We have quorum.

Right, madam chair, and the chair has now joined us, so yes.

Good morning, madam chair.

Indeed.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay, turn that on.

And thank you for calling the roll, Madam Clerk.

And the quick introduction.

I'm sorry, invocation.

Thank you, Peter, for providing this.

This is from the um Royal Oak First United Methodist Church.

And this is their prayer book booklet that I read from.

We need when we don't have a pastor here to pray.

Bring invocation.

So this is the way we start our meetings.

Oh God, the cares and confusion our world brings sometimes causes us to feel insecure and alone.

Remind us that you are an ever present constant in our lives and that we can count on you.

Amen.

Just that just that simple, right?

All righty.

So is there a motion for the approval of the minutes?

Motion.

Any objections?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

There are zero chair remarks.

Um our public comment is now closed.

Public comment is now closed.

Public comment is now closed.

It is 1003.

Do we have folks in the audience who'd like to make public comment?

If if you are here for public comment, you know what to do.

Mr.

Cunningham and Mr.

Foster, you can take the two seats.

Mr.

Cunningham, you can go first.

You can hit the base of the mic.

Um, and when it turns green, you have two minutes.

And then you, Mr.

Foster.

And good morning to you both.

Okay.

Yep.

Come on up.

Yep.

Yep.

Good morning to you all.

Mr.

Cunningham, you can go first, and um, you have two minutes, sir.

And good morning.

So as I so as I was canvassing uh the community, it takes money to do that.

Um my vehicle repairs, uh bus tickets, ice water every Friday.

So I call it free fare, free fare Fridays.

And I give out a hundred or more bus tickets and frozen water, which I had a problem in the in my own home or the area.

The owners or the people gave me a hard time.

So I prayed in the Holy Spirit.

I prayed about it in the morning.

He said, just go to the suburbs, go deep in the suburbs.

You won't have no problem.

And that's what I do.

Do I get frozen waters frozen, um, like 10 cases, and then I go from Hardgrove to Rosen Park Transcenter all over the place, giving out um bus tickets and frozen water every Friday, and I call it free fare Friday.

Because I don't have enough bus tickets to get folks bustic every day.

I get attitude, I get uh frustration from people.

Times are really, really rough, and for me as well.

My vehicle, I don't know if it's electrical problems and is ticking.

Um so if you have a van or a vehicle that you want me to continue to care for the people, you can do it vicariously through me or just pray.

Please continue to pray.

Um, the fervent effectual prayers of the righteous available much, and definitely not perfect, but I know that God listens and y'all have seen me over the years.

Don't let nobody tell you I'm a bad person.

Don't let nobody tell you that I'm the enemy.

Find out for your yourself.

Get a cab ride from me.

Find out for yourself.

Touch not God's anointed, not do the servants.

Cunningham, no harm.

Um, no weapon formed against Cunningham shall prosper.

Any time the rise up in judgment, thou shalt condemn.

Um I'm a good person.

Find out for yourself and get your blessing by being a blessing.

313 444, 9114.

3134 9114.

Thank you, Mr.

Cunningham.

And the gentleman sitting next to you, you want to introduce yourself, sir?

You can show show him where the button is.

Okay, sir.

Uh my name is Robert King.

Uh, Mr.

Cunningham brought me here today to discuss the bus system.

Uh the bus service was fairly good, but it didn't like it got a little bit worse than usual.

The bus service was fairly good, but it didn't like it got a little bit worse than usual.

They don't even clean the buses no more.

And uh you might be standing at the bus.

I've been standing at the bus stop, and uh I haven't walked, you know, just turn my back momentary.

They have Joe by me, you know.

And uh the attitude is more than terrible, it's it's worse, it's terrible, you know.

So um, I guess it's I don't know, it's today's economy or whatever, but uh the system got worse than what it was.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

King.

All righty, thank you.

All right, and please don't leave because we're certainly gonna ask someone from D Dot to respond to your concerns.

Um, I don't want anyone to ever come down here and not get their concerns addressed, because we value you and we value your time.

Okay, so if you just hang in there after Mr.

Foster, we're gonna have someone on from D DOT.

I hope the administration is listening to address your concerns regarding the buses not being clean, and we know they don't run on time.

I think since I've been on this council going in my fifth year, that is the biggest complaint about the city administration and the city services is D D dot.

So you can't put new wine and old skins and expect different results.

It just won't work.

We have to do something about D DOT, and I'm saying that.

Okay, so just hang in there, Mr.

King, don't leave.

Mr.

Foster, you have two minutes, sir.

Um good morning through the chair.

First, I agree with your last statement, especially after five million dollar payout from DR just yesterday.

But I just wanted to speak just very frankly.

Um I come down, I don't have any animosity or anything.

Um, but I do challenge decisions, right?

And I don't think that it's anything wrong with Charles decisions.

And to that point, um, I'm very grateful.

You know, I I have this, I don't keep it in my house or hang it up or anything.

But it's the spirit of Detroit Award from this council body that neglects me, right?

And disrespects and kind of disregards.

And so I think it's important to really get hypocrisy out of government.

It has Ms.

Colloway's name on it.

It was introduced by the Honorable Coleman A.

Young II.

And it was given during the Father's Day recognition two to three years ago, right?

And so I uh I I value that, right?

My question would be what changed, right?

Has it changed because I started to question some decisions?

Has um you guys behavior and retaliation changed because I um stand up for people.

And so this is your word on here.

It's your signatures on here.

And if something truly changed, and I would really ask that we can sit down candidly at the table, and if you like to reverse your decision, you could take your plaque back with you.

But if you want to put some actions into the spirit, I'm open to really sitting down, not being condescended, talk too crazily or anything else.

And so any type of um disrespect to Mr.

Foster should be right in here.

Whatever type of condescending and remarks and things that you guys do, it should be reflected in your word.

And as far as IOS, there was something that passed 2211 that did not have a destination to it or anything.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Anyone else here in the um in this space who'd like to make public comment in person?

If not, we'll go to our virtual callers.

Ms.

JC, how many callers do we have virtually?

Good morning, madam chair.

We have eight hands raised for public comment.

And the first caller is if you can um introduce yourself for the record.

The first caller is William M.

Davis.

Mr.

Davis, you have two minutes.

Uh good morning.

Can I be heard?

You could be heard.

Okay.

Um, just looking at the agenda about the community advisory councils.

You know, they are a poor poor, poor excuse for what we had at one time.

I know I'm older than y'all.

Uh back when I was living on campus at Wayne State.

Uh, I was um elected.

In fact, I was the highest vote that I was elected for an assistant district council for University City A.

Um, we did a number of projects, so we did a number of things.

Uh we was uh very active.

In fact, at one point we got like over one-third of the start state's budget to do community development.

We did the development down there in the Wayne State area, it's a little old now, but clock the Calamet development.

We also have this other well-known development down there, Car Freedom Place.

Uh but you know, I don't even know what you really would say.

The community advisory council really do because they have no budget, they have no assistance from the city of Detroit.

Because when I was the co-chair of the University City A, you know, we had city assistance, we had people from community economic development.

Uh at that time was uh Emmett Moton, who was the director.

Uh we had a number of people that were coming out.

In fact, during the time, even before I got elected to that position, I was on the North Cascan and the Union um board.

And down there, like I said, we had a number of different types of people that live there.

In fact, we had t-shirts that had like 12 different languages for the different languages that was spoken in that area.

You know, so I think there's a whole lot more we can and should be doing.

And as I was not only do I talk about the need for the city to do more to help the city of Detroit retirees, the city needs to aggressively do more to encourage more people to vote.

Y'all have a great day.

You too.

Um, before our next caller, um, I'm so sorry, Mr.

Cuttingham and Mr.

King.

I don't know if you're still in the building or if you can hear us, but um, I certainly was going to have D D doc come online and address your concerns about the condition of the buses.

You didn't tell us, Mr.

King, what bus line you were on.

So um we will I will still reach out to D Dot on your behalf, but I'm so sorry you had to leave.

Our next caller is the next caller is Betty A.

Varner.

Miss Varner, you have two minutes and good morning.

Good morning, madam chair, and to all within the sound of my voice.

I'm Betty A.

Varner, president of the Soda Elsewhere Black Association.

Again here, just talking about um my community asking the council when a Mr.

Dabbit and his son comes to the council to talk about opening up a mini market that will be if we are blessed on uh FINCO and Wyoming where the uh Mickey D's was located.

We are a food desert.

We do not have a supermarket right here in our community.

There was two, and they both have closed.

We need a supermarket.

This mini market is going to provide uh for us produce dairy.

There's going to be a deli where you can um purchase um cold or hot food, uh healthier um for uh uh variety of food, uh something different from fast food, a little more healthier, healthier snacks.

But we need this in our community, and I'm hoping when they come to the council, the council will support so they can move through the uh smoothly through this process because it is needed in our community now.

Also uh asking the administration uh to please uh continue to work on our think a corridor.

We need money.

There's been wonderful conversation about uh redeveloping our think a corridor, but the money is needed.

So we're hoping that uh we will be considered and there will be monies soon for our think a corridor.

And I thank you for this time.

God bless you all.

And we're still working on our part.

Thank you, Ms.

Varner.

Um Varner, it is um a little after 10:15.

I'm going to um recess through the call of the chair, acknowledging that we have um three interviews this morning, and then I'm going to call the um meeting back to order.

Okay, and I will um Mr.

King, I will um honor that request in terms of bringing all three candidates bundling them together.

Okay, we'll move them all at the same time.

Yeah, all righty.

The next caller is the next caller is meaningful resident inclusion and master plan update matters.

You have two minutes.

Hello, you have two minutes.

To be heard, we can hear you, Miss Joanne Warwick.

Hello.

Yes, Miss Warwick.

Okay, thank you.

Um, I appreciate you think that today uh member Callaway about addressing concerns of the people who take the time out of their day, most of us unpaid to express our concerns.

Um duly noted that many residents get ignored on the regular, so hopefully you can lead a change to that.

Yeah, it'll take more time, but you were elected to represent the people.

Um, and also, like Mr.

Foster said, I agree with him.

You know, if you don't like the first amendment made applicable to you by the 14th amendment, then maybe you should get a job in the private sector.

Um, yeah, please have the planning committee come to you and talk to us about the lack of meaningful inclusion in the master plan update process.

There is a selected unelected master plan advisory group that gets to meet I heard every other month and do a deep dive into the master plan, the few I would call crappy meetings that the rest of us got.

Uh they didn't even discuss what the current master plan is, so that we could just you know evaluate whether that has even been achieved and whether we would want anything changed.

I asked Ms.

McConaughey, who are these stakeholders?

She told counsel they were meeting with, and she wouldn't tell me.

She said, Well, would you like to suggest uh groups like uh uh stakeholders like youth or or seniors?

I said, How about the residents in the neighborhoods where we live?

And then you know, you have a duty to give everybody equality of opportunity.

Not all neighborhoods have had a neighborhood planning study, and then even what appears to be the master plan update proposed update, uh, even doesn't even respect the man the planning study that finally happened in the north end.

So please call them on to talk about this too, please.

Thank you, Miss Warwick.

The next caller is the next caller is calling user one.

Caller user one, you have two minutes, and good morning.

Caller user one, you have two minutes.

Okay, Miss JC, can you move caller user one to the end of the queue?

We'll come back to that individual.

And the next caller is the next caller is Owner Papa.

