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Council approves multiple contracts, appointments and resolutions; land bank MOU returned to committee
Summary
During the Jan. 21 session the Detroit City Council approved a slate of appointments, procurement contracts and resolutions across departments; the council also approved supplemental retiree payments and several one-year or shorter contracting actions. Item 18.8, the Land Bank MOU, was sent back to committee and not adopted.
The Detroit City Council on Jan. 21 approved a series of resolutions, appointments and contracts across city departments, and attached waivers where requested. Separately, the council returned the Land Bank authority MOU (line item 18.8) to the Planning and Economic Development standing committee for additional negotiation.
Key outcomes “at a glance”
- Appointment: The council approved appointment of Alexa Bush as Planning Director (line item 16.1). Member Johnson moved approval and requested/received a waiver to consider the item at session.
- Contracts and procurement (selected items approved): • Accurate Networks LLC — contract 600-6356: preventative maintenance and installation services for Genetec systems (100% city funding). Total contract amount listed in the agenda: $750,000 (line item 16.2). • Infinite Technologies LLC — contract 600-6355: preventative maintenance and installation services for Genetec systems (100% city funding). Total: $750,000 (line item 16.3). • Seward Henderson, PLLC — amendment to contract 6001522-87: extension and increase for legal services in Davonte Sanford v. City of Detroit et al.; amended total: $3,200,000 (line item 16.4). • General Services Department (multiple heavy-duty repair contracts) — contracts numbered 6006821, 600-691-01, 600-691-11 and 6006912 for mechanics/repair services and park restoration; the council approved these items (line items 17.2–17.6), postponing line item 17.2 for one week at Council Member Callaway's request and approving 17.3–17.6.
- Human resources / labor actions (selected): The council approved items 16.5–16.9 (motions carried with discussion) and attached waivers where requested.
- Retiree supplemental checks: The council approved the supplemental checks item (line item 16.10). Council Member Johnson described distribution as including $5 million for general-service retirees and $5 million for police and fire retirees; the item was approved with a waiver attached.
- Planning and economic development and housing items: Line items 18.1–18.7 (housing and revitalization contracts and amendments, grant-funded agreements and historic-designation study work) were approved. Line item 18.8 (Land Bank MOU) was not approved at session and was referred back to committee for further negotiation.
What changed or was postponed
- Line item 17.2 (a General Services Department contract) was postponed for one week to allow Council Member Callaway additional time to obtain answers to outstanding questions. - Line item 18.8 (Land Bank MOU) was sent back to Planning & Economic Development for further work; the council also moved related item 18.9 back to committee.
Procedure notes: Most items were approved by motion at formal session; where councilors requested waivers to take action at session (for example, on appointments or purchases), the council attached those waivers by voice without roll-call tallies. When the agenda or staff materials were corrected during the meeting (for example, a date change on item 16.15), council approved the corrected version after a motion to amend the text.
Next steps and follow-up: Several items approved require implementation by the listed contractor or department. Item 17.2 will return next week. Item 18.8 will return to committee for drafting of a council resolution outlining requested MOU changes and for negotiation with the administration and the Detroit Land Bank Authority.
Votes: Many approvals were taken by voice without a roll-call tally recorded in the public transcript; where a formal roll-call was not recorded, the session notes indicate motions carried with no objections heard.
