Detroit City Council got back to business Tuesday, establishing board appointments and assignments for standing committees that serve as the main engine for its work.
It was the first meeting led by newly minted Council President James Tate Jr., who received a pay bump along with the title after being appointed by his colleagues in a 5-4 vote on Monday. Council members earn a $106,233 salary, while the council president earns $111,648. Mayor Mary Sheffield’s starting salary is $224,573, according to city records.
Tate said he intends to keep a strong relationship with Sheffield, who previously served as council president, and colleagues “so we can execute all the great things we talked about, campaigned on and promised our residents.”
“If there are issues with the administration, my job is to figure out how to smooth those things out and make things happen,” Tate said. “We are going to be busy y’all, but we’re going to be busy in a great way.”
It’s a new era for the City Council.
District 2 Council Member Angela Whitfield-Calloway praised Sheffield for announcing plans to launch a financial assistance program for new parents. Whitfield-Calloway said she was a proponent of expanding the cash program during the last budget cycle and was glad to see it come to fruition.
Tuesday’s formal session was the first for newly elected District 5 Council Member Renata Miller and District 7 Council Member Denzel McCampbell.
Miller thanked Council Members Mary Waters and Scott Benson for “being instrumental” in her election victory, and pledged to serve the district with “tenacity and drive.” Miller and McCampbell said they are in the process of hiring staff and setting up lines of communication with residents.
Miller thanked her colleagues for keeping an eye on issues in her district before she took office. District 4 Council Member Latisha Johnson said she’s looking forward to meeting former District 5 residents whom she represents under newly drawn districts. District boundaries were changed to maintain a balanced population, shifting some neighborhoods into new areas.
My McCampbell passed his first resolution, which seeks a report on what programs funded by the soon-to-expire American Rescue Plan Act can continue with General Fund dollars.
McCampbell said the intent is to find out what funding is available but also understand whether legal constraints prevent taxpayer dollars from being used on particular social programs. Sheffield will present her budget proposal in March, but McCampbell told reporters he wants an early jump on understanding the state of play.
“Let me get this information before we get to the marathon (budget) sessions in April,” McCampbell said. “It allows us, if we can’t (fund something) through the General Fund, to instead have conversations with other stakeholders, philanthropy or things like that, to see how we can keep those going.
“Senior (home) repair dollars, I heard that a lot on the campaign trail, but now you still have folks on the waiting list. Even if the ARPA dollars were continuing, that also tells me that we need more funding behind that.”
McCampbell will serve as chair of the council’s budget committee, taking over for his predecessor Fred Durhal III. He said the role is important to make good on promises to include residents in the budget process and create “well-resourced neighborhoods.”
While Monday’s vote to appoint Tate and Coleman A. Young II, the new president pro tem, to leadership roles was a narrow 5-4 margin, council members say they’re not starting the year divided.
“I wouldn’t read much into how that vote went down,” McCampbell said. “I want to work with member Waters on senior repair dollars. I’ve talked to Young about anti-poverty, I’ve talked to member Benson about attacking poverty. I want to work with every member on council to ensure that we get these passed.”
Waters reminded her colleagues that “public service is no joke.” She’s planning to push for housing initiatives to improve access to homeownership, home repair dollars and senior accessibility programs.
Waters said she’s unsatisfied with the one-year agreement council struck with the Detroit Land Bank Authority last year and plans to make changes in partnership with other members.
Committee roles defined
Standing committees are described in the council rules as “a major vehicle through which the City Council performs its duties.” Their basic function is to make inquiries, recommend actions and provide opportunities for public comment.
District 6 Council Member Gabriela Santiago-Romero said she’s eager to push for grassroots solutions to creating safer neighborhoods as chair of the Public Health and Safety Committee. She’s also serving on the Planning and Economic Development Committee, hoping to encourage the city to “think about development differently and how it can impact the city.”
“If (a developer) is already working on a project, the city can bring in some money to maybe do more sidewalk repairs; there are ways for us to collaborate where there’s a mutual benefit,” said Santiago-Romero, stressing that responsible development doesn’t mean draining developers of resources. “We’ve got to have people that are willing to be creative, push and ask those hard questions. I don’t think we’re asking enough or being creative enough.”
Each committee is made up of three council members who are responsible for business associated with specific city departments and agencies. Committees also make recommendations for contracts and appropriation transfers.
Every agenda item passes through a committee first, though members can also walk on items during a Tuesday formal session.
For example, the council walked on appointments to various city boards on Tuesday. I’ll outline those assignments below, but first let’s look at the makeup of each committee and its responsibilities.
Budget Finance and Audit
McCampbell will serve as chair with Johnson as vice chair. Waters is the third member.
This committee is among the most influential, handling all matters concerning bond issues, taxes, fees and other revenue measures. The committee holds hearings on each department for the annual budget.
Public Health and Safety
Santiago-Romero will serve as chair and McCampbell will serve as vice chair. Waters is the third member.
The committee handles matters related to public protection, emergency services, utilities, environmental quality issues, public works, infrastructure, transportation, traffic and parking control, homeland security, pandemics and other natural disasters.
Planning and Economic Development
Johnson will serve as chair with Santiago-Romero as vice chair. Young is the third member.
The committee handles issues related to proposed ordinances and policy matters on housing policy, land use and sales, zoning, economic development, resident employment and workforce training.
Internal Operations
Whitfield-Calloway will serve as chair, with District 3 Council Member Scott Benson as vice chair and Miller as the third member.
The committee receives matters pertaining to the council, City Clerk, Election Commission, Mayor’s Office and Law Department. It critically reviews litigation settlements and requests for legal representation when city employees are sued.
It also reviews all collective bargaining agreements and risk management reports.
Neighborhood and Community Services
Young will serve as chair, with Benson as vice chair and Miller as the third member.
The committee receives matters related to parks and recreation, senior citizens and youth, historic issues, museums, homelessness, municipal parking and the Detroit Zoological Society.
Rules Committee
Waters will serve as chair, with Whitfield-Calloway as vice chair and Benson as the third member.
The Rules Committee is required to meet within the first 60 days of each calendar year. It has jurisdiction over proposed ballot measures, charter amendments, and the City Council’s Rules of Order.
Board appointments
City Council members were also appointed to positions on several prominent boards.
- Tate: Detroit Riverfront Conservancy Board, Detroit Zoological Board of Directors
- Young: Police and Fire Retirement System Board of Trustees
- Waters: General Retirement System Board of Trustees
- Whitfield-Calloway: Detroit-Wayne County Health Authority
- Benson: Retiree Protection Investment Advisory Committee, Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, Detroit Zoological Board of Directors
- Johnson: Continuum of Care, liaison Detroit Public School Community District
- Miller: Eastern Market Corporation and Historical Museum Board
- Santiago-Romero: Southeast Michigan Council of Governments
- McCampbell: Eastern Market Corporation