[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6389758,"mediaKeyId","2113095-76113ec6b3d999cba8bef1c27e6ed7d5","parentId",2113095,"title","Detroit committee opens public hearing on $2.4 billion proposed five‑year capital agenda","audioSeconds",3454,"startMs",1010000,"endMs",4464000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2113095-76113ec6b3d999cba8bef1c27e6ed7d5&start=1010&end=4464","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2113095-76113ec6b3d999cba8bef1c27e6ed7d5/thumbnail_1010000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6389758/Detroit/Wayne-County/Michigan/Detroit-committee-opens-public-hearing-on-24-billion-proposed-fiveyear-capital-agenda","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6389758-8c94ee9c8be8e4f5e02dbdfb23b5906e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195407&Signature=gmtBZoea9DsChUK9hvl2bbU4DIqKCTcNFubN8akqpDX1Ja8mnsH4yt0H0BjXhCJFkklO9ET92E6U05xySuej295MFXlNCfISJT~cVAJnGf75~RscJVuxyLH~6pIcBelJOfrqDKIraDAFwjwVEkD1Qo98Mtw25oFyl5zPFCIHx~r0dYksLHpSWsugr~~cOgiow2qiLGnnL~0kwM-L9PCaNFmPK6dNmsxQ5AaD9QhJxGw0VRYCkIAkYj5jfxjb3Hsu8jdJXanwR4Pi37H0w7CXzHBn51K7tOoVhE93tQvscZj9UTStXpB0V~GE-VNiGNMfUN9zm8JozND4Wo2FRtlDZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Detroit, MI ","date","2025-01-08T00:00:00Z","article","The Budget, Finance & Audit Standing Committee of the Detroit City Council on Jan. 9 opened a charter‑mandated public hearing on the city’s proposed five‑year capital agenda, a planning document that lays out potential projects and funding sources but does not appropriate money. Deputy Budget Director Donnie Johnson and City Planning Commission Director Marcel Todd presented the outline and told the committee the document is intended to inform grant seeking, budgeting and long‑range planning.

The proposed capital agenda is a five‑year planning document that Johnson said “is not a budget. It does not appropriate money,” and that it compiles candidate projects and potential funding sources for infrastructure, housing, parks, transportation, technology and city facilities. The plan presented to the committee lists $2,400,000,000 in capital planning across a range of categories and potential funders.

Why it matters: The capital agenda sets priorities that guide which projects the administration pursues for grant applications and budget requests. While the agenda does not allocate funds, projects listed and the priorities set in the document shape future appropriations, grant applications and procurement decisions.

Key details from the presentation

- Housing and economic development: Johnson said the agenda anticipates $131,000,000 already allocated in the current fiscal year and an additional $108,000,000 planned for FY26–FY30; he described a broader expectation of roughly $204,000,000 in affordable housing development across the period, including more than $117,000,000 already underway or completed and $12,000,000 for neighborhood framework plans and $2,000,000 for a master plan update.

- Open space and recreation: The agenda shows about $309,000,000 already allocated and an additional $355,000,000 planned for parks and recreation improvements. Joe Louis Greenway construction appears in the list with $116,000,000 already allocated and $124,000,000 planned for future phases.

- Health and public safety: The document lists $66,000,000 currently allocated with $88,000,000 planned; Johnson said $53,000,000 is targeted to state‑of‑good‑repair work and modernization for Detroit fire facilities.

- Police facilities and fleet: The plan anticipates roughly $94,000,000 for police facility improvements with about $41,000,000 already underway; the agenda also lists ongoing investments in fleet replacement and low/zero‑emission vehicles.

- Transportation and airport: Transportation spending in the plan includes $365,000,000 already allocated and $651,000,000 planned. Johnson noted $40,000,000 in expected funding for construction of a new air‑traffic control tower at Coleman A. Young International Airport and continued investment in DDOT fleet modernization and low‑emission buses.

