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Record of Proceedings

Detroit City Council Formal Session - September 15, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, September 15, 2026
BodyDetroit, Michigan
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, September 15, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:25:12

Original source
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0:01

This is the regular session of uh formal session for the city council, September 15th, 2026.

0:07

It will come to order.

0:08

Madam Clerk, will you please call the role?

0:11

Councilmember Scott Denson.

0:15

Councilmember Letitia Johnson present.

0:27

Customer Beneda Miller.

0:33

Councilman McGabbita Santiago Mero.

0:36

Member Santiago Romero sent a memo indicating that she would be tardy today.

0:43

Councilmember Mary Walters present.

0:47

Councilmember answer with Phil Colloway.

0:52

Councilbus Pro Tim Coleman A.

0:54

Young II.

0:55

Approach him young indicated that he would not be present today.

0:59

His absence is excused.

1:00

Excuse me.

1:01

Clerk was so no and council president James Tate.

1:04

Here you have a quantum present president.

1:06

Thank you so much.

1:07

We have corners means now in session.

1:10

Um we'll now begin the collection of public comment cards.

1:14

So if there's anyone who would like to provide a comment to this body, please raise your hand if you have not uh received a comment card, and someone will come by provide you that card uh to allow you to provide whatever comments you have to this body.

1:27

If you're online, the same thing.

1:29

Please raise your hand and we'll put you in the queue as well.

1:31

All right.

1:32

We will begin very shortly.

1:35

But before we begin the meeting meeting, we will now uh call for the invocation and providing this morning's invocation.

1:41

We have none other than Pastor Keenan R.

1:45

Knox, founder and senior pastor of Impact City Church, located at one two eight four four Elmdale in the City Council District 4.

1:55

Uh, Pastor Knox was ordained in 1998 and launched his ministry with just 22 people in the basement of a home.

2:03

Under his leadership, it has grown into a congregation of hundreds of members and expanding online community as well as a 52,000 square foot debt-free church facility.

2:16

His ministry extends well beyond Sunday morning.

2:19

His belief the church should be an anchor in the community has led to partnerships with Detroit schools and organizations focused on education, health, and neighborhood well-being.

2:30

That commitment includes supporting this year's uh St.

2:34

Jude praise radio thing, which raised more than 105,000 for children and families all across the metro area.

2:43

We thank you, uh Pastor Knox, for your uh nearly three decades of ministry and your continued commitment to the city of Detroit.

2:50

And the floor is yours.

2:51

Um, so you think we can uh begin this meeting as you shall.

2:55

Thank you again for joining us.

2:57

Thank you, sir.

2:57

We appreciate you so much.

2:59

Good morning, President Tate, President Pro Tim Young, your absence, and the members of the city council, especially our district representative, none other than um councilwoman Letitia Johnson.

3:12

Uh I'm so thankful to be here this morning.

3:14

The city carries a model that's older than everybody in this room.

3:18

It says, let me get it right, Spiramus Milona, resurgent cineb, which means we hope for better things.

3:27

It shall rise from the ashes.

3:30

And I love my city.

3:31

Detroit has never been a city that waited on better.

3:34

We always built better with our hands, with our families from the ashes.

3:40

More than once we've risen.

3:42

Jeremiah wrote to the people living in a hard city and told them, seek the peace of the city and pray unto the Lord for it.

3:49

For in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.

3:53

That means the work in this chamber is connected to every kitchen table in this city.

3:58

The peace of this room becomes the peace of somebody's living room.

4:01

So let me leave you with this one line this morning.

4:04

That every one of your constituents and every vote has a face.

4:08

Before it's a line item, it's a living room.

4:10

Before it's a zoning question, it's a child walking to school.

4:13

Before it's an energy debate, it's a grandmother sitting in the dark still after the storm.

4:19

So before it's a budget, it's a family deciding whether they can afford to stay in Detroit, and we want every family to stay in Detroit.

