Council discusses possible amendments to Michigan Land Bank intergovernmental agreement; DLBA CEO offers to consult

Councilmembers discussed a memorandum seeking amendments to the Michigan Land Bank Authority intergovernmental agreement and agreed to receive and file the document while coordinating proposed changes with the mayor's office and the state, Committee Chair Councilmember Leticia Johnson said.

Tammy Daniels, chief executive officer of the Detroit Land Bank Authority, told the committee she had not been actively involved in council-state conversations but understood council member Mary Waters and the mayor's office had been in touch with the state. "I do know that council member Waters has reached out," Daniels said. "I think, back in October, council member council president Tate's office reached out, to speak with the state about amendments to the intergovernmental agreement, but, I'm not sure where those conversations have landed."

Council President Pro Tem Coleman Young II asked whether the city was waiting for state advice on how to proceed. The chair clarified that the state is looking for the city to determine how it would like to amend the agreement and to share that information with the state, and that council staff will work with the mayor's office before submitting an amended agreement.

Pro Tem Young asked Daniels to review proposed amendments once they are drafted and provide an analysis of what changes are legal, reasonable, and what impacts they would have on the land bank's operations and finances. "I would like at some point once they've been proposed, what you think is reasonable, what you think is it, what the impact would be on the land bank?" he said, noting the land bank's large scale and past inventory changes.

The committee moved to receive and file the memorandum and carry forward coordination with the mayor's office and the DLBA; the motion carried with no objections.