Return to Public Health and Safety Standing Committee
Live reporting by Meghan Rutigliano
View on Twitter

The proposal to split the decision-making process for three solar farm projects into separate items was voted down, despite efforts to streamline the review of the Neighborhood Solar Initiative.

MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8
Hi Detroit! I’ll be live-tweeting the Public Health and Safety Standing Committee
Detroit City Council mtg @ 10am for #DETdocumenters.
@DetDocumenters media partners:
@BridgeDet313
@chalkbeatDET
@freep
@metrotimes
@michigan_public
@media_outlier
@PlanetDetroit
@wdet
@wxyzdetroit

08:50 AM Jul 22, 2024 CDT

MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 2/60
The meeting will take place in person at 1340 Coleman A. Young Municipal Center (313) 224-3443 Detroit, MI 48226
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 3/60
For information on how to join by Zoom or phone, visit
detroitmi.gov/government/cit…
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 4/60
IMPORTANT: If you believe anything in the coverage today is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@outliermedia.org with "Correction Request" in the subject line.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 5/60
To view the full agenda, visit:
pub-detroitmi.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ash…
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 6/60
There will be time allotted for public comments
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 7/60
I'm on the Zoom link and the meeting has started but I can't hear or see anything.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 8/60
They could be waiting for a quorum. I'm going to try dialing in by phone just in case the connection issue is on my end. ;)
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 9/60
No, it just hasn't officially begun. I'm also on the Zoom phone call. In the meanwhile, here's the membership of the committee:
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 10/60
OK! I just joined on Channel 10 and they are going!
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 11/60
Sorry folks. I'm confused. They seem to be going over items not on this meeting agenda. I'm wondering if perhaps they called another subcommittee to order?
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 12/60
yeah, I'm a bit confused. I see the Zoom screen from Channel 10. I believe that they must have just gone on with another meeting in lieu of the meeting I was meant to cover.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 13/60
OK! I think I figured it out. This is the agenda. The Zoom is not working at all.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 14/60
The meeting IS taking place, was already called to order. Here's the agenda they're on:
pub-detroitmi.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ash…
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 15/60
So correction: I had the wrong agenda link. The correct one is here:
pub-detroitmi.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ash…
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 16/60
Our Documenters coordinator just let us know that the Zoom account was affected by the Crowdstrike update and is not working. You can watch today's City Council session here, on the video attached to the agenda:
pub-detroitmi.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?I…
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 17/60
Let me find their place in agenda. Sorry for the glitch. Lots of comms affected by Crowdstrike!
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 18/60
They're talking about fireworks and riverfront and Aretha Franklin arena. Harbormaster Unit patrolling is up for discussion.
Motion to approve 6.22-6.23 approved.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 19/60
Now we're on:
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 20/60
Motion to discuss these items approved. Ron Brundidge
Ron Brundidge - Director - Department of Public Works - City of Detroit joined to provide context for what they public might expect.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 21/60
Talking about repaving Conner in District 3. Class C streets with no curbs.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 22/60
6.24-6.25: Sent to new business with recommendation to approve.
Joined now by Council President Waters.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 23/60
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 24/60
They're discussing repaving areas of Outer Drive, McNichols to where county segment ends. No immediate plans for repaving. Railroad crossings.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 25/60
Now they're going back to Items 6.4-6.18 for discussion.
Director of Destruction and Demolition.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 26/60
6.5: Detroit has reached the extent of its AARP funding. The reason why we're seeing funding from AARP AND other funding sources for these items.
Items 6.4-6.18 are approved.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 27/60
Leah Smith from the Health Department is in the room.
Director of Administrative Operations.
6.20. Why more space? Need more space for residents to easily walk to for nutritional services. WIC Program space.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 28/60
Santiago-Romero asking Smith for help figuring out what staffing would be needed to conduct a health impact study and our air quality? Areas like D64 where there's high rate of industrial activities.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 29/60
6.20-6.21 Approved!
Motion to send to New business with rec to approve.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 30/60
6.26: Noise Violations Update to Support Urban Core Growth, Public Hearing to be scheduled.
