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Record of Proceedings

Detroit City Council Formal Session - October 20, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, October 20, 2026
BodyDetroit, Michigan
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, October 20, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 4:29:31

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

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.

Speaker 1

0:00

Six it shall

Speaker 2

0:01

now come to order.

0:02

Madam Clerk, would you please call the roll?

0:05

Sure, Mr.

0:06

President.

0:07

Councilmember Scott Benson.

0:08

Scott

Speaker 3

0:08

Benson, I

Speaker 2

0:09

Councilmember Letitia Johnson.

0:13

Council member Denzel Anton McKay.

Speaker 4

0:15

Present.

Speaker 2

0:16

Councilmember Renata Miller.

0:19

Council member Gabriela Santiago Romero.

0:22

Present.

0:23

Councilmember Mary Waters.

Speaker 5

0:25

Present.

Speaker 2

0:25

Councilmember Angela Whitfield Callaway.

0:30

Mr.

0:30

President, we received notice that Member Callaway will arrive late today.

0:38

Yes, Mr.

0:39

President, we received notice that Member Callaway will arrive late today.

Speaker 1

0:44

Okay.

0:45

Thank you so much.

Speaker 2

0:46

Council President Pro Tim Colmane Young, a second.

Speaker 1

0:50

Here.

0:53

Mr.

0:53

President, you have a quorum.

0:54

Thank you so much.

0:55

We have a quorum, which means we're now in session.

0:58

Wanted to let everyone know if you're looking to provide comment to the body on any issue that you would like to provide us insight on.

1:06

Please raise your hand and someone from the team will come by and provide you with a I'm sorry.

1:10

Someone from the team will come by and provide you with a public comment card.

1:14

That is how you get in the queue.

1:15

That is the only opportunity that you have to speak to this body in that capacity.

1:20

Again, if you

Unassigned speaker

1:20

are

Speaker 1

1:21

seeking an opportunity to speak before this body, please raise your hand and someone will come and provide a comment card to you and we'll put you in the queue.

1:28

If you are online, if you are online, please raise your hand.

1:33

We'll place you in the queue in that capacity as well.

1:36

And for those who have not been down here before, when we get to that public comment section,

Unassigned speaker

1:40

uh

Speaker 1

1:41

what we do is we allow everyone to speak, uh both in person as well as online before we provide any comments to make sure that you get the time uh that you uh deserve.

1:52

Madam Clerk, if you can please note that we've been joined by member Johnson.

1:55

Clerk will so note Mr.

1:57

President.

1:57

Thank you so much.

2:00

We always begin with uh meeting, we begin with the invocation, and this morning's invocation.

2:04

We have someone

Unassigned speaker

2:05

who

Speaker 1

2:05

may be the youngest person that we've ever had to provide opening prayer.

Unassigned speaker

2:10

Uh

Speaker 1

2:10

Detroit City Council, a formal session, it's just 12 years old.

2:15

Yes, at 12 years old, Minister.

2:18

That's right.

2:22

Minister Kendrick Smith is already making his mark through his faith and his commitment to education.

Unassigned speaker

2:28

Uh,

Speaker 1

2:28

Kendrick is the youngest of five children born to Kareem and Ebonette Smith.

2:33

Bless you.

2:34

Uh, he's he recognized his calling to preach at an early age of seven and is active and is an active member of Second Ebenezer Church.

Unassigned speaker

2:45

Uh

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Comment███████████████████████23%
Procedural████████████████16%
Affordable Housing████████████████16%
Public Safety████████████12%
Airport███████7%
Zoning and Land Use██████6%
Economic Development████4%
Transportation Safety███3%
Community Engagement██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Detroit City Council Formal Session - October 20, 2026

The Detroit City Council held its formal session on October 20, 2026, with all members present except Angela Whitfield Callaway who arrived late. The meeting opened with an invocation by 12-year-old Minister Kendrick Smith, followed by a special presentation and a lengthy public comment period. The council debated several major items, including workforce housing PILOTs, a 30-year ground lease for Detroit City Airport, and concerns about business compliance in District 5.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Casey Keller (Detroit Disability Power) presented a voter toolkit for polling place accessibility.
  • Joshua Lemire recited Mourner's Kaddish for Samantha Wool, criticizing the city's failure to prevent her death.
  • Shar Williams alleged corruption, fake police, and constitutional violations.
  • Daryl Stewart (Leland House tenant union) reported negotiations with the city are close to a deal, but criticized delays and asked for compensation.
  • Mac Farr (Village CDC) described an emergency meeting called by Councilmember Miller regarding businesses on Kercheval, accusing her of targeting small business owners with a licensing review.
  • Betty Lyons accused the council of corruption and failing residents.
  • Karen Green (co-owner of Two Birds) expressed frustration over being blindsided by Councilmember Miller's memo, stating her business operates with all necessary approvals.
  • Leah Hunt (co-owner of Two Birds) echoed support for the business and community.
  • Sharon Sexton raised concerns about the relocation of the Gateway to Freedom Monument on the riverfront.
  • Brother Cunningham requested support for hand warmers and bus tickets, and defended his right to take photos with politicians.
  • Kara Barnes (Island View resident) urged the council not to move forward with Miller's review, citing the city's investment in small businesses on Kercheval.
  • Amy Hemitter (Island View resident) said community tension was about feeling left behind, not the businesses.
  • Mary Perry complained about persistent leaks in the Hemohoe building.
  • Josh Mann criticized the council for not addressing residents' problems and praised the Kercheval businesses.
  • Kyle Richardson (prospective owner of Bar Nine) stated his business will follow all city policies.
  • Ronald Foster called for community consent and oversight of nonprofit funds.
  • Wendy Gill (former Leland House tenant) asked for a swift resolution and compensation.
  • Online callers addressed voting, Dan Gilbert's $1 billion C4 nonprofit, Renaissance Center redevelopment, traffic safety, and more. Many supported the Kercheval businesses and criticized Miller's memo.

