Detroit Public Health and Safety Standing Committee Meeting – October 19, 2026

The Public Health and Safety Standing Committee met on Monday, October 19, 2026, with Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero presiding. Councilmembers Denzel McCampbell and Mary Waters were present, and the clerk confirmed a quorum. The committee approved prior minutes, heard public comment capped at 1.5 minutes and closed at 10:05 a.m. after 16 online speakers had raised hands, and acted on demolition, police, public works, health, and other items.

Routine Approvals

• Prior committee minutes were approved without objection.
• 5.1, a placeholder regarding demolition costs and collections, was received and filed.
• 6.29 dangerous buildings findings and orders (October 2, 2026) were received and filed.
• 6.30 Towing Rate Commission report on recommended police-authorized towing rates and other fees was received and filed.
• 6.31 and 6.32 BSEED deferral recommendations for 13515 Montrose and 9364 Elsa were concurred with.
• 6.33, acceptance of FY 2024-2025 Section 539 formula funds from MDOT for DDOT electric hybrid buses, was sent to new business with a recommendation to approve.
• 6.34-6.36 reports on council office restroom facilities, air quality policy, and e-bike/e-scooter safety were received and filed.
• 6.37, permitting the Downtown Detroit Partnership to hang 260 holiday banners, was sent to new business with a recommendation to approve.
• 6.38, permitting the Parade Company to hang 10 Turkey Trot banners, was sent to new business with a recommendation to approve.
• 6.39-6.43 traffic control device reports covering February 16 through July 15, 2026, were approved and sent to formal session.
• 6.44-6.47 petitions for utility installation vacations, an alley vacation, a blade sign encroachment, and a planter zone encroachment were approved and sent to formal session.
• 6.26 fire hose line inspection and repair contract with HD Edwards ($79,343) and 6.27 fire rescue stabilization kits and airbags with McQueen Equipment ($264,120) were sent to new business with approval recommendations.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Adrian Tynes voiced support for the Seward Sharing Table and described the manager of 375 West Grand Boulevard as failing to provide heat, allowing pest infestation, and threatening tenants who speak out; she said she is helping a disabled veteran and his sister facing eviction.
• Peggy Goodwin, representing the Detroit Towing Association and serving as a tow rate commissioner, thanked the committee for reviewing police-authorized towing and said more educational information would follow.
• A community member encouraged more grassroots engagement and candid feedback in city organizations.
• Caller 169 thanked Brother Cunningham for helping people vote and encouraged early voting.
• William M. Davis encouraged Detroiters to vote straight Democratic and called for more help for Detroit retirees, noting pensioners lost COLAs retroactive to 2013.
• Betty A. Verner, president of the Soda Elsewhere Black Association, requested funding for the Finkel corridor, park improvements, and a nonrefundable $1,500 land use hearing fee, saying the cost burden falls on small groups.
• The Seward Block Club president expressed full neighborhood support for the Seward Sharing Table and urged the city to let neighbors help neighbors.
• Renard Monchenski, District 6 resident and organizer with Detroit People's Platform, asked for a public hearing on Renaissance Center/MDOT development impacts and called for transit-rider impact analysis for Jefferson Avenue.
• Carolyn Hughes raised concerns about contaminated 'dirty dirt' and said there is no clear remediation plan; she also questioned police leather uniform spending and the lack of heat mitigation in detention centers.
• Caller 534 said the public needs more information on 'dirty dirt,' supported the Seward Sharing Table, and complained about inconsistent enforcement of vacant building boarding rules.
• Maurice, speaking personally, asked DPD to address disciplinary action against Officer Gonzalez after the shooting of Alonzo Lee Perkins, quoting the officer from body-camera footage as saying 'I'm about to shoot you' before firing. The vice chair moved to add the matter as a future committee line item.
• Stephen Rimmer requested a resolution to let the Seward Sharing Table, a free food pantry open since 2020, remain in place, saying requirements keep changing after the group complies.
• Chris Baddeny, a retired mailman, described donating food to the Seward Sharing Table and said it helps neighbors eat 'breakfast in dignity.'
• Olivia Grace, a Seward Street community member, reported the table feeds 75 to 200 people per week and asked council to pass an encroachment exemption, saying 'the goalposts have been moved' repeatedly.
• Denise Lyles, District 5 CAC chair, stood with the Seward Sharing Table and also backed a resident named Joanne on fair treatment, saying all Detroiters, especially legacy residents, should be heard.
• Brother Cunningham promoted early voting and the ride line 313-444-9114.

