Council moves multiple event permits and a $90,000 power-washer repair contract to formal session after brief discussion

The Detroit City Council voted by unanimous voice consent to move several petitions and contracts to formal session, including permits for public events and a three-year, $90,000 contract to repair trailer-mounted power-washing equipment.

Which items were advanced: the council agreed to bring back line items 5.1 (contract 66843) and 5.2 (residential parking memorandum) — each for a one-week bring-back — and 5.3 (city fleet vehicle inventory policy) for a two-week bring-back. The council also moved a series of new-business petitions (Line 6.1–6.4) for street- and park-event permits to formal session with recommendations for approval and advanced a contract (Line 6.5) for consideration in new business.

Why it matters: the contract for power-washer repair under the General Services Department covers maintenance of equipment used citywide to clean bus shelters, parks, playgrounds and some vehicles. Council members asked for inventory and timing information so constituents who raised maintenance concerns could get a timetable for when crews would remove old stickers and residue from sidewalks.

Contract details and discussion: Line 6.5 is a three-year contract with Eric and Robert Thompson LLC, of Farmington Hills, for “trailer mounted power washer equipment repair service, labor, and/or parts,” with a total amount of $90,000. Vice Chairwoman Callaway asked department staff how many trailer-mounted power washers the city has. GSD staff said units are deployed across divisions: “we have in the DDOT operation that cleans the bus shelters, they have 3, in the blight division. They also have 3 ... and then we have 2 others in grounds maintenance ... so 3 6 8 they have at least 8” (Dorel Harris, deputy director, General Services Department). Staff described primary uses as cleaning bus shelters, spraying park benches and pavilions, removing graffiti when feasible and cleaning vehicles of salt and debris.

The council asked when crews would resume power-washing of sidewalks and agreed staff would look for options that work after temperatures consistently rise above freezing; staff suggested following up in March or April for the sidewalk stickers reported by a business owner.

Votes at a glance (formal actions recorded in meeting): - Line 5.1 (Contract 66843, Diversified Employment Services Inc., total $253,004.28): motion to bring back in 1 week; outcome: bring back in 1 week (voice consent; no objections recorded). - Line 5.2 (Memorandum on residential parking concerns): motion to bring back in 1 week; outcome: bring back in 1 week (voice consent; no objections recorded). - Line 5.3 (City fleet vehicle inventory policy): motion to bring back in 2 weeks; outcome: bring back in 2 weeks (voice consent; no objections recorded). - Line 6.1 (March Rush petition, March 23, 2025): moved to formal session with recommendation for approval (voice consent; no objections recorded). - Line 6.2 (Growler Gallop petition, Atwater Brewery, Sept. 28): moved to formal session with recommendation for approval (voice consent; no objections recorded). - Line 6.3 (Share Rock Fest petition, March 15, 2025): moved to formal session with recommendation for approval (voice consent; no objections recorded). - Line 6.4 (Grand Circus Park Opening Day Party, April 4, 2025): moved to formal session with recommendation for approval (voice consent; no objections recorded). - Line 6.5 (Contract: Eric and Robert Thompson LLC, trailer-mounted power-washer repair, total $90,000): motion to discuss and then motion to move to formal session with recommendation for approval (voice consent; no objections recorded).

Ending: Council advanced the items for formal consideration; the transcript records department staff follow-up on equipment inventory and timing but no final contract award or ordinance adoption within this meeting.