Owner Popper, you have two minutes.

Uh good morning, and yes, ma'am.

And good morning through the chairman, I be heard.

Yes, ma'am.

Mr.

Mr.

Foster always offers such um an enlightening statements.

And yes, we are we have no confidence that you're that you're going to resolve any of the issues that we bring to you.

You haven't in the five years as you've admitted to buses.

We got almost a billion dollars in ARPA money, and the money came because of a health issue, a pandemic.

And one of the things we had a bus driver who has a terminal named after him because he died from this disease, and now we find that all of that money we got, you don't even have anything in place to keep the buses clean, which is the whole purpose of the ARPAR dollars.

It was supposed to help the people and mitigate the pandemic.

What we have found is that none of the none of what it was meant to do, is it doing?

And you guys have sat over that this entire time.

We have dirty dirt all over the city, and now you want to start doing solar.

You don't even have the the facts around solar and the project, and here you are voting on it.

We would like for you to make a list of of the priorities of the citizens in this city, clean buses.

That's the priority.

The dirty dirt needs to be cleaned up.

That's a priority.

I think you guys need us to make your agenda for you, because you seem unable to create an agenda that really effectively uh addresses the issues that the people call in on.

We want to be included, as Ms.

Walworth keeps telling you.

We don't want you to tell us, we want to tell you, and that is really the purpose of this.

And you were an IOS, and Miss Uh Romero has been missing since before um the the um Mackinaugh Island, and she is still missing, and there is no explanation as to why she's not doing what she is being paid to do, and you are IOS, and so you need to handle this.

She needs an absent the next caller is the next caller is Black Bag.

You have two minutes.

Yeah, this is now clearly every citizens taxpayer and resident here in the city of Detroit, Michigan.

Angela Whitfield.

Sarah Smith.

There's a ballot put in her name.

Sandra Smith was a hundred and five-year-old resident over in the district two.

She did not vote in that election.

You got fraudulent absentee ballots.

You claim you got 15,000 voters.

I know about a whole bunch of fraudulent absentee ballots.

You cheated in.

So we're gonna go ahead.

Go to the next caller.

And you're getting kicked off again.

The next caller is you have two minutes.

The next caller is Jadante Smith.

Mr.

Smith.

Good morning, Mabby Hurt.

We can hear you, Mr.

Smith.

Good morning.

Good morning.

I want to say uh I just have a couple quick things.

So Republic Services, which is uh an industrial waste um storage and disposal facility um located in the I-94 industrial park uh area, which is two miles away from where I live.

It's in district three, but it's very close to district five um on the east side, right off I-94 near Harper.

Uh, if anybody who's uh geographically inclined, think that facility needs to be more highly regulated.

It's had a license since the 1980s, it's often been out of compliance, and it needs to be regulated.

Also, what is the city doing to hold notorious land speculators accountable?

I can name probably 10 to 12 of them who own hundreds, if not thousands of properties all around the city, some of whom don't pay taxes.

Uh they don't clean up on the property, they don't clean up the properties and the parcels that they own, whether it be homes, whether it be vacant lots.

Um, I understand the city can't force anybody to develop anything, but we do have a uh building safety engineering and environmental department that can hold people accountable and give out tickets, which to my knowledge has not been done how it can be, because I have an agreement between the rooms, Crown Enterprises, and well, I think about 30 to 40 other LLCs they have under their belt um and a property maintenance agreement that they wiped away a thousand twenty-six, not a twenty-three, a thousand twenty-six parcels worth of blight tickets in one agreement for 50,000, which the tickets probably exceeded a hundred grand.

So I I wonder how we hold landowners accountable.

And also when it comes to the land bank, I wonder how we're selling this land bank land, because I see some of these land speculators that are buying lots in between uh vacant lots, so there's not even a house to have a side lot to purchase.

The land bank is strategically selling these lots to other people based on certain city council members' recommendations.

Also, to just kick Ruben Crawley off the meeting like that, and he didn't use any profane languages is definitely wrong.

Sorry to see that.

Thank you, Mr.

Smith.

The next caller is the final caller is call in user one.

Call in user one.

You have two minutes.

Can I be heard?

Yes, Miss Shea, you can be heard.

Good morning.

I won't be angry cut me off and be angry with me when I've never disrespected you.

Let me make that clear.

And let me let me let you know, Miss Shay.

Ms.

Shay, you'll never be um removed from the call if you're respectful.

Never and I'll return your two minutes.

Um, Miss JC, you can give her two minutes again.

Okay, I'm always respectful.

Let me let me finish my point uninterrupted.

In terms of D Dot, they not only is nasty and unchecked, but I'm asking you as an S wire.

That means you have a law degree.

Like my father had a law degree, God rest his soul.

He has passed away.

Why is it allowed to be so crack cocaine and heroin on Washington and Michigan, Michigan and the corner of Washington across the street, is the Western Hotel and Hotel Indigo, the bus stop that's at the Grand River Myers.

I've been complaining about them having broken out the air since September, and you all do nothing about it.

I sent it in an email.

My aunt and my cousins, we have been sending you all do not respond under no circumstances.

But in Psalms 101, verse 7.

A liar shall not carry in God's eye sight.

So I hope nobody gets an attitude from a religious standpoint.

You do have to give accountability or just give up the seat.

That goes for every person that's not directed towards one without the arrogance.

When are you gonna have D D dot to answer why they keep the Rosa Parks transit system not being washed with full soap and some bleach other than just plain water while they're there, make them answer no excuses?

Why is heroin allowed to be sold?

There's a building on Linwood and West Brand with broken out windows that children run the risk of being raped.

I'm asking you to do something about that to save a child's life.

Angela Callaway.

Thank you, Ms.

Shea.

We do have um Stephanie.

First of all, do we have any other callers, Ms.

JC?

Madam Chair, that was our final caller for virtual public comment.

Okay, I um I understand that we do have Miss Stephanie Davis um from D Dot.

And then if my colleagues have any um want to have discussion, Miss Davis, um, just a couple concerns.

Is that you, Ms.

Davis?

Good morning.

Are you able to hear me?

Yeah, Miss Davis, you're from D DOC.

Can you tell us your title?

Introduce yourself.

Yes, I am Stephanie Davis, the government affairs liaison for the Detroit Department of Transportation.

Thank you so much.

Um, unfortunately, a couple of the folks who came in person to make public comment, Mr.

Cunningham and Mr.

King um has some concerns about the um the late arrival um of um some buses.

I don't know what bus line because they left before you came on, and then also concerns for Miss Shea regarding Rosa Park Transit Center not being clean, not being washed down and sanitized, and then also we had um someone who um called in about Jason Hargrove terminal.

If you could speak to those items, ma'am, or and also leave your contact information so whoever is listening, um, whether they make public comment this morning, they'll have a way of getting in touch with you.

Um, so I heard I did hear some of the comments that were made in public comment regarding bus cleanliness and late arrival.

Um, for I am not sure if everyone is aware, but there are several ways to reach out to D Dot to share when those incidents occur.

One is our customer service um number that is 313-933-1300, and they are um and customer service um can provide um arrival information as well as possible rerouting.

Not to say that everyone wants that, but are available to ask if needed, and they are available Monday through Friday, 6 a.m.

to 10 p.m.

In addition to incidents or opportunities where people see improvements along the bus route and on the bus themselves.

You can I mean I'm sorry, writers are able to submit incidents or inquiries via the Improved Detroit app in the Improved Detroit app.

This is a free app that's available for download on your phone.

Um, there is a uh link that says bus complaint, or there's a link right on the front page, so you don't have to um scroll or you know, have multiple clicks to submit an uh inquiry or incident concern.

Um as far as cleanliness, uh there was a comment that there was cleaning that um sorry, midline cleaning that was done during the pandemic.

That is correct.

Um, there has been an effort made by this administration to uh bring that back.

I don't have a timeline on when that will be, but I know our director is actively working toward bringing that um back in some in some light.

We as far as cleanliness for the Rosa Parks Transit Center and our Jason Hargo Transit Center.

We partner with uh our general services department, and there's a schedule where in which that uh cleaning takes place.

I am not familiar with the details of how or what materials they use to do that, but I do know that that partnership um is in place and um does happen on a schedule.

Okay.

Um, Miss Davis, and I I'll open it up to my colleagues if if there's um further discussion needs to be had.

Is there um like a sign at these transit center showing when the last time they were sanitized and cleansed?

When you go into the restroom, they have a signs and and an employee who last cleaned it, initials the sign and dates it, and it lets you know that individual was the last person on that date to clean that restroom.

As is there a possibility for something like that to be installed at Jason Hargrove?

I don't know if it is or not, and the Rosa Parks Um Transit Center, so folks will know that those centers are being regularly cleaned, and that will be evidence and they can screenshot it, and um that's a way to let them know that they're being properly cleaned and regularly cleaned.

Ms.

Davis.

I am not aware of such process, but I can raise that to uh my director.

Well, um, if you can let Mr.

Kramer know that council, and I'll put it in writing that councilwoman Calloway is requesting that that be done.

So when people go in there, they'll know that they're being regularly clean instead of um like um guessing.

But if we put it in black and white, they'll know that we take it seriously, we take their concerns serious, and we take cleaniness and sanit um sanitizing those centers very seriously, but not to have it posted.

Um and that leads to people not believing that they're being cleaned on a regular basis.

So I thank you for that.

I'll put that request in writing.

I'm hoping we can do that sooner than later.

Uh and that's just a very small request.

If they're actually being clean, I don't think the person who's there cleaning wouldn't mind initially um putting their initials in place, letting folks know and dating it that they um it was last clean.

So I don't have any other questions for you, Miss Davis.

Um, I don't know if my colleagues have any questions for Ms.

Davis.

If not, we're gonna move into our interviews.

I had another comment.

Yep.

Thank you.

I just wanted to respond to one of the um online callers.

Yes, ma'am.

Uh, regarding the land introduce yourself.

Good morning, everyone.

I am councilwoman Renata Miller representing District Five.

Thank you.

I really wanted to respond to one of our call online callers.

Yesterday, District Five had their first uh Detroit Building Authority uh sales information and Detroit land bank sales information.

There was over 50 to 60 uh residents there that were interested in buying lots, land and commercial buildings, and we had a great turnout, excellent presentations from both departments because some people do not know that we have a real estate agent within the city of Detroit and a residential uh component also.

So I encourage anyone that have concerns with the land bank, please come out to our events due to the success.

I'm gonna have another one really soon.

Stay tuned for those dates.

You have one-on-one with the land bank, and they sent two representatives.

The DBA, the Detroit Building Authority sent two representatives, and they were gracious to take the time to speak with every individual that came out.

Everyone left happy.

Um I'm gonna say one success story when there was a lot that was unable to be attained for many years, and I believe the uh um it was taken off the books, and the young lady was able to uh follow up today for purchase.

So we're having the one-on-one contact.

If you come out to our meetings, we have several more listed for this month.

Stay tuned our calendar and we help to satisfy and put our residents first in district five.

Thank you.

Thank you, Member Miller.

Um, now we will go on to start our interviews with Mr.

Bonner, if you could come forward, sir.

And then we're also going to um have Mr.

Etherich to come up because they say they serve on the same um authority, which is the Detroit Brownfield Authority Community Advisory Committee, and we can interview both of them at the some same time because they this is just a reappointment.

Um these are not um new interviews per se.

