Good morning, everyone.

I would like to call to order our public health and safety standing committee for today, Monday, July 6th, 2026.

May the clerk please call the roll.

Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero.

Present.

Councilmember Denzel Anton McCampbell.

Member McCampbell did indicate that he's running tardy.

So note it.

Councilmember Mary Waters.

Present.

Madam Chair, you have a quorum present.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Given a quorum, we'll go right into the agenda for today.

For chair remarks, I hope everyone had a blessed and safe weekend this holiday weekend for the 4th of July.

We know there were a number of issues, a lot of power outages, water main breaks, and there was a powder outage over at Marathon Refinery, which has led to a lot of flare-ups in 42 and 7.

Uh so to the administration, I know you're listening.

If you can please help us give us some updates during member reports.

Communicating with the public is really important during these times, as well as any updates from the water department or at least a note for the water departments.

We also reached out.

I reached out to our director Brown about communicating with the public about water main breaks.

There were some homes that had water turned off for I think for a few hours, um, maybe overnight.

Um but another piece of information that needs to be communicated with the public whenever these things happen, because what ends up happening is we get the text messages as council members as residents, and if we don't know what's going on, um, it kind of causes chaos and confusion.

So to the administration, um, any updates regarding communications, how we're using our emergency management system, uh, would be much appreciated.

All right, I will move us along.

I saw you, Mr.

Washington.

Thank you.

So know that, madam chair.

Good morning.

Good morning, appreciate you.

Thank you.

If the clerk can can please note you've been joined by our vice chair.

Thank you.

So, oh, and I just remembered uh Mr.

Washington.

Another piece of information.

Um, because of the storms, there were a lot of trees that fell down around the city.

Um, so another piece of information, updates on where we are on tree removals if possible as well.

Well done, and my apologies.

I was being promoted um initially in your remarks.

Is this for in writing or to uh in committee this morning?

If possible, during member reports at the end of today, we are gonna have a presentation.

We should it should it's gonna be a lengthy committee, but it's gonna be good.

It's always good.

Um, and at the end, would like to hear updates um just regarding communications in times of emergencies, like when trees are falling down, um, when there's power outages, when there's water main breaks.

Um, just wondering if there's been any communication with the public regarding the tr uh the power outage in uh 42 and 7 around marathon around any updates for communication for water main breaks and um I guess any information the administration has on tree removals.

We'll do it thank you, madam church.

Appreciate you.

Thank you.

All right.

Um with that, I will move us along to public comments.

Oh, thank you.

Thank you, Dr.

Powers.

Is there a motion to approve our minutes from our last session?

Motion to approve.

Thank you.

There was a motion to approve our motions, our motions.

Our minutes will be approved from our last session.

I skits approval of minutes.

I went to chair remarks.

We will now go into public comments.

Uh I will cut off public comment this morning at 1010 a.m.

If you are here for public comment, please raise your hands now if you are in person or online.

In person, I have two folks here for public comments.

I believe I have your names, and if you are online, please raise your hands now.

We will begin public comments, general public comment with the folks that we have here in person.

We will begin with Brother Cunningham, followed by Jalen Camp.

You each will have two minutes, and the timer is on the screen.

Yes, please.

Whenever you guys are ready, make sure your microphones are on.

And introduce yourself to the public.

Brother Cunningham, whenever you're ready, the floor is yours.

313, 444, 9114.

313 444 9114.

313 444 9114.

That number is made so you can remember it shortly about Mr.

Kemp next to me right here.

He's a father of two toddlers, having difficulty getting his ID, um, housing difficulties.

He's he's been going through this for so many years.

I help out when I can.

He can speak for himself as regards to that.

Detroit Department of Transportation is uh still like Lester.

It needs to be more on time.

And again, I make money off the service being bad.

But my mother raised me to care about others.

I was once homeless for 13 years, and that's a long time.

And I took the buses just to say cool and to stay warm.

Um in that observation, it helped with my observation of the transit system that that long period of long suffering on the coaches.

Um, West Side, East Side, everywhere.

People are telling me the buses are not consistent down on time.

And then it should be some sign-in bonuses or something.

Mechanics, mechanics, mechanics, mechanics, those new buses shouldn't have been breaking down, but we just need now at this point mechanics, mechanics, mechanics.

If y'all want to wear everybody wear a QR code with a link to how they can mechanics can get a job at D dot, go ahead and do that by any means necessary.

Mechanics, mechanics, mechanics, mechanics.

This should be a sense of urgency.

I know there's new administration, new directors.

We've gone through so many directors, but the sense of urgency to get those mechanics and get those vehicles fixed.

And lastly, in regards to myself, I need bus tickets.

And also, if you have a running or a vehicle that needs to be repaired, so I can continue to do my outreach or have vehicle troubles, any vehicle of any kind.

I'm not broke.

So if you do have a vehicle, please let me know.

You know the contact number or you want to donate to the cause.

Thank you.

Thank you, Brother Cunningham.

General Public Comments is now cut off.

We will now hear from Mr.

Kemp.

Uh how y'all doing.

Good morning.

Uh my name is Jalen Kemp, a father of two toddlers.

Uh I was brought here by Brother Cunningham.

Uh I need free legal help to fix my name with Social Security.

Uh I have tried everything and I haven't got nowhere with help getting that fix.

And Cunningham helped me with bus tickets, you know, pass out cold waters and prayers, and also been help to my family.

Uh that'll be all.

Madam Chair.

Thank you for coming down, sir.

Um, while you're here, we're gonna try to get you some help, member waters.

Uh thank you, thank you, madam chair.

Uh Mr.

Kemp, um, could you call my office?

I want to know a little bit more about what's what's going on with you.

Um, because there's something, I mean, the fact that you certain things you can't get.

I don't quite understand it, so I'll need more specific information.

Can you write down my number, please?

Uh, yes, I can.

Uh 313.

I don't have no opinion.

Mr.

Cunningham has it too.

You have Jason's number too, don't you, Ms.

Cunningham?

Yes.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Could you could you please give that to uh hit him the information so he can reach out to Jason and I want to talk with you, okay?

Okay, thank you.

Thank you, madam chair.

Thank you, Member Waters.

Appreciate that.

If you guys need any help, let us know.

With that, we will now turn it over to the folks that we have online.

Um Ms.

Conn, how many hands do we have raised and who do we have first?

Madam Chair, we have 15 hands raised.

Um, noting that one person joined after public comment was cut off.

And our first caller is Dr.

Darney uh Denise Darnell.

Good morning.

Can I be heard?

Yes, good morning.

Good morning.

Blessings to you all.

Uh, for those here in Wayne County Precinct number 203.

I am on the August 4th ballot for delegate to the county convention, and would appreciate your consideration and vote.

Also, I'm a member of 482 Forward advocating for public education.

We had our annual membership meeting last Thursday, and Wayne County Commissioner Angelique Peterson Maybury was there advocating for a proposal S, which will simply replace the tax previously levied by Detroit Public Schools.

Now that their legacy debt has been paid.

This millage will cost nothing to Detroit voters who own or rent their home.

It will allow Detroit Public School Community District to continue investing in art, music, physical education, athletics, and help expand career and college programming for high school students, plus allow for more classroom supplies and additional repairs to our school buildings.

This is a continuation of a millage that has previously overwhelmingly been passed.

I am also advocating for the other proposal for the Wayne County Transit Millage, which will allow seniors and people with disabilities to get to work, medical appointments, and help connect small businesses within Wayne County.

For the average Detroit homeowner, it might cost around $4 per month.

Some people taking public transportation in the city just don't stay within the city limits.

Some may travel to our other 42 communities in Wayne County.

So let's renew and expand public transit services.

Thank you very much.

Have a blessed day.

Thank you, you as well.

Our next caller is legendary Detroiter.

Ruben Crowley, you're up next.

Yeah, uh Gabriela Santiago Romero.

One of your uh alumni from the University of Michigan, Jeffrey Hudson.

He was a Wayne County, assistant Wayne County medical examiner, the one that changed the original determination of homicide to that of suicide in the case of Kinesha Coman's murder.

DPB case 20-11112.

He changed it based on some straight up BS.

Kinesha did not commit suicide.

She was a victim of, she was assassinated.

She was a victim of murder.

Now the Detroit Police Department's homicide unit, Commander Rebecca McKay is lying.

There is no evidence of a suicide.

She told me at the Board of Police Commissioners meeting down the police headquarters out in the hallway that they had evidence of a suicide.

She's lying.

Which brings me to this.

One of the alumni from the University of Michigan, one of the alumni Naughty is what I call them.

One of your uh Go Blue guys is a fraud.

I mean, he owned BS, straight up BS.

Just like I want to touch on Jorge Santiago Romero, his uh units, the uh places that he rent out that have escaped uh scrutiny by building safety and engineering.

I think you know what I'm touching on and what I'm talking about, Gabriela Santiago Romero.

Our next caller is Miss Betty A.

Werner.

Good morning to all within the sound of my voice.

This is Betty A.

Varner, the president of the Soda Ellsworth Black Association.

Here today to uh advocate for our annual Arise Detroit event that we are having uh August 1st.

Uh the hours are between 11 and 3.

Uh setup time is at 10 a.m.

Uh the location is 6451 Ellsworth at our Diva Community Park where we have purchased land and created a park.

And this year we were blessed to uh purchase three additional vacant lots, and we are extending our park.

We are in need of help, volunteers to help us uh set up and break down our tents for our family fund games.

We are uh in need of a hair braider and barber to donate their time to uh cut hair for our uh young adults and to braid hair.

We will be offering a lot of different resources, bringing resources to the community.

This is an event that is citywide.

Uh we are going to have family fund.

We're going to be giving away school supplies, hygiene products, and other things to help our uh young adults.

We are going to have food.

We're going to have a bouncy house.

Uh there is going to be family fun event, safe event.

So we are please, please, please seeking help.

If you can help us out, we need volunteers.

Please contact me.

Uh some of the city council know how to contact me.

Thank you for this time and God bless you all.

Thank you.

You as well.

Our next caller is Blackbag, noting he's already spoken.

Um, which brings us to our next caller, you matter.

Thank you.

Miss Warwick, you're up next.

Hello?

Yes, good morning.

Okay, sorry, I couldn't hear that.

Um yeah, uh, thank you for the two minutes.

Um Tiago Romero and Member McCampbell.

Uh I've been waiting from your office to get clarity on whether residents are allowed to use plywood to board up buildings.

Um, I noticed that Richard Hosey uh still is last I knew on the board of the Detroit Land Bank Authority has plywood boards on the Fisher Body Plant.

The people that want to build North End Landing have uh plywood on some of their buildings.

One of their buildings isn't even it's been open to trespass since uh August of 2023.

Um so why are there different strokes for different folks?

That's why we need clarity in writing what people can use on their buildings and why it's taking so long to get an answer out of BC is beyond me.

Also, another question that I have been asking for a long time, still not getting an answer, is why do people in the targeted solar areas get housing upgrades to their houses when there is no community benefits agreement?

There was no community benefits ordinance process here.

So, and given that you all took an oath to uphold the United States and the Michigan Constitution, and we have the charter through the Home Rule Act, and the charter says you have to give people equal opportunity.

So, why do some people get the housing upgrades and the rest of us don't?

Because if you really want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, there are plenty of people who uh could use the help of fixing their roofs or getting better windows so their uh place would be better weatherized, and then they would uh not have to use as much energy in the winter and the summer to heat and or cool their places.

So, may I please get an answer to the two questions?

What about the plywood and who gets the upgrade to the wife?

Thank you.

Our next caller is Miss Tahira Ahmad.

Good morning, everybody.

Thank you for allowing me to speak.

I want to first thank the mayor.

Mayor Sheffield Bravo.

I got my tax bill in the mail.

And the attached to it is how to read your property tax bill.

This is brilliant.

Thank you, Mayor Sheffield.

You are our Cheryl.

You have passed you as a matter of fact, you spearheaded and passed along with you.

Uh uh Santiago America Council member.

You're one of our She Ros as well.

And uh Mary Waters, uh, Councilmember Mary Waters, you are one of our heroes as well.

