Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Confirmations Roundup topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Votes at a glance: Council confirms seven mayoral appointees, one recorded 6–2
Summary
At the Feb. 5 confirmation session the Detroit City Council approved seven mayoral appointments — including reappointments of the corporation counsel, CFO, planning director, housing director, police chief, fire commissioner and HR director — with one recorded 6–2 vote on the housing director waiver.
Detroit City Council approved seven mayoral appointments on Feb. 5, advancing reappointments across the city’s executive leadership. Most confirmations were approved by voice; one item produced a recorded 6–2 tally.
At‑a‑glance results
• 3.1 — Tanya Stoudemire, reappointment as chief financial officer: Approved (no objections recorded on the floor during this session). Stoudemire summarized three decades of city service and said the administration is pursuing incremental revenue strategies while acknowledging state constraints.
• 3.2 — Conrad Mallett, reappointment as corporation counsel: Approved on the floor after three council members registered objections. Public commenters urged council to reject the reappointment, citing alleged conflicts and FOIA concerns; Mallett defended his record and cited enforcement work on blight and deed‑fraud matters.
• 3.3 — Alexa Bush, reappointment as director of Planning and Development: Approved (voice approval). Bush discussed master‑plan updates, retail‑leakage studies and efforts to attract grocery and retail investment into neighborhood corridors.
• 3.4 — Julie Snyder, reappointment as director of Housing and Revitalization Department: Approved; a waiver vote and objections were recorded, and the clerk announced the motion passed 6–2. Council members questioned strategies for single‑family rental improvements, lead remediation, cooperatives and historic property preservation.
• 3.5 — Todd Bettison, reappointment as chief of police: Approved (no objections recorded on the floor). Bettison highlighted 2025 crime statistics — including a drop in homicides and reductions in nonfatal shootings and carjackings — and described policies limiting DPD’s role in evictions and immigration enforcement except in narrow, judicially authorized circumstances.
• 3.6 — Charles Sims, reappointment as fire commissioner: Approved (voice). Sims described paramedic training efforts, nurse‑navigation pilots for low‑acuity medical calls, and the need for investment in aging fire stations.
• 3.7 — Denise Starr, reappointment as director of Human Resources: Approved (voice). Starr reviewed HR’s platform migration, employee engagement measures, recruitment work and partnerships to fill technical vacancies; members raised concerns about remote work and the use of H‑1B visa hires, which Starr said are being managed case‑by‑case and not being revoked for current employees.
What’s next: Council and department staff said they will continue committee oversight, request budget crosswalks for the EOP, and follow up on clarifications requested in Q&A sessions.
