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Council debates $1M city-run community responder proposal; votes to table pending budget details
Summary
Councilors discussed setting aside $1 million over two budget cycles to launch a city-run community responder program but voted to table the resolution to fold detailed funding and staffing proposals into the formal budget process and to coordinate county buy-in.
City Councilors spent significant time considering a proposal to allocate $1 million over two budget cycles to develop and phase in a city-run community responder program for mental-health crises, substance-use calls and homelessness responses.
Supporters described preliminary LEAP data estimating incident types and volumes that could be diverted to non-police responders and outlined potential state funding streams and county integration of dispatch. Supporters said partial state revenue-sharing and forthcoming federal/state grants could be leveraged, and that a phased approach would allow hiring, training and triage-protocol development with EMS and dispatch.
Opponents and some fiscal-conservative councilors asked that the request be folded into the formal budget process so that staff can present precise cost estimates, identify sustainable funding sources and show how the program would integrate with existing county services. After debate the council voted to table the standalone $1 million allocation and directed staff to provide budget scenarios and details for council consideration as part of the upcoming two-year budget process.
Council members emphasized coordination with Wayne County dispatch and the sheriff’s office, and asked staff to present LEAP’s more detailed analysis and a timeline for possible pilot phases.
