OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Detroit City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting - July 1, 2026

City Council — Wednesday, July 1, 2026
BodyDetroit, Michigan
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, July 1, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:00:40

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Whitfield Calloway.

0:01

Present.

0:01

Councilmember Scott Benson.

0:03

Benson I.

0:04

Councilmember Renata Miller.

0:05

I do believe she's on her way.

0:07

Clerk was so note.

0:08

Madam Chair, you have a coin present.

0:09

Thank you so much, Madam Madam Kirk.

0:11

We do have a prayer that's been provided by Peter Rhodes.

0:15

If you all will allow me.

0:18

Dear God, thank you for your love and guidance.

0:21

Help us to always walk your path and to never be alone or to be a stone in anyone else's path that might cause them to stumble.

0:30

So the word for the day is don't be a stone in someone else's way, causing them to fall and stumble.

0:38

Thank you.

0:38

Thank you, Peter, for that beautiful word.

0:42

All righty.

0:44

Is there a motion for the approval of the minutes?

0:46

Motion.

0:47

Without objections, the action shall be taken.

0:50

There are zero chair remarks.

0:52

Public comment will be cut off in two minutes.

0:55

It is now 10.01.

0:56

Public comments will be turned off at 10.03.

1:01

Is there anyone else?

1:02

Is there anyone here in the committee of the whole who would like to make public comment?

1:06

You'll have two minutes.

1:07

If so, um, you can take the first two seats there.

1:10

I see Mr.

1:10

Cunningham and I see the young man sitting next to you.

1:13

The um police officer there will guide you to the chair once you sit down.

1:17

Mr.

1:17

Cuttingham, you can go first.

1:18

You'll introduce yourself.

1:20

Um, and you know, um, to press the button at the base of the microphone and it'll turn green.

1:24

Again, you'll have two minutes and good morning to both of you.

1:27

But Mr.

1:28

Um Cunningham will start with you first.

1:42

Um 313 313, 444, 9114, 313, 444, 9114.

1:53

313, 444, 9114.

1:56

That number was made, so you can remember it.

1:59

Um, so I'm giving out ice water and busting every Friday.

2:03

And I actually been so hot, been giving out frozen cold water during this heat uh uh that we're going through right now here in the great city of Detroit.

2:14

Um I need your help in helping people.

2:17

Of course, you know the engine is giving me a problem, about 1500 to fix.

2:23

Um and I appreciate those that have helped um behind the scenes or boldly.

2:30

Um I always say this won't touch not God's anointing.

2:33

Cunningham needs to do his servants, Cunningham, no harm do me no harm, less harm.

2:40

Uh if you're a child of God, unity to hold somebody down is not good unity.

2:46

In history, we've had bad unity like slavery and other things.

2:50

There's good unity and bad unity.

2:53

Let's not morph the word unity into just being good.

2:58

Let's tell it like it is.

2:59

Unity is good or bad.

3:02

And karma is seed time and harvest.

3:06

Yes, don't put a hurdle in my pathway in helping people and mercy, mercy, mercy.

3:13

Fix D dot, improve the system.

3:17

D dot is in bad, bad shapes.

3:20

They're only on time, 65%.

3:23

D dots on time, 65%.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Pending Litigation█████████████████████████25%
Contract Management█████████████████17%
Housing█████████████13%
Procedural██████████10%
Personnel Matters█████████9%
Public Transit███████7%
Community Engagement████4%
Public Engagement███3%
Homelessness██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Detroit City Council Committee of the Whole - July 1, 2026

