Madam Chair, you have a corn present.

Oh, that member Miller is here.

So note.

Thank you, Madam Clerk, and good morning, Member Miller.

Yes, ma'am.

Okay.

Okay.

All righty.

And maybe one day, Member Miller will uh will or Member Benson will share a word.

We know that they are both Christians, at least that's that's that's the um my belief of the discussion.

Um Madam Chair, was that an invitation to share a word in the future?

Or today?

We will work with your office on a future so I can prepare myself.

And you too.

And I think that would be amazing, and it just demonstrates um the spirit of this of this body, this this committee, and our cohesiveness.

At least that's what we strive to do to make the best decisions on behalf of our residents.

That being said, this is the prayer for the day, and the scripture is Ruth 116.

But Ruth replied, don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you.

Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay.

Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.

And then he has arrows going ever in every kind of direction.

So Peter, I'm gonna read this because I believe I um read the scripture, but this is the prayer.

Dear Lord, be with us when we are asked to make the decision to follow a new way or a new path.

Give us the support we need when the newness is difficult, and the desire to go back to the familiar creeps in.

Let us instead be like Ruth, venturing boldly toward a new destination.

Amen.

Thank you, Peter Rhodes, for the word for the day.

And that's how we're gonna start this morning.

That was the invocation.

Is there a um motion for the approval of the minutes?

Motion.

Any objections?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

There are zero chair remarks, public comment.

We'll close in one minute.

Public comment will be closed virtually in one minute.

Do we have anyone here in the chair in the chamber of the whole who'd like to make public comment?

If so, you all know the routine, and good morning, sir.

You are a very familiar face to this space.

It's always good to see you, young man.

Great to see you, madam chair.

And if you can introduce yourself, and you'll have two minutes, sir.

Absolutely.

Uh my name is Maurice Weeks.

Um I uh and good morning again, everyone.

Um, I'm here about the uh uh proposed ordinance around regulating uh cryptocurrency ATMs.

Um as uh the request uh from member Benson's office said, these ATMs have been used around the country to scam uh mostly seniors and also uh younger people newer to financial markets out of millions and millions of dollars.

Um just last year the state of Texas uh recorded over 50 million dollars had been scammed from folks using these crypto ATM machines.

Um the consumer financial protection uh bureau before uh this new administration took over was going to actually pick up this issue, and uh there's a tremendous amount of research that they uh have that uh folks uh like me have scraped from the website before it was destroyed by the Trump administration.

Um that uh we would love to work with your office on on crafting this uh this policy when it finally gets to the stage of fully crafting it.

Um so just putting that out there as as a way to uh reach out and uh resource of folks who you know know about financial regulation and have uh it's a space that I've worked in for the uh the past uh decade plus um uh so and thank you for putting it forward, Member Benson.

And that's it.

Okay, well um here during um this committee meeting, we um allow um our colleagues please stay there, Mr.

Weeks, to um comment.

And I know um Member Benson would like to comment while you're sitting here.

We don't want you to leave.

Go all the way back to where you came from, and then you miss what we're saying in response to your question.

So uh Member Benson.

Thank you, madam chair, and uh thank you for those comments.

Um what we'll probably do is start an invitation only working group, and you will get an invitation.

But this is also at the suggestion of Gross Point Farms Council members, uh Lev Wood as well as Sierra Donovan.

What they saw were um cryptocurrency machines in Gross Point Woods along the border with Detroit that were taking advantage of seniors, and so they regulated them, and then they saw those move over into Detroit, and so they suggest that we may want to do something like this.

And so I've taken up that man, and that's a direct result of my uh city council's membership, and I'm a rep one of the representatives to SimCog at SimCog.

And so they made a suggestion.

I've worked with the law department, I've talked to the police department, and they both support as well as Member Johnson, whose district borders Gross Point.

So we're working on something that hopefully will be done before the end of the year to protect our residents as well.

So thank you for that.

And then more than happy to get your suggestions on that.

Yeah, absolutely.

Um, and as you know, Member Vincent, that the these companies prey particularly on the underbanked and unbanked and advertise themselves as a full alternative, but in reality, that is not the case, of course, at all.

Um, so would love to work with y'all in that.

Thank you.

Mr.

Weeks, you'll make sure that Member Benson, if he doesn't already have your contact information.

I believe that his office does.

Okay.

Thank you, Mr.

Weeks.

Thank you.

Yes, sir.

And public comment is now closed.

Public comment is now closed, and I do believe Member Miller has a uh um remarks as well.

Member Benson Member Miller.

I just want to say good morning to the chair.

Mr.

Weeks, thanks for joining us today with your public comment.

Um, you are one of the most kind critical at the same time.

Commentators that come before us, and you also have a lot of uh pertinent information.

I want to say thank you for sharing it to us with us in a decency and in order.

Thank you for coming to my coffee hours.

Even though we're not in the same district, you do drop by, you do talk to give your insight, especially with things that's regarding our city like Shot Spider and Flock, and I appreciate all your work and your um your investigative approach the way you come to us and just say, listen, I don't agree, but read my documents, and I they're always helpful.

It's it's good to have two sides to every story.

I just want to say thank you for just joining us in person.

I am really looking into how we communicate as a city uh online and in person, and I'm coming to some some understandings of why we do what we do and how to make it better.

So you'll be hearing from me uh in the future regarding our communication tactics for the city trade.

Thank you.

I'm wondering if I'm uh right, Mr.

Weeks, thank you.

Um public comment is now closed.

Public comment is now called um close.

Um, do we have anyone else here in um this space that would like to make public comment?

If so, you can take the seat where Mr.

Weeks just vacated.

Okay, seeing none.

Who is our next caller?

Our first caller, um, rather, Miss JC.

You have two minutes.

Madam Chair, the first caller is Dr.

Denise Darnell.

Dr.

Darnell, you have two minutes, and good morning, ma'am.

Good morning to my council member Angela Whitfield Callaway.

Good to see you.

Uh, yes, Dr.

Darnell here.

I want to give a few facts on the 21st century Road to Housing Act and the implications for Detroit that just became law passing the Senate with unanimous vote without 47 signature after the 10-day review period expired.

Our government has been trying to do something like this for decades, and now it's done.

I heard Kim Tandy speak last night at District 2's meeting on the master plan.

And I think this will be of particular interest for our planning and development department.

First, houses for people are not houses are for people, not for corporations.

It literally says that in the bill.

So large corporate investors like private hedge funds and private equity or those who own more than 350 homes now have limits on how many single family properties they can purchase.

Secondly, for Detroit zoning and permitting department to build more houses, overall housing supply will be streamlined for federal environmental review requirements for developers and builders.

If supply goes up and demand meets the supply, prices will stabilize.

Third, housing programs are updated with more vouchers to increase choices and programs for affordability, more uh HUD literacy programs to educate buyers on the home buying process.

There are incentives for turning abandoned properties into affordable housing so people have places to live.

Fourth, a huge win in my opinion is that this bill did not create new spending.

Funds that are already available will be reallocated.

Finally, I Denise Darnell Brown am on the August 4th ballot here in Northwest Detroit for District 203, delegate to the county convention and would appreciate your consideration and vote.

God bless you all.

Have a great day.

Thank you, Dr.

Darnell.

The next caller is next caller is Black Bag.

Good morning.

You have two minutes, sir.

Well, yeah, I got two minutes.

Good.

Now in these two minutes, I want you to understand this clearly.

And every all the citizens, taxpayers, and residents of the city of Detroit.

I'm a legendary Detroiter.

Detroit legend.

For real, for real.

For real, for real.

That goes out to Jerry Zate.

Now, with this General Corporation Counsel for the city of Detroit, Angela Withfield Callaway, your lawyer.

Now, I haven't broken any laws nor committed any crimes.

So trying to connect me to some kind of criminal activity now would be ridiculous.

Stupid.

Now he's the former Michigan Supreme Court Justice for the state of Michigan.

But he's also on Zoom, sitting next to Dennis M.

Winfrey, the Detroit City Clerk and Chairperson of the Detroit Election Commission.

He's on an election commission too.

This Conrad Mallard Jr., General Corporation Counsel for the city.

You got a law degree.

I don't know if you got a P number.

But Janice was lying.

She said she sent you, Angela, the findings on the allegations of voter fraud by anonymous citizen report, but your office says they never received a report.

They told me that on May the 20th, 2024.

Now, do you know anything about the ICT findings on allegations of absentee ballot?

Ponties on the allegations of absentee ballot fraud by anonymous citizen report done by Janice Wumphrey, Angela Whitfield Callaway.

Tell us citizens, taxpayers and residents.

If you got that report, you ain't said sugar honey ice tea about it.

And I'm black bag.

I'm outside.

And the next caller is the next caller is D dot Ambassador.

D.

Dot Ambassador, you have two minutes.

D Dot Ambassador, you have two minutes.

That number was made so you can remember it.

And on Facebook for Subservient, Cunningham.

At least the politicians and the clergy are showing their hate towards me in action.

I'd rather have action and a person not be coined or fake.

Either love in action or hate in action.

No schism.

No schism.

And God has not given me a spirit of fear, but power, love, and a sound mind.

And I thank God that it that is brave and mercy.

It's just overflowing.

We try to do our best, but we know that God is good and is a merciful God.

Detroit Department of Transportation is still lackluster.

It is not on time.

It does not show up.

And I have been doing with state rep uh candidate and the incumbent bus ride along.

We give out bus tickets, resources.

We give out low-income housing list resources.

We give out paratransit, which is the complimentary disability, smaller buses that come door-to-door, smart and D dot, uh, if it's applicable.

If anyone would like to do a bus ride along, if anyone can assist in regards to another van or repairing my van, I got a holy handshake, holy goats handshake from a young lady who was at counsel just $100.

That was a blessing.

She helped out.

Uh councilman uh Denzel uh helped out.

Um people from Arizona are helping out.

Uh so just uh and also both of that transit millage.

The racists do not want black people going through their neighborhood.

The next caller is.

The next caller is Betty A.

Varner.

Miss Varner, you have two minutes.

Uh good morning to all within the sound of my voice.

I'm Betty A.

Varner, the president of the Soda Elsewhere Black Association, advocating for my community and for our annual Arise Detroit event that's gonna be August 1st at our beautiful Diva Community Park that we have created for our neighborhood.

