Detroit City Council Formal Session - October 27, 2026

The Detroit City Council held a formal session on October 27, 2026, beginning with an invocation by Dr. Herbert B. Robinson Jr. and presentations of the Spirit of Detroit Award to 106-year-old Mother Julia Esau and her daughter Bernetta Esau. The council heard a detailed annual report from the Green Task Force, debated and voted on property tax PILOTs for two housing developments, and approved numerous resolutions, including a waiver to expedite those PILOTs to avoid foreclosures. The session also included public comments on property taxes, police oversight, solar farms, and election integrity.

Consent Calendar

• The Green Task Force annual report, presented by Councilmember Scott Benson and subcommittee chairs, was received and filed without objection. The report highlighted progress on sustainability, including solar installations, recycling, composting, complete streets, and climate action. Key recommendations included increasing Office of Sustainability FTEs, creating a sustainability revolving fund, and adopting a complete streets ordinance.
• Multiple routine resolutions from standing committees were approved without objection, including items from Budget Finance Audit, Internal Operations, Neighborhood Community Services, Planning and Economic Development, and Public Health and Safety standing committees.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Corey Pope requested support for his organization Key Way to the Kids, which provides youth sports and rights-of-passage programming, and asked for access to indoor spaces.
• A speaker (unidentified) reported offering free rides to polling places and expressed concern about being stopped at transit centers, seeking clarification on legality.
• Charl Williams criticized Detroit Police Department funding and alleged fraud in housing vouchers for non-citizens, calling for a hiring freeze and accountability.
• Tanya Wells detailed violations of the city's rental ordinance and the right to counsel, stating she and her family were wrongfully evicted while in the hospital, and urged enforcement of existing rules.
• Adrian Tines reported ongoing pest infestations and safety issues at 375 West Grand Boulevard, alleging harassment and illegal eviction attempts by the owner.
• Barbara Logan and several others demanded restitution for overassessed property taxes, stating that decades of over-taxation have caused home loss and that the city has not addressed the issue.
• John D. Laslow vehemently opposed demolition of the Renaissance Center, calling it terrorism and threatening civil unrest if the building is destroyed.
• Ronald Foster encouraged voting and expressed optimism about black and brown leadership in government.
• A speaker from Southwest Detroit Community Benefits Coalition supported the Bridging Neighborhoods resolution for Delray residents affected by the Gordie Howe International Bridge, emphasizing the need for resident engagement.
• Iman (Dream of Detroit) urged council to pass a resolution supporting free and fair elections, inviting members to a nonpartisan get-out-the-vote event.
• Virtual callers raised concerns about the solar farm eminent domain process, mistreatment at Sinai-Grace Hospital, property tax reform, the Renaissance Center, and election security.

Discussion Items

• Green Task Force Annual Report: Subcommittees on Water and Green Infrastructure, Transportation and Mobility, Recycling, Organic Recycling, Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, and Climate Action presented priorities. Topics included stormwater management, complete streets ordinances, curbside recycling expansion, composting pilot expansion, building energy benchmarking, residential solar (especially plug-in solar), and climate action planning. Councilmembers expressed support, with several committing point persons from their offices.
• PILOT Reconsiderations (Line Items 4.1–4.4): Council reconsidered property tax PILOTs for 634 Prentice (fully occupied, 100 units) and Hyde Park (236 units, also fully occupied). Councilmember Letitia Johnson criticized the lack of detail and unequal access for individual homeowners, calling for comprehensive property tax reform. Councilmember Angela Whitfield-Callaway objected to the need, noting the properties are not tax delinquent and the PILOTs are a “want” not a “need.” Councilmember Mary Waters supported modifications to the PILOT ordinance. After debate, the council approved the PILOTs (motions passed despite objections). Councilmember Benson then moved to suspend council rules to attach a waiver (bypassing the standard four-day delay) to prevent foreclosure of the properties. The rule suspension passed (one objection from Callaway), and the waiver was attached to line items 4.2 and 4.4.
• Police Uniform Contracts (Line Items 19.1 and 19.2): Councilmember Callaway objected to contracts with out-of-state companies (Livonia and Lexington, Kentucky), arguing that Detroit-based Alley Brothers should receive the business despite capacity concerns. The administration explained that three contractors were needed to meet capacity and that local outreach was conducted. After objections from Callaway, Miller, McCampbell, Johnson, and Waters, both contracts failed.
• Reading Crisis: Councilmember Callaway announced Detroit's literacy crisis (14% of third graders reading proficiently) and requested a resolution urging DPSCD Superintendent Nicolai Vitti to allocate $8.7 million for school libraries. The council approved the assignment to LPD to draft such a resolution.

Key Outcomes

• Green Task Force Report: Received and filed unanimously.
• PILOTs (634 Prentice and Hyde Park): Approved after reconsideration, with waivers attached to expedite implementation before the November 1 deadline. The council also directed LPD to draft an amendment to modify the PILOT ordinance based on concerns raised.
• Police Uniform Contracts (19.1 and 19.2): Failed due to multiple objections; other items in the block were approved.
• NCAA Special Event Ordinance (20.1): Passed on third reading (roll call vote: 7 yes, 0 no).
• Formal Session Rescheduling: The council approved moving the November 3, 2026 formal session to Friday, November 6, 2026, due to Election Day.
• Zoning Text Amendment (Joe Louis Greenway): Introduced and set for public hearing on November 19, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. The amendment includes downzoning and is one of the largest rezoning efforts in city history.
• Revenue Sharing Feasibility Study: Referred to the Planning and Economic Development standing committee for legal analysis on conditioning land conveyance with tax abatement revenue sharing requirements.
• Resolutions on Elections and Other Matters: A resolution supporting free and fair elections was approved. Multiple grant-related resolutions (20.13–20.24) were approved with waivers.
• Supplemental Checks for Retirees (17.24): Approved with a waiver.
• Assignment to LPD: Councilmember Callaway's request to draft a resolution regarding the $8.7 million reading crisis funding was approved.