4:26

Our children walked back into classrooms in this city, and they don't know your names, but they'll grow up in the decisions that you make.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Comment█████████████████████████████29%
Procedural████████████████████20%
Public Engagement██████████10%
Blight███████7%
Public Safety██████6%
Human Trafficking████4%
Property Taxes███3%
Personnel Matters███3%
Zoning and Land Use███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Detroit City Council Formal Session - September 15, 2026

The Detroit City Council held its formal session on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, beginning with an invocation by Pastor Keenan R. Knox. The meeting featured a Spirit of Detroit Award presentation to Avalon Healing Center, followed by extensive public comment (14 in-person speakers and 18 online callers) and the consideration of numerous resolutions, ordinances, and committee reports. Key actions included approvals of appointments, a failed commercial facilities exemption certificate, and postponement of a zoning text amendment.

Special Presentation: Spirit of Detroit Award

  • Councilmember Angela Whitfield Callaway presented the Spirit of Detroit Award to Avalon Healing Center in recognition of its 20 years of service. Since opening in 2006, Avalon has provided free trauma-informed care to over 30,000 sexual assault survivors, operating seven clinic locations (mostly in Detroit) with a full-time staff of 43. Representatives Kimberly Hurst (founder/executive director), Amy Smith (director of healing services), Lavita Burris (senior director of development), and Jasmine Valentine (associate director of development) spoke about the center's growth and thanked the council for supporting a 2022 ordinance requiring informational placards in all Detroit hotels and motels regarding human trafficking.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • In-Person Speakers (14 total):

    • Mr. Tenney (Rosedale Park resident): described disability, recent home purchase, and issues with speed bumps and car break-ins on his block. Council staff promised follow-up.
    • Coach Dwayne Daniels (Detroit City FC): expressed strong support for adding soccer to the city's after-school "Goal Line Initiative," noting his organization provides culturally reflective programming across districts 3–6.
    • Michael Evans: urged the council to allow homeowners with funds to pay delinquent taxes even at the last minute, warning that foreclosure creates criminals.
    • Charles Miles: alleged the city misapplied his property tax payment years ago and that thousands of residents face similar issues, despite providing receipts to multiple council offices.
    • Mr. Morrow: criticized the city for allowing ex-offenders and non-citizens on the police force and described an officer who he claims assaulted him. He demanded accountability.
    • Gloria Cunningham: complained that crews hired to cut trees in her backyard damaged her property (digging holes, bent railing) and that the contractor took $500 from a neighbor without completing work. She has sought resolution for two years.
    • Jonathan Taylor (BS&A Property Maintenance Division employee): presented a new "DC Script Desk" – an AI-powered internal tool to help city staff quickly find customer service scripts and department contacts, improving resident interactions. He noted the script desk is still being tested.
    • Tanya Wells: cited biblical references and asked that 50 tenants stand with her to enforce certificate of compliance requirements for rental properties. She also questioned the water bill payment structure.
    • Josh Man: advocated for Detroit Farm and Cider to get more land, opposed automatic license plate readers (ALPRs), warned against overreliance on AI and digital currency, and urged caution on data centers.
    • Brother Cunningham: thanked Councilmember Johnson for help and praised Chief of Police Bettison for assisting him when he was homeless. He distributed bus passes and invited residents to D-around meetings.
    • Betty Lyons: complained about the city prioritizing illegal immigrants over Detroit residents and alleged that police harassed a citizen named Dante Smith.
    • Ms. Honey Global (Navajo Nation Corporation): stated that the city unlawfully charged taxes on property with zero taxable value, and that after 19 visits to the assessor's office over 1.5 years, they are seeking a refund. She reported that the county was willing to work with them, but the city assessor (Alvin Horn) wanted a meeting.
    • Kevin Key (District 4 resident, Crane Street): raised alley blight concerns, noting that city-owned land bank homes cause most obstruction and that homeowners bear the burden. He also questioned the proliferation of liquor stores despite a moratorium.
    • Dana Lunn: alleged that Detroit police officers Jeremy Forster and Daniel Chikowski assaulted him during an epileptic seizure in 1999, causing permanent injuries, and that neither the council nor the police department have provided answers.