Uh we will be blessing as many families and children as possible.

We're asking all to come out.

We don't want to be uh left at the end of the day.

We want everything to be gone, all the uh school supplies, all the hygiene products, all of the food, the drinks we want to be able to bless as many people as possible.

The event will be at 6451.

Uh Ellsworth at the Diva Community Park.

We will be offering uh free haircuts, free hair braiding.

There will be snow combs, popcorn, and the snow cones was a real hit last year because it was a hot day, and there was a constant line.

Uh we will be uh having all kind types of family games.

Games where the parents can get involved with the children, get the exercise, and then there will be big whists, spades, uno, uh checkers, uh, dominoes.

If we're looking to have a family fun day, also there will be tables set up with vendors, uh offering resources.

Everything is free.

So we're asking you to come out and enjoy yourself.

This is for the uh Metro Detroit area, not just for our particular community.

Also, we need volunteers.

We've got got some uh people who were gonna help us set up.

We need people to help us break down our tents.

Thank you, Miss Ferner.

The next caller is the next caller is Shadante Smith.

Mr.

Smith, you have two minutes.

Good morning, Mabby Hurt.

Yes.

I just want to say uh I've been having a couple conversations with some different people about some things uh in politics, especially nepotism.

I think nepotism is something that is really really killing uh a lot of our chances to have good leadership that is um gonna be unbiased and that's gonna really rise up from the community and actually represent the issues of the community.

Um, when it comes down to a lot of issues we have in the community, a lot of us call in very, very often talking about the same things, whether it be transit, whether it be contaminated dirt, whether it be environmental issues such as chronos and uh horrible concrete dust or even wildfire smoke, whether it be housing, whether it be water and sewage department, um, whether it just be whatever.

And I was just saying when it comes to the water and sewage department, I received two order bills this month for two different addresses that were not my address after last month receiving a water bill that was not for my address either.

So two months, three different bills, three different incorrect addresses.

Um I'll get back to my point.

Um I think that we need to select better leaders for our community, people who understand, people who are willing to work with constituents, people who are willing to listen, not just uh degrade the comments that people make because they don't like or agree with what the sentiments are.

And I love to see some of you up there now saying that you're gonna listen to communicate with with citizens better, but generally you don't do that.

Also, when it comes to our leadership at the top, people are mad at the messenger, but not at the message.

People are mad at what they're seeing, whether it's true or not, because they like somebody, like people still defend Kwame.

As bad as he did the city, as much wrong as he did, people will still defend him based on the notion that they like him, or he did something for them 20 years ago.

They mama liked him, or he prayed with the with the with the uh pastor, whoever.

I think that Detroit deserves better leadership.

We don't deserve data centers, we don't deserve poor leadership, and uh I just like to see us have better leadership, state rep, state senate, uh, mayor, governor, whoever.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We will now um is there anyone else on public comment, JC?

If not, we're going to recess to the call of the chair.

We're gonna call the 1015A interview.

And then yes, ma'am.

We still have five hands raised.

Five hands raised.

We will return to our um regular agenda.

And Mr.

Ogden, we do see you, but as soon as we've done with public comment, we'll call you to the table.

And thank you for your patience.

The next caller is you have two minutes.

If you can introduce yourself for the record.

The next caller is Mr.

Foster.

Mr.

Foster, you have two minutes.

Um good morning through the chair.

It's Ronald Foster.

Um, just want to say a couple of things.

First, on that board of directors, I know Mr.

Bay Doom.

He just left the city and he is on that board of directors.

Don't always have the most confidence in people as far as how they handled our communities, but that don't devalue their business aspects.

But that should be noted.

There are a lot of these people are being recycled.

As becomes to Mr.

Olden.

Very appreciative that he took the time out to register as a lobby, a lobbyist throughout the years.

A lot of the other people that hasn't done that, so I think that's integritable to be in that line of work and actually go to the city clerk, follow the city charter and register as a lobbyist.

That's important.

So I don't have anything against anything that you got going on because he's been transparent about what it is he's doing and who it is he represents.

Um when it comes down to some of these groups, I heard you all talking about this morning.

I am open to all people.

I'm 100% a heterosexual man, right?

Never had any other ideologies.

So I'm never offended when I'm not invited to homosexual groups, right?

Or when I don't get resources, as my investigative shields have shown that a lot, there's a line of homosexuality that garnish a lot of our city resources.

And so I did want to say that heterosexual people are generally left out.

So that should be noted.

So um, and um I just want to say I'm one of our neighbors to have um mega five, so I am grateful for that.

I don't know how it comes into our community, but I am grateful for any positivity.

Right, wherever it comes from.

I'm still asking to be included in government, have a block club, get access to city resources without having to change my gender.

Thank you very much.

The next caller is replant the trees.

Okay, we'll hear from the caller in one minute.

Good morning, maybe heard.

Yes, you can be heard, Miss Warwick.

To the previous caller, this is Member Miller.

I just wanted to say I am so sorry that you feel slighter even left out because you are head of sexual black man, and it's not the first time I've heard it.

I hear it throughout our city all the time, being a 77% African American city.

Black men feel they have no place in our society, and it is saddens me as a mother and to hear our men say those things.

But if you feel there's resources that do you or that I can assist you with or to receive, please feel free to reach out to our office.

Um I have no problem with talking with you to see how I can assist you in any way.

And that goes for all black men in the city of Detroit.

I've met a couple here and there that has had the same same exact conversation, and it saddens me while I continue to push for jobs, for union wages, for health care for our residents, and for just a shot at the table while we continue to send contracts out of the city, so our dollar does not circulate within our city.

I continue to push for our people that live in the city of Detroit.

And for me, it's not about race, sex, gender, or anything like that.

But if you feel that way, please reach out to one of our team members so we can have that one-on-one conversation.

And I just want to say this is not just an isolated incident in um our last election.

A lot of people felt that way, and that is why we have who we have in Washington.

Thank you.

Thank you, Member Miller.

Um, we will return to public comment virtually.

Miss Warwick, you have two minutes.

Yes, can you hear me?

We can hear you.

Yes, ma'am, and thank you.

Okay.

Okay, no, no problem.

Um, yeah, it was replant the trees, please.

I think one of the reasons we had such poor air quality is because of a very misguided solar plan.

I never said don't do solar, but it's a total violation of the Detroit City Charter to destroy residential neighborhoods and then cut down acres and acres and acres of trees.

So really hope that people would see the light and realize there are better ways to do this instead of put people through the misery of eminent domain, they're defaulting people left and right, left and right.

And the city committed possibly fraud in the council, but definitely in the residents by not telling them the per se blooded definition they're using, which can never be gotten rid of.

So it's a legal fiction that you can alleviate that kind of blight.

Um, Mr.

Steve Ogden for the DDA.

Now, I must say he is very good at his job.

He is very good at his job, and he's been way more cordial to me than a lot of people down at City Hall.

Um, I understand why Mr.

Gilbert picked him, but I do have concern of a conflict of interest that he is the government affairs person for Gilbert, went from local to national.

I understand why it's very good, but I just think there's a conflict of interest there.

Uh, member Miller, I'm glad you talked about getting people a shot as shot at the table.

Uh, that's why I have been uh critical of the master plan update process, which even on its own web page says uh local groups, it helps you in the city to get on the same page so we can work together.

Yet uh the treasurer of our block club has requested them to come to our block club repeatedly, and they say they're not going to.

So this is why I'm very upset.

Also, Donna Givens Davidson is on the master plan advisory group in District 5, but none of those people from District 5 have ever reached out to other people in District 5 that I know of.

And I know they met with other block clubs.

That is a problem.

The OIG refuses to look into some matters, and so I don't have faith in them.

And please, you can thank you, Ms.

Wart.

The next um, member Miller, before we go to the next caller, member Miller.

Mrs.

Warwick, I want to let you know that District 5 will be having two master plan meetings, one east and one west.

Stay tuned for those dates.

Uh it was solidified yesterday that we will be having those actual meetings because too many of our residents feel that the master plan is moving on without them, and they do not have the proper input for district five.

And I concur with you, I can tell you where I live.

Um bus depots popped up all of a sudden.

And to be in my house 18 years, I never had a meeting to discuss those bus stops.

So I understand, and I look forward to seeing you at both of those meetings, and you will have the dates uh probably today.

Thank you.

Thank you, Member Miller.

The next caller is the next caller is William Davis.

Mr.

William M.

Davis, you have two minutes.

Good morning.

Can I be heard?

Yes, sir.

Okay, I'd like to start off by saying I agree that the fact that the Cripple ATM machine should be regulated, and we need to more inform our our our residents about the potential ability that the fact that they could be buying something that's not has no value.

Uh also I think in general, we need to be doing more to educate our public about the fact that about being able to pass on property to uh do some of the stuff to Councilman Benson has been advocating for.

We need to make sure more of our dollars stay in our families and more of our dollars, more of our city dollars stay in the city of Detroit.

Far too often it appears as if too many of our dollars are going to other places that would not give the city of Detroit a dime.

Uh also I think we need to be doing a better.

We need to be better stewards of our resources that technically we still own and others control.

Uh, because I was in management.

I in fact, I used to manage the wastewater treatment plant, and we used to be able to know when storms was come.

We used to be prepared for it.

It appears now frequently that they're not putting as much preparation in coming storms.

It appears now that they don't care as much.

It appears now that we don't have our catch basins cleaned out as much.

It appears as if there's a whole lot more that we can and should be doing.

And uh thank you for your time.

Hopefully, you can encourage all the city of Detroit to come out and vote.

We need a stronger voter turnout than what we've been having.

Uh Detroit went because I'm older than all of y'all there, and Detroit used to have to determine who is going to win statewide elections, and we could do that again.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Davis.

The next caller is next caller is call in user two.

Call in user two.

You have two minutes.

Can I be heard?

Yes, you can be heard.

Thank you.

I am very disappointed that you guys will not do anything to make it more safer.

Like the Grand River Myers and downtown Detroit in front of 105 Washington Boulevard where drugs are allowed to be sold.

And nothing is done about it.

I'm very tired of having to bring the same thing over and over again and deal with arrogancy and hostile, ratchet, ghetto demeanor.

But everyone has to give accountability on the day of judgment.

Right in your six district foreigners are allowed to openly be racist and hostile to foundational black men and women able to have uh hats and things like that, tried on while having life and the different merchants don't do anything to protect the citizens.

