Detroit committee forwards multiple settlements and contract amendments to council, delays federal lobbyist renewal

The Detroit City Council Internal Operations Standing Committee on March 19 voted to forward multiple settlements and contract amendments to the full council and delayed action on a proposed one-year renewal for federal lobbying services.

The committee sent settlement requests and contract amendments involving the police department, the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) and other city contracts to the full council with recommendations to approve. Committee members also agreed to bring the proposed renewal for federal lobbying services by Boundary Stone Partners LLC back for the contractor to appear and for additional review.

Committee chair (referred to in the meeting as "Madam Chair") opened discussion on unfinished business after general public comment and introduced line item 5.1, an amendment to contract 6005283-A1 to extend monitoring of Good Neighbor Plan commitments by adult-use marijuana licensees. The amendment would extend the contract through June 14, 2026, and add $75,000, raising the contract total to $180,000. The committee heard that staff had submitted follow-up questions and received a response from CREO and that additional district-specific questions remained; Member Waters said, "I do have some additional questions relative to District 4, and how the Good Neighbor program has provided support to non profit organizations in District 4." Seeing no objection, the committee moved the item to formal session with a recommendation to approve.

The committee then moved several settlement requests and contract amendments to formal session with recommendations to approve: a $235,000 settlement in Lamont Jackson Gibson and Toriel Dixon v. Reginald Beasley (case no. 20-12765) for the police department; an amendment (6004656-83, amendment 3) adding $150,000 for pre-litigation condemnation services related to the Coleman A. Young Municipal Airport with a contract period through June 30, 2025; a $15,000 settlement in Montec Kennedy v. Farmers Insurance Exchange/DDOT (case no. 23-012033-NI); and a $30,000 settlement in Demetrius Williams v. City of Detroit (case no. 224-CV-13045) for the police department. The committee also approved sending a requested amendment to the official compensation schedule for the first assistant chief education to formal session with a recommendation to approve.

On the proposed amendment to contract 6006291-A1 to exercise a one-year renewal for federal lobbying services with Boundary Stone Partners LLC (extension through June 30, 2026; increase $210,000), the committee requested the contractor appear before the committee and agreed to bring the item back in one week rather than forwarding it. Member Waters had asked that the contractor appear before the committee prior to approval; a motion passed without objection to delay consideration for one week.

Votes at a glance

- Line item 5.1 — Contract 6005283-A1 (BCA 3 LLC): Amendment to extend monitoring of Good Neighbor Plan commitments for adult-use marijuana licensees through 06/14/2026; increase $75,000 (new total $180,000). Outcome: Sent to formal session with recommendation to approve. (Discussion: staff received responses from CREO; Member Waters requested district-specific follow-up.)

- Line item 5.2 — Settlement: Lamont Jackson Gibson and Toriel Dixon v. Reginald Beasley, Case No. 20-12765 (Police Department). Amount: $235,000. Outcome: Sent to formal session with recommendation to approve.

- Line item 5.3 — Contract 6004656-83, Amendment 3 (A Lawyer and Associates, PC): Increase $150,000 for pre-litigation services related to condemnation matters involving Coleman A. Young Municipal Airport; contract period through 06/30/2025. Outcome: Sent to formal session with recommendation to approve. (Discussion: committee members asked that the airport be referred by its full name.)

- Line item 6.1 — Contract 6006291-A1 (Boundary Stone Partners LLC): Proposed one-year renewal for federal lobbying services through 06/30/2026; increase $210,000. Outcome: Postponed — committee voted to bring the item back in one week and requested the contractor appear for questions.

- Line item 6.2 — Settlement: Montec Kennedy v. Farmers Insurance Exchange / DDOT (Carl Saunders), Case No. 23-012033-NI. Amount: $15,000. Outcome: Sent to formal session with recommendation to approve.

- Line item 6.3 — Settlement: Demetrius Williams v. City of Detroit, Case No. 224-CV-13045 (Police Department). Amount: $30,000. Outcome: Sent to formal session with recommendation to approve.

- Line item 6.4 — Amendment to 02/2025 Official Compensation Schedule for First Assistant Chief Education. Outcome: Sent to formal session with recommendation to approve.

Discussion and context

Committee members asked staff to supply additional detail on several items before formal council action. On 5.1 the committee cited follow-up questions provided to the contractor and a response from CREO; Members asked for detail on how the Good Neighbor program has supported nonprofit organizations in District 4. On 5.3, a member asked that staff correct references to the airport and consistently use the full name Coleman A. Young Municipal Airport on future agendas and documents; staff said they would coordinate with the clerk's office to update the record before formal session. On the lobbying renewal (6.1), the committee specifically requested that Boundary Stone Partners LLC appear in person or virtually to answer questions about services and deliverables before the committee forwards that contract for approval.

Next steps

All items moved to formal session will be considered by the full council in a future session with the committee's recommendation to approve unless staff or council members provide new information. The lobbying contract renewal will return to the Internal Operations Standing Committee in one week for additional review.

(Reporting note: The committee recorded motions and unanimous "hearing no objection" confirmations for items moved to formal; no roll-call vote tallies were provided in the transcript.)