Detroit City Council Internal Operations Committee Meeting – September 9, 2026

The Detroit City Council's Internal Operations Committee met on September 9, 2026. Roll call showed Councilmember Angela Whitfield Callaway present, Councilmember Scott Benson excused, and Councilmember Renata Miller present, establishing quorum. Chair Callaway opened with a prayer against gun violence, referencing summer shootings, a five-year-old survivor, a Detroit Lions player who died by suicide, and no fatalities from a tornado in District 2. The minutes were approved without objection. The chair announced a one-minute public comment limit because of a heavy agenda with four or five interviews.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Adrian Tynes alleged the owner of a building on West Grand Boulevard was using “military grade technology” against residents, that some people who spoke out had died, and that police and the FBI had not acted. The chair arranged for a city representative to meet with her after the hearing.
• Mr. Cunningham, an honorary transit ambassador, said he provides bus tickets, water, and food to people in need but has been ordered off private lots/staging areas because he attracts homeless and poor individuals. The chair directed staff to obtain the lot location and talk with the business owners; she also offered him a badge/jacket.
• One caller made unsubstantiated accusations against Councilmember Callaway involving a 105-year-old voter, her daughter, and Wayne County deputies, and claimed federal authorities were coming.
• Betty A. Barner, president of the DeSoda Ellsworth Black Association, thanked Councilmember Callaway and announced a September 14 coffee-and-conversation event at Diva Community Park, while seeking donations for a “thinker corridor” and park.
• A caller said mowers working on the North End Landing project harassed her, used vulgar and racial slurs, and continued to mow over garbage; the chair asked for vehicle/license information.
• William M. Davis asked the city to stop assigning city vehicles to employees who live outside Detroit and cited an incident involving a city vehicle at a White Castle near I-96.
• A caller said Building and Safety is certifying inhabitable buildings and described dangerous elevators that stop 8 to 15 inches above floor level; she asked the city to prevent evictions of residents who complain to Council.
• A Detroit resident said grocery stores sell expired food and some stores limit bottle returns in violation of Michigan law; the chair provided the office number 224-4535 for follow-up.

Inspector General Quarterly Report

• The committee agreed to move the Inspector General presentation up on the agenda before the interviews.
• OIG staff, including manager of investigations and audits Beverly Murray and Deputy Inspector General Jennifer Bentley, presented the first- and second-quarter reports; the second-quarter report was published July 10, 2026.
• OIG statistics: Q1 had 143 complaints, 7 investigations initiated, and 11 prior investigations closed. Q2 had 66 new complaints; 37 were closed by informal referral, 1 by formal referral, 12 with no action; 3 investigations were initiated; 6 prior-quarter investigations were closed; 31 investigations remained pending.
• The OIG highlighted three closed investigations with no critical findings, including two complaints about city vehicles lingering at homes that could not be substantiated. OIG recommended GPS tracking improvements to DPW. In another matter, OIG stood down due to a conflict after the IG's mother-in-law was involved in a city bus incident; the driver was later fired for other acts. A contractor debarment case did not warrant debarment.
• Closed recommendations included HR agreeing to centralize employee records and formalize the ineligible-for-rehire list, and OCFO committing to monthly payroll/budget reconciliation and formal escalation of unresolved budget issues.
• Councilmembers expressed frustration that DPW and OCP had not responded to OIG recommendations for about six months. Chair Callaway called the non-responses “disrespectful” and “neglectful” and said the council would continue investigating abuse, waste, and fraud in city vehicle assignments.

Interviews and Appointments

• Stephanie Miller, nominated by Councilmember Miller for the City Planning Commission, described herself as a lifelong Detroiter and advocate for historic districts. The committee moved her appointment to formal session.
• Danielle January, nominated by Councilmember Benson for reappointment to the Board of Review, said she has served since 2023. Detroit property assessment review director Willie Donwell praised her work as “impeccable.” The committee moved her appointment to formal session.
• Brandon Lockhart, the mayor's nomination to the Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, discussed his economic development background and support for brownfield tools. The committee moved his appointment to formal session.
• Jason Friedman, the mayor's nomination to the Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, cited 20 years of brownfield experience and his current role with the Housing and Revitalization Department. The committee moved his appointment to formal session.