I want to congratulate you, ladies, and um, and you uh Mayor Sheffield for following through with your Shiroism and not only passing the property tax reform ordinance, but uh helping us continue to enforce it.

This is part of the enforcement.

I want to thank you all.

Also, uh Frederick Douglass wrote about the 4th of July.

People, you ought to hear what uh Frederick Douglass said.

Uh, how can we sell a black people celebrate the 4th of July?

And how can we celebrate the 4th of July?

And we are own reparations.

Everybody got reparations, but black people, Jews, Japanese, uh, Indians, um, even slave owners got reparations, but black people who built this country, and uh, the universities, cotton industry, sugar industry, the tobacco industry, wall street, uh, um, insurance companies.

Oh, oh, got rich off a free enslavement work from black people.

So we we demand reparations now.

Happy birthday.

Our next caller is Janante Smith.

And we have eight callers in the queue.

Good morning.

I want to say I was at a uh peaceful ice demonstration.

I seen uh Madam Chairperson's uh chief of staff out there.

So I appreciate your commitment to your community, and I guess just in general, uh monitoring uh the fire season we have going on in America.

Also, yeah, it's very sad to see black people celebrating the 4th of July when July 4th, 1776.

We would have been slaves, we'd have been uh chased around and wrangled up.

Um also I just want to say I'll I'll be following a lot of different things around the city.

Um, especially in district two, a lot of the blight issues that are going on over there, just because uh I'm I guess things become personal when people make things personal.

But that's all I have to say.

You guys have a wonderful day.

Our next caller is Mr.

Foster.

Good morning through the um chair.

Couple things first.

I see there's a public hearing, I guess.

Um quarterly update on D Dot.

They have not shown to be very responsible with their resources and just paid five million dollars in one incident, maybe two weeks ago, right?

And it's continue to accumulate, have to continue to tweak out that.

Secondly, when it comes down to federal overreach, right?

There's a conflict here.

The city has her funds that they don't want to be accountable for.

You don't want the FBI in there.

But then when it comes down to police, you have issues with the FBI too.

Those cases, if the FBI comes in and says they don't want to open up cases or disclose Brady, then I suggest you guys administratively close them.

When it comes down to this neighborhood thing, I seen this agenda on here for the last two or three months since they've been formed, asking a question, what new services is gonna come.

I'm gonna ask this chair here to look up the community education commission, see what has resulted from that over the last 10 years because the same people that ran that is trying to run our community violence and neighborhood and everything else.

And so just historically, just look at the work of the people that are coming up here, not the lobby, not the funnel and money, but look at the results of their work.

Then lastly, we had a couple citizens here.

They were young, murdered inside of Fairley More, head blown off, right?

While we talk about interrupting things, the other people were in a whole different city.

How can we turn the blind eye to gang violence in our community?

Our next caller is owner Papa.

Good morning, and through the chair, may I be heard?

Yes, good morning.

Good morning.

Um they they implement shot spotter.

That's how they do it.

They spend two million dollars on shot spotter that does it does not prove to do anything in terms of quelling crime in our city.

We could have used that two million dollars for conflict resolution.

I would like to know what is LA28 relay.

I don't know.

I don't, I'm not familiar with that.

And I would like to know why is do it spending 12 million dollars, well, plus four more on in-car cameras.

Um I'm not understanding what cars, what are they talking about, and why is it coming through do it?

Um your your um uh we got changes to the police and fire uh system retirement drop.

Why what is that?

What we we do everything but help the people.

Um, yeah, thank you for sending a little uh mailer inside uh of the uh tax bill, but can we stop Mr.

Alvin Horn from sending out the wasting trees and money sending out triplets of the uh assessment?

If I need another language, I could request it.

We looked at the uh the numbers of black people in this city, and we make up like 78 to 80 percent of the people in the city.

Why are we still considered minorities?

We that's a mindset, and it it's happened through slavery.

You are not a minority here.

You are you are a majority in this city, and I am in Grias with Ms.

Walwick.

We don't get any answers.

I'm asking uh councilman from seven, why are we turning over our island lands to um um um the the detroit land blank?

I don't know what that's all about.

Please explain.

Thank you.

Our next caller is Jacqueline, and we have one, two, three, four more callers in the queue after that.

Good morning.

I I have a question, as always.

I need it to be explained to me.

Everyone's calling about this um public transportation millage, and I hear Mr.

Cunningham come on and say that the service in Detroit is lacking, and other people who come with him that have complaints about the DD um D dot um service in Detroit.

If Detroit, uh I want voters to think about this.

If we want to increase our um student enrollment in Detroit, along with uh employment in Detroit, why would we buy in into a plan that have us paying taxes to send our people or people from Detroit into the suburbs to go to school and to work?

I remember when we started busting people to Northland, Eastland, and all the Southlands and everything, and then our downtown deteriorated.

People need to think about what why are they promoting this so well?

Is it because they don't have the money to sustain their bus service and jobs and their schooling, they need our students or our our children to come out so that they can get the money from the state.

But that's my comment.

I just needed to be explained to me how it would benefit Detroiters to actually vote for something that would um, as I said, commute our people for to the schools and to the jobs rather than creating jobs here in Detroit.

And that's my comment.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next caller is William M.

Davis.

Uh good morning.

Can I be heard?

Yes, good morning, Mr.

Davis.

Okay, I like to start out by saying that I, for one, don't celebrate the 4th of July.

But I know a lot of people do.

Uh I know we had this horrible weekend with high temperatures and a lot of rain and thunderstorms.

It appears like we actually have a tornado on Friday.

Uh also I work for the water problem for 34 years from 1978 to 2012.

During the time I worked for the water department, you know, we had some streets to flood, but now streets flood and stay flooded for a much longer time.

And the duration of the rain is not all that high.

You know, so I think we need to be a better job of looking in on our assets because I think we have people just taking advantage of us.

Uh also as it relates to DTE.

Um my power didn't go out, thank goodness.

Well, I know a lot of people's power did go out, and DTE should not be able to get by by giving people 25 hours.

I know people still have the power now.

They was told on Saturday they won't have the power back until Tuesday evening.

That's horrible.

You know, and this in this day and time, you know, at the very least, DTE should be giving people at least 100 a day when they lose power.

Uh also you know, like when I say it seemed like we have the tornado, because like just in my backyard, uh, you know, some big major branches fell that I can't even pick up.

And I know there's a lot of trees that failed over here in District 7 and different streets just driving around.

There should be some type of assistance that the public can get on dealing with these trees and these large branches.

Because you know, there's a number of trees in people's front yards, backyards, and what have you that people might need assistance with.

Um you know, we seem to be helping others, but don't help ourselves.

Yeah, I have a great day.

Thank you.

Our next caller is Cindy Dara.

Good morning, Cindy.

You're up next.

Cindy, if you're speaking, we cannot hear you.

You have been made a panelist.

You just need to unmute yourself.

Cindy, if you can hear us, you just have to unmute yourself.

And we may have to add you to the bottom of the queue.

You might have to call us back.

Because if you are speaking, we cannot hear you.

Sorry, Cindy.

I'm gonna add you to the bottom of the queue and come back to you.

You might want to call us back, but you have been made a panelist.

You're on muted on our end.

You have to unmute yourself in order for us to hear you.

Sorry, Cindy.

I'm gonna move on to the next caller and come back to you.

Who do we have next?

Our next caller is Renard Monchinski.

Good morning.

Can I be heard?

Yes, good morning.

Hi, good morning.

My name is Renard Boschanski.

I'm a long-term Detroiter and organized with Detroit People's Platform on Public Transit.

And I'm really glad that the lady came on to ask about the transit village.

A lot of people don't know how our transit system is actually funded.

So every year, D Dot is budget is funded by grants from the federal government, already from the state government, which they didn't increase with the new budget, and also from the general fund from the city of Detroit.

The all dependent on tax money coming in everywhere, and it can go up and down, which means the budget for D dot is not stable.

Now, depending on which route, what time of the day, um, I found the buses to be a lot more cleaner, and on Saturdays and Sundays, the service has gotten a lot better.

And that's mostly when I'm riding the bus for errands.

I ride the bus during the week to get to and from work as well.

Um, and then evening hours it is challenging the early morning hours, but during the morning time or the peak hour for most people are working.

Um, I'm seeing a lot more ridership on the bus.

And here's what it is.

Detroit is the lowest funded city in the United States.

And when I go to other cities and how they fund their transit systems, they pay a little bit more.

This transit millage is a county millage.

So basically, every city will keep their funds that are collected, including Detroit.

We're gonna get about between seven to ten million each year of steady funding that D Dot can use.

All if this is approved by the voters, the way in county is a straight up and down vote.

So 51% of voters in the county all over this includes us in Detroit.

Vote yes on this.

Dot will have better connections with smart.

And the reality is a lot of the manufacturing jobs and jobs are outside of the city.

A lot of people I know work outside of the city, they need better connections between DDO and SMART to get around.

They need shelters to sit on as stops.

Um, sorry, seats to sit on and shelters to protect from the elements.

And um, we will have better economy with this proposal if this passes.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our final caller is Samsung before we go back to the top of the queue.

Okay, Samsung caller, if you can hear us, you're up next.

To whomever is calling us in in a Samsung phone on a Samsung phone.

You are our second to last caller.

You can hear you now, yes.

Good morning.

Um I got a concern about uh I had they had put a stores up to my house, maybe about a couple years ago when they uh did my roof and uh my door, they didn't put no screws in the storm the security door.

They put my friend said I had my neighbor to take a look at it, say it was rivets, and what's happening with my door in order for me to close my door, I had to slam it each time.

And so he whoever would, I mean, well, I still start with a Jade to win the contractor, but he should have known not to put no rivets in there and it supposed been screws because I was wondering what was going on.

So I did call somebody around the corner to actually take a look at it.

He said, they didn't put no screws in there, and it's hard for me to open my door, and it's hard for me to close my door.

So I would like for them to come back out and do the job right, even though they rush me to sign the papers because I don't usually sign papers unless I'm satisfied.

Number one, number two, still you could see the uh outside light that the heat is when the heat is on, I'm sure it's going out the door.

Also, I was on a bus.

I think it was Friday.

Uh I was on McNichol's bus and they had and it had gotten cooled at that night around about eight or nine o'clock.

They had the anti freeze.

That uh freeze they had the air conditioner up hot.

You know, it was so high that I had to take because I've been hot when I first went out.

I had on a nice little summer dress.

I had to take my sleeves out of my dress and pull my dress almost over my head, my body to I I mean, I'll fully dress to key from freezing.

So they need to control that air condition better than what they're doing when the temperatures drop outside.

And about the D dot.

Again, I'm glad that people are talking about it.

You know, it's don't make no sense to get on the bus and freeze.

And you gotta pay.

Thank you.

I'm not sure which um home repair uh program you you you went through and need help with.

If you wouldn't mind calling our office for us to see how we can connect with you and see how we can help.

Uh my number is 313-224-2450.

Um, that's for our previous caller who's asking for help.

I think we're going now to Cindy Dara.

Cindy, you have been made a panelist.

You just have to unmute yourself.

Yeah, uh I'm still trying to find out about this tax capture.

Uh I called the AG's office and uh they told me to send them an email, they wouldn't connect me to a lawyer when I'm trying to ask them to look into the unconstitutionality of that tax capture law, plus the two laws.

One, we can't have a referendum if somebody puts money on it, which is ridiculous because we only have 45 days after that it's published in the legal news a lot in order to uh have a referendum.

So the money's not spent yet.

So that should be taken out of our state constitution and out of our city charter 2012.

Uh, but anyway, it's it's hard to find any answers.

And when I was talking to the librarian, uh, I said, well, how come they they left this tax capture on this on the schools for this renewal when they don't uh they took it off the library tenure a year or two ago.

Well, he said what they uh somebody and I haven't found out yet, said that that's the law, you have to take it out.

Well, I'd sure like to know what's going on, and I I think you guys should know too.

And we haven't had any type of thing uh mailed out about the election.