So I'm going to take both of them at the same time to expedite time.

I don't have any questions for either of them, but uh Mr.

Bonner, if you can introduce yourself and then Mr.

Etherich, if you can introduce yourself.

Good morning, council.

I'm sorry, good morning, councilman members.

My name is David Bonner for the record.

Good morning, George Etherich.

And you both serve um on what authority?

This is for the Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Citizens Advisory Council.

Okay, and Mr.

Etherage, how long have you been serving?

Um I've been serving a total of three years in this capacity.

Okay, and you're interesting, interested in continuing to serve?

I am, yes.

Okay, and we do have your resumes.

I don't have any questions for either either of you.

I know you both.

Um you both live in my district.

Um and um I don't have any questions for you, and I'm just pleased and um really excited that you two want to continue to serve on that authority and you have gotten to know each other.

I don't know if you all knew each other prior to, but um now you know you know each other.

So I'm gonna ask my colleagues if they have questions for Mr.

Bonner and um or Mr.

Etherich.

They are seeking to be reappointed to the Detroit Brownfield Authority Community Advisory Committee.

Starting Member Miller.

Uh thank you, Chair.

Um I would like to good morning to both of you.

I am familiar with uh George Etherich.

Nice to see you, sir.

And Mr.

Bonner.

Can you tell me how long have you served previously?

Uh this was my I'm cleaning my completing my first year.

The first year, okay.

And um, how long is the term?

We didn't say I think it's a year.

The the term is for one year.

Oh, so you have to do this repeat every year?

Are you serious?

And you know what, Member Miller?

I'm hoping we can change that in the rules because to have them come back every single year for a one year when they're willing to serve if we get that commitment.

I'm I'm with you.

Well, I'm just surprised, but sometimes whoever is appointing you may have want to switch up a little bit.

Gives you so I I I I understand.

Um but I didn't have any other questions.

I read everything already.

It's a reappointment, it's only been a year.

Sometimes for me, you're just getting started in the one year.

After you jail with your uh uh constituents who you're working with and you come up with some ideas or you're trying to get something out the ground, it takes implementation takes sometimes a couple years.

So um I am offset on the two candidates as well.

Thank you, Member Miller.

And I didn't know it was for one year.

I was wondering why you were back again, Mr.

Bonner.

Um member um Vincent.

Thank you.

Uh good morning, and thank you all for being here, and once again, I concur.

Thank you for raising your hand to serve the residents of Detroit.

And so one thing I don't think a lot of people understand is what is the community advisory council for the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority.

And it's gonna make it clear, there is the Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, and then separately there is the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority CAC, which is the community advisory uh council.

Can you just explain what your role is at the Brownfield and what you all do?

Absolutely, uh through the chair.

In this regard, um we serve in some respects as the voice of the community.

Um the board composition is from all seven districts.

Um represented from re rather representative of uh the various districts as well as at large.

Um we do interface with the various communities in the different development areas where there are brownfield plans that are being introduced.

Um our role is advisory to the Brownfield board.

So whereas we have public meetings and then there's a statutorily required public hearing.

Um we are kind of the go-between between you know that that process and the community having an additional say.

So again, we're advisory to the board, which in turn gives their recommendations to you.

Well, I concur with my colleague.

Um we basically are the frontline sort of filtration uh aspect of the process, and so we basically will um entertain the presentation of the developers.

Uh we'll definitely look real close at the capital stack and what it is that you're asking for.

Um in many instances, you know, they're looking for TIFF funding uh that's tax and incentive financing, which is is really you know, could be very material to the Capitol stack.

And so uh we get an opportunity to sort of ask questions and sort of uh uh go through the process of vetting, if you may say so, if I may say so.

And so a lot of times my colleague and I we have not always been on the same page uh because my my my process of of of uh coming to a conclusion is that I'm really uh there under the auspices of um speaking for the voiceless.

Okay, there are people who may not see themselves in the in the uh light of having the right assessment of questions.

You know, what questions should I ask?

Um and so for us to uh you know, at the end of the day, when we're going through the process, we're typically given three choices.

A to vote to move it to the DBRA and the D BRA moves it to City Council, or B have a public meet hearing, or C have a public hearing and and invite two of the council uh to the CAC members to be a part of it.

Well, I'm not one to say let's go with A all the time.

I'm like, you know, that's let's have a public hearing and at least give those who may not have or know what questions to ask an opportunity to ask those questions.

And since we like to uh as I heard earlier, we like to use biblical uh references.

I'm gonna use more on myself, but you know, because when God, you know, he told a lot, he says, can you find me but five?

And so it's sometimes, you know, give me the five that may not feel like they had a voice in this process, but let's hear those five.

And so it's sometimes, you know, give me the five that may not feel like they had a voice in this process, but let's hear those five because I believe at the end of the day, we want to hear everybody before we give these people sizable material money, you know, and it's the public's money, and we're here to represent the public's trust.

And so having said that, I honestly believe that I'm gonna always, you know, as Derek Bell says, the faces at the bottom, I'm going I'm going to represent vigorously, vociferously, the people at the bottom.

Okay.

Um, and so I'm glad that you all are bringing this up because not many people um are familiar with the CAC or its role.

And Detroit being the largest city in Michigan, Brownfield Authority is codified in our state acts, as is the CAC as part of the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Act.

But the CAC is optional.

It's not mandatory.

If I'm not mistaken, Detroit is the only brown field in the state of Michigan that actually has a CAC.

And so you all are a very rare bird, and I'm glad to see that we continue to have people who are engaged and passionate and actually take advantage of the opportunity that you all have, because you all do sit in the middle of the development process, and as said, you can bring voices that typically aren't part of this process to the deal.

And this is outside of the view of the city council or the mayor's office, or typically the public, typically your actions, they don't make the news, no one's really talking about the CAC did.

But if you're having a public hearing and you're having public meetings where the developers and the DEGC team get to hear what the community thinks, that's also a very important part of the process.

And as you said, it doesn't always have to happen, but sometimes it's important for the community to have the chance to get up and talk outside of when they'll have the opportunity when it gets to the uh to planning and development department after a deal is referred to city council for approval, um that the uh PED um committee, and then to formal counsel.

So you all play a very vital role.

So glad that you are here, and I'm glad that you all have the opportunity to let the public know what your role is.

Any suggestions, um or concerns, issues with the brown field, anything you all want to alert us to, we should be keeping our eyes open for.

Um and the in regard to what my colleague was um indicating in terms of the um the process, what those options are, making sure that all voices are heard.

Again, as um Chairwoman McCalloway had indicated, we are neighbors, so we do have uh often have spirited dialogue about policies and procedures.

And given that it's this body that governs the function of the CAC, um, perhaps it's a time to uh revisit those three options.

Um again, as um several members um newly appointed have indicated there's concerns over, you know, just always going with option A, which is we've heard the presentation, we agree with the Capitol stack.

Um we're in support of this project, move it to the Brownfield board.

Always after that action, there's the statutorily required public hearing.

So by removing option A, having the public hearing, making sure that all voices are heard that want to be heard prior to the advisory body taking that action and making that recommendation is something that you know just internally we've thought might be a consideration.

On the other side of that, there are concerns from developers about there being a week to two-week delay as they're trying to get their capital stacks together in that regard.

But again, to your question, that's just something that we've internally um debated.

If if I could through the chair.

Um, you know, one of the things that um my colleague and I both agree on is you know, having a more vigorous and robust opportunity for the public to come out.

Now, in the majority of the uh proposals and presentations that I've been uh a party to, I've seen some very eloquent and very uh wonderfully written uh letters uh that uh endorse the progression of the plan.

But what I have not seen is you know, I know that there are people out there, if but five, you know, who would say I'm not in favor of this, but it's it is quintessential to hear that voice.

I think that when you hear the disparate voices, you have a much better program and process.

I'm sure you all would agree.

And there are very few of us that would disagree that we're all here for one purpose, and that one purpose is to vigorously defend the public's trust.

One final point um that we had on his front lawn in terms of discussion.

Similar to the Board of Zoning Appeals, where you have your 16 points that must be met in order to receive a variance, perhaps something like that could be explored by your honorable body in regards to making sure certain criteria are met, and that that might satisfy some of the concerns about the need for additional public outreach.

Okay.

Thank you.

And then just want to identify you both, if I'm not mistaken, or cyclist as well.

Yes.

Well, I you know me through Metro Thermal Psycho.

Yes, I do.

And so now I think I am now a part of the board of the Michigan major Taylor through uh Marco speaks.

So I think we'll be serving on that board together as well.

Well, that's fantastic.

It's always good to see cyclists who are here helping support the public.

And as one of the it also helps in the decision making process.

The clarity and the ability to make tough decisions quickly is enhanced by your ability to cycle.

So I just really want to say thank you all for being here and serving the public.

Welcome.

Thank you.

I do have one last item.

Um with the state um in a with the state's inability to pass legislation around certain um development incentives.

I don't think the brown field was warm, but maybe I'm mistaken.

Is that impacted um applications coming through the Brownfield Authority at all?

The Brownfield has not sunset, and we have not seen a decline in applications.

Okay.

Thank you.

Madam Chair, thank you very much.

Um thank you, Member Benson.

Member Miller.

I just wanted to say to George Etheridge, sir, um, thank you for being active with our office.

You constantly call about the developments.

You're constantly keeping us informed, being a new office.

You are um you have been really forthcoming for us.

Uh sometimes everything hasn't been laid out, so we've had to feel our own way, but you have constantly called and met in our office.

Thank you.

Um, just even our newest people, and I appreciate look forward to meeting with you, sir.

Um out of the four appointees for counsel, you've only served you served four times, four years.

This would be my third year in your one year, okay.

Well, I guess um that's all I have to say.

Um are you all on the same page with the other two?

Because he made he made a distinction distinction between the two of you.

Don't say any names, Mr.

Bonner.

No, not no, because I am I am I I really like to hear about the community involvement.

And I know in some of the projects, in my opinion, um people have not turned out for whatever reason.

The opportunity has been there, the notices have gone out, but the community sometimes just lack.

And there's one particular project, I'm waiting for the community to come to me and say that um they didn't start asking questions, but no one showed up at the events, no one turned out at the events, and I have a record because I know personally that we sent out those notifications.

So can um continue to do what you're doing, keep our office informed so we can assist with the community involvement, which is very important because most times you're talking to the community before you even make the advisement to for the project.

So a lot of times people don't understand that these are there are steps being taken before the products even come.

And we have our first say on products coming, but you gotta show up.

You have to show up.

But thank you for your continued effort to get our people active, Mr.

Etherage.

I appreciate it.

Look forward to working with you also, sir.

Through the chair, can I address Yes, Mr.

Bonner?

Madam Miller.

Um if I had to appraise what uh your assessment and what you just mentioned, I think oftentimes people just quite naturally may or may not know what to ask.

You know, they don't know what to ask until it's time to sort of come and confront the issue.

You know, we can put up a new project, it could be, you know, as I say, as I say, I think the last what uh project we did might have been what uh the miller project, and I mean we're talking in the millions, you know, and at the end of the day, what does that do to your tax assessment?

You know, and if and if you're not really cued up to at least you know ask the right questions, of course you're not gonna come.

You know, we might shrink and um sort of relegate that to to others, but everything has a consequence, and as we're developing these new brown fields, and it is going to have a spillage, a spillover.

It will have some type of tax uh implication.

