Return to Public Health and Safety Standing Committee
Live reporting by Pamela Taylor
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The committee forwarded the proposed 2024 tow rates to Formal Session for approval, as well as agreements between the Detroit International Bridge Company and neighbors in Hubbard Richard. Crime numbers in vacant buildings included 24 bodies found in 2023.

PTaylor @ptdocsdetroit
What up doe! I’ll be live-tweeting today's Det City Council Public Health & Safety Standing Committee at 10:00 a.m. for #DETdocumenters @DetDocumenters media partners:@BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET @freep @metrotimes @Michigan_Public @media_outlier @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit

08:41 AM Sep 23, 2024 CDT

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Website: Today's agenda: detroitmi.gov/government/cit… pub-detroitmi.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ash…
detroitmi.gov/government/cit… pub-detroitmi.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ash…
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The Detroit City Council is the legislative body of Detroit, Michigan, United States. The full-time council is required to meet every business day for at least 10 months of the year, with at least eight of these meetings occurring at a location besides city hall.
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The council may convene for special meetings at the call of the mayor or at least four members of council.
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I always forget the city has television stations: The City of Detroit's Channel 10 features programming that keeps residents informed about Detroit's latest news. Watch City Council meetings live, and catch up on the Mayor's community meetings.
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A note regarding meetings older than January 1, 2023; All meetings older than Jan 1 2023 have been archived. These meetings are still available to the public. To request a specific meeting please email: CityClerkHelpDesk@detroitmi.gov
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See you in a few!
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Meeting called to order at 10:03 and there is a quorum. Motion called to approve previous minutes. Motion was approved.
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Public comments: 1. Mike (BBK Towing): Would like tow rate increase approved today. 2. Xavier: Owner of property that was torn down without owner's approval. Owner has received a bill for over $187,000. Says the property could have been repaired for 1/3 of the cost.
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3. Mr. Foster: Wants the council to bring more freedom and opportunities to the city of Detroit. Optimistic about the OneDetroit initiative. Schools need more social workers onsite.
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Online Public Comments: 1. Black Bag Roo: Says his aunt was assassinated by the Detroit Police and he turned into a "whole criminal". 2. Ms. Maddox: Sidewalk/Driveways needs to be repaired at the Starbucks on W. Grand Blvd and the Lodge and throughout the city.
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3. Mr. Davis: More needs to be done for City of Detroit retirees. Healthcare was been stolen. City should hold health fairs for retirees. Need to also help seniors. City should be more welcoming to encourage more retirees and seniors to return and stay.
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4. Cunningham: 313-444-9114 Facebook: Expensive Vehicle Repairs You can find ride along with council people on the facebook page. Needs donations for bus tickets and outreach vehicles. Appreciates the council donation of passes.
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5. caller ending in 368 (Mr. Ready): Why are buses running so slow? 6. caller ending in 124: Demolition should be halted. Appalled at the rising costs of the demolitions. Property belonging to wealthy people doesn't seem to be demolished and receiving outrageous bills.
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7. 100,000 illegally foreclosed homes. Property owners expect to be reimbursed. Thanked council for assistance. 8. Ms. Varner: Born and raised in Detroit. Appreciates council and the committee. Advocating for seniors and people with disabilities that are not eligible for
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assistance. Please reconsider. Council Person Waters replied: The city cannot overrule the federal guidelines. She says she is working hard and advocating for change. 9. Mr. Boyle: DDOT tracker app hasn't been updated in several months. Maps aren't visible.
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9. City has an aging population. What are the pathways for the elderly to seek help. 10. Caller number ending in 270 (Mr. Shelton): Could not understand Online public comments ended
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Agenda 5.1-bring back in 2 weeks 5.2 5.3: emergency demo/discussion Status of Office of Contracting and Procurement 📷 Contract No. 3076463 – 100% City Funding – To Provide an Emergency Demolition for the Residential Property, 15010 Sorrento. – Contractor: DMC Consultants, Inc.
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– Location: 13500 Foley Street, Detroit, MI 48227 – Contract Period: Notification of Emergency through June 30, 2025 – Total Contract Amount: $28,860.00. CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION (Contract held by Council Member Gabriela Santiago-Romero during the recess period of8/21/24)
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Motion to bring back 5.3 TBD
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5.4: filed 5.5: receive and file/discussion Benson: Concern about vacant structures (rape, murders) in neighborhoods. 5.6: Brought back in 2 weeks 5.7: Cannabis advertisement (received and filed) 5.8: Received and Filed 5.9: Brought back in 1 week
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5.10: Memo received and filed 5.11: Bring back in 1 week 5.12: Toll rate discussion
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Oops correction for 5.12, should say tow rate discussion. Would like to give full body 2 opportunities to discuss. Benson: wants to see a draft of the document they are discussing. Santiago: Does DPD have the numbers for police requested tows?