It's like you don't they don't want us to vote, and uh then they just put in, I guess the ballots for us when we don't vote.

So uh this is really disgusting.

And we we need approval voting, we need to actually proportional representation to get rid of this redistricting and it'd be fair so that people have a voice, even if they lose by one percent.

Uh right now, and you lose by one percent, you don't have a voice.

Uh the winner takes all.

That's not a good system.

You know, so uh, and plus they split the votes up, putting nine people running for mayor.

Thank you, Miss Dara.

And just a note, I believe we've had a few callers join us after public comments closed.

Apologies.

I need to move on.

We did close public comment at 10, 10 a.m.

this morning.

And just a quick note there was a question regarding LA 28.

Um, this is actually pretty fun.

This is going to be an item that's going to be referred to neighborhood um and community services.

Oh, excuse me, to the law department.

Yes, uh, Graham Anderson Law Department.

We'll uh get into more details later.

Later, to say at this time, even what's publicly on for the Olympics.

Yes, through the chair, yes.

Okay, so it's something fun that's going to be discussed later for the Olympics for the public.

Yep, that would be great.

All right, the law departments telling you not to talk about this.

Yes, thank you.

But it's something fun.

Um, be on the lookout for that.

Um, with that, um, also am grateful for Jacqueline for asking the question of D dots and the the millage that's coming through.

Um, there are, and and and I heard the question of why we are providing this to send people outside of the city.

The reality is that that's already the case.

A lot of our students, especially living along um the border of the city, go especially in district six downriver to school.

Um, and and we need to meet people where they're at.

So we have a lot of folks that go to work outside of the city as well.

I'm not doing this to get people outside of the city, I'm doing this to make sure they come back home safely and on time.

Um any other comments for uh public comments, Vice Chair?

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Um, just want to mention Ms.

Hughes had asked about the um the islands, the the uh islands over in aviation that we approve for the land transfer.

Um just to be clear, this is going from the land bank to the city um for general services department to be able to maintain um that property along tirement.

So um it's not going to the land bank is actually coming into city hands so we could make sure that the area is maintained and clean um for folks in aviation.

And also um Commissioner Davis mentioned what the trees and our office has been done has been getting a lot of calls about down trees and and limbs and such all over the place.

Um please do give our office a call and we will follow up with the uh department also if folks are still without power.

Want to make sure that that is reported to DT as well.

Um our office law numbers 313 2242151, 313 2242151.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Vice Chair.

With that, if there's nothing else regarding public comment for this morning, we can go into our presentation.

We have a 1030 a.m.

presentation from D Dot.

I do see our director is here with us.

If you wouldn't mind joining us, we can feel free to take the stage.

And I believe we have a presentation that we can pull up.

Um whenever you're ready, director.

If you wouldn't mind introducing yourself, whoever else you have on the team.

Well, I see someone has joined us virtually.

If you wouldn't mind introducing yourself, Stephanie, I think that's your cue.

Oh, Stephanie, if you're speaking, your microphone is not working.

I see that it's unmuted.

Um I apologize.

All set.

No whereas we can hear you now.

All righty.

Good morning.

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

Good morning.

Good to see you, Director.

Good morning, uh, through the chair.

Robert Kramer, director of D DOT.

Um, and Stephanie introduced herself.

She's going to be uh running the slide presentation.

Um so this is the uh a little bit late in the uh cycle here, but this is actually our first quarter update.

As you all know, we give a quarterly update with some specific data.

So um this is the first quarter.

Uh for scheduling reasons, I think we kind of ended up uh in this spot.

Uh so we'll be back soon with the second quarter.

Uh but I will give a little bit of a preview of some of the progress we've been making in the second quarter as well.

Um, but did want to go ahead and um go through the presentation.

Uh so we can go to the first slide.

So um a couple of uh updates that we've got um during the actually right after the first quarter, April 27th, we uh opened the Coolidge Terminal.

Uh this is located uh out on Schaeffer, uh just north of Grand River.

Uh it's a site that has had transit uh taking place there for um about a hundred years actually.

Originally it was a streetcar facility, uh had been closed since 2011-2012, and uh this project was 165 million dollars, came in um right on budget and on schedule, and basically includes um the full functionality that you'd expect.

So it's got an administration building for the terminal, not for our um head, not for the headquarters staff, um, and then a maintenance facility and a bus storage area as well, uh all brand new, um includes a fitness center, a lounge for the uh drivers and mechanics that are on site.

Uh so really excited to have that um up and running, and many thanks to the team that uh put that uh together.

Um also uh we added uh new member of our leadership team.

So uh I'm the executive director under me.

I have um three different deputies, operations, maintenance, and administration.

Uh we uh added um Miss Arlana Johnson is the new deputy director of operations.

Uh she comes with over 30 years of experience from uh she retired from CTA in Chicago and had uh started as a bus uh operator there and worked our way up through the ranks.

So I'm just so excited to have uh her.

She actually started that same day that the Coolidge terminal opened.

Um and uh recently, just a couple weeks ago, we actually added a new um assistant director under her as well, who also has over 30 years of experience in the transit uh industry.

So really excited about kind of piece by piece continuing to build the team.

There's a uh incredibly, we have 1200 budgeted positions at DDOT, just an incredibly prideful group that really are eager for DDOT to move forward.

They know the impact that they have on the residents and the city every day.

And so it's up to us, certainly as the management team to give everyone the tools that they need to move us forward, and we are making progress slowly but surely.

So the next slide.

So some technology upgrades.

We were before council to have the contract approved for Swiftly, which is a software provider.

We were able to get this up and running based specifically.

I think the tipping point at least for me was talking to some some high school students who, if anyone would be able to operate our app successfully, it would be the high school students, and they say we use the app, we go to the bus stop, it says a bus is coming, I can see the icon, it doesn't show up.

So this was an effort for us to take a new software package that would take some of the existing information we have and add more sources that we could be we could count on and the riders could count on the information coming out uh through the different various forms.

Um we're still working on the implementation, but um, in addition to improving our real-time feed, we're really encouraging encouraging people to use the transit app.

So the D dot app is still active, but we will have uh a sunset date that's coming out at some point relatively soon.

We'll educate people on that.

But really looking for people to transition to the transit app, it's totally free on the RTA using some grant funds in partnership with DDOT and Smart provided an upgrade.

So if you're in anywhere in the metro region and you use the transit app, you actually get some upgraded features for free as well.

You don't have to sign up or anything like that.

You just have to be physically here.

Um that provides not only better real-time information, um, but it also uh is the is the best sync with our rider alerts.

So Swiftly allows us to type out rider alerts based on a bus stop, a route, a time of day, or system wide if we have any messages to pass to the public.

So, really again, it's about not only are we working to improve the quality of the service, but also make sure that people have accurate information about what's actually happening out on the street.

So excited about that.

Uh it's also a great tool.

You can go to the next slide, but it's also a great tool for us for service delivery.

So while the public facing part is the most important, I would say, um, it also has a lot of um tools that help us be better managers of the service that are out on the street as well.

So getting into some of the metrics here, um, our revenue miles.

Uh you can see again, this is the first quarter, so the second quarter numbers are um quite a bit better than this.

First quarter, we were struggling with um some bus availability, especially in January and February, and you can see that that impacted the delivery of our service, uh meaning that we were missing about 15% of the service in January and February, 9% in March.

Uh we actually had a um we had a week about three weeks ago, we were we were at over 98% of our trips delivered.

So we're um making good progress.

But this is the first quarter.

Next slide.

Uh the active TEOs, so um the this number has gone up even more in the last three months, but basically this boils down to kind of the best case scenario from the contracts that council approved to provide uh six dollar an hour plus increases and get parity with smart for our operators.

Uh for the first year that I was here, we would have monthly classes, we would hire operators, and by the time the next class started, we would lose that many operators again.

So for over a year, our net was zero despite the fact that we had monthly classes coming through, and that was based on a high number of voluntary separations.

As soon as that contract was signed, which was at the end of November, uh, we had our our largest starting class in December, which was over 80 students.

Then we had a December, January, February, and March class.

We graduated all of those students, and basically at the same time our retention went up so that the only drivers we were losing were through involuntary separations, so failed drug tests, too many crashes, something like that.

Uh so what we were finding is that um basically we were hovering around this number of about 500, um, and since then we've been graduating those classes.

We've actually uh stopped, we won't have any more classes till at least September.

Um, and we have over 600 TEOs that are active.

And I'll talk a little bit more about that in a minute.

But uh the change again is probably better than could have possibly been anticipated as far as the TEO numbers and retention.

What that means from a bottom line standpoint is that as the bus availability continues to increase, uh, that we are uh primed to continue increasing service.

That's always been an uh issue over the last couple of years was that either the buses or the or the operators are right on the edge.

Uh now we know that we have more than enough operators.

Next slide.

So our TEOs and training.

Um this number after this quarter ended, went down.

We're at about 20 now, again, because we don't need to keep having three and four classes going at the same time because we're retaining the drivers that we have.

Next slide.

Separated TEOs again, you can see this number is eight, seven, and four.

In previous years, it was usually in the 15 to 30 range per month, and simple math means that that means we aren't losing more than we're bringing in.

Next slide.

Uh our ridership last year, our addership was up about eight percent year over year, and that trend is continuing again.

Um this year, all of these are before the ride to rise free student rides.

That started in April, uh beginning of April.

Um we did see at least double the number of student rides, but that was coming from a pretty low number, so it didn't have a huge impact uh on ridership, uh just continued our general upward trend.

Next slide.

Pull-outs for terminals.

Um, again, this was January and February in particular, had a um uh we had bus availability issues uh over the last four weeks from right now.

Uh we've been between 96 and 99 percent for our pull-outs and looking for that number to continue to sustain.

Next slide.

Uh on time performance.

This is for pull out on time performance.

Again, this is something we're continuing to work on for when when you have bus availability issues, it means you're pulling out on time is difficult to sustain.

Um, and that's significant significant that is signified by um poor on-time performance for pulling out of the terminal.

Next slide.

Our missed trips again.

The goal here is to be at you know, two or three percent.

And as I mentioned, over the last four weeks or so, we've been in that uh two to four percent range.

That's really what you expect from a healthy uh healthy fleet healthy system is two to four percent.

That's just based on anything could happen, uh, but you really want to keep that number as low as possible.

Next slide.

On time performance, um, this number is this one that has actually been going up and down.

As I mentioned, we just added the um the new assistant directors actually specifically is focused on service delivery, and that this is a number we're gonna continue to push on.

It has been hovering around 70 percent.

We actually had a couple weeks where it dipped into the the mid to lower 60s, um, and that's a combination of service delivery management, but also scheduling.

So uh really uh working on multiple angles for that.

Next slide.

Um this is a preventable crashes, and this number is generally it's this number is gonna going to improve.

The issue we've been having for the last year or so is that the newer drivers, so for example, our new contract has a um incentive where if you have a quarter without a crash, then you get a uh safety incentive basically.

Uh we actually looked back and we are awarding uh operators kind of starting anew, but we have a number of operators, over 100 operators that haven't had a single preventable crash in over two years.

Um if you look at those who have had only one, uh it's really the majority of drivers are safe and don't have preventable crashes.

It's really usually focused on the newer operators.

Uh when you have that turnover, you're continuing to grow that number of newer operators.

So not only are we looking for trends that we can kind of custom tailor the training, but as we get less turnover, that will also help as well with the preventable crashes just from experienced driving.

Next slide.

This is the non-preventable rating.

So we track these uh separately, um, but similar, it's a similar number.

Next slide, complaints.

Um again, our goal is less less than or equal to 15 complaints per 100,000 boardings.

I'd actually like us to rem to make that goal uh lower.

You can imagine January and February when we were missing significant portions of the service, about 15%.

That's gonna yield uh more complaints because the service is a lower quality, but that number uh continues to go down as the service quality improves.

Next slide.

We continue to work for DPD, so just as a kind of reminder, maybe for those tuning in, um DPD has a uh transit umit that uh provides those staff are fully their full assignment is focused on deep uh D dot, both at the transit centers and boardings.

