announced Skilled Trades Task Force meeting June 17 and District 7 Juneteenth celebration June 20.

Meeting Transcript

June 15th, 2026 to order. May the clerk please call the role. Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero. Uh Councilmember Santiago Gramara has indicated she would be out today and her absence is excused. So noted, Mr. Chair. Councilmember Denzel and Thomas Campbell. Present. Councilmember May Waters. President, Mr. Chair, you have a corn president. Thank you so much, Madam Clerk. That will move us on to the approval of the minutes. Members of the community should have received a copy of the minutes from the June 8th, 2026 meeting with us. There are motion to approve. Motion to approve. There's been a motion to approve the minutes from June 8th. See no objections that actually shall be taken. Just to note this is for general public comment, and we will close public comment at uh 10 fifth request for public comment at 1015. If you'd like to give public comment for the 1045 a.m. public hearing, you can do so then. Um for general public comment, please limit your remarks to two minutes. We'll start with those in the room and for those participating remotely. Please use the reason raise hand function and you will be called in order. And for here in pu in person for public comment, I see we have a list of folks so far. Um we'll start with in person and then we'll go to virtual. First, we'll start with uh Jameer Moses, followed by Reginald Carney, followed by Tanay Haskins. Hankins. Thank you. Good morning. You have two minutes. Good morning. Can you hear me? Yes, we can. I am here to make a public comment in support of the amendment for the DTE solar farm. Um DTE has been using very responsible contractors that have been employing a lot of Detroiters on these jobs. My local Union 1191, we've been on the boulevard for a long time. We are very active in the community, and we support what is going on in these blighted areas. DTE has been very responsible with making sure people have the proper training and people have the opportunity to come work on these jobs. The Detroiters that we send there to work are very excited. They're very happy to be there, and they're glad that something is being done with that blighted community that's over there. So please allow this amendment to go through and support and make sure that DTE can continue this work that they are doing our community because it's badly, badly needed. Thank you. Thank you so much. And thank you for being down here. Uh next we'll have uh Reginald Carney. Good morning. And you just press the button there. Yeah. Good morning.

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