You all should be doing a better job than that.

You are allowing law landlords to continue getting certificate of compliance when the buildings are falling apart, and that is the shame.

I'm very disappointed, but I'm not surprised the couch will be getting the vote in many cases.

In the fifth district, needs to be cleaned up.

No one should have to keep calling every week and telling what is going on in the sixth district, fifth district, fourth district.

This is ridiculous.

Have a pleasant.

Thank you, Ms.

Shay.

The next caller is the final caller is Cindy Darrow.

Good morning, Ms.

Darrell.

You have two minutes.

Yes.

Um I worry about the elections.

Um I don't trust our clerk, and I hope people we can get somebody who's confident and honest to run next time.

And and and a serious, I've run to try and promote approval voting, but I I was just trying to promote that idea.

But uh Mega has bought the Dominion Machines, and I think that's what we're using.

They also they bought it under uh Liberty Voting name, and then they bought most of the ESS machines around the country under different names.

And uh I don't I talked to Greg Mellar at uh the head of the Wayne County elections.

He thinks those machines are not accessible offline, but I I I've talked to Jan Van Durch, and she says they are, and I uh just worry about our elections being stolen, and maybe we are gonna need to have a some kind of a recount so we can actually look at the ballots and also make sure that people aren't putting in extra ballots or taking ballots out.

Uh they might uh there's been uh accusations that some of those absentee ballots are are not right, they're added, but I think in in 2016, Trump only won the state by 11,000 votes, and they uh had early voting at at Rosa Parks Transit Center and Patton, which is Hispanic, they they take those back to the election department every night.

They're put in uh one locked room with no cameras in the room, not double locks.

We've got to make sure our elections aren't stolen, or we're gonna not get good government.

Thank you, Miss Dara.

Was that our last call or Miss JC?

Yes, that's the end of public comment.

Thank you.

That does conclude public comment.

Now we will call our 1015 interview to order, and that will be Mr.

Ognan coming forward.

Mr.

Ogden, you can take either one of these middle three seats.

Once you do, you can um activate the microphone by hitting the base of it.

There's a button there, and it'll turn green.

And you can introduce yourself, tell us a little bit about yourself, sir, and good morning.

Good morning, and thank you, madam chair.

Uh, your honorable body, good morning.

My name is Steve Ogden.

I'm the senior vice president of government affairs for Bedrock.

Okay.

And why are you um willing or interested in serving in this capacity with the city of Detroit on the board?

Thank you, madam chair.

You know, the um I've been on the DDA board for a while now, and what I enjoy about the DDA board is it's got some flexibility, it's got some room to be creative, and this uh administration has a journey that they want to take through how to engage a bigger pot of recipients of the benefactors to be benefactors of the DDA.

We're constricted in some parts by state statute, but there are ways to be creative and and get resources all across the city, and I look forward to that challenge.

It's really gonna be exciting.

We've done a lot of things uh since I've been there.

I'm not taking credit for those things, but affordable housing funds and small business initiatives, all that come originate through the DEGC and subsequently the DDA.

So those are fun, exciting things, and um looking forward to tackling new challenges with this board.

Okay.

But what is the relationship between the DEGC and the DDA?

So I I uh thank you through the chair.

The the way I understand it is the DEGC is the umbrella entity, and uh under the DEGC is are a number of uh initiatives that are funded in part by the general fund and and by revenue generated by the DGC along with grants and sponsorships and contributions, and then within with under that umbrella are boards like the DDA, the Downtown Development Authority and the EDC, the Economic Development Corporation, and other entities like that that are focused, have a direct focus on specific areas like DDA focusing on the uh greater downtown area uh and EDC and and such.

So they all have boards, and so my understanding is that uh there's an appointment for the DEGC head that gets uh forwarded from the mayor's office and then blessed by the council, and that person runs the DEGC and all of its umbrella entities.

All righty, is there a motion for further discussion?

Because that was just a question.

Discussion.

Discussion.

Member Benson.

All right, thank you.

Uh Mr.

Roggan, thank you for uh raising your hand to serve the residents of Detroit.

Uh one of our public commenters spoke to your relationship as the government affairs officer for Bedrock and how Dan Gilbert made a very good call to place you in that position.

Let's talk about how that position can be an asset to the DDA.

Thank you, um, Member Benson.

Uh and I appreciate the comment.

The the fact of the matter is is that my experiences are uh wider than my 14 or 15 years with the family of companies in the bedrock rocket family of companies.

Um prior to that I ran small private nonprofit uh in Detroit that focused on uh strategic neighborhoods.

Um before that I had uh small, very small real estate development consulting business.

So I bring a lot of different experiences to DDA and projects.

So I have a vantage point today of sitting at uh at the seat of bedrock and seeing big projects, but I know what it's like for neighborhood scale developers and developments and how difficult development is in the city of Detroit just because of the the way the economics work, the the market uh uh is challenged, and so we need every initiative, every tool in the toolbox to be able to fill a gap for these small developers to be able to have successful projects, and that's what I see as my job at DDA is to be able to bring a perspective of it's not just the big guys that can take some risk.

The little guys take risks all every day, but they need these tools that the DDA has to help them be successful.

And speaking about the little guys and little gals, how can the DDA, which is typically seen as being a deal maker on a macro level, massive scale projects is where the DDA that's a sweet spot, understandable, but you also have hundreds of small businesses within your footprint.

How can the DDA play a bigger role to support our smaller business owners?

I'll give you an example of one.

Let's go with Hot SAMS, small retailer, been in the downtown footprint for close to 40 years now.

How can the DDA support small entrepreneurs within their footprint versus what people typically think are just your massive large-scale um businesses?

Yes, thank you, Member Benson.

The um there's a s a nuance about how that works, and what I mean by that is the DDA doesn't fund directly into small businesses as such as say a motor city match, for instance, but we can fund infrastructure and make improvements to um uh uh facades and such to make capital improvements to businesses to help draw uh and to entice uh new customers and and foot traffic.

Um but there are other entities within the umbrella of the DEGC that provides direct funding for operations of those small businesses.

So it's a slight distinction, but you are right.

There are so many other things that go on at the DDA level that don't get seen because the papers only talk about the flashy big projects, but there are small developers that are doing and medium scale developers uh that are doing really good work downtown in Paradise Valley and Midtown and uh greater downtown area that don't get the publicity that the large projects get in the papers.

All right, and one last item.

There are organizations like the Downtown Detroit Partnership that help fund a number of the activities in downtown that directly support some of our small businesses and large businesses.

You have your ambassadors, you have the cleanup.

What role does the DDA play in supporting, or maybe plays no role in supporting organizations like your downtown Detroit Partnership?

Well, actually, Member Benson, thank you for that question.

But in fact, that is, and I'm remiss in not recognizing that myself.

Uh, there is direct funding from DDA that funds uh, for instance, the business improvement zone.

Uh, the business improvement zone is where you find the ambassadors walking the uh campus markets in the downtown area, the footprint of the greater the DDP.

And um, those projects, along with the clean program, are funded in part by the DDA in the form of a grant.

Um I'm I chair that board, so I'm quite familiar, and that's why I say I'm remiss and not lifting that up myself, so my apologies.

But the DDA can play a role in clean and safe initiatives and ambassador programs downtown.

And those type of programs are crucial to your small businesses, very helpful to the large ones, but the small retailers who need that foot traffic, who need to ensure that we have a certain brand and I'll say Sheen on the downtown need those type of investments, and then when we look at that, people will often say, well, that doesn't represent us, and I'll disagree.

Businesses like Hot SAM's, businesses like table number two, who are black owned and have been doing business in the city for generations, they need that type of support and benefit from that type of support.

So I want to make sure that we're clear, and when we talk about sending representation to the DDA, that you keep that in mind as well.

We need to make sure that we keep our eyes on the little guys and little gals, as you said earlier, and continue to make investments into those type of properties.

Then as one last item, the biz which you spoke about was patterned after the biz, which was established by the Southwest Detroit Business Association, and they did this over 50 years ago, and it took a number of years to get a biz in downtown Detroit with Southwest Detroit, the business association have been a thriving biz for generations and led the city when it comes to other people looking at how can we do business associations and biz throughout the city.

And so I just want to hold them up as a successful uh model, which has now grown just based on the resources that you all have in the DDA, which is huge, is is fantastic.

We just want to raise Southwest Detroit Business Association up as well for the work they did to establish the first biz in the city of Detroit.

Madam Chair, thank you, and Mr.

Ogden, thank you for raising your hands to serve the residents of Detroit.

Thank you.

And and excuse my manners, through the chair, I was addressing Member Benson, those comments, but I want to go through you to make sure that I wanted to address two quick things, Member Benson raised up.

Yes, and then uh Member Miller has a question as well.

Very good.

Uh so the the acknowledgement of Southwest, the the Biz process takes took a lot of iterations to get where it is today.

If you recall, it used to be called the BID business improvement district and and so forth.

But now, because of the success of South what Southwest did and what downtown Biz does today, we're able to spawn off the Rivertown bus.

Uh they have a now uh new biz that was authorized by this honorable body.

So that work continues, um, and they too are soliciting DDA for funding in their initial year.

Um and then I just wanted to really take that what you were saying about small businesses and the work of the ambassadors and the clean program.

Everyone takes really good care of their businesses.

I there are some outliers that don't.

But a lot of small businesses focus on their operations, right?

They don't have the resources to hire people to just do that.

So having somebody that uh cleans the sidewalks and picks up trash daily in front of their b businesses is a help that goes unrecognized, but is a really but is appreciated by the business owners.

So I so thank you for raising that.

But that is one example of where the biz is seems invisible until you uh don't have a biz and you have the need for that service.

I'm sorry, thank you.

No, thank you.

Uh member Miller.

Good chair.

Good morning, Mr.

Ogden.

How are you?

Thank you.

I only have one question.

I've seen your work.

I have uh seen you in a couple projects that I have been absolutely thrilled about, and I really have no problem with your appointment.

The only question that I would like to ask is what do you see as a DDA's biggest challenge over the next five years under our new administration?

There is a challenge, but I know we have a change and shift in gears.

What do you see?

Good.

Through the chair.

Uh thank you for that, Member Miller.

Um, that's a great question because there are gonna be some creative things that this administration wants to do with its focus on rise.