Every precinct though does uh pitch in as well with help uh responding to issues and also to for uh boardings throughout the system as well.

But really looking to um we're basically just tracking this number uh and keeping an eye on kind of how those are are going.

Next slide.

This is just the transit center.

This is something that was specifically asked before.

You can see these are by the time of day.

Uh next slide.

And generally, disturbances are the most of the incidents that DPE uh respond responds to.

Next slide.

Our paratransit trips continue to grow.

Again, this is uh kind of a double-edged sword, so it is a good thing because it means the service is reliable.

Uh it is a challenge because for on the paratransit side, the more trips you provide, the more it costs because basically you're you're paying per trip.

Uh we've been focusing on increasing the efficiency, but oftentimes that means that the on-time performance can start to dip, and uh that's kind of the back and forth that we're working through right now.

But uh the paratransit trips continue to grow.

Next slide.

So this was the first quarter.

You can see um A's for um last year, this year B's, and that was again that means it's between 90 and 95% of on-time performance.

On-time performance again, basically means that if we say we're gonna come within a 30-minute window, that we are there within the 30-minute window.

Uh so we were at 98, 99 percent.

Uh, now we're in the the lower 90s, um, but we're continuing to really focus again on balancing um uh getting this number back up while continuing to be efficient with our resources.

Next slide.

Uh the accidents uh crashes for paratransit are very low.

March was zero.

These are all rates per 100,000 miles.

We're very proud of our uh crash accident record here.

Next slide.

Complaints also very low.

Uh just to put in context, 0.4% means 15 complaints out of 38,000 trips.

That's a pretty good, pretty good number, I would say.

Next slide.

Uh D dot now, so we're continuing to run uh D dot now is the same day paratransit service.

So again, it's the same qualifications.

You have to be uh ADA certified.

It's a first come, first serve basis.

We issue we operate about a hundred trips per day is kind of the capacity.

We have limits on uh the maximum one person can take in one day is three trips.

Again, that's to uh make sure that the uh capacity is available for everyone to have access to.

Um, but this is continue to be a successful service, and we're starting to learn more from that to see if that's uh model to potentially move more service to same day uh versus the um uh advanced reservation.

Next slide.

Uh social media analytics.

So um the team uh marketing and communications team has really been focusing on increasing our uh impressions, engagements with um a mix of not only talking about the service and D dot but also talking about the employees that are behind kind of making the magic happen.

So you can see here uh big gains for Facebook.

The next slide is Instagram.

The views are a little bit down, but engagements um are up, and the next slide is linked in.

Next slide.

Twitter X, whatever you'd like to call that.

Um the website we're still kind of working on, and same thing with TikTok, that's kind of our next frontier to join TikToks uh not join it, but to have more um activity there and also um on YouTube as well.

But again, you can see um good good results there, and it's about getting the word out again, not only about the service, but about uh the employees at D DOT.

Next slide.

All right, so before um just a couple other notes I wanted to make.

Um the kind of jumping to the current quarter just with more of the news but not the data.

Um, our bus availability has really continued to increase.

So back in January, uh, between January and the last few weeks, we've increased our daily availability by about 40 buses, and that has really obviously had a big impact on service.

uh the employees at d dot next slide all right so before um just a couple other notes i wanted to make um the uh i'm kind of jumping to the current quarter just with more of the news but not the data um our bus availability has really continued to increase so back in january uh between january and the last few weeks we've increased our daily availability by about 40 buses and that has really obviously had a big impact on service um the brand new buses which um brother conningham mentioned during his comment uh the 45 plus four electrics uh we still have daily support provided at no additional charge from new flyer to continue to uh manage uh issues that come up with those buses uh but out of the 45 on most days we only have two or three that are not available for service uh but every once in a while like when it got hot we had a number uh 10 buses that were had uh HVAC issues for basically brand new buses so we're continuing to have them they we have a daily call with them and they have uh text on site they're continuing to work through those issues um but we're learning more every day to make sure we can set up our future bus procurements um more successfully um we had our first uh mechanics graduation class so we've had a partnership that I think I mentioned last time I was here through Henry Ford College our first cohort of six uh individuals all Detroiters joined that program and basically they were able to get their tuition paid for for free uh it's a 12 week program that was designed between Henry Ford and uh DDOT specifically for heavy diesel repair and um for those six that completed the program they also got a uh tool set um and they are now repair mechanics at DDOT so uh it was very exciting to have kind of that first uh class come through our next class uh we believe will be another uh seven or eight based on some uh spots that we have open uh but that is the future of D D DOT and kind of the the city in general is really looking to those individuals who are uh really investing in themselves uh to to learn a uh craft that is not in in uh uh plentiful demand uh today but really will be uh a great asset and already um kind of hitting the ground running um at D DOT as well uh and then generally being able to hire more experienced mechanics has helped as well uh best kind of anecdote to tell about that is usually when we hire a new mechanic they have to go through rotation to kind of learn the general equipment that's going on to D DOT so they have some experience with the type of repair we expect uh but usually they spend time kind of at each shift at each terminal to kind of get a lay of the land um and the last batch of uh uh individuals we hired which I believe was four um after just a few days they were able to jump right into the floor because they had previous experience work on transit vehicles as well so that's really available because of the contract changes that the council approved and um those are again kind of already showing the dividends with the uh fleet availability we did do a service change um this month so last Monday we increased service uh only as far as the needs for drivers so there's different ways that you can change the schedule that require more buses or that don't require any additional buses out on the road and so our service change in June was focused on uh no additional buses that are required but many routes across the city I'd say the majority of the routes had some impact either starting an hour earlier and or ending an hour later or having a long a slightly extended time of the higher frequency that's in the middle of the day.

And so that put that was about over five percent increase in the revenue miles of service without stressing the fleet more and really putting some of these uh um the extra drivers that we have uh to work so excited about that and I think I'll stop there and see if there are any questions through the chair.

Thank you director very much appreciate your work um and it's good to see the changes um knowing that we're always working to make sure that we get to as close to a hundred percent um but really appreciate this work I have a number of questions comments but why don't you know over to my colleagues before I begin uh to my vice chair thank you thank you madam chair good morning director um glad to see no definitely looking forward to that second quarter uh report but glad to see from what you have shared that it does seem like it um is on the up and up um I a few questions on you mentioned the class of mechanics uh do you know how many current openness we have in the department for mechanics or how many are we in need of so for the um the Henry Ford program they're graduating into kind of a junior mechanic repair mechanic we call uh and so those spots are what will feed the size of the next class which I think again is about six or seven um for our general auto mechanics which would be like the full mechanics uh we still have about um nine or ten spots that are available and we're working through you know filling those as well.

Okay.

Could you um are you able to have someone from the department send that to our office like the job posting for that sorry thank you.

All right, thank you.

And uh also uh one to touch on the pilot program and see how that is going for the free fare for students.

Um I know that pilot be ending soon.

So just wanted to if you can share any um uh data or findings that you have from that so far, and just give an update on what we'll get any further information on that.

Sure.

So um the pilot started in April, and generally speaking, um, you know, part of the challenge is that previously the way that student rides were tracked was not as clear as we would like.

Uh so we had a number of different ways to look back and see the the ridership associated with students, and um conservatively speaking, we believe that the number of rides students were taking was uh doubled or quite a bit more significant uh possibly possibly.

Um so I think the initial uh um rollout was successful.

Uh what we're working on right now, and I think there'll be more information we can provide to council soon, uh, but we're working right now is really focusing on kind of how do we make this uh more permanent, not only with the uh program, but also kind of delivering on the promise that we made to students, families, and schools that we would um kind of uh fortify and grow this connection between how DDOT manages and deploys our service, how we plan service changes, uh, with um uh more intentionality on how those changes might impact uh students riding to school.

So not designing it's it's not uh exclusive service, it's not school bus service because that's something that's you know federally prohibited, but really just thinking about if there's a schedule, best example would be there's a schedule where the students get to a couple blocks from the school at 805, which means if the bus, even if the bus is on time, by the time they walk to the school, they're gonna be tardy.

Just little changes like that.

Um, really um kind of teeing up that whole package for this coming school year, uh, but there'll be more information to provide soon.

Okay, thank you.

And so are you all in conversation with the DPS CD on this and all um on like kind of optimizing the schedule and such?

Yes, uh not only with DPS C D but with with the charter schools with individual with youth groups.

Uh I was uh in front of the mayor's youth cabinet uh at their last meeting over at the library as well.

It really is any way we can to seek input and get some feedback on on how we can do better uh to support students, not only when they go to school, but you know, in their in their summer, you know, jobs, opportunities, that sort of thing.

Okay.

I would love to follow up with you on that, um, especially of the schools in district seven, um, and you know, talking with folks uh just having a conversation with folks on school board and such, trying uh, you know, we've talked about the safety component or how we can be innovative on uh known folks to be um you know at the bus stops or on the buses on those uh routes that are mostly used by students, so would love to sit down to talk about that more.

Um and then so now since we are in, I know this is a this is not really to the first quarter, but since we are in the new budget year, um you probably know I'm gonna bring up benches and shelters.

Um knowing that the shelters take a little bit more.

Um, but I wanted to um ask on uh the work that's been doing to add those additional benches.

One thing um as we're talking about students and also just um the need to have them in these stops.

Uh there was a community uh makeshift bench in front of St.

Suzanne's at Cody Rouge.

Um it was stolen.

And this is a uh a stop that um a lot of students use, whether they're coming from Cody or any neighboring um schools there, but also that's a community center that a lot of kids go to.

So um if we could at least look into getting uh uh a bench that was provided by the department there, um that would be great.

I can follow up with you as well on that.

That would be good.

Uh so through the chair, um we are continuing to work on the next 100 bus shelter locations and the up to 200 bench locations.

We're we have about 35 benches that have been installed, continuing to work out kind of the the details on how to get the permitting and any concrete work done for the rest, but we're hopefully we'll have those um rolling soon.

Um we also have a um uh publicly accessible map now that inventories all of the bus stops and then the different amenities that are available there, and then if they're part of the planned 200 benches and the next, it's actually 110 bus shelter locations because we have 10 in case something happens where we we only have a hundred, but there's a hundred and ten possible sites.

continue to work out kind of the the details on how to get the permitting and any concrete work done for the rest but we're hopefully we'll have those um rolling soon um we also have a um uh publicly accessible map now that inventories all of the bus stops and then the different amenities that are available there and then if they're part of the planned 200 benches and the next it's actually 110 bus shelter locations because we have 10 in case something happens where we we only have a hundred but there's 110 possible sites uh so really just looking to kind of organize that data information in a better way to kind of help track it it also uh has a way to track um if there are requests kind of like the one that you just submitted essentially so if there's a business or a council person or a resident that has a request about you know adding or changing the amenities to stop that we're tracking that on this uh GIS map as well so you're working to get all of those things in line uh and we also have um a uh capital projects manager position that's open that's really uh we're looking to fill that as soon as we can to focus on bus stop management so right now we have a couple open positions in the capital projects area uh and just really need some more bandwidth to really manage the the steps through that process but we're in really good shape on the hundred um and then we'll be coming to council to actually place that order um because we can't order them until the sites are approved and the grants awarded uh so it's still some time left um but continue to make some progress okay thank you appreciate that and yeah um we have submitted that um we have reached out about the one site um but i'll we'll I'll make sure we bump it to you all on that thank you thank you ma'am chair thank you vice chair member waters thank you um I don't have I just have a couple things uh um vice chair mccampbell pointed out a couple things I just want to kind of expand on a little bit um how is it that we protect these shelters you know because they're seniors sometimes says we need you know a shelter at and in our area the bus stop and if people are stealing them I don't first of all what are you gonna do with them but then secondly how can we prevent the theft yeah so I think the the bench that's in question was a makeshift uh DIY bench um it was they do it all the time so I think so our benches are bolted down so generally we don't have an issue with the benches or shelters being stolen I thought you were gonna go a different direction say the shelters keep getting run into which is they're destroying some of them too so I I just want to make sure that when people really need shelters and benches that they're available to them.