  • Online Callers (18 total, several not heard due to technical issues):

    • Caller 169: thanked the council for helping Brother Cunningham and praised Chief Bettison.
    • Vanetta Mayberry: asked when reparations committee meetings will resume; reported paying $425 in taxes twice due to misapplication and seek refund; requested to be part of Martin Luther King Memorial Park renovation committee.
    • Betty A. Varner (president of Soda Ellsworth Block Association): praised Councilmember Callaway's coffee and conversation event and highlighted a formerly incarcerated entrepreneur who cuts hair and mentors youth.
    • Darren McCluskey: alleged the city is stealing equity by using right of first refusal and blight bundles, gave example of a 90-year-old man with riverfront land. He criticized the city's solar farm leases with DTE (35-year leases) and questioned Chief Bettison living in Farmington Hills.
    • Margaret Maddox: urged the council to make Detroit more accessible and to work together.
    • Rubinsky: made personal threats against Council President Tate, claiming his political career is over and that he did not investigate the assassination of Kinesha Coleman. President Tate later addressed the seriousness of threats against officials and their families.
    • Caller (unidentified, Samsung device): reported that her cousin's son was robbed at gunpoint while walking to the school bus. She called for action and suggested camera checks.
    • Tara Brown: raised a conflict-of-interest concern regarding Councilmember Coleman Young II's appointment of Jermaine Dickens (principal of Compass Strategies) to the East Riverfront Neighborhood Advisory Council, noting Dickens' firm lists Bedrock as a client. She requested public disclosure of appointment records and an ethics opinion.
    • Caller (unidentified): urged the council to require more city employees (especially police) to live in Detroit, and to explore ways to encourage retirees to move back. He noted his pension has not increased since 2012.
    • Frank Hammer: thanked Councilmembers Santiago Romero and Whitfield Callaway for endorsing Jocelyn Benson for governor and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed for U.S. Senate, and criticized other council members for staying silent, warning this could depress voter turnout.
    • Jadante Smith: expressed disappointment with Councilmember Renata Miller for a personal remark; supported Tara Brown's call for transparency on the neighborhood advisory council; praised the downzoning of Kronos from M4 to M2 but said SD2 would be better.
    • Tahira Ahmad (Coalition for Property Tax Justice): reported 2025 wins: helped 440 families with wraparound services, filed 252 tax appeals, exposed over-assessment of homes under $50,000, and mobilized over 600 Detroiters. Demanded full implementation of property tax reform, refunds, and removal of Assessor Alvin Horn.
    • Kyle Kindle (District 3, 20-year resident): criticized city's bending to DTE, supported Detroit Farm and Cider, and condemned years of city harassment against the farm's owner, L. King, who was nearly jailed for owning animals.
    • Bobby Johnson (Franklin Park resident): defended Councilmember Waters' right to talk to Mike Rogers and demanded that all candidates bring a specific Black agenda with measurable commitments on wealth, ownership, jobs, and education.

Discussion Items

  • Appointments and Resolutions (Budget, Finance & Audit; Internal Operations):

    • Approved line items 16.1–16.2 (two resolutions) and 22.2 (amended resolution).
    • Approved line items 17.2–17.12 (multiple appointments and resolutions) with waivers; 17.1 (Donna Givens Davison to Detroit Land Bank) was approved over Councilmember Benson's objection.
    • Line item 17.13 (new pay classification for chief assessor and associate director of appraisal) was discussed; after explanation from HR (Julie Pierce) that it realigns titles without a raise for the chief assessor, it was approved with one objection (McCampbell).
    • Line items 17.14–17.15 (appointments to Planning Commission and Property Assessment Board of Review) approved.

  • Zoning and Development (Planning & Economic Development):

    • 18.1 (14632 Mack Ave rezoning from PD to B4): Approved on third reading after being taken from the table. Roll call vote passed 7-0-1 (Young absent).
    • 18.2 (Commercial facilities exemption certificate for DoubleTree Hotel at 525 West Lafayette): Failed with 5 no votes (Johnson, Waters, Santiago Romero, McCampbell, Miller) and 3 yes.
    • 18.3 (Sixth general text amendment): Postponed for one week at the request of Councilmember Waters, with assurance from Planning Director Todd that there is no time sensitivity but time for community engagement.
    • 18.4 (Public hearing setting) and 18.5 (public hearing for Secondary Street Signs ordinance): 18.4 postponed one week; 18.5 approved.

