Detroit City Council gears up for 2024 NFL Draft

How Detroit Documenters benefit residents and Outlier’s reporting

Detroit Documenters attend public meetings and take notes on what politicians say, when they said it and who they said it to. We share Documenters notes, live tweets, transcripts, recordings, meeting agendas, presentation packets and other documents with the public for free by publishing them to detroit.documenters.org. This gives everyone access to a record of what Detroiters say they need and want as well as how people in power respond to those they are expected to serve.

See our answers to frequently asked questions regarding how we make editorial decisions about democracy coverage in Detroit.

Last week, Detroit Documenters attended Wayne State University’s Board of Governors for the first time. The board’s eight members are elected statewide to eight-year terms. At the meeting we learned Wayne State faculty and staff members are beginning contract negotiations and have a list of demands. Students also protested to demand a cease-fire in Gaza and were ushered out.

Things ran as planned during City Council’s Formal Session, but we were surprised to see the meeting appear to be sponsored by Bud Light for a moment. Actually, it was the upcoming NFL Draft that is sponsored by that particular brand, and we did learn more about the draft.

Two things about how our public bodies deal with scrutiny from last week are worth noting. Members of the Detroit Continuum of Care Board of Directors don’t want you recording their meetings. We plan on continuing to do so.

And amid discussion of a growing backlog of citizen complaints, a shortage of investigators, findings of misconduct by the city’s Inspector General and repeated calls to provide real oversight of the police department, the Board of Police Commissioners also entertained a motion that would celebrate retiring commissioners — complete with cake! Following disapproval from the board’s chair, the motion failed.

Politics

The 2024 NFL Draft is quickly approaching its takeover of downtown Detroit. During last week’s City Council meeting, Jon Barker, NFL’s senior vice president of global event production and operations, shared a presentation detailing the plan leading up to the three-day event, starting April 25.

The production will take up more than 2 million square feet of space downtown, with the focal point at Hart Plaza. Set up will begin on March 30 and ramp up mid-April. There will be a full perimeter lockdown through April 27. Over 10,000 people applied to work the event, and 800 Detroiters will fill positions. The Detroit Police Athletic League Corner Ballpark will be host for the youth activities including NFL youth flag football clinics and community events. Transportation plans are still in the works, but folks will be encouraged to bike, walk and take public transit into the city.

3/5/2024 Detroit City Council, Formal Session

Documented by Amber Umscheid and Gina McPherson

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

3/4/2024 Highland Park City Council: The council conditionally approved the settlement agreement with the Great Lakes Water Authority and the state regarding the city’s water debt. Some language will need to be rewritten and presented to the parties for final approval.

Documented by Autumn Jackson-Hines and Roshaun Harris

3/7/2024 Wayne County Commission, Full Commission: Commissioners approved a $5 million contract with national nonprofit RIP Medical Debt to support the elimination of outstanding medical debt for approximately 300,000 Wayne County residents.

Documented by Craig Notte and Heather Alder

Education

Documenters covered the Wayne State University Board of Governors meeting last week. University employee Joshua Neds-Fox said the faculty and staff have begun labor contract negotiations demanding fair wages, flexible work arrangements and establishing an emergency housing program for students. As he spoke, two of his colleagues held what appeared to be a 10-foot long scroll of paper.

A dozen students interrupted the President’s Report, holding signs and chanting to demand a cease-fire in Gaza. The protestors were removed by police without incident.

Board Chair Shirley Stancato shared metrics demonstrating Wayne State is making significant strides in graduation rates while still facing challenges with enrollment and racial equity outcomes.

And the board approved a proposal to sell alcohol on campus at football and basketball games for the 2024-25 seasons.

3/6/2024 Wayne State University, Board of Governors

Documented by Christiana Beckley, Perry Sylvester and William Verhoef

Housing

3/4/2024 Detroit Continuum of Care (CoC), Board of Directors: The city’s CoC was awarded $35 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in its latest continuum of care program competition. The board is recruiting committee members to review the governance charter. It hopes to approve revisions in July.

Documented by Nathaniel Eichenhorn

Utilities

3/6/2024 Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, Board of Water Commissioners: Director Gary Brown reported that 80,000 households are behind on water bill payments but haven’t applied for the Lifeline Plan and are not on a payment plan. As a result, Brown said the department is looking at changes to its 10/30/50 payment plan.

Documented by Afua Osei-Bonsu and Nathaniel Eichenhorn

Policing

3/7/2024 Detroit Board of Police Commissioners: The board voted to ban Commissioners Willie Bell and Lisa Carter from leadership positions through the end of 2025 following reports of misconduct. Commissioner Tamara Smith was selected as the new vice chair after the board voted Bell out of the position in the previous meeting.

Documented by Benjamin Haddix and Janelle James

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

Written by Outlier Media’s Lynelle Herndon and Noah Kincade with Documenters Amber Umscheid and Perry Sylvester.