Yes and so I mean how do we secure that um it is a challenge so the shelter subventions we have are bolted down they have to be breakaway bolts based on the crash uh worthiness safety ratings for the right of ways um but by having that map in place and hiring the bus stop manager it basically um the vision for that position is someone that just eats breathes and sleeps bus stops um and so the team is is doing a great job trying to keep up with that along with some of their other tasks but uh I think we could improve our response time on uh addressing those and then again if it's a a bench that gets stolen or a shelter that gets uh damaged that if we have a better inventory of pieces available we can get those replaced more more efficiently all right the the other just two other quick things um on the um students riding try to phrase this right is it just are they gonna be riding during the summer too because if not in school a lot of them um are they gonna be riding on on the weekends and they they just yeah well can we keep track of them like that I I'm concerned um I mean the kids are just getting on the buses weekend to go in where they want through the chair so I think um the short answer is yes it is intended to be free rides for students 247 365 uh following the the rules so there's curfew rules that are out there there's rules that it's um that the students are the student aged children who are riding um are expected to follow we don't want to put um our operators in the position where they're trying to say like are you really supposed to be out here on the bus right but really a lot of student uh students take the bus to get to work to get to a lot of these uh the occupy the summer activities and recreational activities throughout the summer uh is really important I think that's something that the mayor had in mind intentionally saying that this is uh really getting the word out for it to be available um and for cur even for the curfew there are reasons that you're allowed to be out after curfew if you're doing doing certain things so uh we're there to support them 24 seconds I just wanted to I wanted to make sure so it sounds like it's been going okay with the way you know 247 and so forth.

Well that's great news then I I'm happy because I'm also concerned about their safety.

Um so then the the final question is have you given any thought the last time we talked about a more a better way of the in real time uh for riders to notify you that the bus is running late, an hour late, 30 minutes late, or whatever.

Have we given any more thought to that work done a little bit more?

Yes, so that's the the Swiftly software is really the investment that's intended to address that concern.

And it will okay.

Right.

So basically the Swiftly again, there isn't uh a Swiftly app per se, but the Swiftly Sys software is something that we use, and it actually controls the feed of information that's going out.

So if you're using you know Google Maps, Apple Maps, the transit app, they're all now getting the real-time information from Swiftly and Swiftly's design in a way where we can better manage it, and it has more accurate data and has these extra features for rider alerts as well.

So that's what we've been uh encouraging people up to this point.

We we were maybe a little bit hesitant to encourage people to download download this app when we knew that the information maybe wasn't accurate, but now very confident.

I'm very confident that if you use the transit app, you're gonna get again, it might not be the information you want if it says the bus is 30 minutes late, but at least you know that it's 30 minutes late, and you can make that choice, or you can make the decision of how how you need to handle it based, but you can be confident that if it says it's coming, it's coming, and if it says it's late, then it's running behind.

Yeah, but the other piece of it, if you recall, I wanted them to be able to notify your operator notify uh headquarters or something, or the terminal where wherever that bus is coming from, that it's that late.

Is there a way for them to notify?

So through the chair.

Yeah.

Um, so the the um if I had my computer actually I could pull it up.

So the software again, the the external facing is that it improves the quality of information coming out, but it gives us a lot better tools to manage the service ourselves.

So now on one screen, before you had to have like special training and three different screens to see what's going on.

It's kind of like if you've seen the movie The Matrix.

Like if you see it, you know it, and otherwise you're like, what are all these screens?

The Swiftly user interface is one sim single screen that you can do quick sorting.

So you could have a list of every bus that's running late sorted by the time.

You can have every bus that's running early, because that's also a big no-no.

If the buses are running two or three minutes early, and I know as a bus rider, I maybe cut it close most of the time.

If I get there and the bus already left two minutes earlier, like that's almost worse than it being late because now I've now the whole thing is thrown off.

So uh that's when when I'm in Swiftly, that's usually when operations here's for me is I'm like, why are there five buses that are three or four minutes late?

So all that requires is using the brake pedal.

Oh all right.

So let me just clarify you you have people at the terminals that can really see that uh what bus is running late and so forth.

In the control center, yeah, control center.

One room as a video wall, and that is their full-time job is to make keep track of what's early, what's late, what's missing.

Okay.

And that's actually just one other thing.

So that's part of this part of Swiftly making sure that the app is showing you accurate information.

Is that when we have a bus that we know can't go out, that there's a step that they take to make sure that that's shown uh uh accurately.

So if we know the bus that's gonna start at nine o'clock, that means it's gonna be stopping down Grand River, nine, nine, ten, all the way up to old Redford with the seven mile.

That if the app knows that that bus has been cut, it'll make sure that when you're looking at the app, it'll say this this bus is cut, the next one's coming 10 minutes.

And then the rider will know that as well.

Okay.

All right.

Well, sounds like you've got some things going on.

Try it.

We're trying.

All right, then thank you so much.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member Waters.

Director, given the time, I'm gonna run through my list of questions, comments.

These can be yes or no answers, um, to get us to the rest of the agenda for today.

Um, but thank you again, just for clarity, or I guess a little bit more depth of information.

We currently have over 600 TEOs.

Um this is where we should be, correct?

Moving forward, this is what we're aiming to be at.

And I guess I'm asking this too because in the past our average is around 400.

So last year we were we were at between 490 and 500, but the schedule needed 525.

Okay.

And that includes an extra board so that if someone's on vacation, you're not missing service.

Okay.

So we went from between 490 to 500 because to really we're closer to 600 now, and the schedule only required 525.

That's why in June we increased the service, and now our requirement is more like 560.

The pipeline to get new drivers is four months.

So you can't just say, like, oh, we'll just we can't just up and down.

So now we have basically we just have extra drivers.

Um, and then when hopefully we'll be ready for another service increase in September.

But this is about kind of continuing that forward.

Okay, thank you.

This is helpful.

Uh for shelters, thank you, Vice Chair, for asking that.

I guess I'm just gonna make a note.

Uh budget is gonna be coming up soon.

Let us know how much would be needed uh for additional bus shelters um or benches because we would be happy to include that for the budget next year.

Um, happy to see 84% on time delivery.

We really should be at 90.

Um again, when I first started here, we were looking at 60 to 70 percent on time.

Um, so this makes me happy.

But would you happen to know the the national average for on time delivery for most cities?

So your on time performance for what's on the road, the like the accepted goal is 85%.

Okay, thank you.

For swiftly, is this local?

Can it be local?

The software company is not local, and our experience is that they're they offer a very unique service, but I think wouldn't rule out anything in the future.

Okay.

Just a note we uh for the public.

Um we have a lot of tech stars and entrepreneurs really trying to bring some of these services in house into the city, and it seems like this is an opportunity.

You mentioned the Coolidge terminal has a gym, which is incredible.

Do they have a shower to be able to shower after?

Cool.

Yes.

Okay.

And then our drivers really the beginning is when they're having issues to to really um get excellence at at their craft for driving.

Eventually they just become good at driving.

Uh will they continue to receive the safe bonuses?

Excellent.

Okay, great.

Um, just for clarity, pair transit is slower now because more people are using it, and we're working to re um increase that service, correct, to make sure that we're back to an A grade.

Yes, the challenge is um as usage increases.

We're trying to stay within our budget as much as possible.

That sometimes it means that uh there's more cases where it's outside of the 30 minute window.

So we're trying to continue to move those up together.

Okay.

For disturbances, are these what do you what do we mean by disturbances in our in our um terminals?

Uh it could be anything.

It could be um uh someone arguing with staff, it could be someone um that's uh disrupting service, refusing to get off the bus.

Um it could really be any anything other than the some of those other categories.

So it's not an assault, it's not a larceny, it's not any anything like that.

Um but it's something that DPD has to respond to and and address.

Okay, understood.

Final comments for me.

I think the social media idea is great.

Um recommend maybe getting an intern that can help.

I feel like young people really know what's up, and they can figure this out.

Um having stories of like stories from the bus, um, hearing stories from bus riders, I think would be really encouraging just for all of us because people take the bus.

Um they take the bus, some of them have been taking it their whole lives.

Um they need it, we need it.

Um, so bus stories, um, you know, staff stories, um, just trying to make um our bus system more inviting, more welcoming, I think will really change um that that system and um the culture.

I think that's a really big piece here is changing the culture uh the culture of riding the bus.

But I'm I'm learning more and more.

It seems like we need the holy tree, uh, the holy three, which here looks like bus drivers.

Um, and um we need bus, we need drivers and mechanics to make sure the mechanics are going.

Um, and I guess we need money prayers to keep it all together.

Um, so we'll keep working on that, sir.

But those are my comments, mic last questions.

Anything else for us?

Uh Madam Chair.

Member Waters.

I just received this from a constituent, so I'm gonna read it out right quick.

He says um Can you tell me what's going on with 24 hours service?

And is there any way we can restore that service?

They're asking because some of the constituents that work downtown employee from the stadiums and restaurant that work really late, can't get public transportation because this bus is start running at a certain time, which strains them or puts them at jeopardy of losing their jobs.

Also, can this be implemented so that other people that work in the city of Detroit can get to and from safely without fear of being stranded?

The ride shares a higher surge at night, and there are no other options for people to get home.

So he says, is there a plan in place for 24 hour service?

Thank you.

So through the chair, we have uh a number of routes, I believe seven that have 24 hour service in the middle of the night.

The service is a lot less frequent.

Um, but if we can uh if you could pass that along and we could follow up to get a little bit more information from that individual.

I know there's also some light industrial along Fort Street that have specifically reached out to say that there's kind of that that gap, and people end up, especially if they end up staying over uh for some overtime.

It means that they may have been that in that dead zone of three or four hours between the last bus the night before and the first bus in the morning.

So we're trying to learn more about each of those instances.

Um these last changes we just made were to extend the hours a little bit later and a little bit earlier.

Uh but I think you know the more information we know, uh, the more precise we can be with some of those changes.

I'll try to find out more through you, madam to your um and then email it to you.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Member Waters.

That was an excellent question.

Um, I'm glad you asked because we're also looking to do some research around having the city be a 24-hour economy, which will include making sure that we have transits.

Um, it makes me think.

Can we partner with Marathon to do shuttles a certain amount of times with the city things to think about?

If do we have a downtown?

We don't know, right?

Because people live all over the place.

So we got to figure this out, but I'm glad you bring this up for us to keep this in mind as we're thinking about how we build for the future.

Thank you, Director.

Any final words?

Thank you.

Appreciate the opportunity.

All right, thank you so much.

With that, everyone, I will now wrap up our 1030 a.m.

discussion.

It's 11:30 now.

We will be able to get through the rest of this um shortly.

It's not too complicated, but we have in the agenda for today.

Uh for unfinished business 6.1.

This is a memo relative to a request for a report concerning vandalized fire hydrants.

Uh, we did receive the reports that we did all receive the response.

Is there a motion to receive and file?

Motion.

Hearing no objections, 6.1 will be received and filed.

6.2 is a memo relative to D dot risk management concerns.

We've been asked to bring this back in one week.

Motion.

Hearing no objections, 6.2 will be brought back in one week.

6.3.

This is contract number 3091703, utilizing 100% spawn funding.

This is to provide emergency residential demolition for 3035 Holberts.

The contractor is DMC consultants.

This will be for construction and demolition for 32,319.

Is there a motion?

I do not recall.

Is there a motion to discuss?

Discussion.

Thank you for discussion.

Um I would like to bring this back.

We are in the middle of working through our resolution now.

We're not seeing a ton of demolitions in front of us.

Um, so we'd like to bring this back in one week.

Motion.

Hearing no objections, 6.3 will be brought back in one week.

6.4.

This is contract number 6007 352, amendment number one utilizing general funding.

This is to renew the medical services at the Detroit's detention center.

The contractor is park pharmacy, they're located in Gross Point.

This will amend their contract the July 30th, 2027.

We'll increase the amounts for 3,672,210.

This will be for police, and there is a request for new business.

Is there a motion to approve or discuss 6.4 discussion?

If there's a motion, motion.

Thank you, Member Waters.

I did bring this back, so would like to share with my colleagues.

Uh, we did hear back from DPD.