Council member Scott Benson asking: why are we doing this? seems like a negative thing for residents.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 31/60
There was a request to remove this item. Approved.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 32/60
6.28 Mary Waters proposed an ordinance codifying that residents can withhold their rent if their requests for compliance are not honored. Only 10% of Detroit's properties are in compliance.
Benson: How can we get to 100% compliance?
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 33/60
Benson: How can we support getting landlords to be part of the winning solutions here? Wants to push getting quality resources to landlords!
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 34/60
Andie (from Mayor's office) is there to address questions. Wants to focus on enforcing serious rights for tenants. Codify city's ability to enforce tickets to a lien on the property to give "teeth" to the ordinance. Fixing a leaking enforcement system. (oh! I love her language!)
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 35/60
Waters: been working on compliance issues. Has been determined to move this work forward.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 36/60
Santiago Romero is asking Waters to combine efforts to move forward work on providing safe housing.
Benson is concerned about Liens on property.
Andie from City Council: It could be a foreclosable event.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 37/60
Zoom is now working!
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 38/60
6.36-6.37 are approved. 6.38 is responses to fugitive dust ordinance. Received and filed.
6.39: Allow separate votes on Solar farm proposals.
Motion to discuss.
Benson: What would this accomplish?
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 39/60
6.40: Approved. Sent to council with rec to approve.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 40/60
6.41-6.42 Received and file w Engineering Department.
6.43-DTE requesting vacation (not the adventure but the action of vacating LOL)
6.44-Requesting vacation
Approved.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 41/60
6.46: Motion to bring back in one week. Approved.
Now discussing 6.39 and 6.46.
Council and CFO & Strategy Officer
This is about dividing the solar farm sites.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 42/60
Motion to approve with recommendation to deny (Benson). Benson objects to 6.39. He votes NO.
Waters votes NO. The item fails and doesn't go to formal session.
6.46. Misc. Memo relative to solar initiatives.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 43/60
A woman is saying she's sorry that she has no idea how questions from city council escaped her notice.
Motion to bring 6.46 back in one week.
6.47
6.48 Long memo that they'll discuss next week.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 44/60
6.47: Assign to LPD to review.
What is it? Essentially the effort to enroll Michigan to the ground emergency program to receive reimbursements. Medical system is way too costly for residents. Assigned to LPD. Bring back in one week.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 45/60
6.48: Memo from City Council President's office. Motion to receive and file.
Motion to bring back 4.49-6.51 on September 9th.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 46/60
WOOHOOOOOO! Public Comment!
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 47/60
Resident getting complaints about people smoking at Aretha Amphitheater. Wants no smoking signs posted there.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 48/60
Same guy: What can be done to ensure adequate staffing during 4th of July? and weekends? Works at water treatment plant.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 49/60
Commenter on 6.35: Vouchers for employees? To pay for city employee childcare? Needs to be a policy around GBGD funds which are for Detroit residents.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 50/60
Wants adequate conversations about solar. Says that solar fields are being forced on residents.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 51/60
Female speaker: Police power is for basic things and not for zoning. What's the long term implication of solar farms?
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 52/60
Female speaker: 3rd annual resource fair. Needs barber and hair braider. District 7.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 53/60
Male caller supporting Kamala Harris.
Male caller supporting transit ordinances to protect residents for air pollutants.
Wayne State Scholar Male calling about lead poisoning of children.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 54/60
Female caller supporting the purchase of zero emission paratransit vehicles!
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 55/60
Male caller: pushing for water amnesty! Thanks City Council for supporting his organization, Hydrate Detroit.
Believes in water affordability and supports Harris for president.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 56/60
Meeting adjourned at 12:04pm.
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 57/60
The next meeting, I believe, will take place after the City Council breaks for Summer Recess. I heard reference to September 9th date during the meeting today. Please refer to the City Council website for info on future meetings.
detroitmi.gov/government/cit…
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 58/60
This concludes my coverage of the Public Health and Safety Standing Committee
Detroit City Council mtg today. For information about the next meeting, visit:
detroitmi.gov/government/cit…
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 59/60
For more meeting coverage check out .
documenters.org
MotorCityMegs @MotorCityMegs8 60/60
and don't forget to sign up for the Detroit Documenters newsletter!