And so uh if those who uh might not understand that, of course, they're not going to show.

And so those stakeholders eagerly write very glowing letters, you know, of recommendation.

You're not going to get that same response from individuals or organizations that may or may not understand the assessments.

That is true to a certain extent, but it is our job to make the information available.

Yes, and we should.

It's my job to bring the information back to my community, say, hey, this is coming.

Because it's not always financial, it's environmental as well.

There's environmental projects going on in district five, but not until the news media say something, they will be calling.

So we have to let them know you should come to these meetings because this is environmental issue or whatever issue it may be, but I just appreciate the knowledge.

So I can give an account for what's going up in district five.

So I just want to say thank you again, and I look forward to being able to answer those hard questions or even, you know, because sometimes you can give a cheat sheet and say, listen, this is what they should know.

I I prefer to have it that way because you know before I do.

So no one can come back and say that we shouldn't be having this development in our area.

Right.

Thank you, sir.

One final question through the chair.

Uh Madam Chair.

Yes, Mr.

Bonner.

I think I have been trying to um indicate, you know, send you the assessments.

Um, and I'm assuming that you have got received those.

Um I don't know if recently um, but I'll check.

If you want to resend, you can, but I'm not not recently, sir.

Yeah.

But I do want to say um, if there's anything you all want to send the body, um, please please do so.

Um, and um, then we're gonna end because we have another interview.

One to two weeks um should not be a deal breaker for a developer.

So if we have to wait to make sure we die dar dot all of our I's and cross our Ts.

If the developer doesn't understand that, they can take their development somewhere else, and you can tell them the councilwoman said it.

Because what happens to us as a city, we we are um, and you're gonna see that in my opinion with the solar farms.

When you're pushed um and you're rushed, you don't have an uh opportunity to uh flush things out um in a timely manner, you're you you're moving kind of quickly, right?

And sometimes we find ourselves in a situation um where um we gotta do a little bit of backstroking and putting some things in reverse.

Um, and I can speak to, you know, we had a um waste management contract, and our projections were off to the tune of 17 million dollars, right?

And that 17 million dollars has to be absorbed by we the residents, but we in my opinion rushed it, and um, in my opinion, didn't do our due diligence, and that's on a number of things that I personally believe we've rushed.

So um, if a developer tells you that that one to two weeks will break the deal, tell them um adios, you know, um because one to two weeks should not break a deal.

And then also I'd like to see the changes that you both alluded to um regarding criteria.

Um if the plan A it sounds like it's just um either it fits, you're trying to fit a um circle in a square, and we're forcing the circle to go in the square because you're saying if these are your only options, then if it is a circle, we're gonna force it.

That's what the plan A sounds like to me.

So you have been charged with um um making changes, offering um um um suggestions.

That's why you're there.

You're not there for status quo, um status quo, you're there to offer suggestions that are meaningful and impactful that are going to benefit the residents of the city of Detroit.

That's why you're there, I hope.

Um, so uh if there if there is a list of criteria that you believe it doesn't come from the council, it comes from you.

How do we know what criteria is needed?

We don't serve on that advisory council, you gentlemen do, along with your the other folks who serve on that council.

So I am asking respectfully that you put the list of suggested criteria together and run it by us so we can see what you're talking about.

I don't even know what you're talking about.

You know what you're talking about on the front lawn.

I don't know what you're talking about.

I don't know what your conversations are on the front lawn.

You can bring it to my front lawn, you know, um down the street.

But uh I'd like to know what those criteria, those suggested criteria um is right, because we don't know.

And and and you two are brilliant, you're brilliant, and that's why you're serving.

Um and you have uh your intellect and your analytical skills, that's why you're there to benefit we the we the people.

So I'm asking that you put that list of um suggested criteria together.

I'm asking that you um put a report together in terms of the plan A and um the B and the C because it sounds like a lot of forcement um uh in terms of making something work that may not work, but you're trying to force that circle in that square, right?

Um so that's that's that's that that's what I'm gathering.

So I appreciate you all willing being willing to serve um another term.

Um and is there a motion to move this to and our I'm gonna ask LPD?

Um is there a motion for discussion?

Motion.

LPD um Mr.

King, is there a resolution attached for these two appointments or are they in the works?

Madam Chair, uh good morning, Edward King LPD.

Uh the resolutions are in the works.

Uh could I suggest that we have four positions for the Brownfield um community advisory?

I would suggest that we interview the other candidates and move everything at the same time.

Okay, that's what we'll do.

All right, so is that so what what do we do with these two?

Do we just bring them back or are because we can't move them if we have additional interviews?

Mr.

King?

Yes, we should just bring these these candidates back.

Okay.

You won't physically be coming back, but the um the conversation will be coming back because we have additional interviews to be had.

Um member Benson.

All right, thank you.

So we have four, there are four seats available.

How many um these are reappointments?

So we have four seats that need to be reappointed.

All from the mayor, correct?

Through the chair.

Mr.

King.

These are the four council appointments.

They expire at the end of the month.

Um four individuals, however, it's come to my attention that one individual is currently employed by the mayor.

So that would technically create a vacancy.

Is that prohibited?

That conflict or that situation.

Uh we would we would have to look into that.

Okay, I just want to verify because I know that there are other employees of the mayor's office that sit on other um decision-making bodies over the at the uh DEGC as well.

The the reason I through the chair.

The reason I bring that point is because these are council appointments.

Got it.

Okay.

Thank you.

So um Member Benson, is there a motion for an assignment for LPD to look into whether or not there's a possible conflict with conflict with um someone who is uh mayoral appointment or appointee and being a administrative employee, but I think I just heard you say there are several like that.

Is that correct?

There are.

Um the DD, uh, the DDA may have one.

Um there are there are some others as well that have currently and previously work for the mayor's office and have been appointed to that board.

Um so the memo would be a report from LPD indicating if there is a conflict of interest where somebody couldn't serve or created a situation where maybe they shouldn't serve um based on current employment with the city of Detroit, including the mayor's office and being appointed to that board.

Is that summarized for everybody?

Yeah.

That's my colleague.

I want to make sure you all are okay with that as well.

Member Miller.

I'm okay with that assignment to LPD.

And and it captures all the concerns?

Yes.

Yes.

Okay.

Mr.

King.

Motion.

Um that is a motion.

Any objections?

That action shall be taken.

Thank you, Member Benson.

Okay.

You captured all that, Mr.

King.

Yes, madam chair.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you to Mr.

Etherich, and thank you to Mr.

Bonnet.

That um concludes your interviews for today, and you'll be hearing from our office regarding how the next steps, okay?

You'll continue to serve though.

Okay.

Thank you so much, sir.

Discussion, madam chair.

Discussion, ms.

Member Benson.

Um, through yourself to LPD, there are four seats available.

We've interviewed two.

Are there two more candidates as well?

Or there are more than more candidates and seats, is basically my answer, my question here.

Uh, through through the chair, the um the chair of this committee would know better than we would.

There are two more candidates that we have to interview.

So this is not a musical chair situation.

Okay.

Absolutely.

All right, thank you.

And we will make sure we get those resumes to everyone.

And you can still um offer your recommendations for appointments on that um committee.

So um hopefully, uh, if you have any names that you'd like to submit, you can submit them to my office.

They just um um have to um include a resume.

But we are interviewing because there are two more uh vacancies that correct, ms uh Mr.

King.

That is correct, madam chair.

So please we we encourage you to send your um your your um your nominees to our office to our email.

All right.

Now we are going to interview um Mr.

Rico Razo to the West Werner and Springwells Business Improvement Um District.

This is for a reappointment.

Mr.

Rico Rosal, if you could please take a seat and um hit the base of the microphone.

It shall turn green.

And good morning, sir.

If you want to introduce yourself for the record and tell us your interest it, your interest in continuing to be on the West Werner and Spring Wells Business Improvement District Board.

Mr.

Mr.

Rico Razo.

Good morning to Chair Callaway in this honorable body.

Rico Rosso, Chief of Home Repair and Neighborhood Services.

My I'm really excited, first and foremost.

Southwest Detroit is a place I lived growing up.

It's a place I hold uh very close to my heart.

And uh I I was on the board previously for about four or five years under Mayor Duggan as an appointee.

Um and it allowed the mayor's office to have representation on a business improvement district that had you know issues just like every other business community throughout the city.

And my presence there on the board was able to uh solve a lot of issues uh that may have come up.

Um it also allowed me to promote uh opportunities through the city for the business improvement district to take part in resources, grow the business community.

I think we've had affordable uh housing developments for the first time in many years on the improvement district, more stores, restaurants, uh barbershops opening up over the years.

So over the last I would say five to ten years, it's been really exciting to see a district that has been thriving for a number of years, even even grow uh more.

So I you know, I'm excited to be here today and uh look forward to serving if that is the will of this body.

Well, we appreciate you and I certainly support um you um Mr.

Rico Rosso, you do amazing work, and I'm glad you are the chief of home repairs because you are the expert in getting those repairs done.

I um I have nothing but the utmost respect for you, and I'm hoping that you can uh off maybe during some off time you can work with the Livernoy Umus district.

They have been trying to get an improvement.

Um, what do you call that zone?

Um, not the zone.

Anyway, I can't remember.

What is it?

Business improvement district.

Bus yes, and it has not happened.

Um and we need help over there.

Um everybody likes to travel around the world saying that we have the largest black retail corridor in the country, but it is suffering.

Um, and we need help over there on the Avenue of Fashion.

So I'm hoping that maybe you can meet with um the business owners over there and talk about your role with um on the West Verner and Springwells Business Improvement Um District Board and maybe help us revive that interest over there because um there's some benefits to it.

I I believe there's there are some benefits to having an improvement district.

Um, and I'm hoping that that can happen on the Avenue of Fashion and then six mile and seven mile, because we have lots of businesses um up and down those corridors, and even you know, Miss Barner calls every single day about the Finkel Corridor.

So um would you be willing to talk to some business owners over there on the Avenue of Fashion and share some of your expertise?

Um would you be willing to do that?

Yeah, to the to the chair.

I I would love to do that.

Yeah, and I think that would be beneficial.

Um that would be quite beneficial.

Um I support your nomination.

I uh um is there motion for discussion and questions?

Member Benson.

All right, thank you.

Uh Mr.

Razzo, thank you for being willing to uh raise your hand again and serve the residents of the City of Detroit.

I'm gonna go back to my closet today personally and just verify that my coral blazer is still there as you're wearing it today as well.

Um if you could just talk briefly about the Springwells Um West Werner Business Improvement District, if I'm not mistaken, that's your oldest one in the state of Michigan, and it's what the downtown um Detroit partnership patterned itself after.

And so it's been very successful.

We on the uh Lower East Side when I worked uh for Warren Counter Development and for East Side Land Inc., we also tried to establish a formal bid, and it's it's very difficult and it is no easy task.

And so just want to raise that up as well that the history and the impact that this bid has had throughout Southeast Michigan is nothing to uh should be should be lifted.

I want to make sure that we do that here today, the history and what you all have been able to do.

And so any type of technical assistance you can provide would be very much appreciated, I'm sure, at any level, and just talk about the realities of actually establishing a bid, managing a bid, and then what it can do for a corridor, and not many people realize what bids do.

If you just give us some brief insight there, just a little brief history about how it was established and what it's been able to do.

Yeah, uh, through the chair to Councilmember Benson.

