Detroit Public Health and Safety Standing Committee Meeting – July 13, 2026

The Detroit City Council's Public Health and Safety Standing Committee met on Monday, July 13, 2026, under chair Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero, with a quorum present. The agenda included general public comment, a public hearing on amending Chapter 4 of the city code to add religious institutions to advertising-sensitive properties, and consideration of multiple contracts, petitions, and memos. Several items were postponed to future dates, while others were approved and sent to formal or new business.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of minutes from the previous session was moved and adopted without objection.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Earl Robinson – Described ongoing harassment by a neighbor on his street and criticized the 8th Precinct for inaction despite multiple police reports. He noted the individual has assaulted older residents, including a 100% disabled Vietnam veteran and a 20-year Air Force veteran. Councilmember Mary Waters offered to follow up with the police department offline.
• Brother Cunningham (Forced Subservience Cunningham) – Requested assistance repairing his vehicle to continue community outreach and distributed Wayne County Transit Millage yard signs and lit. He also mentioned providing bus tickets and low-income housing lists.
• Pastor James Wheeler (First Progressive Missionary Baptist Church) – Objected to a King Bud cannabis advertisement sign near his church, noting a previous sign was taken down but a new one appeared within six weeks. The chair responded that the city is drafting an ordinance to ban such signs near places of worship.
• Dr. Denise Darnell Brown – Advocated for Proposal S on the August 4 ballot to address a nearly $2 billion decrease in Michigan's education budget and close a $5 billion funding gap for public schools. She also announced her candidacy for precinct delegate in Wayne County Precinct 203.
• Jay – Thanked the committee for listening to Brother Cunningham and for their time.
• Ruben Crowley (legendary Detroiter) – Alleged corruption in the 8th Precinct, including a buried aggravated assault complaint, and criticized city elections processes. He claimed his comments are truthful and that “y’all busted.”
• Mr. Foster – Emphasized the importance of listening to veterans and noted availability of social workers and other non‑law‑enforcement supports in the 10th Precinct. He also promoted a community park event on July 25 at Diva Community Park (6451 Ellsworth) from 9:30 am to 3 pm, seeking volunteers.
• Owner Papa – Opposed demolition contracts, alleging corruption in emergency demolitions (citing a $107,000 cost) and argued bond money should remediate contaminated dirt holes. He urged voting “no” on any millage for schools or transit, claiming conditions have worsened despite past millages.
• Caller ending in 5-3-4 – Questioned why only solar neighborhood residents receive housing upgrades without a community benefits agreement and alleged fraud regarding blight definitions. She also asked about the Emerald Media contract and criticized the BZA for making appellants pay for transcripts.
• William M. Davis (former police commissioner) – Stated that the Board of Police Commissioners now has less power than when he was elected in 2017, urged greater oversight and voter education, and noted his precinct (410) still has many fallen tree branches needing removal. He called for more help for seniors and city retirees.

Discussion Items

Chapter 4 Amendment – Advertising and Signs Near Religious Institutions

• Councilmember Scott Benson introduced a public hearing on an ordinance to amend Chapter 4-1-1 of the 2019 Detroit City Code to add “religious institution” (church, mosque, temple, synagogue, or other place of worship) to the definition of advertisement‑sensitive properties. This would extend existing protections for schools, parks, libraries, and daycares to houses of worship, prohibiting advertising of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and electronic nicotine delivery systems within 1,000 feet.
• The law department (D. Hill) confirmed a non‑substantive amendment was proposed: add “and identified as exempt by the assessor” to the definition to align with other code sections (e.g., Chapter 50 for adult uses and marijuana facilities). The amendment was moved and adopted without objection.
• Councilmember Denzel Anton McCampbell raised concerns about how the city verifies a religious institution’s legal status to avoid challenges. The committee requested a written opinion from the law department on the verification process. The assessor, Alvin Horn, later testified that his office uses a detailed process including 501(c)(3) status, state registration, bylaws, property deeds, and regular site visits every three years to confirm continued operation.
• Public comment on the hearing included:
  • Ruben Crowley – Criticized the process as unclear and suggested the city does not know what it is doing.
  • Owner Papa – Called the hearing premature without assessor input and warned of lawsuits.
  • Renard Moshanski – Argued the ordinance could violate First Amendment free speech and religious freedoms, noted inconsistency with not banning alcohol advertising, and questioned why only one faith was heard. He warned against a “slippery slope.”
  • Rory Bulger (City Planning Commission staff) – Supported the amendment, stating it is a reasonable time‑place‑manner restriction and consistent with other city code provisions. He explained that using “exempt by the assessor” ensures enforceability without needing to track every storefront church.
• After the public hearing, the committee voted to send the ordinance to formal session with a recommendation to approve and also to new business (motion carried without objection).

