The City Council flexed its oversight role by questioning administration officials about their efforts to clear snow from bus stops, ensure maintenance issues are addressed in senior apartments and rental properties are in compliance.
Before getting to voting action matters, the council summoned officials from Mayor Mary Sheffield’s administration to address concerns raised by residents. The discussion was a reflection of pledges made by Council President James Tate and other members to hold the administration accountable while maintaining a partnership with the mayor, who precedes Tate as council president.
David Bell, director of the Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department, said city inspectors were dispatched to address reports of elevator malfunctions at senior apartment complexes provided by council members.
Bell said Williams Pavilion, Parkview Tower, Square and Warren Plaza Apartments were referred to the Law Department for “evaluation and legal action.”
Bell plans to inspect elevators at senior buildings at least four times per year, part of a Sheffield administration effort to step up code enforcement.
Other aspects of the plan include increasing fines for violations, a new reporting mechanism, more consent agreements with corrective action plans and a goal of ensuring 65 apartment complexes are up to code by year’s end.
Only 15% of Detroit rental properties are registered with the city. Bell said the administration set a goal of increasing the compliance rate to 35% by the end of 2026.
District 5 Council Member Renata Miller said oversight of senior buildings “has been neglected in our city for many years.” She also requested details on how much money the city is missing from rental owners who lack certificates of compliance.
General Services Department Assistant Director Alex Weatherup said the city has five crews shoveling snow from 153 bus shelters in the city every day. They prioritize routes that run 24 hours a day and then focus on routes based on ridership volume. Another 120 shelters are maintained by Brooklyn Outdoor, which installed shelters with solar powered USB charging stations.
Jennie Whitfield, chief of staff for the Department of Transportation, said the city is required to ensure bus stops remain accessible to people with disabilities. Whitfield encouraged residents to report customer service issues to DDOT at (313) 933-1300.