Converting a couple of Midtown parks and updates from more public meetings in Detroit

Detroit Documenters reported difficulties in some meetings they attended online last week with audio, visual and other issues related to the virtual meetings.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, agencies and those in public service have had to manage technology, even if it’s not their expertise. To everyone trying to improve meetings, thank you. And since it’s budget season, maybe it’s time to increase funding for the Media Services Department , the Department of Innovation and Technology and others working to make virtual meetings accessible to a greater number of people.

Speaking of budget season — we’re on it, y’all! Agencies have started presenting their budget proposals to City Council, and together with Outlier Media and BridgeDetroit, we’re highlighting every hearing. Keep reading for Documenters coverage of two of them, and stay tuned for more recaps publishing soon.

And what would a public meetings report be without a look at the Board of Police Commissioners? We’re not here to disappoint. With nearly half the board members and the parliamentarian absent, it went down as one might expect — with lost quorums, ignored motions, arguments on points of order, accusations of skirting protocol and multiple adults yelling over one another.

Parks

At a weekly meeting hosted by the city’s Department of Neighborhoods , Chief Parks Planner Theresa McArleton explained what “conversion and mitigation” means for public parks in general and specifically for three former parks in Districts 5 and 6 and a former golf course in District 1.

When a piece of land becomes a public park using either the Land and Water Conservation Fund or the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund , it must be used solely and exclusively for public outdoor recreational purposes. Before the park can be converted to a new use, the proposed loss of parkland must be mitigated by finding other land of equal or greater size and value to be used in the park’s place.

Three former parks — Wick Park and Wigle Playfield in Midtown and Brush-Adelaide Park in Brush Park — are all awaiting mitigation. The city has proposed to mitigate those conversions by dedicating portions of the former Rogell Golf Course to public recreational use, including an educational loop trail, amphitheater and community green.

3/11/2024 Detroit Parks and Recreation Department, Future Park Conversions — Midtown and District 1, documented by Colleen Cirocco and Shawntay Lewis

Politics

Last week, Stellantis representatives told City Council that air quality testing revealed no health concerns related to odors at the automaker’s plants, even as it paid about $84,000 for its most recent air quality violation fine for the Jefferson North Assembly Plant. Public commenters remained skeptical. In the true spirit of Detroit, residents in the East Canfield neighborhood have taken matters into their own hands .

Time is running short for the NFL to get approval to begin setting up for its draft event in Detroit. The football league wants to begin setup on March 28, but councilmembers postponed a vote to approve plans for setup and teardown. Council President Pro Tem James Tate and Councilmember Gabriela Santiago-Romero said the NFL hasn’t responded to their requests for information about how residents in their districts would be included in the festivities. League reps said they would provide the information by the end of last week. Councilmembers are expected to vote on March 19.

3/12/2024 Detroit City Council, Formal Session , documented by Amelia Benavides-Colón and Paige Rollins

For more on City Council, check out Malachi Barrett’s City Council Notebook at BridgeDetroit.

Documenters attended a meeting of the Detroit Human Rights Commission for the first time. The commission is responsible for staffing and policy direction of the Civil Rights, Inclusion & Opportunity Department (CRIO), including the mayor’s appointments of that department’s director and deputy director. The Detroit Human Rights Commission is made up of 11 members — four at-large and seven representing the city’s districts. There are currently three vacancies — one in District 2, another in District 4 and one at-large seat.

Unfortunately, the commission didn’t publish an agenda or its minutes from the previous meeting, and the online meeting’s poor sound quality was exacerbated by a bad camera angle . So, virtual participants didn’t know much more than that! Luckily, one Documenter attended the meeting in person, where she reported public officials were surprised by her presence. During the meeting, commissioners heard an overview of CRIO updates, civil rights complaints and compliance metrics. The commission will start meeting on the third Thursday of every month at 5 p.m., starting April 18.

3/14/2024 Detroit Human Rights Commission, documented by Perry Sylvester and Tewonia Alamu

Transportation

3/13/2024 SMART, Sounding Board: In this short collaborative meeting, SMART staff responded to five public commenters with ideas for improving the accuracy of bus tracking, overall performance and rider experience.

Documented by Carole Hawke and Tasha Lord

Budget

3/14/2024 Detroit City Council, Budget Hearings — Detroit Land Bank Authority; Planning and Development Department: The land bank requested about $25 million for fiscal year 2025. Public commenters expressed dissatisfaction with the land bank and grievances against its Nuisance Abatement Program. Councilmembers expressed concerns about how neighborhood advisory councilmembers are selected. The council plans to further examine the entire community benefits process during its executive session on the Planning and Development Department, which is facing an approximately $1.5 million budget cut.

Documented by Alex Klaus and Sonja Stuckey

Preservation

3/14/2024 Detroit Historic Designation Advisory Board: Tasked with advising City Council on all matters of historic preservation, the board discussed ongoing efforts regarding the houses previously owned by Def Sound Studio , Dr. Lula Belle Stewart-Robinson and Ossian Sweet , and demolition risks to the Belle Isle Boathouse and Vaughn’s Book Store .

Documented by Amber Umscheid and Bailey Geise

Policing

3/14/2024 Board of Police Commissioners, Evening Community Meeting: With almost half the board absent, including the chair, and no parliamentarian, new Vice Chair Tamara Smith struggled to maintain a quorum amid questions of procedure. The online meeting ended in the middle of a seconded motion with Smith saying she would not entertain a vote.

Documented by Roshaun Harris and Tamia Davis

For more on the Board of Police Commissioners, check out the latest BOPC Watch .

Written by Lynelle Herndon and Noah Kincade, and Detroit Documenters Alex Klaus and Perry Sylvester.

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