The Detroit City Council Committee of the Whole met on July 1, 2026, chaired by Council President Pro Tem Whitfield Calloway. The meeting included public comments, several settlement approvals, contract renewals, and a major discussion on a blight enforcement settlement with property owner Gaston Munoz. Key topics included D-DOT bus system performance, homeless resources, employee pay, and council procedures.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Mr. Cunningham (Detroit resident): Raised concerns about D-DOT bus reliability, reporting only 65% on-time performance, and requested assistance for his community outreach giving water during the heat. He also called for a prayer walk around the city building.
  • Ronald Wallace Jr. (Team Cunningham): Voiced concerns about bus cleanliness and timeliness, stressing the need for reliable transit for working-class families.
  • William M. Davis (Detroit Active Retired Employee Association): Announced the group would not meet that day, mourned the death of founding member Rudolph Ruby Malcolm, and urged the city to enforce blight ordinances more strictly.
  • Dr. Denise Darnell: Expressed support for the Wayne County Regional Transit System millage on the August 4 ballot, explaining it would cost the average homeowner about $8 monthly and benefit seniors, workers, and students.
  • Jadante Smith: Criticized the previous day's vote on the shot spotter contract, called for relocation of victims of the Real Token housing fraud, and questioned the city's efforts on homelessness. He also challenged Councilmember Callaway over an initiative to board up houses.
  • Owner Papa: Heavily criticized the council for corruption, lack of transparency, and wasteful spending, telling the body "you are the problem."
  • Betty A. Varner (Sodales Were Black Association): Thanked Councilmember Callaway for work in her district, asked the council to support a proposed mini market and gas station to address food desert issues, and invited volunteers for an August 1 event.
  • Caller ending in 534: Questioned why only residents in targeted solar areas receive housing upgrades, argued there was no community benefits agreement, and said she would contact the U.S. Department of Treasury about the project.
  • Cindy Dara: Encouraged churches and community groups to help transport people to polls, stressed early voting, and accused legislators of adding "poison pills" to good bills.
  • Cricket Icon: Demanded bathroom repairs for seniors, complained that D-DOT drivers sometimes pass seniors, and objected to e-corse signs targeting Detroit students.

Unfinished Business

  • 6.1 (Settlement, Level One Physical Therapy vs. City, $45,000): Moved to formal session with recommendation for approval.
  • 6.2 (Councilmember McCampbell memo re Community Advisory Council rules): Law Department staff requested a one-week bring-back; motion approved.
  • 6.3 (Councilmember Miller memo re CAC questions): Law Department clarified CACs can solicit grants but cannot become nonprofits; further questions to be put in writing. Brought back one week.
  • 6.4 (Councilmember McCampbell memo re employee pay raises): Initially deferred to end of agenda for HR presentation; HR later unavailable, so brought back one additional week.
  • 6.5 (Councilmember Benson memo re state planning program income eligibility): Law Department asked for a two-week bring-back; motion approved.

New Business

  • 7.1 (Contract renewal for toll management services, Professional Account Management LLC, $455k, zero increase): Councilmember Scott Benson objected, moving the item to formal session without committee recommendation.
  • 7.2 (Contract amendment for investigative case management software, Wingswept LLC, $938k): Moved to formal without objection.
  • 7.3 (Removed by administration): Removed from agenda at administration's request; Councilmember Benson expressed concern that such requests should come before the meeting.
  • 7.4 (Legal representation contract, Shermita Kilpatrick & Associates PLLC, $15k, Auburn Hills, MI): Councilmember Callaway questioned why a Detroit case would be assigned to an outside firm; administration asked for one-week bring-back to provide answers. Motion approved.
  • 7.5 (Settlement in blight enforcement lawsuit against Gaston Munoz, ~300 properties): Law Department attorney Jason Harrison presented the settlement requiring Munoz to abate 10 properties per month through November 2028, with monthly meetings and quarterly progress reports. Councilmember Benson requested a quarterly dashboard for council oversight. Councilmember Callaway made a motion directing the Law Department's municipal division to investigate possible fraud in Munoz's property acquisitions, noting many properties are in senior-citizen areas. The settlement was moved to formal session with recommendation for approval, and the investigation motion passed without objection.
  • 7.6 (Settlement, $15k, police): Moved to formal.
  • 7.7 (Settlement, $27k, Department of Transportation): Moved to formal.
  • 7.8 (Settlement, Michael Newson vs. Department of Transportation): Moved to formal (amount not specified).
  • 7.9 (Settlement, Minaye Yaeger vs. City, $37,500): Approved.
  • 7.10 (Settlement, Catherine Williams vs. Anthony Hunter & City, $115k): Moved to formal.
  • 7.11 (Settlement, Southfield Transportation Service): Moved to formal.
  • 7.12 (Settlement, Shane Michael Ratten vs. City, $75k, DPD): Moved to formal.
  • 7.13 (Property Assessment Board of Review appointments report): Received and filed.
  • 7.14 (Council recess July 29–31): Approved to formal.
  • 7.15 (Indigent defense grant addition, $437k): Law Department's Ron Mormando explained the state awarded additional funds due to efficient program. Council discussed attorney demographics and hourly rates. Moved to formal.
  • 7.16 (Labor agreement with Teamsters Local 214, ~130 employees): HR Administrator Anita Ellsworth explained wage provisions; DPD HR Director Katrina Patillo reported one OMA vacancy. Moved to formal.
  • 7.17 (Michigan Liquor Control Commission license report): Received and filed.