Um for those who don't know this is legislation that goes through the state of Michigan to create a business improvement district.

I think at this point there may be two or or three in the entire state of Michigan.

And what it allows uh defined corridors to do is pool resources, so additional dollars that businesses that are in the defined uh corridor, they pull resources to create a fund that the business improvement district manages um to be able to address things like landscaping, graffiti removal, facade improvement, street cleaning, some stuff that the city may contribute to, and stuff some stuff that the city doesn't contribute to that the business corridor would like to improve.

And so public safety is another huge piece of that.

So our uh the Verner Springwells Business Improvement District, they also report out on crime statistics and gather all the data and information on the business corridor, which runs from Woodmere to uh roughly I think it's 25th Street on Werner, and then Springwells from Werner all the way down to I-75 are part of the uh business corridor.

And so when you have a um a group of businesses that are all at triving trying to achieve the same outcome, bring more people to the business improvement district based on beautifying it, uh adding art, adding you know, in vacant lots, we've added um flowers and and benches and just little things that that uh really uh make residents and people who live outside the city want to come and enjoy a district where they can park and walk.

Uh that is what the business improvement district is there for, and I think they've been very successful in doing that.

I think if you look at uh the financials on an annual basis, it's somewhere around 200,000 that's that's collected, and then we as a uh a board determine you know how we're gonna utilize some of those resources.

Um before I came off the board, we ended up uh purchasing uh sign banners shop southwest Detroit that were designed by local artists that included a mix of uh Middle Eastern and Latin designs uh that we put on every single light pole up and down uh Werner and Springwells, and it I mean those they they seem little in theory, but um it really brings a lot of attention to the corridor and uh and and yeah, it's it's been a great support to the businesses.

There's annual meetings, there's annual uh celebrations, and a lot of the businesses get involved.

Um and again, going back to my position on on the board, being able to bring city resources to businesses is also a great thing.

I just spoke with the administration about uh the legacy business program.

And so I don't I don't know if a lot of businesses on uh the bid actually know about the legacy uh business opportunity to get grant funding for facade improvement.

Um but I think those those type of programs are opportunities for uh the collective community to get involved and for us to get those the word out so that everybody knows uh those grant opportunities exist.

And then who established the uh bids?

Who was the uh plank owner?

Uh so I believe I believe it was under Kathy Wendler, if you remember Kathy Wendler who who led the SDBA for uh three or four decades, I think.

Uh Southwest Detroit Business Association was established in 1957.

Um so long long-standing association, but uh the the business improvement district is not that old, but Kathy Wendler led that charge.

And so and just to say, and Kathy Windler is she's an iconic figure in the nonprofit sector, and when I was in the nonprofit sector, she was she was iconic at that time.

And so I just wanted to uh elevate what she did also and the legacy legacy that she's left.

And when you talk about these business corridors, when you talk about these nonprofits that have this type of impact, it's not an overnight um success.

There are decades, and there is tons of work uh to get to this point.

So we often hear people, I want to be like that, or I want to do that, and then they're thinking they're gonna have that happen within two or three years.

No, I mean, this is decades.

This is a commitment, this is a lifestyle that people um live for decades to improve and have this type of impact in the corridors.

And so I just want to make sure that we lifted that history up, how important um Southwest um SDBA, Southwest Detroit Business Association is, and what they were able to do as far as a bid, and you have that type of infrastructure in several of our locations.

And so LIV 6, which is relatively new, but still everybody starts somewhere.

So your 2020 is someone else's 1957.

So I don't want to discourage people, also want to bring some managed expectations on what it takes to be successful, what it takes to get to this level, and the blood set and sweat and tears that people actually um leave on the ground to get here.

I just want to once again uh Rico, thank you for uh being prepared to uh raise your hand and serve the residents of Detroit as well.

I'm gonna go home and check my personal closet as well.

For that coral jacket, thank you for the regular regular.

Thank you so much.

Any um any other discussion?

Good morning, Mr.

Rosen.

I just was wondering who are appointing you.

Is this a mayor's appointment?

Yes, through the chair, this is a mayoral appointment.

Yes, okay.

And how many terms, how many years have you served already?

Previously, I was appointed under Mayor Duggan for uh I believe it was five years.

Yeah, and I I came off of the board in November of last year.

Okay.

So that uh appointment was vacant for seven months now.

Really?

Um, and they the the board had reached out to see if I could be reappointed, and so they worked that out with the administration, and uh here I am today.

All right, thank you.

I just want to say you're doing amazing work with the homes.

I've been on a couple of tours, and I was fairly impressed.

And I appreciate anyone that want to contribute to single family housing in Detroit.

And I believe your rehabilitation efforts are um accredited, it's just amazing.

I wish people could see the work that's actually being done with the homes that you're bringing to us.

So I'm sure you do an amazing job.

They obviously trust you for five years and for our mayor to bring you back on again and fulfill those um obligations.

I have no appointment with her.

Uh I have no problem with her uh reappointing.

I have no further questions.

I have I have a great team.

I want to put that on record.

Thank you.

My team makes everything go.

Yes.

Thank you.

How long is the appointment?

Because I don't how long is the appointment?

If you if you were appointed, yes.

Um, how long is the appointment?

Is it just what's the what's the end date?

Because I I I I don't even know if there's we have the beginning date possibly, but what would be the end date?

Or you just serve and serve until you step down?

Through through the chair, um this is actually the first time I've gone through this interview process.

Previously, when I was appointed, um, I received an appointment letter and I joined the board.

Um so I believe it it may be a multi-year appointment.

Okay, but I'm not entirely sure.

Okay, we'll do a little um research and find out.

But thank you.

I don't have any other questions.

Is there anything you want to leave us with?

Um, Mr.

Rico Razo.

Uh through the chair, no, I I appreciate this time and uh look forward to continuing to serve.

Okay.

All righty.

Um Mr.

King, is there a resolution that should be attached or will it be attached when we um send this over to um formal session?

Madam Chair, this being a mayoral appointment.

They would have to make the resolution.

That is correct.

Okay, so what is our next steps?

Just move it to formal, and then by the time it makes it to formal, we would have gotten communication from the mayor's office regarding a resolution to support the nomination.

Uh yes, if it's a resolution or an appointment, okay.

All righty, and I'm sure they are listening.

Um, if not, we will communicate with them that a resolution is needed.

Is there a motion for the reappointment of Mr.

Rico Rosso to the West Werner and Springwell Business Improvement District?

Motion.

There's a motion to send this appointment to reappointment to formal with a recommendation for approval.

Any objections?

That action shall be taken.

Thank you very much, sir.

Thank you.

All right.

Now we will return to our agenda.

We are under unfinished business, status of appointment of Eric Erica Um Hill.

Um status of appointment.

We're going to combine.

Is there a motion to combine line item 9.1, 2, and 3?

These are all appointments for the Detroit Land Bank.

Okay, there's a motion to combine line items 91, 2, and 3.

Um, line item 91 is the appointment of Erica Hill to the Detroit Land Bank.

Line item 9.2 is this um appointment of Krista Pate to the Detroit Land Bank Authority, and then um line item 9.3 is the appointment of Jovon F.

Glenn to the Detroit Land Bank Authority.

Is there a motion for discussion?

Okay, Mr.

King, um, we can send all three of these together because they're going to be on a ballot.

Is that correct?

That is correct.

We will draft the appropriate ballot.

Okay.

Is there a motion to move line item 9.1 through 9.3 to formal with the recommendation for approval?

They will go on a ballot.

Motion.

Hearing any objections?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

All right.

Line item 9.4.

Excuse me, madam chair.

Mr.

King.

Uh, regarding the um appointment to the land bank authority.

LPD will draft the ballot.

My colleague in the law department agreed to draft a resolution.

This as we did with the previous appointment.

Okay, so great.

So the law will draft the resolution and then LPD will draft the will create the ballot.

And both will be ready on Tuesday.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you all so much.

Thank you, Mr.

King for that.

Excuse me.

Um Member Miller.

Discussion.

Discussion.

We had discussed previous previously that we would bring this back and move this to the end of the 2020 on the on the 20, what is it, the 30th?

And then last day, and then after we vote, they would immediately start July 1st.

That was our discussion last week.

They said we couldn't do two.

We had to bring back one because it doesn't make sense to have a vote next Tuesday, and the person who's serving in the chair will still have a week and a half to go in his term.

Um Mr.

King or Mr.

Anderson, can you speak to um member Miller's um concerns?

Through the chair, it's completely to this body's discretion if they would like to uh go forward with that timeline.

I make a motion week.

Pardon me?

I concur with my colleague.

Okay, so we just had a okay.

So the motion is to bring these three line items back, line item 9.1 through 9.3.

So is there a motion to reconsider the vote?

Motion.

Okay, there's a motion to reconsider the vote to move nine line item 9.1, 2 and 3 to formal.

Um member Miller, you want to make a motion to bring these back um at a later date?

Is that what you're saying?

Yes, I make a motion that we bring back on the 20.

I think it's the third.

So then we can move to formal on the 30th.

Okay.

Discussion?

Um discussion.

Member Benson.

Just want to make sure I'm clear.

You want to bring these back on what day?

The 24th?

No.

I heard the 23rd.

Let me get my calendar in.

Okay, let's see.

I'll get mine.

Our next meeting is the 24th, which would allow us to then vote on these on the 30th, which is the last day of June and last formal of the month.

So I believe we're showing.

Okay, so the 24th, it would be the 24th.

That's the last um Wednesday in June.

And that would oh, so wait, let me go right here one second.

Let me make sure the last that uh next week is the last Wednesday in June.

And the 30th is that next Tuesday.

We would not be able to vote on it on the 30th in session.

No, we would.

Uh discussion.

Member Miller, is there a reason why you want to bring it back?

Um, Mr.

Javon Glenn is going to serve until the 30th of June, actually the um July the first.

He's on the ballot.

Is there is there a reason because I left the um the committee early last week, so I don't know what the discussion was, but is there a reason why you want to um delay this?

This the the discussion last week was that we would vote on it in committee on the last Tuesday of the month, and then they would start their new term July 1st.

Okay, I think this would still accommodate that if I'm not correct.

Mr.

Anderson, can you look at the dates?

Um the day is the 17th.

Next week is the 24th.

So if we were to move it to formal with the ballot with the vote, they wouldn't start until um July 1st.

Is that correct?

Through the chair, a one-week bring back for these three items, and then next week moving the items to formal session would fit that timeline very well.

Okay, so um member miller, you want to make the motion again?

I make a motion that we bring back in one week and and forward our vote till the 30th.

Okay.

Any further discussion?

Any objections?

That action shall be taken.

Line item 9.1 through 9.3 will be brought be bar.

I'm sorry, will be brought back in a week.

Thank you, Member Miller.

All righty.

Um, nine line item nine point four status of council member um Callaway's uh memorandum relative to a request for report concerning the judge McGilmore list.

Um LPD is there.

Is there a motion for discussion?

Is motion for discussion?

Can motion okay?

Um LPD, can we just close this out because we've received the report?

Is this just a receive and file?

Yes, ma'am.

Okay, is there a motion to receive um and file line item 9.4?

Motion.

Okay, any objections?

Hearing none that action shall be taken.

Thank you so much, Mr.

King.

Line item 9.5.

This is the appointment of Catherine Richardson to the tenants rights commission effective immediately.

This is a mayoral appointment, and her ex her appointment will end on um April 30th, 2029.