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If tow rates are approved, when would they go into effect? Auditor General: Next/new fiscal year Who pays for abandoned campers/trailers/boats towing? They are stored on city lots. Owners are ticketed. City does not look for cost recovery
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Concern about owners that live outside the city. The public needs to be educated about how to store various vehicles. Motion to ask LPD to draft resolution with the proposed fees. Resolution should be available today. 5.12 should be ready for discussion tomorrow.
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Thanking the departments for getting the job done! 5.13-5.15: Emergency Demolitions LaJuan Counts, Director of the Construction Demolition Department: 5.13: doesn't recall issues 5.14: issue with locating basements 5.15: doesn't recall issues To be brought back in 2 weeks
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5.16-5 21: Malik Washington, Luke Polcyn , Sam Butler, Kevin Kalcynski Vacation means to take public streets/alleys that belong to the public and vacate or cease to operate as a public street or alley Dedication: process construct a new right of way to preserve access
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5.16-5.21
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New 16th street
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The Hubbell-Richard residents are nervous about construction. Council Person Santiago wants to make sure all the protections are in place and that the project agreement is honored. Wants to make sure community concerns are addressed including designs etc.
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Community concerns about 16th street going through to Lafayette. The street would become a "drag race." Adding curb bump outs and asking the city for speed humps to calm traffic.
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Will replace/upgrade speed cushions to speed humps. Correct misplacement of current speed cushions. Funded by the capital funds of DPW.
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Santiago is now asking that each request on the agenda be identified on the map.
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Benson would like verbal explanation as the map is hard to follow.
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Benson: How is the construction/expansion of the truck waiting area affecting air quality? Answer: Efficiency increase of about 10% which should enhance environmental issues (less emissions). Should be a positive for public health/air quality.
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How does the 20 ft wall affect property value? A: Design allows for a planting program for foliage between the wall and the residential area.
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Santiago asking Sam Butler (Hubbell-Richard neighborhood representative) about community concerns: Residents wanted assurance this would be the final expansion of the bridge plaza. Community held property helps to ensure expansion won't happen.
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Santiago wants to know what the Bridge Company is doing with property: currently, truck terminal. No plans to develop the property. Hoping for a better relationship with the bridge company and Hubbell-Richard after decades of distrust and fighting.
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There may have been a 1991 deal with Coleman Young. Has the promise been kept. Kevin is willing to work with Council Person Santiago and Sam Butler. The DIBC is happy and proud of the agreeement. The DIBC has kept promises. The land exchange agreement allowed Riverside Park
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Riverside Park received a $5 million dollar grant from the Morouns for revitalization. Kevin (DIBC) says he graduated from high school in 1991 and is unaware of the agreement. He is willing to review documents.
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Council Person Santiago would like to take the concerns offline for a discussion. Sam Butler says the community would like to continue to develop the area and work with DIBC. Motion to approve 5.16-5.21: Motion is approved
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New Business 6.1: Contract No. 3076602 - 100% City Funding – To Provide Payment for Fiduciary Services. Contractor: Black Family Development, Inc Total Contract Amount: $57,586.70. Motion approved 6.2: Rep unavailable 6.3-6.6: Motion approved 6.7: Motion approved
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6.8: Sent to new business with recommendation to approve 6.9 and 6.10: Received and filed 6.11-6.15: Various Grants Motion to discuss Motion to approve and sent to new business with recommendation to approve Return to 6.2 and 6.7 sent to new business
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6.2: Call center activity during Covid ended 2022/2023 Contractors were brought on board for vaccine scheduling, sent text messages. There were multiple contracts and purchase orders. Contract ended and services were continued. Original bill was $1.7 million
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Negotiated to $1.3 million Motion is approved. Representative Waters reminds everyone to wear shades of pink on October 1st for Breast Cancer Awareness month.
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Meeting recessed at 11:53. Returning at 1:30 to address Dangerous Buildings.
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I won't be returning at 1:30pm but of course you can come back!😎
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If you believe anything in the coverage today is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@outliermedia.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.
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Meeting adjourned (recessed) at 11:53 a.m. This concludes my coverage of the Detroit City Council Public Health and Safety Standing Committee meeting. For more meeting coverage check out Documenters.org
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