Council committee to continue Land Bank MOU debate after residents press for clearer terms

The Detroit City Council committee continued its months‑long discussion of a proposed memorandum of understanding with the Detroit Land Bank Authority and asked amendment sponsors to supply specific legal language before the item returns to the table.

The chair told colleagues the MOU will be taken up formally on Sept. 11 and cautioned that general phrases like “enhanced community engagement” are not legal drafting: “You can’t just throw that into a MOU. What does that mean? Who’s to decide what that enhanced engagement looks like?” he said, urging sponsors to attach concrete details to their amendments.

Residents who called in and spoke in person urged the council to slow the process and provide broader public forums. One caller, who read a portion of the Detroit city charter aloud, told the committee: “Except as otherwise provided by this charter, the city may not sell or in any way dispose of any property without the approval by resolution of the city council,” and warned that council authority over property disposition requires careful tracking.

Other public commenters accused the Land Bank of harmful practices. A caller alleged that “100,000 homes have been illegally foreclosed” and urged additional moratoria and investigations; council members and staff did not corroborate that number during the meeting and treated it as an allegation. The committee requested follow‑up information and legal analysis from the law department and the ombudsman’s office.

Graham Anderson of the Law Department told members the committee lacks authority to compel the Michigan Land Bank Authority to provide information outside of litigation and explained that the committee’s typical oversight function is to approve or review board appointments. Staff said they will provide memos and legal responses in advance of next week’s meeting so councilors can review materials before discussion.

Members said they were frustrated by what one called “calls coming from inside the house,” by which the chair meant criticisms that attribute obstruction to the committee while amendment sponsors had not supplied necessary proposed language.

The committee set a schedule of follow‑ups: memos and legal analyses are to be circulated before the Sept. 11 session, an ombudsman report will be provided where relevant, and the Land Bank quarterly report was scheduled for the full council on Oct. 2. The chair also asked members who propose amendments to include concrete drafting language so the committee can advance a legally sound MOU for residents’ benefit.

The item remains under active review and will return to committee on Sept. 11.