Welcome back. I’m still Malachi Barrett.

The City Council’s final meeting of 2024 featured a long debate over the best use of federal disaster recovery funds.

Detroit received $95 million to recover from historic flooding in 2021 that damaged thousands of homes. The council voted 6-3 to spend $47.6 million to repair homeless shelters, collapsed city sewer drains and build affordable rental housing.

Council Members Latisha Johnson, Gabriela Santiago-Romero and Angela Whitfield-Calloway voted against the allocation. They wanted to shift funding to Detroit’s basement backup protection program.

A second phase of the basement backup protection program, available in 11 flood-prone neighborhoods, kicked off in February. New applications aren’t being accepted.

“I see a tremendous need to help residents become more resilient in their home,” Johnson said. “These dollars were sent to the city for disaster recovery.”

Johnson objected to using $17 million in flood relief for single-family rental housing in areas that were most affected by the 2021 flooding.

She said the money would be better used to fund the basement backup program.

The council were left with a familiar choice: Either approve the spending now or risk losing the money altogether.

Julie Schneider, director of the Housing and Revitalization Department, said it’s unclear whether the new Republican-majority Congress will reallocate emergency funding for more recent disasters.

Schneider said the city could direct  excess pandemic relief dollars toward the basement backup program, but changing the spending plan for flood relief would mean restarting a months-long process of public engagement and compliance work. 

It’s not a risk worth taking, said Council Member Coleman Young II.

“A couple of rules of the road: Don’t scratch a man’s car, don’t take food off another man’s plate without asking and you do not look a gift horse of $95 million in the mouth,” Young said.

Detroit is using $43 million in federal flood aid to expand a private sewer repair program. It started in 22 neighborhoods and will expand to 99 neighborhoods.

The city completed 309 sewer repairs using federal disaster relief since August and received 1,676 applications. Homeowners make up the vast majority of applicants.

Santiago-Romero said there’s a major need for sewer repairs in District 6, but the application process is difficult. The federal government requires 13 pieces of documentation.

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What page are we on?

Today’s notebook covers the Nov. 26 formal session. 

Dig into the agenda, read Detroit Documenter notes or watch the recording for more details. Did a friend forward you this? Sign up for BridgeDetroit’s free newsletters to catch the next one.

You heard it here first:

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• Detroit Community Coalition representatives are shopping for candidates to endorse in 2025. The group wants to met with leaders who align with their agenda, which includes abolishing the land bank. 

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Tenants rights commission takes shape 

The City Council selected four members to serve on Detroit’s first tenants rights commission.

The Tenant’s Rights Commission mediates conflicts between tenants and landlords, providing an alternative to costly court actions.

The commission will provide a “collective voice of advocacy” before city bodies and departments. It receive complaints, make referrals of alleged city code violations and mediate disputes between landlords and renters.

The nine-member body must include eight renters and one landlord. Four other members will be appointed by the mayor, plus a final member selected by the mayor and council.

Doneisia Davis, Jamie Junior, Tenesia Sanders and Sherrie Smith were selected by the council from a pool of 10 candidates.

Waters advocated for Davis, saying she’s been helping tenants in senior buildings navigate disputes and comes with a wealth of knowledge.

Santiago-Romero said Smith is a single mother with a lot to offer, and has already been working with city staff on issues affecting renters.

Mary Cox was appointed by Mayor Mike Duggan and Josephina Ramon was selected as the joint appointee.

Young described Ramon, a student at Wayne State University, as an inspiring young woman.

Waters secured $521,000 in the 2024-25 budget to stand up the commission, including a $200 per meeting stipend. Members will have parking, mileage and other expenses reimbursed.

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Detroiters push Democrats to back Black agenda 

Detroit officials held a “state of emergency” press conference to advocate for their legislative agenda before Democrats lose control of the Michigan Legislature.

The days are numbered for House Democrats to flex their narrow majority and pass key legislation before this year’s term ends.

A few members of the Black Legislative Caucus said Democrats haven’t used their power to deliver for Detroiters.

State Sen. Sylvia Santana, D-Detroit, said Democrats seizing once-in-a-generation control of the House, Senate and governor’s office didn’t benefit Black communities as expected. She called on Democrats to pass bills aimed at water affordability, auto insurance reform and improve maternal health outcomes.

“We’ve passed a lot of progressive legislation, but what about progressive legislation for the Black community that supports the Democratic Party on so many levels,” Santana said on Monday. “It is disingenuous that we cannot get policies done for the Black community.”

The Black Caucus provided a long list of other bills included in its legislative agenda.

Council President Mary Sheffield highlighted “urgent priorities” like the high cost of auto insurance, underfunded public schools and safety in neighborhoods.

Attendees criticized Democratic House members who have failed to show up for votes, stalling efforts to advance bills to the Senate. Democrats only have a 56-54 majority, so missing members means a higher likelihood of needing Republican votes to pass bills.

Council Member Mary Waters said Democrats aren’t using their power.

“You see the mistake that Democrats make: When we have the gavel, we don’t use it,” she said.

Detroit School Board member Sherry Gay-Dagnogo organized and led the press conference.

