[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6362571,"mediaKeyId","2167625-8c64a966a1bd4240dce5ceecef2a8dca","parentId",2167625,"title","Public commenters urge action on land bank, foreclosures, BZA fees and neighborhood funding","audioSeconds",1404,"startMs",112000,"endMs",1516000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2167625-8c64a966a1bd4240dce5ceecef2a8dca&start=112&end=1516","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2167625-8c64a966a1bd4240dce5ceecef2a8dca/thumbnail_112000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6362571/Detroit/Wayne-County/Michigan/Public-commenters-urge-action-on-land-bank-foreclosures-BZA-fees-and-neighborhood-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6362571-118228a7407b1ac55b8d4245c5e39aea/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203907&Signature=YtAhRRKpZ2SlHLUE799mxChtfgmifFTZvND5sKiU6GyzOr5K4KyLsx2HrZaE6n-Mne0PzzWjhydUIRKf8hN63iQbtcHM6PH53lHgKom091OUa6KUCmcHDjsS8Jb1VQ7JRAtg6T9g1b4nZxc00qq2nb0pW-BmAWwiWnGfCfuPkFo-jGtgCeMXHyPy4I5glLFi7ycbLthYpu8q1hOxidphVvE8DAUQ1cRqdeAxE4nfggkmIVfj8I1UWLzolL8UPK8iTl51-t0oGYa5qbXHFZGZ-zxWjIn23BM-kg-BiNq4AytessbcphLeU2sauZa3azJamYTG-et9wup1xq~D4xhZOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Detroit, MI ","date","2025-01-22T00:00:00Z","article","Detroit ' Dozens of callers used the Committee of the Whole public-comment period to press the council on housing, neighborhood funding, administrative fees and homeless services.

Several callers urged the council to act on land-bank policy and property-tax reform. Caller Tahira Ahmad thanked Councilmembers Angela Whitfield Callaway and Mary Waters for moves to \"deny it going through\" and called for elimination of the land bank; she urged tests for Board of Review candidates and said \"Detroit had the largest Black home ownership in the United States\" before recent foreclosures. Luke Shelton criticized the city's use of federal demolition and other funds and said the annual comprehensive financial report is difficult to find.

Complaints about the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) fee schedule were strong. A caller identified as \"Stop BZA Price Gouging of Residents\" said changing the BZA fee schedule in February 2024 eliminated a low-cost option for hearing copies and described current costs as \"absolute price gouging,\" calling $6.35 per page and $200 per hearing prohibitive for many residents and comparing it to court fee caps.

Community advocates and neighborhood leaders asked for more funding and parity. Betty A. Varner, president of the DeSoto Ellsworth Block Association, pressed the council to allocate money in the budget for 501(c)(3) neighborhood organizations to improve corridors. She asked council offices to contact Councilman Durehall's office to coordinate.

Callers also raised homelessness and public-safety concerns. One caller described people sleeping at the Rosa Parks Transit Center and alleged problems with locked facilities and drug activity in that building; another caller asked about shoveling at a school bus stop near Northwestern High School and requested Councilmember Callaway's legal advice.

Other public comments included requests for hand warmers (a caller said distribution details would be coordinated with Member Callaway's office), concerns about identity theft and internal access to city systems, and praise for recent council work on veterans and task forces. Several callers urged the council to pursue property-tax reform and to consider remedies for alleged illegal tax foreclosures and utility shutoffs.

Ending: Council staff and members responded during the meeting by offering office contact numbers for follow-up, promising to bring several items to staff for further review and scheduling. The council then resumed the agenda and began committee business.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Detroit City Council Internal Operations 01-22-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Citizens used the Committee of the Whole public-comment period to raise concerns about the land bank and foreclosure policy, alleged price increases for BZA hearing transcripts, neighborhood funding for corridor improvements, ICE activity in Southwest Detroit, and service needs for unhoused residents.","taxTitle","Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan","taxId",48464,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6362576,"Committee moves one-year renewal of state lobbying contract with GCSI, $240,000 increase",711,3730000,4441000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2167625-8c64a966a1bd4240dce5ceecef2a8dca&start=3730&end=4441","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2167625-8c64a966a1bd4240dce5ceecef2a8dca/thumbnail_3730000.jpg","/articles/6362576/Detroit/Wayne-County/Michigan/Committee-moves-one-year-renewal-of-state-lobbying-contract-with-GCSI-240000-increase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6362576-d0fcc1622943cff9b804d2c34e012207/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203907&Signature=byE3RhtFzwm73S0mX-ovcSiRuiFqmKLoa43lIu1ckpTGfZYclys-mzW2R00KRLoYjCfSZFPQXeB5x9Gk3wWXDEXUDtjkofySFABAbxm7fUNMRsFHmQ3rr4Vm5ucuzL~v~wA3DpVUrooknrG6hDZS6qjeB0-qCsi-hFHgaX8al6mmYUo4cDKL5C1mhI~pQ4y~SBE8BpjlWdmDjwbw94TilzA1rD8nUOPLcnvTC~ldm6Hlm0MU7ZDLluNzICHE4seLgiqHL8Me3T1WilqIsaDgUcqTN1m4HNMZKeDNzwtaH6C0Bn54sl8iEEuKyjU9Hi3DOZcwAGx7u5q3A8Uw6xORQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Detroit ' The Committee of the Whole voted to send to the formal session a one-year renewal of the city's state lobbying contract with Governmental Consultant Services Inc. (GCSI), increasing the contract by $240,000 and extending the period through Jan. 31, 2026.