Legislative and Business Items

• Contract 6007905, a $15,000 legal representation contract with an Auburn Hills firm, was brought back in two weeks after Chair Callaway objected to sending city work outside Detroit.
• Items 11.1, 11.2, 11.4, 11.6, 11.7, 12.7, 12.15, 12.18, 12.19, 12.21, 12.22, 12.23, and 12.25 were brought back for additional work or responses, with two-week or three-week deadlines.
• Reports on community advisory council grant authority (11.3), the Gaston Munos property investigation (11.5, 12.11, 12.12), FTCA/ICE potential claims (12.13), topical relevance for public comment (12.14), Board of Police Commissioners oversight (12.17), conflict-of-interest standards for appointees (12.20), and the Board of Review reappointment memorandum (12.24) were received and filed.
• The committee approved settlements to formal session for: Virginia LaFour vs. Demolition Department ($150,000); Betty Jean Tobert Morton vs. DPD ($50,000); U.S. Rehabilitation and Health Services/Kevin Penn (amended to $18,000); Michael James Sharp vs. DPD ($8,500); Lewis Ruffin vs. Fire Department ($160,000); Michigan Basic Property Insurance Association ($7,000); Kevin Penn ($8,000); Central Home Care/Renard McCann vs. DOT ($100,000); and Geneva Goldsmith vs. DOT ($20,000).
• The settlement in Cherie Fair vs. Mary Lou Engelman was held for two weeks because it involved a city vehicle driven home outside Detroit while off duty.
• Item 12.15: HR requested consideration of a salary increase for the deputy director of Detroit Cable Communications Commission/media services. HR said the title is used for the deputy director of media services. LPD said no current Cable Communications Commission exists; the committee asked HR to align titles with actual positions and brought the item back in three weeks.
• Item 12.16: The committee approved moving to formal a compensation schedule amendment creating a chief assessor classification with a $114,000-$175,000 range and a new associate director of appraisal and valuation title. Assessor Alvin Horn said the change is housekeeping, with no new money or new positions.
• Item 12.18 on defining “Detroit-based business” was brought back in two weeks; Member Miller insisted the definition be handled quickly because it affects contract votes.
• Item 12.22 on a construction impact mitigation fund was brought back in two weeks. Member Miller cited businesses such as Table 2 in Greektown harmed by long-running construction. Chair Callaway noted DTE Energy reported about $1.46 billion in 2025 net income while paying no federal taxes for 12 years.

Members' Reports

• Member Miller invited District 5 residents to a coffee hour Friday, September 11, 9-11 a.m., at Sibia Coffee Cafe, 12831 East Grand Boulevard, and to the September 28 community meeting about the RENSAN development at Bobeyan Place, 521 Atwater Street.
• Chair Callaway announced a District 2 community cookout this Saturday from 12-3 p.m. at Palmer Park, with registration required; a September 14 coffee-and-conversation at DeSoto Ellsworth Park; a September 19 Detroit Women's Commission Resource Fair at the Northwest Activity Center; and the historic University of Detroit district home tour this Saturday via Eventbrite.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes were approved, and four appointments were moved to formal session.
• Nine settlements were moved to formal session with a recommendation for approval; one settlement was held for additional review.
• The OIG quarterly report was received; several recommendations remain open, with DPW and OCP responses overdue.
• Numerous items were received and filed or returned on two-week and three-week bring-backs, with formal session scheduled for the following Tuesday.
• Public comment follow-ups were coordinated for the West Grand Boulevard building complaint and the transit ambassador's access to lots.
• No roll-call votes were recorded; most actions were taken by unanimous no-objection motions.