Key Outcomes

  • Settlements: All settlements (6.1, 7.6–7.9, 7.10, 7.11, 7.12) were approved to formal session, except 7.9 approved immediately.
  • Gaston Munoz settlement (7.5): Approved to formal with condition of quarterly reporting to council. Council also directed the Law Department's municipal division to investigate potential fraud in Munoz's property acquisitions.
  • Contract and Grant Approvals: Toll management (7.1) sent without recommendation; software contract (7.2) and labor agreement (7.16) sent to formal; indigent defense grant (7.15) sent to formal.
  • HR Questions: Employee pay raise discussion (6.4) extended another week; DPD civilian vacancy list to be provided by HR Director Patillo within one day.
  • Board of Review: Council will announce at next formal session that members should submit names for appointees to the Property Assessment Board of Review.
  • Council Recess: Formal session scheduled to recess July 29–31, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

Whitfield Calloway. Present. Councilmember Scott Benson. Benson I. Councilmember Renata Miller. I do believe she's on her way. Clerk was so note. Madam Chair, you have a coin present. Thank you so much, Madam Madam Kirk. We do have a prayer that's been provided by Peter Rhodes. If you all will allow me. Dear God, thank you for your love and guidance. Help us to always walk your path and to never be alone or to be a stone in anyone else's path that might cause them to stumble. So the word for the day is don't be a stone in someone else's way, causing them to fall and stumble. Thank you. Thank you, Peter, for that beautiful word. All righty. Is there a motion for the approval of the minutes? Motion. Without objections, the action shall be taken. There are zero chair remarks. Public comment will be cut off in two minutes. It is now 10.01. Public comments will be turned off at 10.03. Is there anyone else? Is there anyone here in the committee of the whole who would like to make public comment? You'll have two minutes. If so, um, you can take the first two seats there. I see Mr. Cunningham and I see the young man sitting next to you. The um police officer there will guide you to the chair once you sit down. Mr. Cuttingham, you can go first. You'll introduce yourself. Um, and you know, um, to press the button at the base of the microphone and it'll turn green. Again, you'll have two minutes and good morning to both of you. But Mr. Um Cunningham will start with you first. Um 313 313, 444, 9114, 313, 444, 9114. 313, 444, 9114. That number was made, so you can remember it. Um, so I'm giving out ice water and busting every Friday. And I actually been so hot, been giving out frozen cold water during this heat uh uh that we're going through right now here in the great city of Detroit. Um I need your help in helping people. Of course, you know the engine is giving me a problem, about 1500 to fix. Um and I appreciate those that have helped um behind the scenes or boldly. Um I always say this won't touch not God's anointing. Cunningham needs to do his servants, Cunningham, no harm do me no harm, less harm. Uh if you're a child of God, unity to hold somebody down is not good unity. In history, we've had bad unity like slavery and other things.

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