We got some responses regarding this contractor.

It's something that we need.

We have not seen anything of um problematic issues that are say at fault of this company.

I believe they're doing their work.

We did see that there is a gap of social workers that are going to be needed at our detention center.

That's something just for all of us to know.

Um, and something that we can reach out to DPD about as well.

Um, but this might be something that we need to support them with.

Um, is social workers at the detention centers?

Um, they have come up with a solution so far utilizing nurses to perform um really casework that social workers are are needed for.

Uh, but it sounds to me like our nurses are doing double the work.

We need social workers to support um, but I have no other issues with this contract.

Not sure if there's any questions or anything else for 6.4.

Motion to approve to new business.

Hearing no objections, 6.4 will be approved to new business with the recommendation to approve.

6.5.

This is a placeholder regarding a proposed ordinance to provide Detroit protections from EMS service charges.

Is it to receive and file?

Motion to receive and file.

Hearing no objections, 6.5 will be received and filed.

6.6.

This is the Detroit Public Safety Foundation donation for the ATVs.

There is a request for new business.

Is motion to approve to new business?

Motion to approve to new business.

Are there any objections?

Hearing none, 6.6 would be approved, sent to new business with the recommendation to approve.

Just a notes.

I also talked to DPD about this.

And it's something that is needed along the river with the heats.

A lot of folks are jumping in the river, utilizing our parks.

Um it's gotten pretty dangerous.

So the need to get there quickly, I understand.

Um, and grateful for this donation so that we don't utilize city funding, which might be a request for the future, which will be a discussion that we have then.

But for now, uh 6.6 is approved.

We'll be sent to new business with the recommendation to approve.

6.7.

This is a memo relative to the type of services the Office of Neighborhood and Community Safety will offer.

We've been asked to bring this back in one week.

Motion.

Hearing no objections, 6.7 will be brought back in one week.

6.8.

This is a memo relative to the flock safety update and reports on automatic license plate readers.

Is there a motion to discuss or receive and file?

Motion to receive and file.

Hearing no objections.

All right.

Seeing no issues here.

6.8 will be received and filed.

6.9 through 6.13.

These are all various memos.

6.9 is a memo relative to a demand for legal remedies on federal obstruction of the Board of Police Commissioners Charter Mandated Oversight Access.

6.10 is a memo relative to request for legislative options.

6.11 is a memo relative to the Detroit Fire Department's recruiting practices.

6.12 is a memo relative to request for report concerning demolition costs and collections.

And 6.13 is a memo relative to resolution request for data center water usage.

All items are requested for a two-week a two-week bring back.

Motion to bring back a two week.

Hearing no objections, thank you both.9 through 6.13 will be brought back in two weeks.

Yes, member waters.

It's 6.11 ready to receive and file.

Um Mr.

Vice Chair through you, Madam Chair.

No.

Vice Chair.

I believe we chair.

I believe we did.

We can receive a file.

Thank you for the member.

We can receive a file 6.11.

All right.

So just a note.

Do we have to we have to re reconsider the vote?

Reconsider 6.11.

Motion to reconsider is approved.

Is there a new motion?

Motion to receive a vowel.

6.11.

All right.

6.11 will be received and filed.

Thanks, everyone.

6.14.

This is a memo relative to report regarding ARPA community health corp funds.

This can be received and filed.

Hearing no objections, 6.14 will be received and filed.

615.

This is contract number 600746 utilizing 100% city funding.

This is for specialty uniforms and other specialty items.

The contractors Alley Brothers uniforms, they are in Lavonia.

This is the two-year contract for 275,324 with 40 cents.

This will be for police.

Discussion.

So is this are they ready to move it forward or we can ask DPD if there's been any changes?

I believe we requested if we could bring this into one full company.

From the chair, we have Captain Jason Adams online.

If we can move him into a panelist, Madam Chair, he's just rejoining as panelists.

Thank you.

Good morning, if you wouldn't mind stating your name and title for the public.

Good morning, Captain Jason Adams, Detroit Police Department, Management Services.

Thank you for joining us, Captain.

We are discussing 6.15.

This is regarding specialty uniforms.

I know we've been going back and forward, um, but just wondering has there been any attempts to uh put uh these services or ask the services of the Detroit vendor.

Can you remind us again?

Um why we are seeing the same contract without any changes.

Uh through the chair.

We have multiple contracts due to the the size of the contracts.

We have over 2700 members with the police department and timeliness is a factor in fulfilling uniform orders.

The two companies have products that meet our scope of work, but come from different manufacturers.

If there's a supply line issue or any type of delay from one manufacturer, we could obtain it from the other vendor.

Um, in addition to that, some of the items that the vendors have, Ali's brother, for instance, might have an item that's cheaper than enterprise.

So to be fiscally responsible, will we need a specific item that one vendor has a better price?

We will purchase that item through that vendor as opposed to paying the higher price.

Okay, colleagues.

Any follow-up questions?

So uh Vice Chair.

Thank you, uh, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Captain.

So just to be clear, because um, I know this uh contract it was brought back a few times, or there was request to bring um to postpone the consideration on it.

So there has no there has not been any changes with that, correct?

Through the chair, correct.

Okay, all right.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Vice Chair.

Any other questions for 6.15?

Hearing nine.

Is there a motion for 6.15?

Motion to approve.

There's a motion to approve 6.15 to send to formal.

Are there any objections?

Um objection, McCamp.

There's one objection, member McCampbell.

In order to move this out, I will not object.

So 6.15 will be sent to formal with the recommendation to approve, noting one objection.

Thank you, Captain.

I believe that's all we need from you at the moment.

I will move us along.

6.16.

This is contract number 30914.

Recording in progress.

Or what do we do?

Dr.

Pops.

All right.

So for the record, we're gonna pause to find out what's going on.

All right, thanks, Dr.

Powers.

Um I have to call it.

Yeah, madam.

No, madam chair.

I I think they're rejoining.

Okay.

When you say they, you mean recording in progress.

Yep, madam chair, I think we're online again.

Yep.

Uh for the public, we just went on a pause, so we will continue to roll right through.

I believe we're back online.

I'm seeing captions.

I'm seeing us back.

All right, excellent.

Uh apologies for that, Snap Foo.

But moving us along.

Uh, I was reading contract number 3091448.

This is item 6.16.

This is a notification uh this is a emergency demolition uh for 1456 Trinity.

Contractor is SC Environmental Services, they are in Detroit.

Is there a motion to discuss 6.16?

Motion.

Thank you, Member Waters.

We should have Nick Payne on with us.

Do we see him with us, Ms.

Conn?

I Madam Chair, I'm not seeing him in our Zoom rate.

No.

If it's not, Nick, we should have either Raquel Harrington from the demolition, construction demolition department as well.

Uh Madam Chair, Miss Raquel Harrington is rejoining as a panelist.

Okay, thank you.

Good morning.

If you wouldn't mind stating your name and title for the public.

Good morning, Raquel Harrington, Press Secretary, Construction and Demolition Department.

Thank you for joining us, Ms.

Harrington.

Just have quick questions for 6.16.

This is the residential demo at 1456 Trinity.

Um we brought this back.

We've been bringing this back because we are waiting to see if this has been remediated.

Hasn't been remediated yet.

Would you happen to know?

Through the chair, this um this demolition has been fielded.

It wasn't a for my understanding.

This was not a remediated site.

This was a demolition, just a strip a demolition.

There was no remediation needed for this site.

Um, and that has been completed.

Um, the open hole was filled on um March 17th, 2026.

Okay.

Thank you.

And then the contractor here is SC Environmental Services.

Um, would you happen to know if they I'm assuming that they are still in good standing?

Um, do we have any issues with this contractor?

Do you know?

Uh through the chair, what can you clarify what you mean by good standing or any issues?

I somebody from the public was mentioning that.

Um, so now I'm talking about something that I should have verified before asking you, quite frankly.

But somebody mentioned that SC Environmental Services may not be in good standing with the city, and I was not sure if that was the case.

That's what I figured, but I wanted to ask because you you hear a lot of things.

Okay.

Um, I appreciate that.

Um, this is a demo that was completed in March.

Um, I'm still going to ask that we bring this back.

Um I think like in one more week, we should we should be able to have a resolution um for BC then for demo, hopefully by then.

Um, but Miss Harrington, uh, those are all my questions for now.

Thank you.

Motion to prefer to through the chair.

I just want to be, I just want to reiterate that the demolition site was knocked on 224, and the open hole was filled back in March.

So it was demolished in February, and it was it was fielded um in March.

Thank you for that note.

Colleagues, so we still want to wait, or do we want to move this through?

I'm okay either way.

There was a motion to bring this back in one week too.

Through you, round chair.

I yes, vice chair.

I think if we are just I would like to stay consistent if we are as we get through the resolution, and then we can handle all of the demos that we have since we brought back another one previously on one week.

So like if there's we can just consistent with the do it all together, yeah.

Okay, so motion to bring back in one week.

Okay, hearing no objections, 6.16 will be brought back in one week.

Thank you, Ms.

Harrington.

Um, and I agree on consistency for me.

These are also drops that have been completed, but we will pay them.

We will pay them um soon.

I do want to get people paid as quickly as possible, too.

Uh, for 6.17.

This is to amend chapter 18 of the 2019 Detroit City Code fire prevention.

Um this is regarding the medical services um uh ordinance.

Is there a motion to this would either need to be through the chair?

Oh, to the law departments.

Is there a motion to discuss for 6.17?

Motion to discuss.

Thank you.

Law department.

But we get a one-week bring back on this item, it should be ready next week.

Okay.

6.17.

Is there a motion to bring back in one week?

Motion to bring back in one week.

Hearing no objections, 6.17.

We brought back in one week.

Under new business, Office of Contracting and Procurements.

7.1.

This is 75.

7.1, 7.2.

And 7.5 are all regarding Victor services for construction and demolition.

7.1 is contract number 600 7823, utilizing 100% city funding to provide VATO services.

The contractor's power vac of Michigan.

They're located in Novae.

This is a three-year contract at 135,000 with 800.

7.2 is contract number 60050.

This is you utilizing 100% city funding for Vactor Services.

The contractor here is Ben Curie Mechanical LLC.

They're in Detroit.

And 7.5 is contract number 600 7823 for VAC services.

The contractor here is PowerVAC of Michigan.

They're located in Novae.

A three-year contract at 135,000 with 800.

Is there a motion to approve or discuss 7.1, 7.2, and 7.5?

Motion to discuss.

Motion to discuss discussion.

We should have with us for these items.

Uh Ms.

Raquel Harrington and Raymond Green.

Mr.

Washington, let us know if there's anybody else that we should include.

There's also a note for Nick Payne if he's on with us.

If not, um, then I believe Madam Chair.

Yes.

Yeah.

Uh Mr.

Kell Harrington and Mr.

Raymond Green have joined us panelists.

Okay, thank you.

And when you've joined us, if you wouldn't mind stating your name and title for the public Raymond Green, Office of Contracting Procurement.

Raquel Harrington, construction and demolition department.

Thank you both for joining us.

Uh discussion, Vice Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and uh good morning to you both.

Uh a few questions on seven on these contracts.

Um I see so it's for um vector and and drainage.

I'm wondering, is this one?

I guess is a question of why is this through construction and demolition and not um DWSD?

Or is this is the reason because these are city owned proper facilities?

If someone can answer that through the chair, yes, because these are um municipal buildings, it will be under the facilities, it will be under facilities and facilities is under the construction and demolition department.

Okay, got it.

Thank you for that.

And then um saying that so two of the contracts is going to um to power VAC, and then one is going to um Binkari.

Is there is this a capacity of this being broken up in that way, or can you go through just a breakdown of how these were allocated?

Through the chair, um 7.5 looks like it's a duplicate of 7.

Uh 27.1, excuse me.

Okay, okay.

It does appear that way.

So I we can have maybe we can handle that now, but I still have additional question on motion to remove 7.5.

There's a motion to remove.

I am just verifying the contract number 678 2323.

Yeah, it is.

Okay, there's a motion to remove 7.5.

