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Record of Proceedings

Detroit City Council Neighborhood Community Services Committee Meeting - September 24, 2026

City Council — Thursday, September 24, 2026
BodyDetroit, Michigan
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, September 24, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 59:19

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:00

Second.

0:00

Here.

0:01

Councilmember Scott Benson.

0:04

Councilmember Renata Miller.

0:05

Here.

0:06

Mr.

0:06

Chair, you have a quorum.

0:08

Thank you, madam clerk.

0:10

Is there a motion to approve the minutes?

0:12

Motion be made.

0:14

Are there any objections?

0:16

Minutes will be approved.

0:18

Negative chair remarks.

0:19

You will now move on to public comment.

0:21

How many people do we have in the queue for public comment, Mr.

0:23

Bo?

0:25

Oh, wait, we got anybody in person, public.

0:27

Okay, we got Mr.

0:28

Foster.

0:28

I'm sorry, man.

0:29

Okay, so we're gonna do our uh number one uh in person public comment and then we'll do our virtual.

0:38

So uh Mr.

0:39

Foster, come on up, brother.

0:41

You got two minutes.

0:46

We don't have nobody else in the public, right?

0:49

Going once, going twice, going three times.

0:52

Done.

0:53

All right.

0:54

Go ahead, Ms.

0:54

Foster.

0:55

Uh good afternoon, sir.

0:57

Uh, through the chair.

0:58

A few things.

0:59

Uh, with neighborhood community service standard committee.

1:02

Uh a few questions as it pertains to our social media, uh data retention, um, potential uh reversing citizens' emails and personal information while they participate in events.

1:18

I would like to know about the DON's access to the information that they get while they're out and about and what do they do with those information?

1:27

I'm also advocating for up-to-date COX agreement.

1:31

I think those are important.

1:32

They're by statute.

1:34

Everything that we use technology on when we have targets or don't have targets, is supposed to be represented in the COG agreement as well as being public on the city's website so the citizens can have free access to those things.

1:48

I have a question as questions arise about AI and proving how it's AI in our policies, is ARI in our judicial processes, and um what is the timeline on this city making ordinances to regulate AI and having a blanket policy set for the use of AI in our communities?

2:11

Umly when it comes down to union, I spoke earlier.

2:16

I think unions are very good.

2:18

They're required and necessary for people to have equal wages, good and safe work environments, but it's not an opportunity to have a mob mentality, it's not an opportunity to revisit Jimmy Hoffa or any of those other things, or to make yourself guys over this community.

2:36

And so uh with that and said, I would like to know how many union members have been in trouble the last few years.

2:42

What has been the dispositions of those adjudications in the last few years, and how proportionate were those things that they were accused of as opposed to citizens and the punishment that citizens had for the equal accusations?

2:58

Thank you.

2:58

All right, thank you, sir.

2:59

We appreciate you.

3:01

How many people do we have in the queue virtually, Mr.

3:04

Bo.

3:07

Good afternoon, Mr.

3:08

Chair?

3:08

We currently have five individuals with their hand raised for public comment.

3:12

All right, public comment is now closed.

3:15

Public comment is now closed.

3:18

Public comment.

3:21

It's now closed.

3:22

All right, go ahead, Mr.

3:23

Bo.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Comment████████████████████████████28%
Procedural███████████████████19%
Public Works███████████████████19%
Grants and Funding██████████10%
Media Services████████8%
Public Safety██████6%
Housing████4%
Parks and Recreation███3%
Historic Preservation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Detroit City Council Neighborhood Community Services Committee Meeting - September 24, 2026

The Detroit City Council Neighborhood Community Services Standing Committee met on September 24, 2026, to discuss a range of items including public comments, contract approvals, a park naming, and a resolution supporting a museum millage. The meeting included several approvals moved to formal session, one postponement, and a walk-on item.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • In-person commenter (Mr. Foster): Raised questions about social media data retention, COG agreements, AI regulation, and union member discipline statistics. He advocated for up-to-date COG agreements and transparency.
  • Betty A. Varner (President, Soda Elseworth Black Association): Invited attendees to a Jazz in the Park event on September 26, 2026. Expressed strong support for a new mini market in the Finkle area, calling it a food desert, and criticized existing gas stations for not being good neighbors.
  • William M. Davis: Invited attendees to a block party on Tirement connecting Detroit and Dearborn, and promoted the City Trade Retire Task Force meeting on October 9, 2026. Urged more support for city retirees and senior citizens.
  • Caller ending in 169: Requested help for Brother Cunningham to get a new van, emphasizing love and community.
  • Quincy Smith (Executive Director, Team Pursuit): Spoke in support of naming the playscape at Skinner Playfield after Samir Grubbs, a three-year-old who lost his life at the park in summer 2025. Expressed gratitude to Council Members Johnson and Benson for their support.
  • Sandra Turner Handy (Director, Denby Neighborhood Alliance): Supported renaming the playscape at Skinner Park (a $1.4 million park built by community effort) as Samir's Place. Stressed that Samir's death occurred in a space meant to be safe.

Unfinished Business

  • Line 5.1 – Status of Councilmember Mary Waters memorandum on in-housing media buying services: Philip Keller (LPD) reported the report was submitted to the agenda but not yet appeared. The item was brought back in one week.

New Business

  • Petitions (Lines 6.1-6.4): Four street closure petitions (Tech Town Toast of the Town, Detroit City Sporting Coalition Le Run for Le Rouche, It Takes a Village walk-a-thon, Soul Circus) were all moved to formal session with recommendation for approval.