So uh a lot of these initiatives that will come forward um will take some um initiative and innovation, if you will, through the DDA to figure out how to support some of the programs that will come out of the administration and look forward to to that.

Um this mayor uh was elected with the most votes in the general election and the most percentage of votes uh ever in the in this in this fine great city.

So we have to make sure that those people that supported the mayor overwhelmingly have a shot at seeing investments as she's promised.

So those are some of the challenges that we look forward to to taking on and making sure that her vision is realized along with the support of this honorable body, of course.

Thank you.

I appreciate the answer.

Okay, thank you.

All right, um, is there a motion?

And is there anything else you want to because I don't have any questions?

They've covered my questions and and and so I don't have any questions of my own.

Um do you have anything you want to add, Mr.

Ogden before we um No, I'm I I just want to thank you for the opportunity to sit before you and I'm happy to as Miss Ward testified.

Um I'll go anywhere.

I'll talk to anyone anywhere about anything.

So um invite me and I'll show up uh to have conversations.

So yeah.

Yeah, I must um also agree that you you're very responsive.

Um whenever I've called you, you have always endeavored to call me back in a timely fashion.

So I appreciate that about you, and we've been able to, you know, um address some issues and we're looking forward to the PGA.

Hopefully, I know that has nothing to do with what we're talking about right, but it's kind of sort of so just turn your hat.

But I'm looking forward to you know, maybe some um uh convincing conversations with the PGA coordinators to not let this be the last year.

Thank you because that would be so sad.

I mean, it's beautiful over there now, and um it's brought such great attention, positive attention to the city and resources, and it's made a um uh great investment over there.

So I'm hoping this is not going to be the last PGA um through through Rocket.

I hope that's not it.

That's what I know is happening, but things can change.

Thank you.

Things can change with the right people at the table.

So um is there a motion?

Motion to send the form of the recommendation to approve.

Okay, there is a motion to send line item to formal with a recommendation for approval.

And um hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

And can we have a motion to also move line item 9.2, which is the um appropriate res or the proper resolution that is supposed to be attached to line item six?

Can we have a motion to loop also move line item 9.2 to formal?

Motion.

Okay, there's a motion to move also move line item 9.2, which is the resolution for the appointment of Mr.

Ogden.

Any objections?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

Thank you, Mr.

Ogden.

Have a great day.

You too, sir.

Thank you.

And thank you to my colleagues.

We are now um at line item seven.

This is the interview for Dr.

Latosha Patman to the Board of Review.

And I don't know if Mr.

Donwell also wants to join her because he's been sitting there for the entire morning.

Um you're welcome to join her at the table, Mr.

Mr.

Donwell.

You know you are.

Um, but good morning, Miss Patman.

Good morning.

And um, we do have your resume, and um, we do know you, and we are hoping um, you know, we know this is gonna be a great interview because you've been doing some amazing things in in um in this body of work since I've been on the council.

So um, Mr.

Donwell, again, you're welcome to have a seat next to Ms.

Pat Patman, but um that's that's your option.

Um if you could introduce yourself and if you can tell us a little bit about yourself and why you are interested in being reappointed to the board of review, Miss Patman.

And good morning.

Good morning, honorable body.

I am Latasha Patman.

I am councilwoman Mary's appointee to the Board of Review.

I've been on the board of review for about five years now.

My compassion is bringing hope to our community.

And there's nothing like the Hope Program.

So I believe I should be reappointed because hope is, and I think I'm a person that loves to see people thrive and have the opportunity to help others and to let them know that there is hope.

And my acronyms for hope is helping other people to excel.

And so that's why I believe I shall be reappointed.

And I enjoy what I do.

All righty.

Thank you so much.

And before we um defer to Mr.

Donwell, my colleagues, is there a motion for discussion or do you motion to discuss?

Okay, Member Benson, we'll start with you or Member Miller.

Okay, member through the chair.

Thanks for joining us, Dr.

Patman.

I will say I don't really have any questions, but when I saw your resume, the first word was hard working.

Thank you.

That is a true testament to who you are.

I'm being a resident here in Detroit for the majority of my whole life.

And uh coming into the capacity of being a community advocate, I have utilized uh at large Mary Warner's office through you.

And she often lend a helping hand to our residents who needed help with the hope applications who needed help in this on this um board of review because we know as we as our taxes shift and the um property values shift, there's a lot of confusion going on in City Detroit.

Yes, a lot of people felt like that the city was taking advantage of them, but through your office, you all were able to sit down, get those numbers right, and bring hope to the residents of Detroit.

And I just want to say thank you to Councilman Mary Waters for even having you as her appointment.

Uh truly, you are a blessing to everyone at large.

And you have served diligently, uh, especially in district five.

Many, many years, we relied on your office to to help our residents.

And I just want to say I look forward to you continue to serve in this capacity.

I see you got Mr.

Dunwell sitting beside you.

He is like the um big brother.

You want to make sure you're supported.

And Mr.

Dunwell, I I commend you for that.

You come here with every person from your office and you sit with them, and you also give words of um encouragement.

And it's a stand to have someone to sit next to you because this is gonna be a hot seat here.

It could be, and I see that people are nervous all the time, but I just want to say thank you again for joining us.

I have no questions on the force of the appointment, and we can move forward expeditiously in this matter.

Thank you.

All righty, Member Miller.

Any questions for Member Benson?

Yes, thank you.

Ms.

Patman, thank you for raising your hands again uh to serve the residents of Detroit, and then thank you for Mr.

Donwell, who I affectionately call the Godfather, as the hardest working man in property taxes.

And he is like a diamond.

Yes.

And a huge gem and a very valuable asset for the city of Detroit that should be protected.

And Mr.

Donwell should actually probably have a security detail around us.

It's based on the level of knowledge and what he has done and can do for the residents of Detroit.

And so that's just having him next to you speaks volumes by just having him next to you.

So the board of review, Unsung heroes do a lot of work.

There's a lot of work to be done in on that body and on that board.

Just talk about what you've done in the past and if there are any changes you'd like to see or what changes you all are bringing to the forefront from the board of review to better serve our residents.

Well, um, of course, it's an honor to work with Mr.

Donwell because um I think you know there's different departments, but I say I'm in one of the best departments in the city because we have the opportunity to work closely together.

Um, with the board of review over the you know the five years that I've been there, there has been um great you know rewarding things, but there has been some things that's been challenging.

Um, and one of the things that once we um as a board come together and with Mr.

Donwell um helping us, we're able to overcome some things that um that we as board members face.

Sometimes we're just not making decisions and hearing appeals, we're like um social workers, counselors, because we you know we hear the people's um situations and why they might be losing their homes.

So we get that support um Mr.

Donwell, because he always you know give us a you know, that that godfather talk and say um look at it this way, look at it that way.

So he encourages us.

Um you know, we have been doing training and different um things to keep our um certificates up, and some of us, you know, we have our MCATs and some um have additional credit um for their MCATs as well.

So other than that, um I think we're a good board team and I think that you know we're on a good path and the challenges we seem to always overcome okay thank you thank you um member Benson are there any of the questions from my colleagues, Mr.

Donwell is Donwell, did you want to um chime in?

Uh the thank you, Councilmember the Chair.

Uh I just want to share uh the the same sentiments is an honor to work with Ms.

Patman.

Uh you know, it is tough.

This is uh again customer through through the chair, the council member Benson, yes, it is a a unsung uh position uh with what has to be dealt with in terms of doing with the community, uh especially when you are constrained by the law in many times in how you have to make a decision.

Uh so being on the border review oftentimes cannot be an easy task.

Uh so the things that I just want to share with you today is that Ada, as again as certain requirements are being placed on the board, such as again now by the tax reform ordinance having to have a MCAT certification or those that choose to go higher in the process, uh making sure that you know the costs for those certifications and continuing it is covered.

Uh initially it was asked for some time ago to have those costs covered and initially um you know city council declined on providing that support.

Uh I'm just gonna I'm gonna be submitting a new uh request.

And we do have the uh funding, I believe, to now cover it in a manner that is respective of both uh meeting the requirements and uh providing that educational support to the board.

So you'll be getting a uh memo from me uh in the in the coming days because uh if we're gonna if the board is gonna be required to have those certifications, we gotta support them uh and and then not have that cost, you know, uh uh as a burden to them individually.

Okay, discussion?

Discussion.

Member Benson.

Yourself to Mr.

Donwell, are those costs not currently or those certifications currently not supported by the city?

And that is an unfunded mandate on the board members.

Uh so it it they have currently been covered by the office of the assessor as a matter of courtesy.

It's not a requirement that the officer assessor do that.

Uh and as Tom, let me interject here then.

Yes, sir.

So then is the answer to my question yes?

These are unfunded mandates.

Yes, sir.

Based on that ordinance.

Yes, sir.

That would either require an orders modification or a line item in the budget to ensure we remove that burden from the board of review members.

Yes, sir.

Through the chair, yes, sir.

Not even affirmative from both members from both the chair as well as the board members themselves.

Okay.

Thank you.

Okay.

Any other questions, Member Miller?

No, thank you.

Okay.

I don't have any other questions.

Thank you both for being here.

Is there a motion on line item um seven?

It's the reappointment of Dr.

Latocia Patman to the board of review.

I'm sorry, line item seven.

Line item seven.

Uh motion to for the reappointment uh to the board of review um motion on the motion.

Member Benson?

Through yourself into LPD.

I don't see a resolution.

This is a legislative function which would tell me that this is a resolution that needs to come from LPD.

And it is not, we don't see one.

Has one been drafted or is one in the works of being drafted, and I see Mr.

Donwell's raised his hand.

Um first, Mr.

King through LPD.

Through the chair, Edward King LPD.

The resolution has been drafted by Mr.

Donwell.

Okay.

And it has been forwarded to our offices, and it will be available for Tuesday's formal.

Okay.

Okay.

Mr.

Donwell.

Uh through the chair, just out of respect to the process, and that's why I was in addition to attending the the uh interviews.

I tried not to be presumptive on what the body is going to do.

So I just make sure it's prepared and let it follow and flow through the process and make it available at the proper time.

Discussion.

Discussion member Benson.

Um through yourself to LPD.

Now this is a procedural issue.

So we don't have a resolution to move forward to formal.

Or could we do something here today to move forward a as of now unseen but prepared resolution to formal as a placeholder so they can be reviewed and then approved or denied on Tuesday?