Chair Santiago Romero said she would work with Councilmember Miller on a resolution establishing city ground rules for community fridges and food pantries. Vice Chair McCampbell added that clear, fairly enforced rules are needed so groups are not unfairly targeted.

Discussion Items

• Demolition/backfill contracts (6.1-6.14): Fourteen bond-funded demolition, fill removal, and backfill contracts were reviewed. Vice Chair McCampbell said he is not satisfied with the funding process, called out contractors waiting to be paid, and said the council lacks a clear strategy. Chair Romero said the administration has pressured her office to move contracts despite unanswered questions. Raquel Harrington confirmed the open hole at 6420/6426 Woodward was finally graded on July 31. The committee brought the items back in one week.
• Detention Center HVAC (6.15-6.16): The committee discussed a $500,000 increase and time extension for electrical, plumbing, and HVAC services at the Detroit Detention Center. Chair Romero asked whether the city plans to actually cool detention spaces; Vice Chair McCampbell asked about the current heating system. Both items were brought back in one week.
• Media buying contract (6.17): OCP and the Health Department said Allen Lewis Agency LLC won a new grant-funded media strategy and ad buying contract. The item was sent to new business with a recommendation to approve.
• Police uniforms (6.18, 6.19, 6.21): Commander Alvarado explained the three-vendor system for base uniforms. OCP said a 30-day extended bid still produced limited local responses. 6.18 (Alley Brothers) was sent to formal session with a recommendation to deny; 6.19 (Galls) with no recommendation; and 6.21 (Enterprise) with a recommendation to approve.
• Fingerprint identification system (6.20): DPD and IT staff explained the system is used for booking detainees, hospital prints, and juvenile prints at the 2nd and 7th precincts. The contract was sent to formal session with a recommendation to approve.
• Public works contracts (6.22-6.24): DPW Director Ron Brundage explained the Holden Bridge increase was due to unanticipated deterioration, the Rosa Parks Streetscape increase was to close out the completed project, and the Comcast contract supports 81 illegal-dumping camera locations monitored by DPD. Vice Chair McCampbell asked for DPD enforcement data; 6.23 was brought back in one week, while 6.22 and 6.24 were recommended for approval.
• BSEED human-centered design contract (6.25): Deputy Director Raymond Scott said Slalom will review BSEED processes from the user perspective and produce journey maps. Scott said AI may help generate recommendations but will not be implemented or exposed to sensitive data. The contract was sent to formal session with a recommendation to approve.
• MDOT/DDOT master agreements (6.48): DDOT liaison Stephanie Davis said the authorization allows DDOT to receive project funds from MDOT and lets the executive director approve them. The item was sent to new business with a recommendation to approve.
• Contaminated dirt items (5.4, 6.28): The committee received and filed the 5.4 memo requesting a site-by-site accounting, then brought the responsive 6.28 report back one week. Vice Chair McCampbell moved to waive confidentiality on 6.28; the Law Department said the waiver must come from the full body, and paperwork would be prepared.
• Holds and memos: 5.2 (demolition presentation follow-up) and 5.3 (Detention Center heat mitigation plan) were brought back in one week; 5.5 in three weeks; 6.49 (right-of-way restoration/compliance) and 6.50 (Prop N/contaminated soil remediation) in two weeks; 6.51 in three weeks; 6.52 (sexually oriented businesses and tobacco ordinance update) in one week; and 6.53 (paid bulk collection) and 6.54 (Detroit Public Library capital improvements) in two weeks.

Key Outcomes

• The committee advanced most contracts to formal session or new business without objection.
• Demolition contracts 6.1-6.14, detention center HVAC 6.15-6.16, illegal-dumping camera contract 6.23, and contaminated-dirt report 6.28 were held for more information.
• Police uniform contract 6.18 was recommended for denial, 6.19 was sent without recommendation, and 6.21 was recommended for approval.
• The chair committed to drafting a community fridge/food pantry resolution with Councilmember Miller.
• The committee agreed to keep the Officer Gonzalez disciplinary question as a future line item.

Member Reports

• Member Waters announced a Skilled Trades Task Force meeting Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. at IBEW Local 58 on Porter Street.
• Vice Chair McCampbell noted recent violence and traumatic incidents, including the death of a 12-year-old struck by a car, and led a moment of silence.
• Chair Romero announced office hours at Kemini Rec Center, a full council community meeting in District 2 on Tuesday at U of D Jesuit Johnson Recreation Center, and the October monthly meeting Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Sol on Ice. The meeting then adjourned.