Detroit City Council Regular Session Meeting - July 21, 2026
Detroit City Council Regular Session Meeting - July 21, 2026
The Detroit City Council convened on July 21, 2026, for a regular session that included presentations on election preparations, recognition of security personnel, public comments on various issues, and votes on numerous legislative items. Key topics included data center regulation, air quality response to Canadian wildfires, and contract approvals.
Presentations
- City Clerk Janice Winfrey reported that early voting starts July 25, 2026, with a block party at KMAC. She noted an expected primary turnout of 20% and announced a friendly competition among council districts for highest voter turnout, with prizes including a block party and t-shirts. She also discussed election security, ballot tracking, and accessibility for disabled voters. Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett also spoke in support.
- Award Presentation: Council Member Benson presented the Spirit of Detroit Award to Allied Universal Security officers Cedric Wyckoff, Amy Ringley, Richard Merriff, and others for preventing a potentially violent incident outside KMAC on April 30, 2026.
Public Comments & Testimony
- In-person speakers: Several residents voiced concerns about property management issues (Garden View Estates), deed fraud in Southwest Detroit, data center expansion, illegal voting, police oversight, and the need for better community engagement. A speaker criticized the city's handling of Munoz properties and tax debt forgiveness. Another urged opposition to data centers and solar fields, citing environmental and health risks.
- Callers: Topics included support for the Wayne County Transit Millage, property tax reform, air quality monitoring, opposition to data centers, and issues with election administration (e.g., write-in candidate lists). One caller alleged that the city clerk's office was paying for votes in District 6, a claim denied by the clerk. Another caller advocated for the removal of Council President James Tate.
Discussion Items
- Air Quality Update: Chief of Staff Bowser and Health Director Z described the city's response to unprecedented hazardous air quality from Canadian wildfires (AQI above 500 on July 15-16). They highlighted distribution of masks, emergency orders, and plans for a crisis cabinet to coordinate future responses. Council members raised concerns about power outages, senior building generators, and air filtration for vulnerable populations.
- Data Center Policy: Council Member Benson and CPC staff discussed the ongoing work to define and regulate data centers. CPC staff stated that hyperscale data centers (250+ acres) are not feasible for Detroit, and that a public hearing is expected in September or October 2026. A resolution opposing water usage for data centers (line item 20.32) was approved.
- Contract Debates: Line item 19.1 (media contract with Emerald Media) was postponed for one week after objections from Council Member Callaway, who cited concerns about the vendor. The administration argued that delay could jeopardize grant-funded summer health campaigns. Line items 20.20 and 20.24 (CVI contracts) were also postponed for one week due to concerns about metrics and oversight.
Key Outcomes
- Approved: Line items 20.2-20.4, 20.6-20.18 (minus 20.12), 20.19, 20.21-20.23, 20.25 (tethered drones for DFD with waiver), 20.26-20.31, 20.32 (resolution opposing water use for data centers), and 20.5-20.18 (demolition contracts) with objection from McCampbell on some. Ordinance 20.1 (removing definitions from licenses) passed 9-0.
- Postponed: Line items 19.1 (one week), 20.20 and 20.24 (one week), 20.12 (to end of agenda, then approved over objection).
- Referred: Several items to committees, including a walk-on referral to amend rental compliance ordinance.
- Motions: A motion to send line item 18.7 back to committee passed. A motion to assign LPD to report on data center locations and a resolution asking for Detroit representation on the Michigan Public Service Commission were approved.
- Waivers: Granted for line items 16.1, 16.4, 17.5, 17.23, 18.1-18.3, 19.6, and 20.25.
Meeting Transcript
This is the regular session of Tuesday, July 21st, 2026. It will come to order now. And Madam Clerk, if you can please call the role. Yes, Mr. President. Thank you. Councilmember Scott Benson. Councilmember Letitia Johnson. Present. Councilmember Denzel and Tom McCampbell. Present. Councilmember Renata Miller. Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero. Present. Councilmember Mary Waters. Present. Council Member Angela Whitfield Calloway. Council President Pro Tim Coleman A. Young II. Council President James Tate. Here. Mr. President, you have a call. Thank you so much. We have a corner, which means we're now in session. I want to let everyone know if you are seeking to speak before this body on any issue whatsoever, partner. Any issue, raise your hand and someone from the team will come by and provide you with a public comment card. All of those individuals who are in the queue will have an opportunity to speak before this body. Again, on the subject of their desire. Please raise your hand though. We have to put you in the queue. And that goes for the folks who are at home as well. For those who are not familiar with our procedures, we will not be providing comments after each individual that speaks. We're waiting to everyone, uh both in person and online, provides their comments, and then we will provide any rebuttal that is uh needed at that point. All right. So just want to give you kind of a layer of the land. Um, Madam Clerk, if you can please note that we have been joined by Member Miller. Clerk was so note, Mr. President. Thank you so much. All right. So uh this morning's invocation have none other than a friend of the community, friend of mine as well. Uh, this Reverend Rosalind Bouye, also known as Reverend Ross from Ross. Please come on up, please. Uh, y'all give a round of applause. Reverend Ross, I don't know how, but she has found a way to juggle multiple uh ministerial and community uh leadership roles um simultaneously and effectively. Uh, she is the founder and pastor of the beloved community uh united church of Christ, located in District 1 at 2074 Grand River Avenue, uh, as well as the Pastor of Trinity St. Mark United Church of Christ, uh located in District 6 uh at 9315 West Ford Street. For more than 15 years, Reverend Ross has faithfully served our community uh through her ministry as the executive director of the Brightmore uh Connection Food Pantry, uh, where she has led efforts uh to fight food insecurity while helping families facing housing and water insecurity as well. Her work has also opened doors for residents uh by moving, excuse me, helping to remove the barriers of employment uh to include assistance with driver's license and driving record issues.
openpublica.com