Detroit committee advances multiple contracts including $18M stormwater, sidewalk repairs and AV pilot

The Public Health & Safety Standing Committee reviewed and advanced a slate of contracts and memos on June 16, including a major stormwater program, sidewalk-repair work and several time extensions for demolition and fire contracts.

Stormwater contract: DWSD staff described contract 6007080 — a stormwater infrastructure management program using capital (CIP) funding — as an $18,000,000 contract through May 31, 2030 to support green stormwater infrastructure in the Upper Rouge tributary and near-East Side, and to ensure compliance with a State of Michigan permit (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit). DWSD said OHM was the highest-ranked proposer; the contract was approved by DWSD’s Board and the mayor earlier in April.

Sidewalks and bonding: Members questioned a $2,000,875 sidewalk-replacement contract and whether contractors carried bonds and had completed prior obligations. OCP staff said bonds are required for construction contracts over $25,000 and that the city has withheld funds from demolition contracts to cover sidewalk finalization where contractors failed to complete repairs. The sidewalk contract (7.6) was sent to formal session without a recommendation; the bonding documents were confirmed available to the committee.

Other approvals and time extensions: The committee approved or advanced a series of items including emergency demolition formal action items, ARPA-funded construction amendments, and extensions for fire-related contracts. Items 7.3 and 7.4 (ARPA construction/demolition time extensions) and amendment 7.5 (training extension with ETC) were sent to formal with recommendations to approve. Several contract items (7.8–7.14 and 7.15–7.19) were approved and sent to new business with recommendations.

Autonomous-vehicle pilot: The committee reviewed a grant-funded accessible-transportation pilot contract (7.19) to relaunch a free autonomous-vehicle shuttle originally run with Michigan Central and Bedrock; the contract with Perrone Robotics is grant-funded ($1,550,000) and staff said the service could resume after the Fourth of July holiday for at least one year, pending MDOT funding.

Administrative follow-ups: Several items were tabled for additional information or correction letters — notably a tax-clearance follow-up for an emergency demolition payment (6.2) and a correction to committee reports for contract amounts — and the panel scheduled returns for 6.1 (one week), 6.2 (three weeks), and 6.3 (two weeks).

Votes/outcomes: Many motions passed by unanimous voice or “hearing no objection.” The committee approved several contracts and advanced many items to formal session or new business; 7.6 (sidewalks) was specifically moved to formal without recommendation to allow further review.

Next steps: Committee staff will coordinate correction letters and updated committee reports with OCP and the Clerk’s office; several items will appear at formal session and others will return to committee for additional documentation.