So we can handle this business before we go on recess.

Mr.

King?

Through the chair.

Um I suggest we handle the this as we do frequently when a resolution is not attached.

Just a motion from the chair or from the committee for LPD to draft the resolution and have it available will be proper.

We already do we didn't vote on the current motion.

I'll make that motion after this.

Okay.

All righty.

So the motion was to move um the reappointment of Dr.

Latosha Papman to the board review to formal with a recommendation for approval.

Is that correct?

And then now we are now discussing the appropriate resolution that will be attached, according to Mr.

King, although we I think Mr.

Donwell just said he has a resolution already prepared, but you're going to send it to LPD.

So is there a motion to now approve the appointment of Dr.

Patman, knowing that the appropriate resolution will be attached by Tuesday?

Is that is that the correct motion?

We may approve the motion to formal to move her recommendation.

Now we need to uh move the appropriate resolution be sent to formal as well.

Motion.

Okay.

Hearing no objections, that action will be taken.

Thank you so much, Mr.

Donwell and Dr.

Patman for being here.

Yes, Mr.

Donwell.

Well, one other quick thing before I go.

So and this has always been a question and thank you for uh the the previous interview with Mr.

Ogden.

Uh I'm actually teaching a class on abatements on October the 20th at the Hudson on the Hudson site.

So it's a case study that uh we're going to be inviting not just about 50 assessors but 50 other uh public officials from around the state to look at abatements and how the process works.

And it's also going to involve the DGC, uh bedrock and uh the office of the assessor in the presentations.

Would you make sure that that this honorable body will um get an invitation?

Absolutely.

Okay, because you can never know enough about abatements and tax incentives.

Discussion, madam.

Um discussion, member Benson.

Before we lose the Godfather, we don't often see the board of review at this table, but I think it would be remiss if we didn't just ask for a basic understanding, a elevator pitch on what the board of review does and why it's so important to educate our residents, and then when should they be applying for challenges to their property taxes in the current cycle.

I know there's a cycle coming up, but you could just educate us quickly, Mr.

Donwell, on what you all do when they should be applying for a to challenge in the future.

Mr.

Donwell.

Uh, through the chair, uh, Councilmember Benson.

The border review is a nine-member body appointed by city council to hear property tax appeal concerns on real and personal property and classification changes.

Uh the border review is required by state law to hear those appeals during the month of March.

In the city of Detroit, there is the option to file for the assessor's review from February 1st through the 22nd.

We always ask that the individual goes through that process even though they're not required.

It provides an opportunity for the office assessor to actually get an understanding of an error or mistake that could be changed, or if they're going to look to defend the value that they placed on it.

If a person's uh has gone through that process, again, it's not required.

Uh it is required though to come in front of the March Border Review if they intend to appeal residential or agricultural property to the Michigan Tax Tribunal.

Commercial and industrial is not required to come in front of the border review, but we recommend it for our smaller businesses because it is a cost to appeal their value to the Michigan Tax Tribunal.

So we look at every opportunity possible to uh provide opportunity through access and helping those that are challenged with their property taxes, but even more so, making sure that the value applied to a property is fair and equitable, and it is one of, if not the only chances that a person has to um appeal their assessment prior to taxation, because oftentimes there's very little that can be done after taxation is applied.

Discussion, Member Benson.

And then we have a growing agricultural urban ag community.

Is the assessor's office identifying property in the city as agriculture?

Uh so through the chair, uh Councilmember Benson, uh, an individual who actually owns a vacant lot that is utilizing that lot 50 percent or more for agricultural purposes can receive what's called a qualified ag exemption.

And it's not free of property taxes.

It just means they see the same benefit as a PRE, the school operating millage is removed.

So the up to 18 mills can be removed.

So for doing agricultural uh activity within the city of Detroit or any municipality where at least 50 percent or more of that property is being used for agricultural purposes, they can see the benefit of that tax exemption for the uh school operating millage only.

Is the Office of Sustainability aware of this opportunity?

They should be.

And so the there is some things that we're looking to do again through the church, Consumer Benson.

There's some things that we're looking to do in terms of communicating through multiple departments as an example.

Um, you know, we're going to be having a conversation with David Bell, who was the director of buildings and safety.

Personally, I believe that anyone small business, especially, that comes in for a permit, should be directed to talk to the DGC as it relates to any abatement opportunities prior to them beginning construction.

Um through the chair, Councilmember Miller brought my attention to a small business that's on Woodward just north of the boulevard, and uh in terms of what they're dealing with with property taxes, and um had they known what was available to them, could have helped offset the challenges that they may be facing.

So we're working through some steps to you know get information to them to see what we still can do, but we've got to get better about getting ahead of things, right?

And getting and educating our citizens and our businesses about opportunities that exist.

Um the abatement process is not just for downtown Detroit, it is for our city, and we have to make sure that our small businesses are aware of that.

Thank you, Mr.

Donwell.

Thank you all for what you do.

Okay, um, Mr.

John Well, this is interesting.

Um the businesses um on we'll just use Livernoy, for instance.

Um have high property tax bills.

And um a couple of them are struggling.

So would you be willing to have a like a virtual call with all of the businesses, not just on Livernoid, but just the ones that we can identify that are struggling with their property taxes and may not be aware of the discussion we just had and properly running their business and not listening to this.

Would you be amenable to that?

Because, you know, I continue to hear from businesses not just in District 2, but throughout the city who are struggling to pay their property taxes, and I think there um is another fee that they have to pay, it's called the drainage fee.

And um that exacerbates the problem with being able to pay the property taxes.

So maybe um during recess for myself, would you be amenable to that type of discussion if we would if my office would plan it?

Uh so through the chair, um, not to get ahead of the conversation that's going on now.

But again, um I have reached out and had conversations with the DGC because again, and and the business uh liaisons uh because we've got to wrap our arms around our small businesses, and we have to help correct whatever issues that may exist, and how we do that is getting all the stakeholders at the table that are decision makers or can assist in the process.

So, what we're doing is having a discussion to bring a kind of like a round table, right?

So it is the Office of the Assessor, the Board of Review, the uh the uh water department, the Wayne County Treasurer, the the city treasurer, Valerie Goalie, uh, and the DEGC and having a talk about taxes meeting uh with our small businesses.

And and so we're looking to do this actually sometime in August.

Okay.

So I will have I'll provide information to you by the end of the week uh on the outcome of our conversation.

But it's important.

We've got to do it now.

Okay, good chair.

Um member Miller.

Thank you for uh extending that question.

I just want to say thank you right now because we have been doing the work in District 5.

We continue to say small businesses come occupy our corridors, but in the same corridors, there are residents who own businesses who have been here struggling for years.

We have to fix the problem before we advance the situation, and it's a slap in the face to those residents that own those businesses and I want to say thank you for being the ear and coming out to our meetings and explaining about the various things you're talking about.

Um I'm excited to continue working with you, and he is always available to come, even at the last minute, because our residents are saying, are you gonna have this person there?

But our small businesses are it's like um it's the nucleus that keeps our neighborhoods going.

You can walk to these businesses.

You should we used to be able to go to dry cleaners and and go to different uh corner stores that have healthy food.

I look forward to some of those coming, but we have to uh help our small businesses.

I've been in contacts with you and the DEGC regarding those because where's the the financial resources?

We continue to flood Motor City Match, which is a great thing, but when we do not utilize that money, I've asked DEC when we bring the money back and we give it to another industry, it should continue to go for small businesses, and I've asked them how can we work this out to where we can have a fund that is strictly for small businesses?

So I continue to uh support your office.

This is like the most gratifying office because our neighbors and our residents and our business walk away, sometimes not always happy, but to see that we have a city that has empathy that understands their plight.

Most of these small businesses they put their whole life savings in there, their 401ks, their their children's legacy into these businesses, and then to come and you wonder how they've been here 30 years.

And I think our legacy program for honoring them, but we need the finances.

So when budget season come around, I am looking for that money to go into a pot.

I think um member uh uh Callaway, she mentioned about having uh some money going into for for housing.

I think it was housing repairs or money going back into when we get these lawsuits and we bring the money in.

Yeah, so we're gonna have a couple pots that we're gonna be looking to fill to help our residents.

And we I just want to say thank you for Mr.

Dunwell.

So we will be having that talk with those businesses in the DGC because this is is the Detroit downtown.

It's used to say downtown development, but now they got the Detroit on it.

So we're gonna work in for the Detroiters and bring it back to the neighborhoods because they need abatements as well.

I look forward to that.

Thank you.

Absolutely.

Yep, and you're talking about the motor city case with um Mr.

Stalworth, and you know, once they collect, and then they um the city receives so much, and we had had the discussion at this table regarding where those funds would go, and it was my recommendation, which I believe you supported that they go into a pool that will help folks um repair their homes and not just go into the general funding, then we can't trace or track it.

So that was um my recommendation, and I know it was supported by you, so we we are still working on that, and thank you so much, um, member Miller, for even bringing that up.

But we want some of the same kind of experiences that district five is having in district two, and we need some of all that happiness.

She's talking about her business walk.

My my business owners are not walking away happy.

So we want that happy feeling, Mr.

Downwell.

So we'll talk later, but whatever she's doing in district two, we want to kind of do it in district five because we want that same happy feeling.

Okay.

All righty.

So anything else for Mr.

Donwell or for Dr.

Patman, it's been wonderful seeing you both here.

Anything else?

All right.

Well, the motions have been made, they've been moved.

And thank you, Mr.

Donwell.

Thank you.

Thank you, Dr.

Patman.

All right, thank you you all so much.

Now we are on um line item eight, unfinished business status of council member Benson's memorandum relative to an ordinance regulation of crypto ATM machines.

Member Benson.

And thank you.

Motion to discuss motion to discuss.

Law department, you want to introduce yourself?

Good morning.

Uh, to this honorable body, D.

Hill Law Department through the chair to Councilmember Benson.

Uh, what's the status of the ordinance?

So I have spoken to the drafter, they are actively working on this matter.

Um, and they will like for me to ask you to bring this back after recess.

So just after recess TVD, do they have a date that they think it could be prepared for socialization to this body?

I do not have a date to offer you, and I do not want to offer any speculation.

I just know that they are actively working on this.

What's your suggestion here on a date bring back after recess?

Okay, that's not a date.

