Detroit Public Health and Safety Standing Committee Meeting - October 26, 2026

The Public Health and Safety Standing Committee met on Monday, October 26, 2026. Due to a lack of quorum at the start, the meeting opened with public comments before proceeding to discuss and vote on several contract amendments, grant applications, and memos. A key item was the walk-on of a $2.5 million federal grant for counter-drone technology. The meeting also included a planned dangerous buildings hearing at 1:30 PM.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Maddox (in person): Urged residents to vote and made unclear remarks about "food melt" and city guidelines.
• Dr. Denise Darnell: Raised a safety issue at Oakland International Academy where a no-left-turn sign prevents school buses and parents from entering the parking lot; requested the sign be removed. Also sought donations for senior assistance.
• Caller (phone ending 169): Asked for prayers for Cunningham and free transportation to early voting.
• Brother Cunningham: Thanked Councilmembers McCampbell and Santiago-Romero for a bus ride-along; encouraged prayers for Council President James Tate and his family.
• Betty A. Varner (President of DeSoda Elsewhere Black Association): Expressed excitement about new businesses on the Finkel Corridor but requested city funding for revitalization, help with a youth hearing fee, and playground equipment for a park.
• Darren McCliskey: Criticized the city's annual property auction, alleging that the city removes better properties before auction (confiscating equity) while leaving blighted properties for auction; urged better pre-auction blight enforcement.
• Caller (Warwick, possibly same as earlier): Complained about unequal treatment of property owners, citing the North End Landing development; asked for clarity on boarding-up requirements and alleged discrepancies in enforcement.
• William M. Davis: Encouraged voting straight blue; criticized past state actions harming Detroit Public Schools.
• Cindy Dara: Advised voters to study the long ballot; endorsed a candidate for Wayne County executive (same last name as current executive).
• Mr. Foster (in person): Urged bipartisanship and noted that poverty and crime are not partisan issues; called for effective change.

Discussion Items

• 5.1 Contract Extension for Detention Center Services (LJ Rolls): Extended time through October 29, 2027, for electrical, plumbing, and HVAC services at the Detroit Detention Center. Approved and sent to formal session.
• 5.2 Camera Installation for Illegal Dumping (Comcast): Extended time through September 27, 2027, and increased funds to $1,483,628.15. Approved and sent to new business.
• 5.3 HVAC Service for DDOT (Limbok): Three-year contract for $1,800,000. Approved and sent to formal session.
• 5.4 Site-by-Site Accounting of Contaminated Dirt Sites: Motion to bring back in one week to allow for a resolution to lift privilege. Approved.
• 5.5 Sexually Oriented Businesses and Tobacco Ordinance Update: Law department requested two-week bring back; noted that Councilmember Benson's requested timeline of October 23 was not met. Approved for two-week bring back.
• 5.6 Financial Impact of Summer 2026 Severe Weather: Two-week bring back approved.
• 5.7 Request for Information on Data Centers: Two-week bring back approved.
• 5.8 Police Authorized Towing Information: Received and filed.
• 5.9 Land Uses near Joe Louis Greenway (Warren Gateway Trailhead): Received and filed.
• 5.10 Reliable Grid and Alternative Energy Systems: Two-week bring back approved.
• 5.11-5.13 Memos from Councilmember McCampbell (Demolition presentation, heat mitigation at detention center, litter prevention): All received and filed.
• 6.1 Fire Training Contract (Wayne County Community College): $83,128 for EMT and firefighter training. Approved and sent to formal session.
• 6.2 Sidewalk Repair Backlog Contract (Giorgie Concrete): Additional $1.5 million from metro act funding to complete 6,300 sidewalk locations. Deputy Director Sam Krasenstein confirmed the increase covers more flags per household than anticipated. Approved and sent to new business; quarterly updates requested.
• 6.3 Bridge Demolition for Joe Louis Greenway (Madison and Congress Streets, contractor Hemorrhage): $234,626. Approved and sent to formal session.
• 6.4-6.5 Dangerous Buildings Findings and Orders (October 9 and September 25, 2026): Received and filed.
• 6.6 Construction and Demolition Department Responses to Councilmember McCampbell: Received and filed.
• 6.7 FY2026 Detroit Paths Prevention and Treatment Housing Grant: Approved and sent to new business.
• 6.8 FY2026 Brine Discretionary Community Project Grants: Approved and sent to new business.
• 6.9 Retroactive Grant Application Authorization (multiple departments): Valencia Lyle (Behavioral Health) explained tight deadlines led to retroactive request. Match requirements for DFD port security (25%) and AFG (10%) grants were noted. Approved and sent to new business.
• 6.10 FY2024 Reconnecting Communities Pilot Grant: Approved and sent to new business.
• 6.11 Public Water Monitoring Grant (Eagle): No match required. Approved and sent to new business.
• 6.12 Blood Pilot Project Grant (MDHHS): $25,000 for paramedic blood transfusions. Elisa Malil (DFD Chief of Staff) explained the pilot allows transfusions during transport. Approved and sent to new business.
• 6.13 FY2027 Traffic Operations Center Grant Correction: Administrative correction to appropriation. Deputy Director Krasenstein confirmed no change in amount or substance. Approved and sent to new business.
• 6.14 Citywide Litter Prevention Report: Received and filed.
• 6.15 Heat Mitigation at Detroit Detention Center Report: Received and filed.
• 6.16 Memo to Waive Privilege on Contaminated Dirt Sites: Brought back in one week.
• Walk-on: Counter-Drone Technology Grant (C-UAS): Sergeant Gregory Saumiller (DPD) requested approval to submit a $2.5 million federal Homeland Security grant for counter-drone equipment for mass events. Deadline is November 1, 2026 (state subrecipient). No match required; explicitly cannot be used for immigration enforcement. Approved and sent to new business.
• Walk-on: Ceasefire Contract Extension (Amendment No. 2, Contract 60064505): Extension of time and money. Approved and sent to new business.

Key Outcomes

• Approved multiple contract amendments and grant submissions, most sent to formal session or new business with recommendation to approve.
• Several memos were brought back for further review in one or two weeks.
• Public comments highlighted election participation, neighborhood concerns (school traffic, property auction, Finkel Corridor funding), and enforcement consistency.
• Chair Santiago-Romero noted her bus ride-along and committed to focusing on winter transit service.
• The committee recessed at the end of the agenda for the 1:30 PM dangerous buildings hearing.