  • Freeway Litter Cleanup Contracts (New Business):

    • Two contracts (#6008012 and #6008013) for freeway litter and debris cleanup were pulled from committee and approved due to time sensitivity (contracts expire Sept. 30). They are 100% blight-funded and will be reimbursed by the state. Council members noted these support minority-owned businesses and employ youth.

Key Outcomes

  • Approvals:

    • Spirit of Detroit Award presented.
    • Numerous appointments to boards and commissions (Land Bank, Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, Planning Commission, Property Assessment Board of Review).
    • Pay classification change for assessor's office (17.13) approved.
    • Rezoning of 14632 Mack Ave to B4 (18.1) passed on third reading.
    • Two freeway litter cleanup contracts approved.
    • Public hearing set for Secondary Street Signs ordinance (Oct. 23, 2026).
    • Testimonial resolutions (31.1–31.2) approved.

  • Failures/Postponements:

    • Commercial facilities exemption for DoubleTree Hotel (18.2) failed (5-3).
    • Sixth general text amendment (18.3) postponed one week.
    • Public hearing setting (18.4) postponed one week.

  • Referrals:

    • Two requests to speak before council (energy alternatives and anti-union/unfair labor practices) referred to the Law Department for analysis.
    • Various committee reports referred to standing committees as per agenda.

  • Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned without further business.

Meeting Transcript

This is the regular session of uh formal session for the city council, September 15th, 2026. It will come to order. Madam Clerk, will you please call the role? Councilmember Scott Denson. Councilmember Letitia Johnson present. Customer Beneda Miller. Councilman McGabbita Santiago Mero. Member Santiago Romero sent a memo indicating that she would be tardy today. Councilmember Mary Walters present. Councilmember answer with Phil Colloway. Councilbus Pro Tim Coleman A. Young II. Approach him young indicated that he would not be present today. His absence is excused. Excuse me. Clerk was so no and council president James Tate. Here you have a quantum present president. Thank you so much. We have corners means now in session. Um we'll now begin the collection of public comment cards. So if there's anyone who would like to provide a comment to this body, please raise your hand if you have not uh received a comment card, and someone will come by provide you that card uh to allow you to provide whatever comments you have to this body. If you're online, the same thing. Please raise your hand and we'll put you in the queue as well. All right. We will begin very shortly. But before we begin the meeting meeting, we will now uh call for the invocation and providing this morning's invocation. We have none other than Pastor Keenan R. Knox, founder and senior pastor of Impact City Church, located at one two eight four four Elmdale in the City Council District 4. Uh, Pastor Knox was ordained in 1998 and launched his ministry with just 22 people in the basement of a home. Under his leadership, it has grown into a congregation of hundreds of members and expanding online community as well as a 52,000 square foot debt-free church facility. His ministry extends well beyond Sunday morning. His belief the church should be an anchor in the community has led to partnerships with Detroit schools and organizations focused on education, health, and neighborhood well-being. That commitment includes supporting this year's uh St. Jude praise radio thing, which raised more than 105,000 for children and families all across the metro area. We thank you, uh Pastor Knox, for your uh nearly three decades of ministry and your continued commitment to the city of Detroit. And the floor is yours. Um, so you think we can uh begin this meeting as you shall. Thank you again for joining us. Thank you, sir. We appreciate you so much. Good morning, President Tate, President Pro Tim Young, your absence, and the members of the city council, especially our district representative, none other than um councilwoman Letitia Johnson. Uh I'm so thankful to be here this morning. The city carries a model that's older than everybody in this room. It says, let me get it right, Spiramus Milona, resurgent cineb, which means we hope for better things. It shall rise from the ashes. And I love my city. Detroit has never been a city that waited on better. We always built better with our hands, with our families from the ashes. More than once we've risen. Jeremiah wrote to the people living in a hard city and told them, seek the peace of the city and pray unto the Lord for it.

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