Live reporting by
Sherrie Smith
Councilmembers appointed photographer Eric Hergenreder to the Historic Designation Advisory Board and professor Kefentse Chike to the Reparations Task Force. They also approved a community benefits agreement for the $396.7 million Hotel at Water Square development.
Sherrie So Ultra
@SherrieSoUltra
It’s Tuesday, April 16th! I’ll be live-tweeting the Detroit City Council Formal Session at 10:00am for #DETdocumenters
@DetDocumenters
Media partners: @BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET @freep @metrotimes @Michigan_public @media_outlier @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit
@DetDocumenters
Media partners: @BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET @freep @metrotimes @Michigan_public @media_outlier @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit
08:13 AM Apr 16, 2024 CDT
Here is the agenda for today’s meeting. It’s also available online at:
pub-detroitmi.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?I…
While you wait for today’s meeting to start, check out the thread from last month’s meeting here:
If you feel there are errors or corrections needed to these tweets or you have questions, please contact documenters@outliermedia.org
Line item 6.1 referred to the Budget, Finance & Audit Standing Committee. Info on when their committee meets pictured
Line item(s) 7.1 - 7.16 referred to the Internal Operations Standing Committee. Info on when their committee meets pictured
Line item(s) 8.1 - 8.4 referred to the Neighborhood and Community Services Standing Committee. Info on when their committee meets pictured
Line item(s) 9.1 - 9.12 referred to the Planning and Economic Development Standing Committee. Info on when their committee meets pictured
Line item(s) 10.1 - 10.24 referred to the Public Health and Safety Standing Committee. Info on when their committee meets pictured
No COMMUNICATIONS FROM MAYOR AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS AND AGENCIES
In-person Commenter expressed concerns that the Health Dept is not providing a comprehensive annual report
In-person: Multiple speakers stated they are in support of the Sterling Group and the Water Square hotel, See Line items 9.6 & 18.12
In-person commenter spoke in favor of Line items 16.17 and 23.9
In-person: Member of Carpenters’ Union spoke in support of the Water Square Hotel and the culture that this project will build
More moving to ONLINE PUBLIC COMMENT, 20 callers gave hands raised
Online commenter: One caller expressed that they would vote to oust and City Council member who voted against the Water Square Hotel project
Online commenter: stated the Sterling Group has a great track record going back to their work on the State Fair Grounds and fighting blight in the city, excited about the pocket park connected to the Water Square Hotel
Online commenter stated that residents are still waiting for the city of Detroit to pay back the money that was looted from taxpayers. Caller also stated that the bankruptcy was fake. “You got me for $16,000! We want our money so we can fix our homes”
Online commenter asked for support of the DEBA Community Park and the Fenkell Corridor
Online commenter stated that the city code requires an alternative energy sources at senior living facilities
Online commenter, Owner of Blaze Contracting, called in support of Water Square Hotel
Online commenter stated this agenda is full of ARPA funding being used illegally, the funding cannot be used for private homes. Referenced Line items: 18.2 & 19.1
Online commenter stated there is a DDOT Meeting this Thursday for Community Input
Online commenter thanked Councilmembers for their stand against robbing Detroiters via PayDay loans. Also, stated the quiet development of electric vehicle battery plant is happening without hearings. ARPA funds should be spent to keep Detroits in their homes
Online commenter, member of Virginia Park Community Coalition asked Councilmember Sheffield to tour the Joseph Walker Williams Center
Online commenter stated the people deserve to know what the bankruptcy deal was with the Sterling Group/Water Square Hotel
Online commenter questioned how many rooms will be ADA universal design and if they will be equipped to accommodate people with mobility devices
Line items 16.4 - 16.13 were APPROVED, they are various lawsuit settlements
The Council passed out ballots and voted for the Appointment of Eric Hergenreder to the Historic Designation Advisory Board. APPROVED, Line items 16.15-16.16
Line item 16.17 appointing Dr. Kefentse Chike as the District 1 representative to the Reparations Task Force was APPROVED
Line items 18.1-18.2 were discussed as to why item 18.2 was City Funding and Housing and Revitalization Department (HRD) representative stated line item 18.2 is actually grant funded. Line item 18.1 was APPROVED while 18.2 was POSTPONED until HRD can clarify funding source
Line items 18.8, 18.9, 18.10, and 18.12 moved for DISCUSSION and representatives of Sterling Group and Visit Detroit present to answer Council questions re: Community Benefits
A few discussed Community Benefits:
100% union contractors in the construction
~30% local businesses
$500k to People Mover Upgrades
$250k scholarships to residents in the district
$100k donations to charity Unhoused,
$100k to women’s program
$100k to GDYT,
100% union contractors in the construction
~30% local businesses
$500k to People Mover Upgrades
$250k scholarships to residents in the district
$100k donations to charity Unhoused,
$100k to women’s program
$100k to GDYT,
Here are some pics of the Community Benefits Agreement, see the full Project Report:
detroitmigov.app.box.com/s/zjvhnbngecxw…
Multiple Councilmembers expressed positive thoughts about how the Sterling Group has handled this Community Benefits process
Line items 18.10, 18.9, and 18.8 were APPROVED, in that order.
Line item 18.13 was APPROVED to exclude Wayne County Community College from Tax Abatements and Tax Captures
Line items 19.1-19.6 were discussed. Councilmember Calloway questioned if the properties in line item 19.1 were all included or just one. Nicholas Payne confirmed only one property is included in the $219,700 amount and it is owned by the City
Council President Sheffield asked how line item 19.5 qualifies for ARPA Funding use to purchase furniture. It was stated that the funds are for 3 locations that are going through extensive renovations but have no furniture. The item was POSTPONED
It was stated that ARPA funds are being utilized for the renovations/construction as well.
Line item 20.12 was discussed, this is in addition to the previously approved funds. Over 7,000 requests were made, 523 trees were done to date. President Pro Tem Tate stated that he was told 800 trees had been addressed with 1,200 surveyed
Line item 20.17 recognizing April as Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month was APPROVED
Line item 20.18 recognizing April 11-17 as National Black Maternal Health Week was APPROVED
Line item 20.19 In Celebration and Local Designation of Workers was APPROVED
Line item 18.2 was brought back with the correct funding source and APPROVED
Line item 22.3 moved to NEW BUSINESS. The Council changed $37 million of the Mayor’s Proposed Budget, the Mayor chose NOT to veto the Council’s changes. So it’s being asked that technical changes to the budget schedule B be made. This was APPROVED
Line Item 22.4 requesting that an ongoing funding source be found to fully fund the Tenants Rights Commission was moved to the Planning and Economic Development Standing Committee. This item was APPROVED
Councilmember Santiago-Romero questioned line item 20.14 if it was a new service. It was stated that this is a new vendor but the service is one we already have but the previous vendor held the contract for 15 years. Line item 20.14 was APPROVED
10 Reports referred to Neighborhood and Community Services Standing Committee
20 Items referred to Public Health and Safety Standing Committee
D7 City Council Charter Mandated Evening Meeting TODAY! 7pm at Kadesh Baptist Church
lnks.gd/2/2vJWZbB
Monday April 29th at 6pm, D7 Policy Meeting at Edison Library
This concludes my live-tweeting of the Detroit City Council Formal Session for 4/16/24. For more meeting coverage, check out:
detroit.documenters.org