How about Member Benson?

Motion to bring back this line item on the September 17th.

Perfect.

Thank you.

Any objections?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

It'll be back at this um line item will be brought back on the 17th.

Is that correct?

Okay, great.

Looking forward to the report, looking forward to the ordinance.

Um, member Benson, good work again.

Line item 8.2 status of council member Denzel McCampbell submitting a memorandum relative to request for legal opinion regarding sharing of administrative responses.

Is there a motion for discussion?

Motion LPD and or law.

What's the status report on this?

If you can introduce yourself for the record, Phil Keller, LPD to the chair.

And it's also the placeholder for it is line item 9.10.

So should we um be combining line item 8.2 and line item night um 9.10?

Is this a receive and file?

Yes, they can both be combined and received and file.

Okay, is there a motion to combine line item 8.2 with line item 9.10 as a receive and file?

Motion.

Any objections?

That action shall be taken.

Thank you, Mr.

Keller.

All right.

We are now at line item 8.3.

Status of Office of Contracting and Procurement, contract number 6007 905.

This is 100% city funding to provide um legal representation for the city of Detroit for Shermita, Kilpatrick, and associates in Auburn Hills.

Contract period through June 2027 upon council approval.

The amount is $15,000.

Is there a motion for discussion?

Motion.

Thank you, Member Benson.

I asked that this uh matter be brought back.

None of my questions were answered.

None.

So is there a motion to bring this line item back?

Date to be determined.

Uh motion.

Madam Chair.

Yes.

Oh we have Leonard Jones from OCP.

Okay.

Um do we need to, Madam Parliamentary?

We never took any action on his motion, so it's still live on the table, and I can proceed with this discussion.

Um is there a motion for discussion so we can Mr.

Is it Mr.

Jones or Mr.

Leonard?

Yes, Mr.

Jones, through the chair.

Good morning, Mr.

Good morning, Mr.

Jones.

What can you tell us about line item 8.3?

Well, uh, outside of my no one of the questions was um why was it not um bidded out and the legal services are not bidded out um according to the uh the Detroit code, the code of ordinance and also the charter where uh corporate counsel uh have the ability to be able to select special counsel without a competitive uh procurement process.

So that was one of the questions I think was on the table.

And um so I'm basically you know answering that question, but if there's any other questions I can answer outside of operational need for this um legal service and the reason why it's only 15,000.

I think that was the that was a question as well that was posed why only 15,000 or so many hours at 425 dollars um per hour for the legal services.

I cannot answer that question and have to defer that to the law department.

Thank you, Mr.

Jones.

Um I see the law department with your hand raised, ma'am.

You want to introduce yourself again?

Law department dehill uh to the chair.

So this is a firm, and I do want to say thank you for giving us the time to identify a response.

This is a firm that represents numerous municipalities on similar matters.

It is also a minority-based firm that is in fact the same firm that we was utilized on the Leland Hotel matter, and we have previously uh they have previously represented the city in similar matters as well.

What matter um what matter are they representing us at 425 um dollars an hour in this matter?

Line item 8.3.

Specifically bankruptcy pardon me, bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy.

Um you're talking about the city's bankruptcy.

I I know it's a bankruptcy matter.

Um, is it in is it written regards to the current bankruptcy situation they have going on?

Okay, so we is there a motion to bring this back after recess?

Actually, I'm so sorry, don't mean to interrupt you.

Uh chair.

Um, is it possible uh that we can I have some limited information in regards to this matter?

Is it possible that if we bring it um to formal on Tuesday, I can have somebody that will be able to give you further details at that time?

No, ma'am.

Um, no ma'am.

Is there a motion to bring this back?

Thank you so much, but no, ma'am.

I asked these questions a week ago, and they didn't get answered, and now we are wanting to uh it's fifteen thousand dollars, so nobody's going to um uh lose any sleep over fifteen thousand dollars.

And my question should have been answered a week ago.

So, no, it's nothing you you've done amazing, and you continue to do amazing, but no, this these questions that I asked very basic and they never got answered.

So is there a motion to bring this back after um after recess?

Motion is on the table, madam chair.

Okay, there's a motion to bring line item 8.3 back after recess.

Any um any objection?

Yeah, that action shall be taken.

Thank you all so much.

Discussion, madam chair.

Um, member Benson.

I see we've been joined by somebody else we rarely see in this committee, and that is the director of D Dodd.

Can we find out what his business is before this body today?

Absolutely.

Mr.

Kramer, I don't see you.

Oh, Mr.

Kramer, okay.

I you you're sitting next to Mr.

Keller.

Okay.

Um, yes.

Um, what line item?

And thank you, Member Benson, and thank you.

We we are not going to keep you here any longer than um we need to keep you here.

So let's move to that line item.

What line item is that regarding through the chair, it's the next item.

Oh, okay.

So good.

There we go.

There we go.

Thank you, Member Benson.

All righty.

Um so we are now at line item 8.4 status of law department settlement in the lawsuit of Robert Gross versus Brenda Weavington and the City of Detroit.

Case number 24-01.

5738-N is a nasty I is in IGLU.

File number L is in Love 24-01399, CB A2000, Department of Transportation, and the amount of 450,000 dollars in full payment for any and all claims Robert Gross may have against the city and any other city of Detroit employees by reason of alleged injuries, which were a stay which were sustained on January 20th, 2024.

We do have the um director of D Dot here.

Is there a motion for discussion?

Motion.

Okay, thank you, Member Benson.

Mr.

Kramer, if you want to, you can come forward or you can you know keep your seat where where you are.

It's up to you.

Okay.

Thank you, Mr.

Kramer.

When you take your seat, if you press the button at the base of that microphone, it'll turn green.

And you can just tell us what line item 8.4 is all about, sir.

Good morning through the chair.

Do you want to turn it on?

As much as you can tell us.

An invitation to come to the table.

Yep.

Um, just I I believe the some of the details here related to the fact my understanding, and this is law department item, but based on my understanding, in this case, the video footage was incomplete or unavailable related to, and that was uh a factor in trying to determine exactly what happened in this case.

So I did want to give just a brief update.

Um, as the council has awarded a contract to replace and modernize the camera system.

That right now we're almost exactly halfway through installing those cameras.

So 139 uh buses have had the new camera system installed.

By the end of August, the entire fleet will have the new cameras installed.

It doesn't mean uh the the um in the process, the old system is still working, and generally speaking, we have seen good reliability.

In this case, obviously, they weren't available.

Uh the new system has in some cases more cameras, uh higher resolution, and the way that the hard drives are set up is that the footage will uh be available longer uh if it's not requested.

If you request the video and it's downloaded, then we save it.

It's not a problem.

But in some cases, if there is a request that's after the fact, again, not sure if that was exactly the case in this case, but in some cases, if the request is uh farther in the future and no one has flagged that incident for whatever reason, the footage may not be available.

So the new system has higher resolution cameras and uh a longer storage before it's overwritten as well, and like I said, by the end of August, new system will be fully installed.

That's great.

Um Mr.

Kramer, thank you so all for being responsive.

You you definitely call you you call right back and you you you handle it.

I I I uh I'm just pleased with um the the services that you that you offer us and and your team.

So I don't have any complaints, but you know it's always D Dot and DPD that we have to settle lawsuits.

I gotta say that it's no fault of your own though.

Um but um uh how many buses do we have in the fleet, including the electric?

Uh our fleet right now is about 288 buses.

Uh we have four of them that are all electric, and those just uh um the the new all electrics just launched into service in the last two weeks.

They actually have new cameras on them.

Um but that's the fleet uh 45 are hybrids, the four electric, the rest are diesel.

Uh we do have funding that's been uh earmarked for the next 80 replacements will be converting from diesel to a diesel electric hybrid, and that that'll be over the next 18 to 24 months to see those replacing the oldest buses in the fleet.

Yeah, and and what happens to the old buses from the fleet?

Yeah, great question through the chair.

So uh generally speaking, they're auctioned.

If they are in uh really good shape, then we could put them in a contingency fleet.

This is a Federal Transit Administration thing where you can't use them for service, but they could be available if you had a major crash of a newer bus uh for the 2012s, which is what we just replaced.

We have auctioned all of those, and then we're able to take those uh the dollars we get from the auction, can be reinvested in a future FTA grant if they approve because the FTA paid for them in the first place.

So that's the system of uh another question.

What are the sizes, the lengths of the different buses that we have on our fleet from the the longest to the shortest?

What are the the majority of the buses are 40 feet long?

That's kind of the standard.

That's the same size Smart N Arbor and uh Lansing use.

We do have a handful of the articulated buses, those are 60 feet long.

They have to be the ones with the center that combines two.

Libendy bus extra door on the side, 60 feet long.

Yeah, so two of the four electrics are articulated, and then I I believe we've got about 10 uh others uh of older models that are articulated as well.

We try to be strategic about those on busier routes.

Okay.

Thank you.

And um I guess you're gonna tell us about 450, the 400, not the amount, the settlement amount, but um what happened in this case where we don't have any cameras for law to look at or any cameras for D dot to look at?

They just weren't working, or you don't know.

I don't know specifically, but the the basic two things that could have happened here would be either by the time the request came in to say something happened on this date and and video had not already been pulled, by that time it could be overwritten.

So basically it's like a big hard drive, and as time goes by, eventually you get back to the end the beginning of the tape and start writing again, or there is a there is a uh case uh where but we uh generally haven't seen it or for some reason the the system could not have been uh functioning.

Yeah.

How long does the tape remain on the reel before I mean not on the reel, but how long is this how long is the tape made available and then it starts to rotate?

It uh it depends.

It can be as it could be as short as with the current system, it can be as short as a week, but it really is only recording over when the bus is in service.

So, for example, if the bus were pulled off the road for preventive maintenance and wasn't running for a few days, obviously it's gonna be there's a little bit more time before it would be overwritten.

The new system, um the new system would allow that to be weeks generally as a minimum.

Uh but again, it really depends on how often the bus is used.

Okay.

Well, we don't know if the bus the um the lights, I'm sorry, the cameras operating at the time would have um prevented this, but um this is 450,000.

Do my colleagues have any questions that they'd like to ask Mr.

Kramer regarding this particular line item 8.4?

Okay, if not, is there discussion, Member Benson?

