OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Budget, Finance, and Audit Committee Meeting - July 1, 2026

City Council — Wednesday, July 1, 2026
BodyDetroit, Michigan
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, July 1, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:58:28

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Budget Finance of Auditor in the Committee of Wednesday, July 1st.

0:04

Happy July 2026 to order.

0:06

Will the clerk please call the roll?

0:08

Good afternoon.

0:09

Councilmember Denzel and Tom McCampbell.

0:11

Present.

0:12

Councilmember Letitia Johnson.

0:14

Present.

0:14

Councilmember Mary Waters.

0:16

Member Warders has indicated she would be tardy, but we'll be joining us soon.

0:21

Okay, the clerk will note.

0:22

We have quorum, Mr.

0:23

Chair.

0:23

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

0:24

That'll move us on to the approval of the minutes.

0:27

Members of the community should have received the minutes from our June 24th, 2026 meeting.

0:32

With that, is there a motion to approve?

0:35

Motion.

0:41

Move us on to chair remarks.

0:43

I would just say, as we are in the midst of a uh extreme heat, please do uh check on your neighbors, especially uh seniors and and vulnerable folks if you're able to.

0:57

Um there are cooling centers across the city, um, our recreation centers, the libraries, and also various community organizations.

1:06

Um, and we also um for our folks who are experiencing homelessness, there are extra services available as well.

1:13

So if folks do need assistance, please feel free to reach out to our office um as well.

1:19

And please do stay cool and stay safe.

1:22

And with that, we'll move on to public comment.

1:24

Um request for public comment will close at 1 15.

1:28

Well, please limit your remarks to two minutes.

1:31

Uh we'll start with folks in the room and then move to those who are joining us virtually.

1:36

If you are joining us via Zoom, please do use the raise hand feature and you will be called in order.

1:42

Um seeing no one in person right now, we'll move over to Zoom.

1:47

And how many folks do we have currently?

1:49

Good afternoon, Mr.

1:50

Chair.

1:50

Apparently, we have nine hands raised.

1:52

All right, we'll start with our first speaker.

1:55

Our first speaker is Janante Smith.

1:58

Mr.

1:58

Smith, good afternoon.

1:59

You have two minutes.

2:01

Good afternoon.

2:02

I like to respond to a couple uh council members earlier, specifically Letitia Johnson, uh Johnson, uh Angela Phil Calloway and uh Renata Miller.

2:10

So I do have my receipts from uh you taking direction from me, Councilwoman Callaway.

2:15

Uh December 9th, 2025.

2:17

I was on in District 4, so happened to be Father's District 3, Down the Street from the Night Precinct, trying to get a house that's owned by the land bank that was burned up to be boarded up and demolished.

2:26

And uh Angela Phil Calloway, you asked you told me that you would call a demolition department.

2:30

You told me you would call uh BC.

2:32

You also reach out to the land bank.

2:34

Also, uh to councilwoman Ronaldo Miller.

2:36

So when you work and you put in good work, people pay you generally.

2:39

Uh so I do work with the Detroit Ham Channel Coalition as a volunteer.

2:43

Uh if I was to charge for the amount of work that I put in around the Kronos site itself and also the Maroons all across the city, which has nothing to do with the Detroit Ham Travel Coalition's work around Kronos.

2:53

Uh, I'd be in the tens of twenties of thousands of dollars shop, not been paid.

2:56

I wish I could make as much money as you do to be able to say that I don't know about uh policy issues that you should have researched long before you became a city council member, long before you ever thought to read or research uh to run to become a city council member because all of this stuff is public information.

3:11

And if it is not public information, you have a million dollars worth of staff to be able to research this information.

3:17

You should have briefs, you have an LPD, you have a legislative and policy division, which is a team full of lawyers and researchers who can provide you with any information that you need around the city of Detroit.

3:26

So when it comes down to leadership, as a leader, you should know what your constituents need and what the city needs because you're a part of the checks and balances of the Detroit City government.

3:35

Also, to Angela Phil Callaway, a liar is the worst thing to do.

3:39

It's the worst thing to be.

3:40

And I called you disingenuous earlier, but now I'm calling you a liar.