Hearing no objection, 7.5 will be removed from our agenda.

This is a duplicate.

So we're discussing 7.1 and 7.2.

Madam Chair.

Yes, vice chair.

Thank you.

So with 7.1 and 7.2, seeing that they are similar amounts.

Um, I guess my question still stands on could was you know one vendor contractor not able to handle both of these through the chair.

Through the chair, yes, it is a you mentioned a capacity issue.

It is a capacity, it is a capacity uh related.

We like to have multiple contracts um for more for more capacity for the volume of work that we have to do and the work needed.

So that's why there's two separate contracts there.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you.

Thank you both.

And thank you, madam chair.

Thank you, Vice Chair.

So then just, I mean, we already removed it, but construction and demolition, you would know best and OCP.

You are expecting two contracts to come out of this committee, correct?

For for VAC services through the chair, correct.

Okay.

Um, are there any other questions for 7.1 and 7.2?

Is there a motion to approve okay?

Motion to approve.

Hearing no objection, 7.1 and 7.2 will be approved, sent to formal with the recommendation to approve.

Thank you guys.

7.3 moving us along to 7.3.

This is contract number 6005339, amendment number two.

This is to exercise renewal options for one year and increase of funds for underground utilities locating, marking, and uh staking services and compliance with the state of Michigan.

Miss Dig regulations for the planning and lighting department.

Um, and the PLA.

The contractor is USIC locating services.

They are out of in Indianapolis.

This will extend their time through July 15th of 2027 and increase their amount by 1,500,000.

And this will be for public lighting.

Is there a motion to approve or discuss 7.3 motion to approve hearing no objection?

7.3 will be approved.

Central formal with the recommendation to approve.

7.4 is contract number 3090139 utilizing 100% blight funding.

This is to provide emergency demolition at 20515 mound.

Contractor is inner city, and we're looking to bring this back in one week.

We believe the contract itself was missing as well from this.

So there's a motion to bring back 7.4.

One week.

Yes.

Motion.

Hearing no objection, 7.4.

We brought back in one week.

We have removed 7.5.

This is a duplicate.

7.6.

7.6.

This is contract number 600 7891.

Utilized excuse me.

This is a uh amendments number one for an increase of funds for a strategist for media planning and buying.

The contractor's emerald media LLC.

They're located in Detroit.

This will extend their time through November 4th of this year, and their increased amount by 50,000.

And bringing this total contract to 100,000, and this will be for the health department.

Is there a and there was a request for new business?

The media department, you mean no, this is 7.6.

The contract this is going to is the health department.

Okay.

Motion to discuss.

There's a motion to discuss.

Um we should be joined by Christina Floyd and Hillary Hillary Edwards.

If they are on with us, if we can please make them as panelists, move them over as panelists.

What contract number thank you?

We are on item 7.6.

6007891 amendment one.

Okay.

Thank you both for joining us.

If you wouldn't mind stating your names and titles for the public.

My name is Christina Floyd, and I'm the director of public health and nature health department.

Uh good morning to the chair, Hillary Edwards, Office of Contracting and Procurement.

Thank you both for joining us.

I will turn it over to our vice chair.

Thank you, madam chair.

Good morning to you both.

Uh understanding the need behind this contract.

I'm just thinking about for this being a media planning and buying.

So through the chair to uh council member McCampbell, this is for a uh citywide contract, it's not just for the health department.

Uh but yes, we we have the media services through the City of Detroit um communications department for citywide contract.

Okay.

And is that okay?

So with a citywide apart, it should have one through BFNA.

I guess that yeah, I'm I'm kind of confused because what we have a so what you're saying that the Emerald Contract, Emerald Media, it is used for citywide and not just the health department under this contract amendment.

Uh through the chair, for for this particular contract, it will only be utilized for a grant from the health department.

So this particular contract will be utilized only for the health department.

For grant got you.

Okay.

And correct.

Thank you for that.

So that that goes back to my first question on because I would assume that we are doing media buying and planning across the city.

So I'm just thinking about how can we get this in one centralized contract and that is handled by media services in coordination with the departments that need it.

Uh, through the chair, we are in the process of evaluating the new contract, which will be a citywide contract, and that is through the media services department.

Oh, that part I missed.

All right.

Thank you.

Thank you, madam chair.

Member Waters.

Thank you.

I was really hoping we wouldn't see any contracts from uh Emiral Media again this year.

They they've they've they've certainly had an opportunity to make a whole lot of money taking away opportunities from other people in this field.

Um and go my question was really centered around what the vice chair said, and that is bringing things in-house, centralize it so that we can use it throughout the city.

So, Madam Chair, I want to make a motion uh because I'd like to see a cost comparison of what we get for outsourcing versus um um internally um to handle it.

So I want to make that motion.

I will follow up with a memo.

All right, there's a motion to see price comparisons for these kind of media services.

Okay, it's gonna be followed by a memo through member waters' office.

Hearing no objections, we will approve that memo.

Member Waters?

Motion to bring this back in a week.

There's a motion to bring back six seven point six, excuse me, in one week.

Hearing no objections, 7.6 will be brought back in one week.

Thank you to the health departments.

Um, and we should spend the week just getting to know more about this contract and and getting answers to our questions.

I thank you for joining us.

I will now move us along to 7.7.

This is contract number 600 7883.

100% city funding for court reporting and transcription services for the Board of Police Commissioners.

Contractors Gerald Hansen and Associates, they are in Detroit.

This will go through June 2028.

The amounts at 96,605, and this will be for police.

7.7.

Motion to discuss.

Discussion, we should have Drew Fry's or um Lenard Jones.

If we see them, we can move them over as panelists.

Through the chair, it may be heard.

Yes, you you may.

This is Drew Freeze, the executive fiscal manager for the Board of Police Commissioners.

Drew Freeze, thank you.

I said you were fries.

I apologize.

Um to my vice chair.

Thank you.

Um Mr.

Freeze.

I and this might I know I'm not sure if it's a question for you or if this is a question.

This is similar to this last contract.

During budget, we talked about thinking how we will get court reporting and such under one contract to, and this was related to the zone borders on the repeal appeals to get the cost down.

Um understand that BLPC is uh uh um an oversight agency.

Um just wanted to go on to uh I'm not sure.

So I'm not sure, man.

Who is the right person to answer this question?

But before we approve a new contract from court report, I would love to explore how do we just get court report under one contract so we can decrease the cost.

Um so has there been thought into that?

Uh Mr.

Freeze or anyone else that can answer that.

Through the chair.

Yes.

Um, I can provide background on that.

So who really led that process was a of course Central City procurement.

Uh Mr.

Leonard Jones, uh, shout out to him.

He did an amazing job looking into this.

This uh local Detroit vendor uh services, other city departments, and I think that the question from the vice chair is sound.

Um in the investigation of pulling this under all one, it was understood by Mr.

Jones um that the types of services that are done uh for the Board of Ethics versus the Board of Police Commissioners is like quite different.

And so um Mr.

Jones understood that that this would be I I what I want to speak to this is that that was explored, and what ultimately came out of this is still individual contracts.

Um I uh and I I would just go on to say that Gerald Hanson has serviced at the board for several iterations of two-year contracts.

They have been a quality vendor to us, they've been very timely, and then their their contract over contract increase is very small to the degree of less than two percent.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Freeze.

I and appreciate uh the background, I appreciate the look into this.

I still have additional questions that I'm on behalf of um the OCP.

So can we bring this back in one week?

A motion to bring back in one week.

Hearing no objections, 7.7 will be brought back in one week.

Thank you, Vice Chair.

Thank you.

Looking forward to what you learn.

Let us know.

Moving us along to 7.8.

Uh, this is contract number 600 7897, utilizing 100% solid waste funding.

It says to provide recycling education, technical assistance, and outreach to Detroit citizens.

The contractor is Green Living Science, they are located in Detroit.

This is a two-year contract at 225,000, and this will be for public works.

Is there a motion to approve or discuss?

Motion to approve.

There's a motion to approve.

There's a request for new business.

Motion to send to new business.

Hearing no objection, 7.8 will be approved, sent to new business with the recommendation to approve.

Under the law department 7.9, this is to amend chapter 31 of the 2019 Detroit City Code.

This is regarding a bubble zone around our clinics for clinical protection.

Um, if there's a motion to discuss, thank you, Member Waters.

I'm going to ask that we bring this back.

TBD, we are working with the law departments um to make sure that we are addressing issues as they come up.

Um, but just want to make a note to the administration, anyone from DPD that might be listening.

I don't believe I've asked you this yet in person, so this is going to be new.

Um, but I really believe that we need dedicated police officers for our clinics.

It sounds as if the enforcement of this ordinance, which by the way, for for the public, this ordinance that we passed a few years ago is to create a bubble zone around our clinics.

Uh we heard of issues of uh protesters, um uh people that uh are going up to women that are going to the clinic um and essentially harassing them without um any consent or permission.

So we we passed this ordinance, and we've heard um mixed results, some good, and and and the bad being that some officers don't know the ordinance and don't enforce it.

Um so I'm wondering if we can have just a set of officers that know the ordinance well that can be called on that don't have to start from scratch um when they are uh faced with these conflicts um at our clinic.

So just a note and I'll talk to DPD about this as well, but wanted to share that since this is before us now.

Um, with that, is there a motion to bring back 7.9 TBD?

Motion hearing no objection 7.9 will be brought back TBD.

Moving us to the department of appeals and hearings, 7.10 is a dangerous building's findings and orders for June 5th, 2025 is a motion to receive and file.

Motion hearing no objection, 7.10 will be received and filed under the building safety engineering environmental departments, 7.11 is a recommendation for deferral at 12816 Conway.12 is a recommendation for deferral at 180 West Hollywood.

7.13 recommendation for deferral at 1935 for built more.

Is there a motion to concur?

Motion to concur.

So these two of these look great.

They do hearing no objections.

We concur to defer 7.11 through 7.13.

I want to believe we have a little bit to do with this.

These homes look great.

Good job, everyone.

Yeah, two of these homes look really good.

Look like they're back on the market.

That's great.

Moving us along under the office of the chief financial officer, office of development and grants.

7.14 is to submit a grant application to the U.S.

Department of Transportation for their high priority commercial mortar vehicle grants.

There is a request for new business.

This is to submit a grant for their truck route enforcement units.

If there's a motion to discuss or approve, 7.14.

Motion to approve.

Is there a motion to send to new business?

Motion to approve a sentence.

Hearing no objection, 7.14 will be approved, sent to new business with the recommendation to approve.

715 is a request to accept the teen kickbacks grant, and there's a request for new business as well.

Motion to send a new business with a recommendation to approve.

Hearing no objection, 7.15 will be sent to new business with the recommendation to approve.

Under the legislative policy division, 7.16 is a report on the impact of school closings.

If there's a motion to receive and file, motion hearing no objection, 7.16 will be received and filed.

Thank you, Member Waters, for requesting the reports.

I'm still going through it and really appreciate it.

Under the departments of public work, city engineering, 7.17.

This is a petition of Haywood Development LLC.

This is a request for multiple encroachments and easements.

This is for ballards.

Is there a motion to oh there's a request to remove actually?

Um if there's a motion to remove 7.17.

Motion to remove 7.17.

Hearing no objection, 7.17 will be removed from our agenda.

7 18 is a petition of Detroit public media for several encroachments.

This is for bollards, footings, canopies, um, window box outs, and for an existing light poll.

Is there motion to approve or discuss 7.18 motion to approve?

Hearing no objection, 7.18 will be approved.

Sent to formal with the recommendation to approve.

Under miscellaneous 7.19 is a memo relative to a request for legal evaluation on potential federal tort claims, act actions arising from ICE vehicle or uh vehicle, the heat caller pursuits, vehicle pursuits in Detroit.

I believe um the chair.

Oh, to the to the law departments, is there a motion to discuss 7.19?

So this goes.

Thank you, Vice Chair.

If we could just get a one-week bring back on this item.

Is there a motion to bring back?

Motion to bring back in one week.

Hearing no objection, 7.19 we brought back in one week.

7.20 and 7.21.

Our various memos.