One last item on this, and so looking at the the plaintiff who allegedly ran the lights, there's no way to determine if that was accurate, and so this is a 450,000 dollar settlement just based on uh say hearsay, but it's it's one person's um uh witness against another person's witness, and we're obviously going with the half million dollars.

Again, can't speak on behalf of the law and the settlement litigation process, but generally speaking, just like any car crash.

If there's two vehicles that collide, it's witness statements.

If there's no video, then witness access police police report really are the best uh uh data points you can use.

Any further discussion on line item 8.4 is there a motion recommendation to approval.

There's a motion to send line item 8.4 to formal with a recommendation for approval.

Any objections?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

Mr.

Kramer, thank you so much for joining us.

Line item 8.5 status of council member Angela Callaway submitting a memoranda relative to request for resolution in support of Senate Bill 1035.

Is there a motion to uh receive and file motion?

There's a motion to receive line item eight point.

Mr.

Keller, you you want to say something uh yes to the chair.

I see the the actual resolution has been submitted, but it's not attached.

But um it should be moved to formal for approval.

Okay.

So um we didn't take any action on that motion.

Is there a motion to move discussion?

Uh member Callaway, uh, yesterday a lot of people joined your support for the deal.

And it was too late before I asked to consider.

Wouldn't you consider adding me to your absolutely you're added to it?

Absolutely.

So can we add member miller's name to the resolution before it comes before the council on Tuesday?

To the chair, yes, we can uh provide uh an amended version and uh move it forward uh as amended.

Okay, so we can move it forward right now to formal with the recommendation for approval as amended.

Okay, is there a motion?

I'll show you.

Madam Parliamentary?

It the um LBD said that it was amended.

They're going to amend it because we're adding member Miller's name to it, and by Tuesday, it will be amended.

Is that correct, LPD?

To the chair, yes, that's correct.

You're welcome, madam parliamentary.

So is there a motion to move line item 8.5 as amended to formal session with a recommendation for approval?

Motion.

That action shall be taken.

Thank you all so much.

Now we're under new business line item 9.

Mayor's office submitting a resolution for the appointment of Donna Givens Davidson to the Detroit Land Bank Authority beginning immediately and expiring 20.

I'm sorry, February 26, 2030.

Is there a motion for discussion?

Motion to discuss.

Member Benson.

Through yourself to LPD.

Why is this item back before us today?

Because we we've interviewed this person and approved her appointment weeks ago.

Through the chair.

Yes.

Yes.

Through the chair.

Good morning.

Good morning, Miss Sullivan.

9.1 is back on the agenda as well as 9.3 due to an error with the date on the term.

So this is just correcting that clerical error.

Okay.

So this was just need to correct something and get it back on the books.

Correct.

And thank you for that.

And since that time, I've had an opportunity to speak with uh some of my colleagues as well as see some of the uh quotes from this person in the press regarding members of this body.

I'm gonna make a recommendation to deny this based on those quotes and what I believe to be a lack of judgment when it comes to members of this body, no level of disrespect.

So I am going to make a motion to deny line item 9.1 and move that to be sent to formal on 8th September of this year any objection?

That's your motion.

That's my motion.

Any any objections?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken on line item 9.1.

Thank you.

Thank you, Member Benson.

Line item 9.2 submitting a resolution authorizing the reappointment of Stephen Ogden.

We've already done that earlier this morning.

No action needs to be taken on line item 9.2.

We are now at 9.3.

Appointment of Raymond Lozano.

We've just heard from Ms.

Sullivan regarding why it is back on our agenda.

Is there a motion for discussion?

Motion.

Um I'm gonna ask LPD this question.

Um it's saying that we have interviewed this appointment.

This this individual, I'm not remembering that we did.

We possibly could have, but it's regarding the um uh appointment of Raymond Lozano.

Are we just scheduling the interview?

Because I don't remember in interviewing him, and then so where are we with this one?

Yes, miss Sullivan through the chair.

This person was interviewed and approved by this body, and it is the same uh issue, clerical issue.

We are just getting corrected on the books.

It's just that the term was the wrong term.

It was a for two years.

Correct.

Okay.

So is there a motion to move this um forward to um formal with the recommendation for approval?

Just noting it's just when it came before us before it was for two years when it should have been for four.

So is there a motion just to move this to formal with a recommendation for approval?

Motion.

Okay.

Any objection?

That action shall be taken.

And that um error was not on the part of this body, it was um on the part of the administration.

Now we are in line item 9.4, the law department submitting a report and proposed ordinance to amend chapter 12 of the 2019 Detroit City Code Community Development Article 2.

Before I read all of this, I'm going to um ask for discussion.

Motion.

Um member, I'm sorry, Mr.

King from LPD.

Madam Chair, the this item, this ordinance amendment was drafted by the legislative policy division.

And we we we would ask that it be forwarded to the law department for approval as to form.

Okay, is there a motion to move line item 9.4 to law with um asking for the motion um ask?

I'm sorry, is there a motion to move line item 9.4 to law for them to look at review as to form?

Approve as to form.

Approve approve as to form.

Motion with discussion.

Member Benson, discussion?

Um, through through you to my both of my colleagues.

Just want to make sure this is what we want to do.

Um, we are now inserting ourselves directly into the writing of their rules.

Have we had a chance to talk to them about that?

So I just want to make sure that we go into this with eyes wide open.

Member Benson, is there a motion to perhaps um delay moving this forward until we've had these discussions here at the table?

Is we can bring it back after recess.

There's not a um, I don't believe there's a sense of urgency attached to this particular proposed ordinance.

If it is, some just let me know and we can move.

But if not, I'd like to uh take up a motion to bring it back after recess.

Thank you, madam chair.

And I just want to say I don't have a to me, I don't have a dog in this fight.

We don't have a CAC in the third district.

I know there are others that do, and they are more passionate about this, but I do just want to raise that as an issue to make sure we're going into this eyes wide open.

We've had these type of engagements with other bodies, which didn't turn out well.

And so I just want to make sure we are eyes wide open.

These things can once people say, Well, you're doing this and just I want to make sure eyes wide open here as we move forward.

And I don't have a dog in the fight, but I just want to bring this up.

Through the chair.

Um, member Miller.

I believe this is reflective of uh member McCampbell's acts that he's been waiting for for a many months.

I have only one portion regarding the grant funding portion, which I have a meeting with law today regarding answering my one question.

LPD's already answered it, and uh we are taking it to law on that one portion to get uh their final approval to move forward of whether you can or cannot, which they've already said we have to follow the city's procedures when it comes to receiving grants, and that has been conveyed with uh chair of the CAC for five.

So regarding this, I do believe we should move forward, but I like to bring it back in one week after discussing with uh member McCamber.

So I believe um if we bring it back in one week, we'll be on recess.

So what um perhaps um could happen is we can still move this forward because it has to go to the law department for them to approve as to form.

So it still hasn't even made us away, it's not gonna make its way back to us, it's going to go to the law department, and we don't know how long it's gonna take them to review it and approve it as to form.

So is there a motion to at least have it continue to move through the process, which is gonna make its way to the law department at this stage?

Is there a motion for that?

I'm okay with that.

Okay, any objections to that?

Okay, so motion motion to move line item 9.4.

Um, we know it has to go to the law department so they can review it and approve it as to form.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Discussion, madam chair.

Discussion member Benson.

I'm gonna strongly urge the council members who have a dog in this fight to contact and speak amongst themselves to ensure that they're having the conversations with the CACs to make sure that they deconflict prior to it coming back to this body.

Strongly urged.

Okay.

Thank you, Member Benson.

Hopefully, um, those persons who would be impacted by this ordinance proposed ordinance change.

Um heard your um advice.

Thank you so much, sir.

Line item 9.5 submitting resolution.

Yes.

Madam Clerk.

For a point of clarity, you referred it to law for approve as form.

It's not moving anywhere, like it's it's not coming back.

I I don't it has to go to the law department, and maybe uh Mr.

King can chime in, but my understanding of the process is it moves from here to the law department for them for it to rest there until they do their review of the proposed ordinance, and it will be to approved as to form or not, but it has to move from here today somewhere, and it has we're moving it over to the law department for their for them to review the proposed ordinance and approve as to form.

So that's the action if I'm not mistaken.

Mr.

King.

Uh Madam Chair, you are correct.

However, to make it easier, we could bring this item back after recess just as a placeholder, and at that time law will let you know the status of it.

Okay.

So is there a motion to bring line item um 9.4 back after recess?

Or okay.

There's a motion to bring line item 9.4 back after recess.

Thank you.

No, thank you, madam clerk.

Then, madam chair, we did bring we did make the motion to refer this to law department.

Absolutely.

Okay, that was approved.

Okay.

Absolutely.

Thank you.

Review as and then approve as to form or not.

Um, thank you, Member Benson.

We are now um on line item 9.5, if I'm not mistaken.

This is in settlement lawsuit of Chester Adams versus the City of Detroit, Department of Public Works, 24,900 in full payment for any claims this individual may have against the city.

Is there a motion?

Motion to send a formal recommendation to approve.

There's a motion to send line item 9.5 to formal with a recommendation for approval.

Any objections?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

Line item 9.6, settlement in the lawsuit of Quick Trans LLC, John Davenport for versus the City of Detroit, the Department of Transportation and the amount of $3,500 in full payment.

Case number $4-011863-NI file number L24-01262 C B A 2000.

Is there a motion?

Motion is in the formal recommendation to approve.

There's a motion to send line item 9.6 to formal with a recommendation for approval.

Approval.

Any objections?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

Discussion member Benson.

It looks like it could be 3.5 million.

Just want to make sure that we clear that up and remove one of those zeros through the through the chair.

I will clear that up.

I will I will uh amend that for you for a formal.

Thank you.

Okay.

Just making sure I understand it is $3,500.

Is that correct?

Through the chair.

Yes.

I don't um for point of clarity.

These are put in East Cribe by the department.

Okay.

Okay.

So if it is $3.5 million and we're approving, I know we're gonna have some discussions at the table.

But if it's discussion, Member Benson.

It does say $3,500 in the underlying documentation.

If you want to make sure that the line item is correct, and I will correct that.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Claire.

You're welcome.

Thank you, Member Benson.

Um there's been a motion to move line item 9.6 to formal with a recommendation for approval, and there were no objections that action was taken.

Line item 9.7 settlement of lawsuit of Lester Macklin versus the City of Detroit General Services Department for $145,000.