Contract 6007891 – Emerald Media (Media Planning and Buying)

• The committee discussed an amendment to an existing contract with Emerald Media (Detroit‑based) to provide strategic media planning and buying for the Health Department, increasing funds by $50,000 to a total of $100,000 through November 2026. The work is supported by grant funds ending September 30, 2026.
• Councilmember Mary Waters questioned why the same vendors are consistently used and sought details on a new RFP process. Vicky Thomas (Director of Communications) and Hillary Edwards (OCP) explained that a new grant‑funded RFP had received 8 responses and is under evaluation; a separate city‑funded RFP has a mid‑August deadline. They noted that location/race cannot be considered for federally funded grants. Councilmember McCampbell asked about bringing media buying in‑house, but Thomas said it would be cost‑prohibitive due to niche expertise and the need to leverage rates across clients.
• The committee voted to send the contract to formal with recommendation to approve, pending written responses to outstanding questions from Councilmember Waters.

Contract 6007883 – Court Reporting for Board of Police Commissioners (BOPC)

• A contract for Gerald Hanson & Associates to provide court reporting and transcription services for BOPC for two years at $96,605 was considered. Drew Freeze (BOPC fiscal manager) and Leonard Jones (OCP) explained that BOPC has a large volume (weekly meetings, over 100 pages per session) and therefore gets discounted per‑page pricing. The City Clerk and BZA have smaller, as‑needed contracts. Councilmember McCampbell asked about centralizing all three contracts to lower costs. Jones indicated it could be done when the other contracts expire in spring 2027, and a combined scope could be pursued in about two years. The committee voted to send the contract to formal with recommendation to approve.

Community Health Worker Training Contract (Item 8.13)

• The committee approved a two‑year, $62,000 grant‑funded contract with the Michigan Community Health Worker Alliance to train 30 Detroit residents as doulas, lactation consultants, and perinatal community health workers. Christina Floyd (Detroit Health Department) said the program is open to Detroit residents, veterans, and spouses, and leads to credentials billable through Michigan Medicaid. The contract was sent to new business with a recommendation to approve.

Key Outcomes

• Approved and sent to formal session: Minutes; Chapter 4 amendment (religious institutions); Emerald Media contract (pending answers); BOPC court reporting contract; multiple street vacations and encroachment petitions (Items 8.18, 8.19, 8.20, 8.21, 8.22, 8.23); Public Safety Foundation grant (Item 8.17).
• Approved and sent to new business: Community Health Worker training contract (Item 8.13).
• Postponed (one week): Demolitions overview presentation; all demolition contracts (Items 7.9, 7.12, 7.13, 8.1–8.12); Memo on fireworks curfew violations (7.3); Memo on data center water usage (7.8); Memo on waiving blight fines (7.16); Memo on hydrogen fueled buses (7.17); Petition 8.24 (Amir); Resolution on demolition prioritization (8.26); CDI contracts (8.14–8.15); HRD floor renovation (8.16).
• Postponed (two weeks): Memo on neighborhood and community safety services (7.1); Memo on restoring BOPC oversight (7.5); Memo on dangerous buildings process improvements (8.25).
• Postponed (until September 14, 2026): Memo on ICE vehicle pursuits (7.2); Memo on BOPC charter oversight (7.4); Memo on DDOT risk management (7.6); Introduction of Chapter 18 amendment on billing/collection (7.14).
• Received and filed: Memo on demolition costs and collections (7.7); Memo on dangerous buildings process improvements (7.15).
• Written opinion requested: Law department to provide memorandum on verification of religious institutions for the Chapter 4 amendment.
• Member reports: Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero noted a community celebration and a public hearing on the Bridging Neighborhoods Resolution at the 4th Precinct at 6 pm on July 13. Councilmember Denzel McCampbell announced a virtual District 7 meeting on July 23 at 6 pm.

The meeting was adjourned.