Barb Farah, president of GCSI, told the committee the contract had been RFPed six months earlier and that an administrative error left an initial shorter term; the amendment before council corrects that by adding a one-year renewal. Farah said the firm will continue work on legislative priorities such as the Public Safety Trust Fund, a water-affordability package, police reform bills, and FOIA-related items. She said some bills that were active last session did not move forward and that GCSI will work to reintroduce or advance them in the new legislative cycle.

Farah said the firm had a list of appropriations it has helped secure and offered to share details with council staff. Councilmember Angela Whitfield Callaway pressed GCSI about its team composition and local representation; Duane Gill, a GCSI staffer and Detroit native, said he is assigned to the effort and introduced colleague Connor Spaulding. Callaway suggested the firm consider expanding staff diversity and local presence.

The committee voted to send the contract amendment (contract 6006292DASHA1) to formal with a recommendation to approve. The formal-session vote will finalize the renewal and the $240,000 contract increase.

Ending: GCSI representatives agreed to provide a written list of appropriations secured and to continue coordinating with council offices on legislative priorities.","Committee of the Whole voted to send to formal session an amendment renewing the city's state lobbying contract with Governmental Consultant Services Inc. through Jan. 31, 2026, adding $240,000 to the contract. GCSI staff described recent appropriations they worked to secure and priorities they are pursuing in Lansing.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6362581,"Council hears law-department explanation for $650,000 police-related settlement",320,2725000,3045000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2167625-8c64a966a1bd4240dce5ceecef2a8dca&start=2725&end=3045","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2167625-8c64a966a1bd4240dce5ceecef2a8dca/thumbnail_2725000.jpg","/articles/6362581/Detroit/Wayne-County/Michigan/Council-hears-law-department-explanation-for-650000-police-related-settlement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6362581-adb22815a5b693a155751aca7c9702a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203907&Signature=OrsRMzWRj9pZ7o~2FTk5xr3cpH6Z66HaA0lvkIIJGGqc3GTmerSWrxTcmzk3fYlD6WPOFemlWbBmsKyA8akKgXbXhaHcdsCkKUfvo3DeCP35ta11lwy-lxKTAIH~dtu4pQNc3yH8GVq18-VunE7N0olLCxdquxRcvns4UD1fwm5Cfj0ECvmoK0t8XA8B0H2hFlixcnkY-9Ruw5d941PM7wHVboi03BZXt70Oz72yE1AoyWlX3DWBhEZrh99ngJ5myq~QMgsjAlba~cek8Aigwh5r8JR0rsBowH1reHRTH9GRi83gEtL~ppXnq~DwwN1QWXGodzPseF3dg3dACAjtdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Detroit ' Council members in the Committee of the Whole asked for additional follow-up after the law department explained why the city agreed to a proposed $650,000 settlement in a police-related lawsuit.

The settlement, summarized during line item 5.8, was described by Graham Anderson of the City Law Department as the product of \"different interpretation of the facts\" and negotiations that included \"some judicial influence pushing a settlement in this matter, which resulted in the settlement.\" Anderson added, \"juries are unpredictable as I've communicated in the past.\"

Councilmember Angela Whitfield Callaway pressed the law department for clarity on legal representation and indemnification for the defendant officer in the case and asked whether the officer had been disciplined. Anderson told the committee the department had approved legal representation and indemnification for the defendant officer but that differing factual interpretations and negotiation dynamics ultimately led to the settlement rather than a trial.

Callaway said she would follow up with the police chief on whether the officer involved received discipline, and the committee asked for a closed-session follow-up and documentation on discipline and any RNI requests related to the case.

The committee voted to send the settlement to the formal session with a recommendation to approve. That referral moves the settlement request forward for a formal vote; it does not itself finalize payment.