Discussion Items (Office of Contracting and Procurement)

  • Line 6.5 – IDEX Distribution contract renewal: Councilmember Benson raised concerns about federal antitrust litigation and a fraud dispute involving IDEX. The item was postponed for one week to allow the law department to investigate potential ramifications.
  • Line 6.6 – Park video surveillance systems ($2.7M): Lori Smith (GSD) explained the system would be connected to GSD security to enhance safety and assist in incidents. Councilmember Benson asked about DPD access and community input. The contract was moved to formal session with approval.
  • Line 6.7 – Recreation supplies amendment (Fund Express, Omaha): DeAndre Berry (OCP) noted the amendment covers the holiday season while the city rebids to find local vendors. Approved.
  • Line 6.8 – Ornamental plants contract ($450,000): Approved.
  • Line 6.9 – Income tax preparation services renewal ($417,286): Approved.
  • Line 6.10 – Media services amendment ($300,000 increase): China Cochrane (Deputy Director of Media Services) stated the increase is needed due to higher demand for tier two/three audio-video services. She committed that Detroit City Council events would receive full coverage. Approved.
  • Line 6.11 – AV production services amendment ($200,000 increase, SR Audio, Westland): Cochrane explained the contracts were split to include local and minority-owned businesses. Approved.

Discussion Items (Office of CFO / Grants)

  • Line 6.12 – Smart Re-entry grant application ($1.776M): Discussion deferred to later in the meeting; no administration needed. Approved.
  • Line 6.13 – Lead hazard control grant ($1.345M, no match): Approved.
  • Line 6.14 – Lead health and safety grant ($55,000, no match): Approved.
  • Line 6.15 – Wayne County Parks Millage grant amendment (time extension to 2028, no cost change): Councilmember Benson expressed concern about delayed spending but noted conversations with GSD and Wayne County. Approved.
  • Line 6.16 – In-kind donation from Michigan Pet Alliance ($1,195): Approved.
  • Line 6.17 – Authorization to submit grant applications on behalf of city departments: Approved.
  • Line 6.18 – Donation of portion of 2911 Prince Hall Drive: Councilmember Benson asked if residents and Masons were consulted; Lori Smith confirmed an agreement was in place. Approved.

Discussion Items (General Services Department)

  • Line 6.19 – Naming playground at Skinner Park for Samir Grubbs: Councilmember Benson asked if the city had done similar namings before; staff promised to follow up. The item was moved to formal session with recommendation for approval.

Miscellaneous

  • Line 6.20 – Forestry maintenance funding: Councilmember Benson submitted a memorandum requesting continued funding for tree maintenance, noting that storm-related spending is depleting the budget. The item was brought back in one week.
  • Line 6.21 – Resolution supporting Southeast Michigan's public historical museum authority millage (0.2 mills in Wayne and Oakland counties): Councilmember Benson explained the millage would fund the Charles H. Wright Museum, Detroit Historical Museum, Dossin Great Lakes Museum, and city archives. The resolution was moved to formal session with recommendation for approval.

Walk-On Item

  • Housing Resource Help Line contract amendment ($1M increase, 93% ARPA/7% city): Kofi Kenyatta (Deputy Director of Homeless and Family Services) explained the amendment extends the helpline through December 2027 using general fund dollars, with ARPA funds fully expended by September 30, 2026. Councilmember Benson confirmed no ARPA funds would be lost. The item was approved and moved to new business.

Key Outcomes

  • Postponements: Line 5.1 (media buying report) and Line 6.5 (IDEX contract) were postponed for one week.
  • Approvals to formal session: Lines 6.1-6.4, 6.6-6.11, 6.13-6.19, 6.21, and the walk-on item were all approved and moved to formal session.
  • Commitment: Media Services Deputy Director China Cochrane committed that Detroit City Council events would receive full coverage under the amended contract (Line 6.10).

Meeting Transcript

Second. Here. Councilmember Scott Benson. Councilmember Renata Miller. Here. Mr. Chair, you have a quorum. Thank you, madam clerk. Is there a motion to approve the minutes? Motion be made. Are there any objections? Minutes will be approved. Negative chair remarks. You will now move on to public comment. How many people do we have in the queue for public comment, Mr. Bo? Oh, wait, we got anybody in person, public. Okay, we got Mr. Foster. I'm sorry, man. Okay, so we're gonna do our uh number one uh in person public comment and then we'll do our virtual. So uh Mr. Foster, come on up, brother. You got two minutes. We don't have nobody else in the public, right? Going once, going twice, going three times. Done. All right. Go ahead, Ms. Foster. Uh good afternoon, sir. Uh, through the chair. A few things. Uh, with neighborhood community service standard committee. Uh a few questions as it pertains to our social media, uh data retention, um, potential uh reversing citizens' emails and personal information while they participate in events. I would like to know about the DON's access to the information that they get while they're out and about and what do they do with those information? I'm also advocating for up-to-date COX agreement. I think those are important. They're by statute. Everything that we use technology on when we have targets or don't have targets, is supposed to be represented in the COG agreement as well as being public on the city's website so the citizens can have free access to those things. I have a question as questions arise about AI and proving how it's AI in our policies, is ARI in our judicial processes, and um what is the timeline on this city making ordinances to regulate AI and having a blanket policy set for the use of AI in our communities? Umly when it comes down to union, I spoke earlier. I think unions are very good. They're required and necessary for people to have equal wages, good and safe work environments, but it's not an opportunity to have a mob mentality, it's not an opportunity to revisit Jimmy Hoffa or any of those other things, or to make yourself guys over this community. And so uh with that and said, I would like to know how many union members have been in trouble the last few years. What has been the dispositions of those adjudications in the last few years, and how proportionate were those things that they were accused of as opposed to citizens and the punishment that citizens had for the equal accusations? Thank you. All right, thank you, sir. We appreciate you. How many people do we have in the queue virtually, Mr.

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