Attendees included state Rep. Donavan McKinney, D-Detroit, Wayne County Commissioner Jonathan Kinloch, Sheffield,Waters and Keith Williams, chair of the Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus. 

“No more waiting, no more accepting scraps,” Williams said. “It’s time to shit or get off the pot. If you’re not here to help Black constituents, get out of the way.”

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Solar farms go where needed

The City Council voted to exempt solar farms from Detroit’s zoning regulations.

Solar farms located on land owned by the city are considered “essential government function” and don’t have to follow rules that determine land uses.

Santiago-Romero and Whitfield-Calloway voted against the ordinance.

Whitfield-Calloway said it may open Detroit to legal action from solar companies that don’t have the same flexibility. But Corporation Counsel Conrad Mallett said her concern is unfounded.

“If it is done for or on behalf of the city of Detroit, then the zoning laws do not apply,” Mallett said in November.

State courts have ruled that “essential governmental structures” aren’t bound by a government’s own zoning and land use regulations.

Landscape buffers must be set up to separate solar farms from surrounding properties. The sites must be accessible to pedestrians every 1,320 feet and connect with nearby amenities like schools and businesses.

Solar farms must submit various plans for fire response, vegetation management, decommissioning and equipment specifications.

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Historic preservation plan takes first steps 

Detroit is hiring a firm to create the city’s first comprehensive plan to preserve historic sites.

The plan will help ensure that significant places are not overlooked and elected officials are informed they make decisions on the treatment of historic districts.

Detroit’s historic districts have protected thousands of buildings and other resources from incompatible alteration, infill, or demolition.

Quinn Evans Architects, Inc. was awarded a $233,850 contract to produce a study during the next two years.

The firm will create a Historic Preservation plan that examines how Detroit identifies historic districts and policies that impact older businesses.

City documents show the goal is to provide recommendations for future surveys and designations. 

The City Charter grants responsibility to study and recommend important sites to a Historic Designation Advisory Board made up of city residents. The City Council establishes historic districts based on the board’s recommendations.

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Hotel conversion preserves affordable housing     

The Plaza Midtown will be turned into the first extended stay Marriott Bonvoy in the U.S., requiring 15 households in affordable housing units to be relocated.

The council approved a change to a tax break agreement used by Roxbury Group to rehabilitate the former medical office into 72 apartments.

Developers will pay to move occupants in 15 discounted units to comparable affordable housing units elsewhere in the city.

The 3800 Woodward site had been closed since 2013 and slated for demolition at one point. It was obtained in 2015 by the Roxbury Group, which completed the renovation of the David Whitney Building, the Auburn, and the Milliken State Park Outdoor Adventure Center.

Roxbury Group renovated the 12-story mid-rise tower in 2017, completing a full update of the building’s mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems and a full restoration of the building’s historic exterior.

David Di Rita, principal of Roxbury Group, said the property was since left “stranded” by delays of neighboring development The Mid.

Developers scaled back plans for The Mid after it was announced in 2019, while state lawmakers extended tax credits for the project.

The latest proposal calls for a 15-story hotel, a parking deck and eight-story building with housing and retail units. A 13-story apartment building would go on top of the parking deck after the first phase is done in 2027.

The Professional Plaza Tower was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. It was considered notable for its association with the Detroit Medical Center’s 1958 urban renewal plan, which sought to bring medical professionals into the city.

The building was also known as the Hammer and Nail building. Two iconic illuminated neon signs promoted its association with the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights.

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Firm will find Detroit’s next police chief      

A search firm was hired to find candidates for Detroit’s next chief of police.

Interim Chief Todd Bettison was named by Duggan after previous Chief James White left the city for a lucrative new job as CEO of the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network. 

Bettison said he would like to be considered as a permanent replacement.

The City Charter grants the Board of Police Commissioners responsibility for conducting a search with a qualified firm to identify candidates.

The mayor is responsible for appointing a chief from a list of qualified candidates provided by the board. The City Council has final approval.

Southfield-based TJA Staffing Services, Inc. was contracted for $70,000 to conduct the national search. The contract expires in November 2025.

The City Council also approved a contract for 120 new police riot shields.

Defenshield, Inc. was paid $35,801 to provide the shields, which are used in crowd control situations. The shields are capable of withstanding strikes from bottles, bricks and rocks with a shatter-resistant design.

Interlocking edges allow police to connect multiple shields and create a larger barrier.

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Snow plows on standby     

It will cost the city roughly $10.5 million to keep streets clean of snow for the next two years.

The City Council approved nine contracts to provide snow plow services on residential streets in each of the council districts, and major streets across Detroit. The contracts expire at the end of 2026.

JE Jordan Landscaping was hired to plow Districts 1 and 2. Payne Landscaping was hired to cover Districts 3 and 4.

Fontenot Landscaping was hired for District 5 and Gibraltar Construction, hired for District 6 and  A-Team Snow and Ice Control was hired for District 7.

Several other companies will  plow major streets, which carry traffic between neighborhoods. Waterford-based Oakland Equipment received the largest contract, worth $2.4 million.