Detroit City Council Budget, Finance, and Audit Standing Committee Meeting — October 28, 2026

The Budget, Finance, and Audit Standing Committee met on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, with Chair Denzel Anton McCampbell presiding. Councilmember Letitia Johnson was present, and Councilmember Mary Waters arrived later. The committee approved the prior minutes, heard public testimony, reviewed six FY2027 budget implementation items, and acted on contracts and memos. No agenda or minutes were available in the source material; this summary is based solely on the transcript.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of the October 21, 2026 meeting were approved by unanimous consent.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Clara DiCastro, a District 6 resident and urban planner who assists community groups with the CBO process, asked the committee to review how the utility users tax would affect the 30-year PILOT proposals, asserted that the Renaissance Center and River East would not contribute to the police fund, requested a parcel-by-parcel breakdown of River East’s $78.5 million property tax abatements, and called for council oversight of financial documents before voting.
• Reuben Crowley Jr. alleged voter fraud involving a 105-year-old resident and other named individuals, accused named officials of being 'cheated in,' and asked federal authorities to investigate Detroit voting records.
• Joanne Warwick complained that she had not received answers about boarding up houses, criticized Land Bank and council staff, and stated that the Fast Track Land Bank Authority Act means the Land Bank should not be commandeering private property. Chair McCampbell responded that his staff had replied multiple times, asked her not to call staff ignorant, and said Councilmember Santiago Romero answered her on Monday.
• Brother Cunningham encouraged voting, said he had given 10 people rides to vote, and promoted free rides to the polls through Warriors on Wheels Disability Group.
• Ms. Hughes said line item 7.2 involved misappropriations of funds, called for auditor general and inspector general review and performance evaluations for all pilot programs, noted the general fund decline from 7.9 to 'four point something,' and urged voters not to support tax-raising millages.
• Jadante Smith, the last public commenter, urged voting for any party, called for specific ordinances instead of cherry-picked enforcement, raised concerns about contaminated sites and called the Chronos concrete project an environmental catastrophe on 70 acres, supported downzoning with buffers, and asked council to inventory city-owned properties and their condition.

Discussion Items

FY 2027 Budget Implementation Discussion No. 6 — General Services Department, Parks, and Sustainability

• Item #179: $130,000 for one Office of Sustainability FTE. Director Crystal Perkins said the funds were transferred and reflected in FY27, the position is posted, and it is expected to be filled within 30 days. Vice Chair Johnson noted the office will have four FTEs, with two additional FTEs still identified as needed.
• Item #183: $40,000 for the Historic Fort Wayne feasibility study. Funds were allocated and encumbered; the scope of work is out for bid through OCP and expected to close within 30 days. Perkins estimated up to six months to execute a contract and roughly three additional months for the study.
• Item #187: $4.5 million for the Brennan Recreation Community Center. The project is on schedule for an October 27 completion; the city-funded contract should come before council before or during recess; the pool is expected back next season; programming data from prior community engagement is available. Chair McCampbell shared that about 40 Cody High students wanted more safe gathering spaces.
• Item #199: $200,000 for the Kimini Park water project. Funds are allocated but not yet encumbered; community engagement on water amenities is ongoing before the RFP is issued.
• Item #202: $7,500 for gazebo roof repair at Hyde Park. The repair is completed and invoiced, and the gazebo was used for a community celebration.
• Item #206: $41,000 for capital improvements at Eliza Hall Park, also referred to as Eliza Howell Park. Funds are allocated but not encumbered; staff are working with Sidewalk Detroit on community engagement before purchase and installation.
• Directors also said recreation centers are being positioned as resilience hubs, with 20-plus community-based hubs, heating/cooling center alerts, a possible air purification partnership, and staff training curriculum developed; training at rec centers is expected to begin next year.

Unfinished Business and New Business

• 6.1, a utility audit request from Member Waters, and 6.2, a follow-up to the October 8, 2026 BFNA FY27 discussion, were both held for one week.
• 7.1: The committee considered a zero-dollar contract and amendment with Paymentus Corporation, located in Charlotte, North Carolina, for the online treasury payment platform. Treasurer Valeria Goldie explained that the original contract was approved July 2, 2024, for five years through July 1, 2029, and that an internal system error misstated the duration and dates; a correction letter would be issued. After a motion to reconsider due to the agenda typo, the committee approved 7.1 as amended and sent it to formal session with a recommendation to approve.
• 7.2: The FY2024–25 year-end closed transfers and budget amendment report was held for three weeks. Vice Chair Johnson asked the administration to provide information about Riverside Marina fund transfers.
• 7.3: The Neighborhood Enterprise Zone certificate request was revised from two houses to one house at 9125 Cameron; staff confirmed the parcel is in the Oakland Caniff NEZ. Detroit Cultivator Community Land Trust proposes a permanently affordable homeownership model at no higher than 80% area median income; construction cost is $475,000, the subsidized sales price is $199,000, and funding comes from IFF, the Knight Foundation, and city funds. The house is approximately 1,200 square feet with three bedrooms and two full baths. Vice Chair Johnson strongly supported the project and asked about the affordability gap; Jerry Ann Hebron said building multiple units at a time will reduce costs. The committee amended 7.3 to strike 9131 from the line item and sent it to formal session with a recommendation to approve.
• 7.4, citywide pilot program inventory/performance evaluation/fiscal impact; 7.5, pilot ordinance modification for occupied workforce housing redevelopment; 7.6, Auditor General claim award authority questions; and 7.7, follow-up to the October 21, 2026 BFNA FY27 discussion, were each held for three weeks. Vice Chair Johnson asked that 7.5 address the workforce housing concerns raised, including AMI targeting, in addition to streamlined compliance.

Member Reports

• Councilmember Mary Waters said she arrived late from a breast cancer awareness luncheon; city employees had registered but had to return to work, and she plans to expand the event next year.
• Chair McCampbell reported that about 40 Cody High students took part in a participatory budgeting simulation and raised youth mental health services, safe spaces, traffic safety/speeding, and concerns about vapes and advertising. He reminded residents to vote by Tuesday, November 3, and to return absentee ballots through drop boxes or the clerk’s office.
• Vice Chair Johnson had no report but told Member Waters about the community land trust project approved as item 7.3.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes of the October 21, 2026 meeting were approved by unanimous consent.
• The six FY2027 budget implementation updates were received by the committee; no vote was taken.
• Items 6.1 and 6.2 were held for one week.
• Item 7.1 was reconsidered, amended, and approved to be sent to formal session with a recommendation to approve.
• Item 7.2 was held for three weeks, with a request for Riverside Marina transfer information.
• Item 7.3 was amended to reflect one address and sent to formal session with a recommendation to approve.
• Items 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, and 7.7 were held for three weeks.
• All votes were by voice/no objection; no roll-call votes were recorded.
• The committee adjourned after member reports and an early-voting reminder.