We've had this back a couple times.

This is the mayoral's appointment.

Is there a motion?

A discussion.

Discussion, Mr.

Member Benson.

I know there was a uh concern regarding this member.

I I've been okay with sending her forward for quite some time.

I don't know if there's still an issue for the administration on this.

Are they okay with this moving?

Motion is into formal recommendation to approach.

Any objections?

That action shall be taken.

Line item 9.5, the appointment of Catherine Richardson to the tennis rights commission will be moved to formal.

Um hearing no objections, that action is taken.

Line item 9.6 status of mayor's office appointment of Jared Fleischer to downtown Detroit Development Authority beginning immediately and expires June 4th.

Um we brought this back um from June the 10th.

And um, is there a motion for discussion?

Motion.

Okay, thank you, Member Benson.

We are simply um going to have an interview schedule for Mr.

Fleischer on July the 1st, and that is the first Wednesday in July, and we will notify him of same without objection.

I don't know, Mr.

King, if there's any action that needs to be taken.

Should we be sending this to formal for any reason?

If we're not if we have not even interviewed him, Madam Chair, it is it is uh proper to schedule the interview first.

Okay.

All right, is there a motion?

Motion to uh schedule interview for July 1st.

Okay.

Any objections that action shall be taken.

Thank you so much.

Line item 9.7, status of council member Denzel McCampbell submitting a memorandum relative to rules for committee community advisory councils.

Um can we have a discussion motion for discussion?

Motion.

Okay, there's also something similar, I think, from member Miller, if I'm not mistaken, maybe not.

Um I thought I saw something similar.

Um I'm looking for that line item.

It's like the same member miller.

Can you have a question?

So the chair is 10.9, I believe you're looking for.

What is it?

10.9.

Okay.

Yeah.

So um can we have a motion for discussion?

Motion.

Okay, what's the difference for um maybe I'm just reading it incorrectly?

Um, Mr.

Anderson, maybe you can help me.

What's the difference between 9.7 and then 9.

Um 10.9?

Is there a difference?

Okay.

Unless Mr.

King beats me to the quick draw.

Madam Chair.

Yes.

Um and I think I think I'm hearing from Ms.

Member Miller.

Hers are just questions.

So there is a difference.

Hers is just um submitting questions regarding the community advisory council.

So I got I got the clarification.

Thank you, Mr.

King.

Thank you, Mr.

Anderson.

Thank you.

All right, thank you so much.

Is there a motion for line item um 9.7?

Discussion.

Discussion, member Benson.

We've had this for a while.

What's the uh status of this report?

Uh through the chair.

We are wrapping this item up.

And can we have one more week on it, please?

Do yourself, madam chair to Mr.

King.

Uh trustee King.

Is one week enough?

One week is is enough.

Thank you.

Okay.

Madam Chair, motion to bring back in one week.

Okay.

There's a motion to bring line item 9.7 back in one week.

Any objections?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

Line item 9.8.

This is the status of council member Mary Waters submitting a memorandum relative to request for information on the status of the mayoral appointments to the tenants' rights commission.

Um is there motion for discussion?

Motion.

Mr.

King.

Madam Chair, um, we have been in contact with the mayor's office.

Uh they are currently working on this information.

And I would suggest that we bring this back TBD.

Okay, is there a motion to bring this back date to be determined on line item 9.8?

Motion.

Any objections?

That action shall be taken.

Thank you, Mr.

King.

Line item 10.1, appointment of Javon Glenn to the Detroit Land Bank.

Um, is there a motion?

Because I believe we can remove this.

We've already voted on him.

He's already serving, if I'm not mistaken.

Motion to remove.

Okay, there's a motion to remove line item 10.1.

Any objections?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

Line item 10.2, Office of Contracting and Procurement.

Contract number 6007238-R.

Is this a revenue agreement to provide revenue contract for the disposal of obsolete IT assets?

Um, is there a motion?

Motion motion to approve it's interformal.

Okay, there's a motion to forward line item 10.2 to formal with a recommendation for approval.

Any objections?

That action shall be taken.

Line item 10.3.

Uh from the law department submitting a resolution authorizing the settlement and the lawsuit of Danielle Harden versus the City of Detroit, DPW, in the amount of $19,500.

Is there a motion?

Motion to approve it's in the formal.

Yes, thank you.

Is any objections?

That action shall be taken.

And for the record, this is a workers' compensation settlement.

Line item 10.4.

Um settlement in the lawsuit of Ernie Richardson versus the city of Detroit D dot and the amount of 45,000 dollars.

Is there a motion?

Motion.

Motion to approve line item 10.4.

Any objections?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

Board of review.

I do see Mr.

Um Mr.

Donwell here.

This is an amendment to the 2025 and 2026 homeowner property exemption policy and guidelines.

Mr.

Donwell, you are here.

If you'd like to join us at the table, is there a motion for discussion?

Motion.

There's a motion to discuss line item 10.5, and we do have uh Mr.

Willie Donwell here from the Board of Review.

Mr.

Donwell, you want to introduce yourself for the record and tell us about this amendment.

Good morning.

Uh Willie Donwell, Director of the Choice Property Session Board of You.

It's always a wonderful time to be in Detroit in front of this honorable body.

So the city council uh is required each year to adopt guidelines in which the board is required to follow uh in terms of uh approving or denying hope applications.

And so uh recently found out that the uh secretary of state no longer uh will put stickers on the back of an enhanced ID.

They just give you a new ID.

And so our guidelines, and I apologize because what you have, and I'm gonna send the uh amended version this afternoon, and I did bring copies of the current guidelines.

Uh does state that we require a copy of the front and back of the uh uh of the ID, right?

And so for some of our seniors and other individuals with disabilities, that could pre uh create a barrier uh that's unneeded uh if the uh secretary of state no longer provides a sticker for the back of that enhanced ID so is there a motion for discussion?

Thank you.

So, Mr.

Dom, I'm just trying to understand what sticker on back of a license, what sticker on back of what ID.

So the general process uh some years ago was when you went to the Secretary of State and you changed your address.

Okay, they will put a sticker on the back of your ID uh with the new enhanced ID because of technology is used in so many formats where they actually just swipe it and all the information comes up.

Uh a sticker is not used in that process in order to just maintain integrity of the ID itself.

Okay, so a person would have to actually go in and get a new ID.

Correct.

Okay, got it.

Um anything else you want to add, Mr.

Donwell.

That's simple.

Uh nope, that's it.

We're just trying to again make sure that we're not creating a barrier for our citizens to apply for the process.

Any other questions for Mr.

Donwell?

So, Mr.

Donwell, um uh thanks for joining us, Mr.

Mr.

Donwell through the chair.

So we have to make sure our uh seniors know they have to have a new license.

Anyone that has a sticker should really go change their license is what you're saying.

Uh it's always good to have a updated ID.

Okay.

And and and if I just may add uh you get through the chair, we also accept other types of IDs as well.

Uh we will accept a consulate ID because again it contains a photo and the address uh of the subject property.

Uh and then there may be other versions or so forth, or other IDs or other things that we may accept in place of an ID, and that and that's why why we say use the word identification and don't specify a specific ID in the guidelines because again, we have some of our retired or some of our individuals with disabilities that cannot acquire a specific ID card.

So we use other resources such as their uh income from Social Security along with uh uh a matching tool to support their residency at a subject property.

Are we able to I thought the chair are we able to put out some uh flyers or something stating that that's a new requirement?

Absolutely.

Okay.

I know a lot of times we help our residents with the hope applications at our district meetings, and I would like to inform them ahead of time about that because the process goes so fast with the whole application.

I mean, we're looking at the period of what 30 days if that uh from the start of the um what is it called?

The march review?

Yes, anything like that, or even when you come in and you realize you are eligible for the hope application, the window is short.

Uh through the chairs, and that's again where I want to thank this honorable body for allowing us to do two things.

Uh we now have a November deadline for uh applying for the Hope exemption for the year, but even more importantly, we can also now consider a prior year application.

So those individuals that missed the 2025 application process uh that did not apply can still apply for that prior year.

So a person that that is uh qualified can receive assistance for two years and not just one, and that's because this honorable body decided that that assistance was needed and supports the action of the border review.

That's great news to hear through the chair through the chair.

Sometimes you take two years to readjust and get back on your feet.

Thank you very much, sir.

Thank you, Mr.

Downwell.

Um, is there a motion?

Um motion to approve and send a formal recommendation.

Any objections?

That action shall be taken.

Thank you, Mr.

Donwell.

Thank you.

All right, thank you, Member Benson and Member Miller.

Now we are online discussion.

Discussion discussion members one last time.

I just want to make sure that for the edification of the public, and thank you, Member Miller for asking this question.

This makes it easier, correct?

Absolutely.

Okay.

All right, I just want to make it very clear that I've never known the assessor's office or a board of review to make it more difficult.

We always are very sensitive to ensuring that our seniors and those who are applying for this program, and they are often the most vulnerable of our residents financially and housing wise in the city of Detroit have a process that is easier.

So I want to make sure that that narrative is out there today.

Thank you.

Yeah, thank you, Member Benson.

Thank you, Member Miller.

And thank you, Mr.

Donwell.

Enjoyed the rest of your day, sir.

Um, we are line um we are now on line item 10.6 human resources slash labor relations division.

This is the implementation of the 2024-2027 labor agreement between the city of Detroit employees represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Supervisory Unit Local 214.

Um is there a motion?

Is there a motion on this?

A motion to discuss motion to discuss.

Member Benson.

Uh madam chair, if we could just have somebody from um human resources on the line, just kind of give us an update of what this is, what we're doing here, and why this is important.

Okay.

Um, Miss Sullivan, are you available to get um someone from human resources on?

Good morning.

Through the through the chair, Brian.

And we can't hear you.

Can you hear me now?

Can you hear me now?

Yeah, we can hear you now.

Good morning.

Great.

Good morning, Brianna Sullivan City Government Affairs.

Um, through the chair, we have Meline Edwards online.

Okay.

You said Malik Edwards.

Okay.

Meline.

Okay, Melina, okay.

Miss Edwards.

Meline Edwards has been promoted.

Okay.

Good morning.

Good morning.

You're on mute, Miss Moline.

Can you hear me now?

We can hear you now, Miss Meline Edwards.

Good morning.

Okay.

Um, my name is pronounced Melanie Edwards.

Melanie Edwards.

Yes.

Okay, Miss Edwards.

Okay.

So we are here today.

Um what are questions that the council may have for this for this contract?

Member Benson.

Thank you.

And thank you for being here, uh, Miss Edwards.

Uh, just what are we doing here?

Why is this important?

And how is this going to impact uh the quality of life for these uh members of the union?

Okay, and I apologize because my sound isn't really good on this system, but I'm gonna do the best I can.

Okay.

And I'll repeat that.

Is that better?

Can you hear that better?

Yes, that is much better.

Okay, what are we doing here?

Why is this important?

How is this going to impact the quality of life for these uh members uh who work for the city of Detroit?

Well, currently, um, we are in the process, we are always in the process of um redoing our contract, and this contract has been um expired.

I think in uh 202, and it was brought to the table and it has been negotiated for that time span.

And what we're bringing to you um are all the improvements that we have put into place.

We have also submitted our summary of changes, which addresses which actually gives you an itemized listing of the improvements that we have provided the um employees that are governed by this contract.