7.20 is a memo relative to questions on Detroit at work.

And 7.21 is a memo relative to a request for report concerning autonomous vehicles.

Both we are being requested to bring back in two weeks.

Motion.

Hearing no objection, 7.20 and 7.21 will be brought back in two weeks.

7.22, a memo relative to firework curfew violations.

We've been asked to bring this back in one week.

Motion.

Hearing no objection, 7.22 will be brought back in one week.

This brings us down to member reports.

We do have a lineup of folks from the administration to provide us updates.

Thank you, Mr.

Washington.

Um we should have a number of people joining us.

If we can move over Hilton Kincaid from Emergency Management Sonali Patel.

And Brian Pecken Paul.

And Sam Smalley as well.

Thank you, Ms.

Kahn.

Madam Chair, I didn't catch that second last name.

And then we should also be joined by Snap Sam Smalley.

Thank you.

They have been promoted to panelists.

Thank you.

As folks join us, if you wouldn't mind CD and names and titles for the public, Madam Chair.

Ron Brundt is director of BPW.

Sam Smalley, Deputy Director, Detroit Water and Surge Department.

Good afternoon, Madam Chair.

Hilton Kincaid, Director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division.

Good afternoon, gentlemen.

Thank you for joining us.

I believe you you all will be able to cover.

You may be able to cover the questions for us.

First, thank you for your work.

I know this weekend was a lot.

Um, but just wanted to get some updates for the public because we received a lot of questions around communication of emergencies.

And then I see, oh Director Peck and Paul, please, if you wouldn't mind introducing yourself as well, good good afternoon, madam chair, Director Peck and Paul, Brian Pecampal from the director of excuse me, department of neighborhoods.

All good.

It's Monday.

If you're like me, you haven't had lunch yet.

You're okay.

So thank you.

I will go through this list and we can be brief, but I do want to share with the public um what we've been doing or what we plan to do in the future.

I'll start with the marathon refinery coordination.

Um, I know that I received a call regarding the flare-ups, but I'm wondering if the public did receive any kind of notification on street closures or what was going on in the neighborhood, and if so, if this was done through any alert system or how that was communicated.

Yes, uh Hilton Kinkate.

So we did a couple things.

We sent it out through Detroit Alerts from 65.

Uh, the message that uh came from our communications piece, as well as gov delivery, we sent it to District D6, I believe.

Uh, because with Gov delivery, we can't geofence the area, but we can with 365.

That's why we continue to try to get people to join 365 because we can hit the area that needs to be hit specifically.

But yes, communication did go out.

Thank you.

Any other questions, folks, for the marathon refinery issue this weekend.

Seeing none, I will move us along to the water main breaks.

Um, same question.

There were some water main breaks over the weekends.

Um, I know that I receive a number of text messages wondering what was going on, and it seems as if we may not have a system in place just yet.

I guess let us know um what we can do to communicate with the public.

One idea that I shared is if we can have a map similar to DTE when your outage, you your internet is out, excuse me.

Your your power is out.

Comcast is the same thing, right?

It shows you that it's out.

It tells you sometimes um a timeline of when the power will be back on.

Wondering if there's anything communicated with the public regarding water main breaks and how difficult something like that um is to create.

Thank you, madam chair.

Um, with the uh intense heat that we had over the last week, we have seen an increase in water main breaks.

We're below 40 breaks right now, um, which is seasonal um expectation.

Um when we do a water main repair, we will knock on doors, go up and down the street, letting them know water department, the water's gonna be out here in about a half an hour.

Um, and then we effectuate the repair where the main has to be off.

In many cases where we even though there is a leak or water coming or flowing, we're able to keep the water system under sufficient pressure um so that people aren't out of water.

They may have low pressure, lower pressure than normal, but we maintain them in water.

In regards to the map, it's something that we're looking into.

It's a combination of our geographical information system combined with our CityWorks management system.

So we are looking into that to see what we could what we could provide that would provide our customers with more information.

Okay.

Thank you.

Are there any other questions or comments for water main breaks, Vice Chair?

Sorry, madam, not a water main breaks.

Okay.

I'll move us along and then I'll come back to you, Vice Chair.

We will now move on to trees.

That might be your question.

If anyone can provide us updates on the tree removals happening across the city, um, because we know that there are a number of trees that have fallen down.

Uh sure, madam chair.

Uh, I don't see anyone from GSD on the call, but uh DPW has been working in conjunction with uh GSD's forestry division over since all of the weekend.

Uh GSD has received uh, I believe over 200 locations that they confirmed at either trees or parts of trees uh fell into the public right away.

Uh GSD's forestry group has been focused on first clearing uh the tree debris from the street so that the right of ways are cleared uh are cleared and then they work in conjunction with BBW.

We've had our crews in since yesterday, uh removing the cut up pre debris uh that's been set at uh at curb side as at the various locations.

So uh we're gonna continue to work until through the week until all of these locations are cleared.

Uh and I'm sure the GSD uh would be able to provide additional information relative to where they stand uh to the relative to the number of trees that were actually uh uprooted or actually fell into the right of way.

Thank you, Vice Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, Director.

Uh a quick question for you.

Um, because I've I've done this from a few residents.

Uh of course, there are folks who have um quite a bit of debris in their yards and are looking to you know put it at the curb side.

I know um we want folks to bundle them, but just uh are we expanding like what the amount that we're able to pick up, especially around this week since there's gonna be a little bit extra there.

Uh through the chair member McCampbell, yeah, yeah, for major storm events, such as what we experience over the weekend.

Uh, we allow residents to just put the debris, the tree debris at curb side, and we'll pick it up.

So the normal requirements that it be bundled or you know, no more than four feet in the land.

Uh those don't apply uh after major storms after a major storm like the one we experience.

So a residents have tree or tree debris from the yard that it fallen, they'll just need to put it at carb side uh and we'll get it picked up.

Thank you so much, Director.

That's great.

Thank you.

Thank you, Vice Chair.

Great question.

Um, that's good to know.

I Director Peck and Paul, you had questions or updates regarding wellness checks or resources with the public.

Yes, uh, good afternoon again, madam chair.

Um, we have worked on wellness checks since uh Friday evening, uh, the senior buildings.

So we have three senior advocates who have been doing wellness checks.

We also activated our faith base director, Pastor White, to work with our church community or faith-based community to activate some uh resource centers.

So Liberty Temple in District 2 was open uh the last two days to provide resources to the hardest hit area of district two, as well as we had some other churches open in district seven to serve that part of the west side of the city.

And today, DTE is actually at Crowwell Recreation Center, uh, providing resources to residents.

There's about 6,000 households that they reached out in the Crowwell Work Center uh radius uh to come to Crow Wild Works Center and uh get resources from DTE.

So we continue wellness checks of our senior buildings as well as our vulnerable adults throughout the city.

And including uh on the downcast, we'll be providing these updates that you're hearing today, uh, madam chair.

Thank you, Director.

Thank you all.

I I really appreciate your work and um heard that we need to get more people to sign up to 365.

Uh Director Peck and Paul, maybe we all need to, because I'm we are beginning to do this as well.

Just put QR codes for every presentation that we have at the beginning or end, at least for people to download while they wait or after the presentation is done to get more people to sign up so that we are able to communicate with them.

Um I will follow up with our water departments regarding um the the checks that we do when there are water main breaks.

I if there's a a way to see where that happens, um, because based on the outreach that I'm receiving from the public, they're not receiving that information.

So there might be a disconnect, or would like to see what's going on there.

Similar to the three sixty-five alerts, um, residents that live close to 42 and 7 but may not be there exactly, did not receive the alert.

So I want to know the map and just see whether or not they are in the map and didn't receive it, or if they're outside of your map and that's why they didn't receive it.

So I'm gonna follow up for that information.

I'm really, really grateful for you all.

Um do you have anything else you want to share with us before I let you all go?

Uh madam chair.

Yes.

I did just want to give an update.

We did have about 134 of the city jurisdiction traffic signals that were impacted uh by the storm, including 88 that uh uh that lost power through DPE uh at the height of it.

Uh currently we're down to just 40 locations uh that uh still don't have power.

Uh of those 40, we do have portable generators providing uh electricity at 16 of those locations.

So right now, out of the original 134, we're down to just uh 24, I believe, that are currently without power.

The other the others are all working on normal uh red, yellow, and green.

Understood.

Thank you, Director.

And Madam Chair, as far as the watering breaks uh during the emergency processes, uh we work very closely with the water department.

We get notified immediately.

And we have police officers on the scene to monitor whether it's residential and or commercial.

If they see water going up the driveways or things like that, they literally lock on the knock on the doors and check.

And we do that because if anybody's furnished or anything goes bad, we need to know that uh immediately.

So and and uh Sam's team, uh they respond very quickly for us.

So we can let the officers get back on the street.

Thank you.

I agree.

When I reach out to everyone, oh please go right ahead, Director Peck and Paul.

Well, thank you, Madam Chair.

And uh five o'clock today is the DON cast, so we do invite people to learn and hear more updates regarding the emergency response efforts and other city of Detroit updates.

The Zoom link is available on the City of Detroit Department Neighborhood's Facebook page if you'd like to uh join the DOD cast at 5 p.m.

today.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Madam Chair, if I may.

Um this storm with the high winds uh put a lot of debris on the ground as we have heard as that debris flows to and covers catchbase and covers.

Um we could certainly use help from our customers if they could just remove the leaves and branches and debris from the catch basin cover.

Our men and women are out there cleaning the catch basins as quickly as they can to relieve it, but a lot of relief will come by just removing that three off the cover itself.

Thank you.

Heard and agreed.

Um thank you for reminding us of that.

That's something that we can all do to really help the system.

I'm sure.

Yes, Vice Chair.

Uh just very quick.

I just want to thank Director Peck and Paul and for the for working to get those additional locations in District 7 and for the um community organization and churches for hosting that as well.

So thank you.

Thank you, Vice Chair.

Just one quick little question, Madam Chair.

Member Waters.

Uh thank you.

Um, I did a quick little spot check this weekend myself regarding uh senior buildings facilities that you know for possible outage.

Um I wasn't able to identify in it.

Did you guys identify any that had any outages?

Through the chair, um, council member waters.

We did um have an outage at uh um uh Hartford village.

Uh the building and the townhouses, but DTE was able to get it back on restored yesterday afternoon at three o'clock.

So fortunately that didn't cause uh any concern.

Uh they were only out for the for the earlier part of the day, and then there was a partial outage at the senior towers at um Park View, Park View of Towers in District 5.

Yeah.

Uh the partial hour outage, but they were able to get restored within a few hours.

So that was uh just a temporary disruption, but there was no other uh outages at senior buildings that we're aware of.

Okay, all right, thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member Waters.

Thank you all again.

Um and yes, you are all very responsive when it comes to all of the work.

Um and I'm really grateful for how quickly people respond to me when there are emergencies so I'm able to communicate with the public.

Um, and I'm only being this pushy because I believe that I'm a middleman and I would like to be removed and just have people find the information, know what's going on, know how long to wait, know what kind of help that they might need to prepare.

So just doing this so that we can all get better and better uh support our city and our residents.

So thank you all again.

Uh wish you all a blessed day.

Um, and thank you for your work.

We'll talk to you soon.

Uh we are still in member reports team.

So, Member Waters, anything from member reports?

No.

Vice Chair.

Uh Mountain Chair, I would just say as folks come out of the storm and hopefully power is restored.

ASAP has been disappointing to see that even there's some spots in my district that um won't have their power restored until the 8th.

Uh and it is still hot outside.

So I would say if if as much as possible as we can check on our neighbors um and share the information that we may have heard today with folks, um, that would be great.

So thank you.

Thank you, Vice Chair.

And yes, please please do check in on your neighbors.

I know that I dropped off water in my neighborhood when I heard about um water being uh turned off for a while while the water break was work uh was being worked on.

It does make a huge difference.

So check on your neighbors, make sure everyone is safe this week.

There's more rain to come, I believe.

Um so make sure you're ready, make sure you're prepared.

Uh with that, there's nothing else from me.

So we are now adjourned.