3:43

Uh, just because I have the facts to prove that you're lying, and it's it's really, really bad to say that.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Contract Management██████████████████████████26%
Zoning and Land Use████████████12%
Fiscal Sustainability██████████10%
Homelessness█████████9%
Community Engagement█████████9%
Procedural████████8%
Public Health██████6%
Personnel Matters████4%
Accessibility███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Budget, Finance, and Audit Committee Meeting - July 1, 2026

The Detroit City Council Budget, Finance, and Audit Committee met on July 1, 2026, with Chair Denzel McCampbell presiding. The meeting covered consent items, public comments, multiple contract and budget amendments, a property tax resolution, and a special presentation on the city's extreme heat response. Several items were approved or scheduled for future discussion.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: The committee approved the minutes from the June 24, 2026 meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Janante Smith: Accused Councilmember Angela Phil Callaway of lying about actions taken on a land bank property. Claimed to have receipts and stated that council members should know policy issues and use their staff. Expressed frustration with leadership.
  • William M. Davis (Commissioner, Retiree Association): Announced cancellation of the retiree association meeting due to the death of Rudy Marco. Raised concerns about the Detroit Detention Center lacking air conditioning during the heat emergency, warning of a potential lawsuit.
  • Ms. Ward ("please answer my question"): Questioned why some residents received housing upgrades under the solar initiative while others did not, noting no community benefits agreement was in place. Asked for an explanation.
  • Betty A. Varner (President, Soda Elf World Black Association): Promoted the annual Arise Detroit family fun day event at Diva Community Park, requesting volunteers and donations. Councilmember McCampbell offered office resources.
  • Legendary Detroiter (Mr. Crawley): Complained about being denied public comment at a morning meeting, accused Councilmember Angela Callaway of being a scoundrel, and threatened to escalate. Also alleged election cheating.
  • Ms. Hughes (Owner Papa): Criticized the city for not investigating the land bank, misuse of bond money for commercial demolition, NEZ designations, and the solar project. Called for an audit of the grant department.
  • Brother Cunningham: Offered to deliver "kicker cards" (political materials) to council members. Apologized to Councilmember Mary Waters for using a bullhorn during her interview. Councilmember Waters accepted the apology.

Discussion Items

  • 6.1 – Contract Amendment for Divdat Kiosk System: The committee discussed a $3,307,500.45 increase (to $8,132,271.42 total) for online IVR and kiosk bill payment services. Topics included adding recycler kiosks that give change, language accessibility (English, Spanish, Arabic, Bangla, and French on request), accessibility features for visually impaired, and data security audits. Councilmember Johnson asked about placing recyclers in the community rather than only downtown. Treasurer Valerie Golee and Divdat representative Megan McGrath answered questions.
  • 6.2 – HUD Grant Budget Amendments: The committee reviewed changes to CDBG, HOME, ESG, and HOPWA budgets reflecting actual federal allocations. Discussion included an increase of $7.15 million in HUD funds, distribution of homeless service funds, and outreach to community organizations. Councilmember Waters requested a list of all grant opportunities and deadlines. Vice Chair Johnson asked about the concentration of funds to CAS Community Social Services.
  • Special Presentation – Extreme Heat Emergency Response: Director Brian Peckenpaul of the Department of Neighborhoods presented the mayor's executive order codifying the extreme weather response plan. Measures included open cooling centers (13 recreation centers, Edison Branch Library, and church sites), water shutoff stoppage, well-being checks for seniors, and employee safety protocols. Councilmember Johnson asked about public outreach channels.
  • 6.3 – NEZ Certificate for 105 Delaware Avenue: Petitioner Haroki Watari requested a Neighborhood Enterprise Zone certificate for rehabilitating a historic five-bedroom home. Estimated rehab cost $175,000–$200,000, with planned rental rates of $3,500–$4,000/month. Committee members questioned the high rent, accessibility features, historic preservation, and the builder's experience. The property taxes were noted as approximately $4,000/year.
  • 6.4 – Property Tax Rate Reduction Resolution: The committee discussed a resolution to reduce property tax millage. Vice Chair Johnson expressed concern about backfilling lost revenue from the general fund. Councilmember Waters requested LPD analyze state legislation by Speaker Hall. A motion was made to conduct a fiscal analysis of the resolution's impact on the general fund.
  • 6.5 – Property Tax Reform Ordinance Status: The committee scheduled a request for implementation status of the 2023 property tax reform ordinance to be brought back on September 23, 2026.
  • 6.6 – Budget Modification for DynaWitt Confidence Program: Brought back in two weeks.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved Consent Calendar: Minutes of June 24, 2026 approved.
  • Approved 6.1: Motion to approve contract amendment for Divdat kiosk system and send to formal session with recommendation to approve. (No objections)
  • Approved 6.2: Motion to approve HUD grant budget amendments and send to formal session with recommendation to approve. (No objections)
  • Approved 6.3: Motion to approve NEZ certificate for 105 Delaware Avenue and send to formal session with recommendation to approve. (No objections)
  • Motions to Bring Back Items: The following items were brought back without objection:
    • 5.1 (Mayor's office budget) – 1 week
    • 5.3 (Claims against city) – 2 weeks
    • 5.5 & 5.6 (NEZ and role funding) – 2 weeks
    • 5.7 (Health department budget) – 1 week
    • 5.8 (Data center tax revenue impact) – 2 weeks
    • 6.4 (Property tax resolution) – 2 weeks (pending fiscal analysis)
    • 6.5 (Property tax reform ordinance) – September 23, 2026
    • 6.6 (Budget modification) – 2 weeks
  • Motions for Analysis:
    • LPD to analyze Speaker Hall's property tax bill (motion by Councilmember Waters, no objections).
    • LPD to conduct fiscal analysis of the property tax reduction resolution (motion by Councilmember McCampbell, no objections).
  • Grant Outreach: The Office of Development and Grants and OCFO were directed to provide council members with a list of all grant opportunities and deadlines (motion by Councilmember Waters, no objections).
  • Adjournment: The meeting adjourned without objection.