Ending: Council requested additional information from the Law Department and the police chief about discipline and the indemnification decision; the settlement will next appear in formal session.","During Committee of the Whole discussion, the Law Department explained factors behind a proposed $650,000 settlement in a police-related case and council members pressed for follow-up on discipline and indemnification.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6362585,"Committee advances multiple settlement and contract items, sends four legal-indemnification requests to formal session",2463,2279000,4742000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2167625-8c64a966a1bd4240dce5ceecef2a8dca&start=2279&end=4742","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2167625-8c64a966a1bd4240dce5ceecef2a8dca/thumbnail_2279000.jpg","/articles/6362585/Detroit/Wayne-County/Michigan/Committee-advances-multiple-settlement-and-contract-items-sends-four-legal-indemnification-requests-to-formal-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6362585-c231fd9c614d2f15471d34f4029ffc59/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203907&Signature=gfp~U-ZhsbiBSwYy9szS1yKL65~-IcG6pcqzOVEY2gzuuqmh4EAu9WzLq75JdFROdE~4hwRjUExC-iGznS3zAJ6XooZIr5Ye2C555VgzfQ1tpXgzoq-cAjvy-9lLO~5wpDNwJYf0Ss5xSdmTmNmp6xdWKqrbcf1eF3gbVhGzJKPJ8XEBq4BxJfUiKxGmyGpyOMZmDqDPcxkamdHch8Flg~6~zcS1ysdl4xZuCpA1FsGxL~IzYVDnD1L~H5r6KClUjB8UTMwd1mIbTg1sxHwb3Z3CfYkAy9tDFI30VcJh29bZG79ckK2Bch6-GEzjeB92~rVLp8VPMjnB3fcD1sLRqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Detroit ' At a Jan. 23 Committee of the Whole meeting, council members voted, without recorded objection, to send a series of settlement requests, legal-representation items and a contract renewal to the council's formal session with recommendations to approve.

The committee combined four related legal-representation items for Animal Care and Control staff (line items 5.1, 5.3, 5.4 and 5.5) and moved them to formal with a recommendation to approve. The committee also moved several settlement requests for approval, including a $99,000 settlement in Lakisha Hines v. City of Detroit (line item 5.6) and a $32,500 settlement in Robbie and Shaniqua Daish v. City of Detroit (case no. 23-016105-nf, line item 5.7).

A separate motion sent line item 5.2 (legal representation and indemnification for building operator apprentice Ronald Remitz in a case captioned Robin Johnson v. Ronald Remitz and City of Detroit) to formal with a recommendation to approve; the committee recorded no objection. The committee also approved sending line item 5.9, a $17,500 settlement in Dwight Moss v. Progressive Michigan Insurance Co., et al., to formal with recommendation to approve.

Council members moved line item 5.8, a proposed $650,000 settlement in Michael Kinnebrew v. Britney Moss, Deandre Williams, Allen Williams, Christian Earl and City of Detroit (case no. 22-12998, police-department related), to formal with a recommendation to approve after discussion between Councilmember Angela Whitfield Callaway and the law department.

Committee members approved procedural requests to bring several items back for further review: two-week bring-backs for line items 5.10 and 5.11, a one-week bring-back for line item 6.2, and a one-week bring-back for line item 6.9 (which requests legislative policy division drafts to reestablish the youth and civic engagement task force and the human-trafficking task force).

On contracts, the committee approved sending amendment No. 1 to contract 6006292DASHA1 (Governmental Consultant Services, Inc.) to formal with a recommendation to approve. The amendment adds a one-year renewal of state lobbying services, extends the contract through Jan. 31, 2026, and increases the contract amount by $240,000.

Other actions moved to formal with recommendation to approve included several smaller police- and transportation-related settlements: a $30,000 case involving DDOT (line item 6.2 was pulled for one-week follow-up), a $25,000 settlement in Corey Pride v. City of Detroit (line item 6.3), and a $10,000 settlement in Herschel Boos and Josephine Strickland v. City of Detroit (line item 6.4). The committee also received-and-filed reports on debarment expirations for William Scully and James Harvey and accepted the Office of Inspector General's 2024 fourth-quarter report (line item 6.7).

Votes in committee were recorded as \"hearing no objection\" for the listed motions; the record shows committee members moved items to formal session with recommendations rather than final adoption of settlements or contracts.

Ending: Many of the items approved by the committee require formal session votes to take effect; several items were held for additional follow-up and will return to committee or formal session per the bring-back requests.","At a Jan. 23 Committee of the Whole meeting, council members moved a slate of settlement approvals, requests for legal representation and indemnification, and a one-year renewal for the city's state lobbying contract to the formal session with recommendations to approve.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public commenters urge action on land bank, foreclosures, BZA fees and neighborhood funding

Committee moves one-year renewal of state lobbying contract with GCSI, $240,000 increase

Council hears law-department explanation for $650,000 police-related settlement

Committee advances multiple settlement and contract items, sends four legal-indemnification requests to formal session