Okay, and is there a dollar amount here for this contract?

Yes, we also included within our summary of changes.

We also included the impact statement.

Okay, can you just give us a summary of that for the public for the public?

Actually, we are actually under budget for providing this for this.

Well, from the city standpoint, we are under under budget, and we are um it is actually it shows oh give me one minute.

Let me put on our leaders.

It shows that we are completely, we are under budget, and it shows that the total increment to cost for this contract.

Do you guys have this in front of you?

No, I don't know.

Depends on what you're going to read to us.

I'm I'm sorry.

So let me bring it up.

Uh let's see, Cash Pick.

Okay, so just so you are aware the contract runs through fiscal year 2027.

The fiscal impact statement um assumes continued wage pattern is from the fiscal year of 2028 to 2029.

The target marketing, um, the target market rate adjustments are applied to job codes within the Teamster Supervisory Unit.

Collectively, these adjustments represent the total of 11.5% union wide increase compared to the salaries um salaries in the city's budget.

Okay, and then I'm seeing an average base pay of 60 uh 64,000 645 for 2028 and then 657.

Okay.

I just wanted to make sure I got out there, that's what we're doing.

Thank you.

Yes, and and just to make sure we are always um here, and this also assumes um we are assuming that a five percent um overtime rate based on historical trends, and based on the current afternoon and evening shift premium trends, all of this is affected within the fiscal statement that we've provided.

Okay, and then can you just under fiscal year 26?

You'll see the uh total incremental cost of the contract at 152 uh 3.3, and but it drops down in fiscal year 27, which starts in less than two weeks or three weeks.

No, two weeks, less than two weeks.

Um, more or less that that um, Ms.

One second.

I'm sorry, it drops down to 104,000.

Yes, just help me on that one, please.

Oh, that's probably because of all of the market adjustments we had to do to bring the um rates.

I'm sorry, the pay rates up to par with the comparisons across what we use as our market survey.

Got it.

So then I'm looking at a fiscal year 25, 5% step ratio pay as a lump sum payment and a two percent GWI ratio pay lump sum.

That's what you mean.

That's part of the 20 of the 2026 incremental cost increase.

Correct.

Got it.

Okay, that's very helpful.

Thank you.

Thank you, then there are questions from my colleagues.

Thank you, Miss Edwards.

Um, is there a motion?

Motion to send to formal recommendation to approve.

Okay, there's a motion to send line item um 10.6, which is the implementation of the 2024-2027 labor agreement between the city of Detroit and the employees represented by the IB International Brotherhood of Teamsters Supervisory Unit.

Any objections?

That action shall be taken.

Thank you, Member Benson.

Line item 10.7.

This is another labor agreement between the city of Detroit and the employees represent represented by the Michigan American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees asked me.

I don't know.

We still had those.

Okay.

Um is there a motion?

Motion to discuss motion to discuss.

Member Benson?

All right, thank you.

Um, Madam Chair, is it possible to get somebody from the administration to speak to this contract?

I've got a couple questions here.

Absolutely.

Miss Sullivan, can you get someone on from the administration that can speak to line item 10.7?

Through the chair, that will also be Miss Edwards.

Miss Edwards, the floor is yours.

We have some questions for you.

Miss Edwards.

Yes, I'm here.

Um, let me um reach out to the person who was handling this contract because I do not have that in front of me.

Um, and this is for the crossing guards, correct?

Yes.

Um put give me one moment, please.

Through the chair, I believe we have Joseph as well.

You have who's that your next one.

That's that's who I would be reaching out to um Sean Joseph.

Okay, Mr.

Joseph, you want to introduce yourself and share your title with us for the record.

To the chair, um, I'm Shine Joseph, uh Labor Relations Administrator.

Um labor relations uh but in HR.

I'm responsible for the um negotiations of uh crossing guards contract.

Okay, we have some questions for you.

Member Benson.

All right, Mr.

Joseph, thank you very much.

Um so looking at this contract, um, I I was I'm I'm unfamiliar in how we're basing salaries and wages here.

So if you look at the uh the fiscal impact labor agreement uh on page two under note one, it says proposed contract increase the existing per crossing rate from seven dollars and thirty-five cents to eight dollars per crossing with a two percent annual increase beginning uh fiscal year twenty-seven.

So I I'm going to go on a limb and say we're we're not paying people seven dollars and thirty-five cents an hour here.

So what does a calculation of eight dollars per crossing mean?

And how does that equate to the city's minimum wage of $21.45?

So the chair, um so the $7.35 is the expired contract, that's the rate of pay cross we we have been paying the crossing guards.

So it's per crossing, it's not per hour.

So they average um two crossings per hour.

So essentially, you know, you double $7.35.

And with the new contract, we changed it to $8 per crossing.

So essentially in an hour, they average about $16 an hour.

Our direct competition, like Lebonia, um, they they pay $15 little less than $15 or right around $15 per hour.

So we brought it up to competitive competitive rates.

Um we have the department had problems recruiting uh crossing guards.

So there's a heavy shortage of crossing guards.

They the proper number we need is about close to 100.

Uh they have less than, I believe somewhere around 60 to 67 crossing guards right now.

And the gap between 60 to operate normally on any given day when we have schools functioning, it's about right around 80.

So the the shortage of 20 crossing guards are made up by deploying our police officers who make more than 100,000 on average, about 100,000 a year.

So by bringing the uh wages from 735 to 8, uh, we believe that'll make a huge impact on um getting candidates for crossing guards.

And I can attest to the fact, and so at my son's school, there is a crossing guard there, and when she is not there, they do deploy police officers.

About I've asked them before, why are you here?

What's going on?

We're we're here because the uh crossing guard um didn't make it into work today.

But I I've got to go back then to my question.

We have we've famously identified ourselves as having a minimum wage of 2145, but you just said that it's on average double times two.

And so they're making it if at $8 an hour, you're now making $16 an hour.

So there's a bit of a discrepancy between $2145 and 16.

So do they not qualify for the minimum wage that the city pays, or how does that work?

So the city minimum uh living wage of $21 is for full-time uh classifications.

Crossing guard is a contractual, you know, um at bill employment um classification.

Um it's it's a little bit different from regular full-time employment.

And um even taking that into consideration, they are paid a certain percent of the um of the standard living wage.

So when we take uh you know all that into perspective, uh the $16 um, I mean the eight dollars per crossing is extremely competitive for this classification.

And what does it mean per crossing?

Per crossing?

So if I'm on one street, I only have to get the kids across one street.

Is that a crossing?

If you're at intersection, then you would have four crossings.

How does this work?

Yeah, so they average um of uh two crossings per hour.

So each crossing can last roughly about the um, you know, anywhere up to 30 minutes, I guess.

So that's how the uh the hourly the rate rate of pay is determined.

So the eight eight per crossing will translate to about 16 uh per hour.

I I still don't understand what a crossing is then because I I look at the crossing guard and she brings children across the street more than one time or twice per hour.

So when we say crossing, do we mean one direction?

But she really only has two crosswalks because one side is it's a i it's not a four-way intersection, it's only a it's a two-way.

So it's unique, but where does it the number two crossings come from, though?

What does that mean?

Um I'm not exactly sure.

I can you know get those answers from the department.

I I need to know that from our own edification because right now, and I I I'm glad that we're increasing pay, that we're being more competitive, that we can now tell Lavonio, you don't pay as much as we can, but it's still in my oversight position.

I just need to be able to explain to people how we are paying our crossing guards, because at first blush, it seems that we're paying eight dollars an hour.

And I need to be able to explain no, we pay per crossing, and each crossing guard averages about two crossings per hour.

But if you go to an actual crossing guard and watch them work, they're doing far more than just bringing children across the street twice per hour.

So I just got to I just need to know what we're doing here, how this works.

Okay, I can um I can have the department get you an answer.

Okay.

And then is this time does this have to come out today, or can we bring this back and and not have any harm to our crossing guards getting eight dollars per crossing?

So um uh pro the chair again.

Um so the contract expired in June 30th of 2024.

Uh this group has not had a contract in place since 2024.

Okay, one we were we are trying to you so once we get the city council approval, we are trying to you know implement the changes effective at least July 1st of uh 2026.

So uh if we postpone it, you know, I don't know what kind of a delay it's gonna cost.

Mr.

Johnson, how about this?

We can we can get you to the table before the end of the uh fiscal year.

So uh you've answered my question.

We we'll work on this.

Just make sure we get the information, ASAP.

So explaining to this body how this actually works so we can explain to our um bosses, the constituents in the neighborhoods, what this means.

And we we will get you across the finish line when you within the timely fashion.

Yeah, I'm that we'll get you the answers.

All right, motion to bring this back in one week, madam chair.

Okay, there's a motion to bring line item 10.7 back in a week.

Any objections?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

Thank you, Mr.

Joseph, and thank you, Member Benson.

We are now on miscellaneous line item 10.8.

Um submitting a memorandum relative to questions on employee pay increases.

Um is there a motion for discussion?

Motion.

Um, Mr.

King, line item 10.8.

Madam Chair, this item was directed to the human resources department.

Okay.

Um is there like a report?

I'm not sure what action if it's directed to the chair.

To the HR.

Yes.

May we bring this item back in two weeks?

Thank you.

So that the department can provide a response.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Is there a motion to bring line item 10.8 back?

Discussion.

Discussion.

Member Benson.

Do yourself to Miss Sullivan and when did she say?

She said one week.

In one week, Miss Sullivan, do yourself, Miss Sullivan.

Two weeks.

Is two weeks enough time?

Do you need more than two weeks?

From the department, two weeks is the time that has been requested.

We should be good with two weeks.

Okay, so then uh very good, then Miss Sullivan.

So just for future reference, when a department says we just need two weeks, I want you to push back and say, is that enough time?

What you don't want to do is come to this body and say we need two weeks, and then in two weeks, you're coming back and saying, uh, we just need another two weeks.

Give us a realistic time frame and let them know that that they won't be penalized, but we will look at them with the jaundice eye once they keep asking for returns and they weren't honest and forthright the first time.

Received.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And Member Benson.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member Benson.

I'm sure um your recommendations and your concerns have been heard by the administration.

So there's a recommendation to bring line item 10.8 back in two weeks.

I'm sorry, motion.

Any objections?

That action shall be taken.

Thank you, Member Benson.

Now we are on line item 10.9.

Councilmember Renata Miller submitting a memorandum relative to questions regarding the community advisory council.

Member Miller.

I sent two questions in, and I was wondering, do you have a report or do we need more time?

Or do you just want to discuss the two questions right now?

Member uh Mr.

King?

Through the chair, can we have two weeks on this item, please?

Yes.

Member Miller, is that a motion?

I would prefer one week if possible.

I have some questions to answer because they're in motion to do some things that I think we need to halt.

Mr.

King.

Madam Chair, one week is fine.

There's a motion to bring line item back, um, line item 10.9 back in one week.

Any objections?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

Thank you, Member Miller.

We are now on line item 10.10.

Uh member Benson submitting a memorandum relative to an ordinance regulation, crypto, ATM machines.

Member Benson.

All right, thank you.

Madam Chair, motion to discuss.

Motion to discuss.

Madam Chair, this is a suggestion.

As the one of the representatives of the city of Detroit on SimCog, I was approached by Councilman Lim from Gross Point Woods who indicated that as a border community with the city of Detroit, they're seeing they've now banned uh or excuse me, not banned, they've regulated now regulate cryptocurrency ATMs based on a pattern of abuse of seniors.