Case number WC 1153, file number 15138, CMA47000, again in the amount of 145,000 dollars.

This is a workers' comp case.

Is there a motion?

Motion send a formal recommendation to approve.

There's a motion to send line item 9.7 to formal with a recommendation for approval.

Any objections?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

Line item.

This is the office of the city clerk.

Line item 9.8 submitting a resolution authorizing the petition of Detroit City.

FC City Youth Number 2026-144 requesting this honorable body and a resolution in support of a charitable gaming license to conduct a raffle in conduct in conjunction with their 11th annual DC FC golf outing presented by Motor City Casino.

The raffle will take place on August 26th at Rouge Park Golf Course, located at 11701 Burt Road.

Is there a motion?

Motion is in a formal recommendation to approve.

There's a motion to send line item 9.8 to formal with a recommendation for approval.

Any objections?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

Line item 9.7.

We are office of the inspector general 99.

Line item 99, submitting a report relative to the uh Office of Inspector General quarterly report for the second quarter of 2026, pursuant to section 7.5-306, subsection two of the 2012 Charter of the City of Detroit.

Is there a motion for discussion?

Motion send the formal.

Okay.

Motion to um send to form formal.

Recommendation to approval.

With a recommendation, but I have a question.

Um is there a motion for discussion discussion?

Uh isn't this a receive and file?

Because we've already received the report.

He was supposed to, we were gonna call him to to appear, but we have the report before.

So is this really a motion for receive and file?

To the chair, that's correct.

Okay, so okay.

There's a motion to receive and file line item 9.9, which is the off from the office of the inspector general, their quarterly report for the second quarter.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Line item 9.9 will be sent to formal with a recommendation for approval.

Thank you, Mr.

Keller and Member Benson.

This is from the legislative policy division, not line item 9.10, submitting a report relative to placeholder regarding the request for the chair.

We're at 911.

We moved 9.10 with eight.

I sure did, didn't I?

That was earlier.

Thank you, madam clerk.

We did we did um address that one earlier.

We are now at line item 911, submitting a report relative to the authority of community advisory council CACs to pursue grant funding.

Is there a motion for discussion?

Motion.

Member Miller will defer to you.

I receive the documentation from the LPD regarding um the CAC receiving grants and being the fiduciary of it.

Uh we will be referred.

I have a meeting with law today to discuss the final issues so I have the proper documentation to share with the CAC itself in District 5.

Okay.

Thank you, Member Miller.

Mr.

King, through LPD, is there a report or are we just going to bring this back?

Because she's having a meeting with the appropriate individuals.

So what action should we be taken on 9 11?

Madam Chair, this item can be brought back or it can be received and filed.

I make a motion to bring it back once I receive the documentation from law.

Okay, bring it back when after recess.

Yes.

Okay.

There's a motion for member miller to bring line item 9.11 back after recess.

Any objections?

That action shall be taken.

Thank you, Member Miller.

We are now at line item 9.12.

Request to amend 2026-2027.

Official compensation schedule.

This recommendation is based on the department's concern.

This is human resources.

That compensation for these positions has fallen significantly below that of comparable roles in neighboring health departments, making it increasingly difficult to retain qualified um employees.

Motion.

There's a motion to bring line item 920 9.12 back after recess.

Any objections?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

We are now at miscellaneous 9.13.

Councilmember Letitia Johnson submitting a memorandum relative to an investigation into how Gaston Munols acquired their properties.

Is there a motion for discussion?

Motion to bring back with discussion.

It's the law.

Okay, so Member Benson for the discussion.

I'm going to defer to the law department.

Again, Deanna Hill, um, law department to the chair.

Can we please bring this back after recess?

Is there a motion to bring line item 9.14 back after recess?

There's a line, there's a motion to bring line item 9.13 back after recess.

Any objections?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

Line item 9.14.

Councilmember Renata Miller submitting a memoranda relative to feasibility analysis, safe and secure private restroom for north wing council offices equivalent to South Wing on the 13th floor.

Is there a motion for discussion?

Discussion.

Member Miller.

I am chair.

Yes, ma'am.

I'm gonna assume this has already been discussed before, considering I hear the laughter in the committee of the whole because I am on the other side of the building.

Yes, I have had um I've been filed to the bathroom.

I've been followed.

I've had members stand outside the bathroom, and I've asked them not to follow me in.

LPD, um, not LPD, I'm sorry, um EPU has witnesses as well.

And it's just unacceptable.

The safety, the secure private business you would like to handle.

I don't I can't do that in the bathroom.

And I know this building is old.

I I know it's probably doesn't have watery, but I wish we could figure it out.

And I'm looking forward to receiving something regarding it because there is nothing.

I don't know if we got to open from the upstairs, we can have to go below, but it is unacceptable.

So something that has this is not right.

So I would like to see what we can do.

The feasibility of getting this done to have a bathroom there, even when I am um in my office, I have to come all the way around past the auditorium.

Um, those that know me know that I have uh disability.

I retired on disability from Chrysler because of my leg and not to be personal, but um it's just not feasible for the issues of someone that has a disability.

Okay.

Um, I'm going to ask LPD to possibly chime in about the feasibility study.

Does that rest with your office or the law department?

What department should this um feasibility analysis be referred to if it hasn't already been?

To the chair, this is to LPD and uh the building authority.

So we're we're asking to bring it back after recess so we can work with the building authority to get a response.

Okay.

Is there a motion to bring line item 9.14 back after recess?

Motion.

Any objections?

That action shall be taken.

Thank you, Member Miller.

Um line item 9.15.

Councilmember Waters submitting a memorandum relative to request for ordinance admitting the tenants' rights commission.

Is there a motion for discussion?

Motion.

LPD, you have any information on line item 9.15.

Madam Chair, can we have this item brought back after recess, please?

Is there a motion to bring line item 9.15 back after recess?

Motion.

Any objections?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

We are now at members' report.

Member Benson, members report.

No report for Member Benson.

Member Miller.

I need to address an issue.

Discussion.

Discussion.

Member Miller.

Yes, ma'am.

I submitted a memorandum to the clerk's office, and I did not sit on the agenda today.

Would that go to the clerk or member Mr.

King?

Member Miller says she rescited submitted something to be on the agenda today and it's not on the agenda.

Madam Chair, that would be the clerk's office.

Okay.

So is there anyone on the clerk from the clerk's office who can um address member miller's concern?

Yes.

Is there anyone from the clerk's office who can address member miller's concerns?

Through the chair, I would um refer that may be speaking with Louise Jones or with Miss Cindy Golden.

Um being that I do work in the clerk's office and I am familiar with how the agenda works.

Um what I can say is that when we receive our agenda request, our they're placed and they're sent to out for approval, and I can't speak on what possibly happened or if anyone received any memo or so I don't want to speak out of turn, but I would defer to speak with um someone who approves the agenda.

Okay.

So Member Miller, would you have those discussions with the clerk outside of your members' report after we adjourn?

Yes.

Okay.

Member Miller's gonna have those discussions regarding her item that did not appear on the agenda.

Any other um members' report from you, Member Miller?

Yes, we are having a coffee hour on Friday Friday 24th from 9 to 11.

We will be at Anthrology Coffee at 1948 division.

1948 division uh coffee with the councilwoman Friday this on the 24th again at Anthrology Coffee, and next week on Wednesday is our um community meeting before recess.

We will be at the Hellamore Community Center at 81825 Dexter Avenue.

That's at the Hellenore Center for District 5.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um, Member Miller.

My member's report is please join me and the Department of Public Works for a community conversation regarding traffic and pedestrian safety at Schaefer and West 7 Mile Road.

It'll be tomorrow, July the 23rd from 5:30 to 7:30 at Greater Emanuel, Church of God in Christ, 19190 Schaefer Highway.

This is a very very important meeting for the community.

We have a lot of pedestrians getting hit over there.

We have cars going through the property at the corner of Schaefer and 7.

We need community participation and involvement.

That's tomorrow at 5 30 at the church.

Please join me and the human trafficking task force for our fourth annual stomping out human trafficking awareness rally.

It'll be at Palmer Park Saturday, July the 25th from 11 to 1.30.

Everyone is invited to come across the city.

It's a free event.

It'll be at the Banchell 1441 West 7 Mile Road.

The rally is free, and again, it starts at 11 a.m.

And you can call our office at 224 4535 for additional information.

And then lastly, July the 31st with my colleagues, um, Letitia Johnson and Member Waters will be hosting our annual micro and small business summit on Friday, July the 31st from 12 to 3 at Wayne County Community College Detroit Campus, um Detroit Northwest Campus at 8200 West Outer Drive.

Again, that is July the 31st from 12 to 3 p.m.

It is the micro and small business summit uh from 12 to 3 Northwest Activities.

I'm not the Northwest Activity Center, but Wayne County Community College, Northwest Campus.

And my colleagues and I have been doing this since we um joined the council in 2022.

This is our annual summit, and we assist um small and micro businesses to get the resources that they need and to get them attached to the city's resources and help them to become a vendor and a contractor with the city.

We go through all of that, and it is a um uh a summit that offers a ton of resources.

So everyone who's interested in starting or strengthening your small business, please be at the summit.

That is it for me.

Is there if there's nothing else to come before the committee?

Is there a motion to adjourn?

Madam Chair move your head yeah Mr Keller yes to the chair just uh informational item uh the the item that didn't appear on the agenda it was referred to committee yesterday it's an assignment for report to us so I just wanted to make sure um the the members know we have it we'll be working on it okay like read it out or something so they can know what it is Mr.

Keller he said miss keller mr keller ms member miller said do you want to read it out so people know what you're talking about sir do you mind taking a minute to the chair this is a request uh for legislative research uh for labor standards for city assisted development projects um okay all righty we'll say quickly um member miller the purpose of the memo going in is because last week we had a vote on 1728 and I voted against the project itself we talked about labor standards we talked about being proactive with our unions so I would like to see that become a standard we need a standard for how we're gonna support our unions how we're gonna support our uh youth in a trained academy so we can provide jobs for our um for our residents and not be prone to developers that wish not to pay a fair wage or to energize with our uh unions thank you thank you um thank you member miller if there's nothing else to come before this committee um is there a motion to adjourn motion there's a motion to adjourn without objection the action shall be taken you all have a great weekend thank you member mill