Detroit City Council Meeting - September 10, 2026

The Detroit City Council convened on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 4:00 PM. The meeting included public comments, discussion of unfinished business, introduction of new business, and member reports. Key topics included community advisory councils, water affordability, tornado recovery, and regulations for the NCAA Final Four.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of meeting minutes from previous session.
• Line item 5.1: Receiving and filing a memorandum relative to the Detroit Animal Control timeline and process review.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Ollie (District 5 resident): Quoted Malcolm X ("you can't have capitalism without racism") and questioned the Council's acceptance of a white supremacist society. Asked for expansion of Community Advisory Councils (CACs) to increase democratic participation, noting low voter turnout.
• William M. Davis: Recalled serving on citizen district councils in the 1980s, which had more power than current CACs. Advocated for expanding both citizen district councils and CACs. Praised Council President Pro Tempore Coleman Young II's father for supporting such councils. Also called for more bookmobiles and swimmobiles.
• Betty A. Barner (President, Soda Elsewhere Black Association): Promoted an upcoming coffee chat with Council Member Callaway on September 14 at Diva Community Park (451 Ellsworth). Asked for maintenance of vacant lots, support for a corridor with interested businesses, and funds for park improvements (picnic tables, benches, playground equipment). Celebrated a new local business owner renovating a building closed for 33 years.
• Cunningham: Shared personal experience of homelessness for 13 years and requested donations of a non-running vehicle, bus tickets, and support for his outreach (free fair Fridays). Cited assistance from Councilman Young's office.
• Cicely McCullum (We the People of Detroit): Raised concern about water affordability: the Detroit Lifeline H2O program is not accepting new enrollees and serves fewer than 5,000 residents; the Easy Pay program is difficult, with 40% of enrollees unable to maintain payments, leading to anticipated large-scale shutoffs. Urged the city to pass a water affordability ordinance for low-income residents. Also asked the Council to endorse state-level water affordability legislation (House Bills 4555, 5170-5173). Raised concerns about pension clawbacks and lack of cost-of-living adjustments post-bankruptcy.
• Legendary Detroiter: Criticized Council members, including James E. Tate Jr., alleging "we code charges," misuse of million-dollar budgets, and cheating. Referenced a solo mission from Detroit to Atlanta.
• Jadante Smith: Alleged a baseless cybercrime investigation against him initiated by Detroit Police Department (A.C. Sloan and A.C. Hayes) on July 30, 2026, after an informant lied. Filed a complaint July 31. Recommended A.C. Hayes for police chief. Asked Council Member Scott Benson for an update on "Chronos" and questioned a 100-year Maroon family contract with the Port Authority ($2.1 million with only interest paid). Called for audits of city departments, specifically the Detroit Land Bank ($100 million allocated with little output).
• Christopher Van Est (in-person): Inquired about the item from Council Member Waters regarding in-house media spending. Asked if there is a public-facing dashboard to track spending and why the switch is considered. Suggested in-house control could improve accountability.

Discussion Items

• Line item 5.2 (Memorandum on in-house media buying services): Council Member Keller requested one week to return with answers; after discussion, the item was postponed for two weeks to allow more time.
• Line item 5.3 (Contract 68013, Pain's Landscaping, $3,380,849.28 for freeway litter cleanup): Council President requested a two-week postponement; motion passed.
• Line item 5.4 (Contract 6812, Motor City Preservation, $3,264,086 for freeway litter cleanup): Motion to bring back in two weeks; passed.
• Line item 6.1 (Mayor's office petition for Dearborn/Detroit border tear-down event): Approved for formal session with recommendation for approval. Event set for September 19, 2026 (8 AM-12 PM setup, 3 PM-5 PM tear-down).
• Line item 6.2 (Introduction of ordinance regulating special event licenses and temporary use permits for NCAA Final Four): Graham Anderson (Law Department) explained the ordinance covers merchants, merchandise vendors, food/beverage, alcohol sales, signs, wireless facilities, and temporary structures. Current licenses unaffected; priority for Detroit-based businesses. Moved to formal session with recommendation for approval.
• Line item 6.3 (Accept and appropriate $400,000 state trust fund grant for Clemente Park Inclusive Play Area): From Michigan Department of Natural Resources to General Services Department. Moved to formal session with recommendation for approval.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes approved.
• Line 5.1: Received and filed.
• Line 5.2: Postponed for two weeks (return likely September 24).
• Lines 5.3 and 5.4: Postponed for two weeks.
• Line 6.1: Moved to formal session with recommendation for approval.
• Line 6.2: Moved to formal session with recommendation for approval.
• Line 6.3: Moved to formal session with recommendation for approval.

Member Reports

• Council Member Scott Benson (District 5): Invited residents to a morning mingle on Friday, September 11, from 9-11 AM at Sepia Coffee (12831 East Grand Boulevard). Community meeting set for Monday, September 28, from 6-8 PM at Bobian Place (521 Atwater Street) to discuss riverfront transformation.
• Council Member Renata Miller: Reported on tornado recovery in Island View (Jefferson to Mack Ave, Mont Elliot to Townsend). Power lines down, structures damaged. DTE restored power but some debris remained. Thanked Mayor for rapid response, GSD, DPW, and Axe Tree Trimming (local Detroit business) for clearing streets. Partnered with Field Street Block Club and Detroit Disaster Group to provide food. No casualties reported.