Discussion Items

  • Spirit of Detroit Award – Councilmember Santiago-Romero presented the award to Lance Luce of the Detroit Theater Organ Society for the Senate Theater's 100th anniversary.
  • Workforce Housing PILOTs (Line Items 16.1 and 16.2) – The council debated two applications: 632 Prentice (8 units) and Hyde Park (43 units). Director Julie Schneider explained that without the PILOTs, rents would increase by $200–400/month, and the Prentice property faced foreclosure. Councilmembers Johnson, Callaway, and McCampbell opposed, arguing the benefit to the city was unclear and that the PILOTs reduced tax revenue. Councilmembers Benson and Santiago-Romero supported, citing the need for workforce housing. After a motion to reconsider, both items ultimately failed.
  • Airport Ground Lease (Line Items 18.1) – The council considered a 30-year lease with a 20-year renewal option for a private hangar at Detroit City Airport at $5,230/month (10 cents/sq ft). Director Jason Watts said the rate is advantageous and helps fund airport improvements. Councilmembers Callaway and Johnson opposed the length, arguing it locks the city in and may not be competitive in the future. The item passed despite objections.
  • E-Bike Resolution (Line Item 19.10) – Councilmember Callaway introduced a resolution supporting state bills to address e-bike safety, including helmet requirements. It passed with one objection from Santiago-Romero regarding enforcement.
  • PILOT Reconsideration – After a motion to reconsider, both workforce housing PILOTs (16.1 and 16.2) were voted down.

Key Outcomes

  • Workforce Housing PILOTs: Line Item 16.1 (632 Prentice) initially passed, but on reconsideration failed (objections from McCampbell, Johnson, Santiago-Romero, Callaway, Miller). Line Item 16.2 (Hyde Park) failed (objections from Callaway, Johnson, McCampbell, Tate).
  • Airport Ground Lease: Line Item 18.1 approved despite objections from Callaway, Johnson, and McCampbell.
  • Banners (Line Item 19.8): Approved after clarification that banners were not yet installed.
  • E-Bike Resolution (Line Item 19.10): Approved with one objection.
  • Cancellation of Formal Session: Approved for November 3, 2026 (Election Day).
  • Memo on Gateway to Freedom Monument: The council agreed to send a memo requesting a report on the status of the monument and engraved pavers.

Meeting Transcript

Six it shall now come to order. Madam Clerk, would you please call the roll? Sure, Mr. President. Councilmember Scott Benson. Scott Benson, I Councilmember Letitia Johnson. Council member Denzel Anton McKay. Present. Councilmember Renata Miller. Council member Gabriela Santiago Romero. Present. Councilmember Mary Waters. Present. Councilmember Angela Whitfield Callaway. Mr. President, we received notice that Member Callaway will arrive late today. Yes, Mr. President, we received notice that Member Callaway will arrive late today. Okay. Thank you so much. Council President Pro Tim Colmane Young, a second. Here. Mr. President, you have a quorum. Thank you so much. We have a quorum, which means we're now in session. Wanted to let everyone know if you're looking to provide comment to the body on any issue that you would like to provide us insight on. Please raise your hand and someone from the team will come by and provide you with a I'm sorry. Someone from the team will come by and provide you with a public comment card. That is how you get in the queue. That is the only opportunity that you have to speak to this body in that capacity. Again, if you are seeking an opportunity to speak before this body, please raise your hand and someone will come and provide a comment card to you and we'll put you in the queue. If you are online, if you are online, please raise your hand. We'll place you in the queue in that capacity as well. And for those who have not been down here before, when we get to that public comment section, uh what we do is we allow everyone to speak, uh both in person as well as online before we provide any comments to make sure that you get the time uh that you uh deserve. Madam Clerk, if you can please note that we've been joined by member Johnson. Clerk will so note Mr. President. Thank you so much. We always begin with uh meeting, we begin with the invocation, and this morning's invocation. We have someone who may be the youngest person that we've ever had to provide opening prayer.

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