And what they saw once they started regulate were cryptocurrency ATMs move into Detroit on Mac.

And so they now can say that we now regulate, but what they saw was just that people would flow over to Detroit because we don't regulate.

So I had a conversation.

I said, Well, I don't know if we need to regulate or not.

Let me go find out.

So in the conversation with the law department and in a conversation with DPD, both indicated yes.

That would be good.

We have seen some problems.

So I've now requested that the law department develop an ordinance, and we've suggested, we've submitted several ordinances to suggest, but we're working on doing this.

I've spoken with our colleague Member Johnson because she is obviously um the border council person for gross the gross points, and she also supports and so right now the law department is working on an ordinance.

I want to make sure that we get something done.

And I've and I keep getting asked at SimCog by my colleague, uh Councilman Lynn.

Lim, where are we on this and then when's this going to take get impact?

And so I keep telling them we're working on it, we're working on it.

I just want to make sure that we continue to move this forward.

But I also just wanted to let my colleagues and the public know the reason why I'm looking to do this and why it's necessary.

What do you don't want is to have technology outpace the law and be in a space where we're abusing already a sensitive community that may, depending on where they are in their stage of life, may have lost um certain ability to discern uh fraud and discern when they're being taken advantage of, and I just can't sit with that.

I have an elderly mother who I help to uh take care of, and I know what it's like to have somebody uh abuse you, and I just recently went through her uh credit card where she had reoccurring costs where people have called her and da-da-da-da.

I mean, it's it it came up to several hundred dollars a month with these reoccurring costs, and it was super difficult to get rid of those, and then you had to go talk to them the bank.

Well, you need to go talk to them.

So we want to prevent abuse of our seniors.

Gross Point has done it, a number of other communities have done.

I want to make sure that we do it as well.

And uh there's I don't there's nothing wrong with this, but now our seniors oftentimes don't have the same level of resources that you would see in in some other communities.

So any type of fraud is felt even is even more painful.

So I just want to make sure that we're doing that, and this is what we're trying to do, and we're being we're being supported from all sides.

And so we'll keep you up to date and thank you for this opportunity to speak on this, madam chair.

Very serious matter.

Thank you, Member Benson.

Member Miller.

Okay, so um, is there a motion um on line item 10 point 10?

Uh discussion.

Discussion.

Continue discussion through yourself, the law department.

What are we looking at on a uh potential date for submission of an ordinance?

Mr.

Anderson.

Through the chair, I could we just get a one-week bring back on this so we can determine how deep in the weeds we need to get.

Um and I will have a much better detailed answer next week.

So I'm not sure if this is a quick uh draw or if this is something that's gonna get really uh into the weeds, as I said.

Through yourself, madam chair.

So you just want to one week bring back the talk logistics.

Correct.

Okay, good.

I I like that type of bring back.

Thank you.

And then you all should have the sample ordinances that have been approved from within the region already.

Yes, we received those.

Thank you.

Fantastic.

Uh motion to bring back in one week, madam chair.

Okay, there's a motion to bring line item 10.10 back in one week.

Any objections?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken, and we are now at members report.

Vice Chair Benson.

All right, thank you, madam chair.

Just want to remind everybody that we're having our second annual Juneteenth bike ride at the Charles H.

Wright Museum of African American History.

Please come on out.

This is a very family-friendly uh pedestrian-paced ride.

We will be going uh down the um Dennis Archer Greenway.

We'll be going over to the Mount Elliott Cemetery to hear a presentation on those who have gone on to glory who actually participated um in conversations around um the ending of slavery and civil rights uh in the late and mid-1800s, and so you'll actually see people who are part of that genre um and timeline.

Uh we're also have a great chance to go down the the um Dennis Archer Greenway, which this body and the city have funded, as well as see the uh riverfront.

We'll have a stop at Mount Elliott Park.

Well, this will be police escorted.

Um we will have a sag wagon.

Um we expect around 100 cyclists to come out, and then you get a chance to uh hang out at the great Charles H.

Wright Museum of African American history for the remainder of the day.

And there are tons of programs going on Juneteenth at the Charles H.

Wright, and the weather is going to be fantastic for a family bike ride, and it'll probably take about an hour and a half.

It's about 12 miles at a very pedestrian pace, several stops, restroom stops, and we'll have coffee and other nutritious snacks or not so nutritious.

There will be some uh fat and sugar served as well, and it'll be fried.

So come on out and enjoy yourself, and it's all free.

But this is also part of your Charles H.

Wright uh Museum of African American History helping to host this event.

They've been doing a such a great job.

And so get a chance to come out and see see your asset up close and personal and go for a family bike ride.

We we really want to support you and have you support us and see what it means to uh have museums of this stature, and hopefully you even think about becoming a member and membership can be um garnered for $20 a year, and membership to the Charles H.

Wright Museum of African American History also gets you free entry into the African World Festival, which is coming up in July right here at Hart Plaza.

So please come on out for a fantastic bike ride uh with the uh Charles H.

Wright uh and a number of other organizations.

In addition, I really want to thank my colleague for coming out two Mondays ago when we had the uh lunch and learn at SimCog around the state's preemption for housing and zoning.

And so we had a lunch and learn where we had I want to say seven elected officials, I think five state reps came out to actually learn uh why preemption is such a terrible thing and why Lansing's proposed solution does not work, it does not address affordable housing.

What it does is give the construction industry unfettered access into our cities where they can tell us what they're going to do, and we wouldn't have the ability to regulate them, despite the fact that we spend hundreds of hours a year managing our zoning ordinance.

We are going through a master plan update right now.

We have a very robust planning department.

The largest planning department in the state of Michigan is right here in the city of Detroit.

Yet the state thinks that it needs to come tell us what we need to do better than what we already know.

We have public hearings, we have community outreach.

The state cannot tell you better at the city level than what we already know.

This is why preemption does not work.

It's wrong, and we are making it very clear at SimCog.

And I and my colleagues have signed on, I believe all of us here at this table signed on to the letter indicating we don't support preemption and we support the SimCog um response and opportunities to actually help when it comes to affordable housing.

And anybody that says they're going to help you with affordable housing and does not provide resources, is not providing you any help.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member Benson.

Member Miller, members report.

Yes, thank you to the chair.

I want to uh first thank everyone that came out to our morning mingle on Friday at the Inharmony Cafe.

We had an amazing turnout.

The breakfast was wonderful.

And I want to continue to ask our residents to engage as I set up meetings to meet you face to face.

We have a meeting coming up on the 23rd.

It's going to be a big week, Tuesday to 23rd, as our district five community meeting, which will be six to eight from at Considine Center again, 8904 Woodward.

That is our our monthly meeting.

We're asking everyone from east to west to come out and share uh some of their concerns and listen to some of the things that I'm dealing with on the council and get your input regarding upcoming votes.

Also, if you can't come in the evening and you're available in the morning time from 11 to 9 to 11, we will be on the 28th at Cree Cafe right here on Jefferson, Friday the 26th for our morning mingle.

Please join us.

We have two vate dates available for you, whether you're a morning person or evening person.

The doors are open to come join us and have a conversation.

I look forward to seeing you out.

I look forward to answering your questions and having a one-on-one face-to-face with our residents in District 5.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you, ma'am.

Thank you, Member Miller.

Um, today um everyone's invited to join me at one o'clock at Desmond's Elegant Affairs at 12924 Puritan for a bowl of home homemade gumbo uh celebrating our Father's Day.

Um it's a pre-Fathers Day celebration.

That is again today at 1 o'clock, Desmond's Elegant Affairs at 12924 Puritan.

It's for a pre-Father's Day celebration and come and enjoy a homemade bowl of gumbo.

Did I say soup?

Okay, gumbo, gumbo soup.

Um so I hear it is delicious.

I've not tried it.

I will be trying it today.

So everybody's invited to come.

You don't have to be a D2 father to participate.

You can come out and enjoy a delicious bowl of gumbo.

Then please join us tomorrow at 5 30 at Live Six Alliance for their quarterly development update meeting.

It is at 5 30, June 18th at the Enclave at 7400 West McNichols.

You'll learn about the latest investments, projects, and development activities taking place in the area.

For those of you don't know, Kreske Foundation is moving their headquarters from Troy to the Mary Grove campus, and they're investing 180 million dollars in that area.

So we're looking forward to all of that conversation occurring tomorrow.

So if you're not been over to Mary Grove College lately, it is beautiful.

Um the six-mile area is now called a main street by the state, and a lot of amazing, exciting things are happening in that area.

Everyone is invited to come out again.

That is the Live Six Alliance for their quarterly development update meeting at 5 30, and the address is 7400 West McNichols.

And then you're invited to join me in the Office of Contracts and Procurement and the Office of Civil Rights Inclusion and Opportunity on this Monday coming up, Fireworks Monday, um, from 1 to 3 p.m.

for the Detroit Supply Schedule outreach event for the supply schedule number four facilities management services.

This is going to take place at the Northwest Activity Center at 18100 Myers Road.

That is this Monday from 1 to 3 p.m.

for the Detroit Supply Schedule Outreach Event.

Then please join me on Monday the 29th.

Everyone is invited.

We all talk about, complain about, uh, and discuss blight and illegal dumping in our city.

Well, we have an ordinance.

We have a um blight patrol, it's set up just like the Citizens Radio Patrol, which has been existence almost 40 years.

And um, we've had one in Green Acres that's been in existence, I think, for over 35 years.

So we are going to um it's been established to mirror the um citizens radio patrol.

We're asking everyone across the city to come out on Monday, June the 29th at 4 p.m.

at the Adams Butzel Rec Center, which is located at 1050 Linden in District 2, and that will be your orientation.

We need volunteers.

You will get if you if you sign up to be a volunteer, you will receive mileage.

You'll receive, I think it's 72 um 72 cents on the mile.

We want you to come out.

You will be the eyes and ears of your community, and you'll learn more about your role as a blight patrol officer.

And we'll have DPD there, we'll have our office there, and everyone who um everyone else who has a vested interest in this blight patrol um orientation.

So please come out Monday, June 29th from 4 to 6 p.m.

Adams Butts or Rec Center.

You can also call our office at 224 4545 4535 for more information.

Thank you.

And that does complete my members' report.

Is there a motion to adjourn?

Discussion, Member Benson.

All right, thank you, uh, madam chair.

If you could please send the flyer if you had as happening to us, we really want to start getting our residents engaged in this, and I owe you a um amendment to the ordinance to authorize um cyclists for cyclists to take advantage the same way they can for the radio patrol.

Absolutely.

So thank you for that, and we really do want that flyer so we can start getting out to our community groups.

You are probably getting that flyer right now.

Hopefully, someone from my team is listening.

You should have that flyer uh momentarily.

But um, everyone is impacted by blight and illegal dumping in our city.

So um everybody has a role to play.

And Madam Chair, I'm gonna say in the third district, we we support this.

We do not like blight.

We don't either in district two.

They they let me know they do not want to do it, they don't want to see it.

No, and they wanted people to be held accountable who engage in it and they would leave it up.

So thank you.

Thank you.

And I can't wait to meet all the residents who will be coming from district three to join this um this blight patrol, and uh that is June the 29th.

So I know we got a motion.

There's nothing else to come before this body than um the motion to adjourn.

Any objections?

That action shall be taken.

We are adjourned.