Meeting Transcript

Budget Finance of Auditor in the Committee of Wednesday, July 1st. Happy July 2026 to order. Will the clerk please call the roll? Good afternoon. Councilmember Denzel and Tom McCampbell. Present. Councilmember Letitia Johnson. Present. Councilmember Mary Waters. Member Warders has indicated she would be tardy, but we'll be joining us soon. Okay, the clerk will note. We have quorum, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Madam Clerk. That'll move us on to the approval of the minutes. Members of the community should have received the minutes from our June 24th, 2026 meeting. With that, is there a motion to approve? Motion. Move us on to chair remarks. I would just say, as we are in the midst of a uh extreme heat, please do uh check on your neighbors, especially uh seniors and and vulnerable folks if you're able to. Um there are cooling centers across the city, um, our recreation centers, the libraries, and also various community organizations. Um, and we also um for our folks who are experiencing homelessness, there are extra services available as well. So if folks do need assistance, please feel free to reach out to our office um as well. And please do stay cool and stay safe. And with that, we'll move on to public comment. Um request for public comment will close at 1 15. Well, please limit your remarks to two minutes. Uh we'll start with folks in the room and then move to those who are joining us virtually. If you are joining us via Zoom, please do use the raise hand feature and you will be called in order. Um seeing no one in person right now, we'll move over to Zoom. And how many folks do we have currently? Good afternoon, Mr. Chair. Apparently, we have nine hands raised. All right, we'll start with our first speaker. Our first speaker is Janante Smith. Mr. Smith, good afternoon. You have two minutes. Good afternoon. I like to respond to a couple uh council members earlier, specifically Letitia Johnson, uh Johnson, uh Angela Phil Calloway and uh Renata Miller. So I do have my receipts from uh you taking direction from me, Councilwoman Callaway. Uh December 9th, 2025. I was on in District 4, so happened to be Father's District 3, Down the Street from the Night Precinct, trying to get a house that's owned by the land bank that was burned up to be boarded up and demolished. And uh Angela Phil Calloway, you asked you told me that you would call a demolition department. You told me you would call uh BC. You also reach out to the land bank. Also, uh to councilwoman Ronaldo Miller. So when you work and you put in good work, people pay you generally. Uh so I do work with the Detroit Ham Channel Coalition as a volunteer.

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