- Government infrastructure and utilities: The presentation described $435,000,000 already allocated for government infrastructure with an additional $1,100,000,000 planned. The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department’s planned investments are listed at $762,000,000; the Public Lighting Authority projects $24,000,000 in corridor lighting upgrades.

Funding sources and limits: Johnson and Todd repeatedly emphasized the agenda is nonbinding and that figures are planning estimates; many items depend on federal, state or philanthropic funding (Johnson cited HUD, MSHDA, Act 51 formula funds and ARPA). Todd said the public hearing exists to gather public comment and to prompt council offices and the Planning Director to respond with detailed recommendations.

Committee action and next steps: Committee members voted to request formal recommendations from Planning Director Marcel Todd and staff; the committee directed the Legislative Policy Division and CPC staff to prepare a resolution submitting council questions to the planning director and to return the item to the committee for formal action after the Planning Director’s responses. Johnson and Todd said the City Planning Commission will review and submit its recommendation and that LPD will issue fiscal and policy reviews.

Public engagement and comment channels: Johnson said the administration is accepting written public feedback at yourbudget@detroitmi.gov and noted public comments received during the hearing will be considered. Todd said copies of the proposed capital agenda are available on the city website and at legislative policy and planning offices and the main library.

Quotes

- “It is very important to stress … that this is not a budget. It does not appropriate money,” Deputy Budget Director Donnie Johnson said, describing the agenda as a planning document that helps prioritize grant seeking and infrastructure needs.

- “The public hearing … is intended to facilitate the public’s opportunity to comment on the document,” City Planning Commission Director Marcel Todd said when describing the procedural steps that follow the charter‑required hearing.

Ending: The committee will collect written questions and recommendations from council offices, LPD and CPC staff and expects Planning Director responses in the coming weeks; the capital agenda will return to the full council for further deliberation and final approval.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Detroit City Council Budget Finance Audit 01-08-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Budget, Finance & Audit Standing Committee of the Detroit City Council on Jan. 9 opened a charter‑mandated public hearing on the city’s proposed five‑year capital agenda, a planning document that lays out potential projects and funding sources but does not appropriate money.","taxTitle","Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan","taxId",48464,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6389749,"Public commenters raise allegations of election fraud, call for more DDOT funding and urge alternatives to eminent‑domain solar projects",370,560000,930000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2113095-76113ec6b3d999cba8bef1c27e6ed7d5&start=560&end=930","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2113095-76113ec6b3d999cba8bef1c27e6ed7d5/thumbnail_560000.jpg","/articles/6389749/Detroit/Wayne-County/Michigan/Public-commenters-raise-allegations-of-election-fraud-call-for-more-DDOT-funding-and-urge-alternatives-to-eminentdomain-solar-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6389749-94d0a715e50459e9b601bbd9d765022f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195407&Signature=Rk7jVMRZfWWV9KyFuc57sVYy2eL-3Zh-r-G1tNjWWSWrBehV3VBf5sIOHEYQmwETIUSpH6Fb5GdM5Akrp9rZSKRyraMP9InV8RsYlFjE1Hsjm4u0Uym3trwhT38j9IfjmeSS8lAOket95mo5E112DlhqsNNl6WOItf~lX4eLJ2OsR1WzCb6K2Oq15Q6CkOEcFbk~bYiuEgigGLXhj6i7h8EtxsAFy8uDSa8UZ5F3QrI1nQewvWuSJQvyjipD2dGJ8thMn2RU07GJZurKyBiQtjtDwvQmQm5a9RpXsB2RxEQUXrD-NDqAS4S6ee9th51x-o8n0X2v7x4~fvq8lQylTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public comment at the Budget, Finance & Audit committee meeting on Jan. 9 covered a range of substantive topics, including allegations of voter fraud, requests for more transit investment and criticism of proposed solar projects and eminent‑domain uses.

Whitney Clark: campaign announcement and staff rebuke

Whitney Clark began the in‑person public comment period by identifying herself and saying she intended to run for City Council in District 5. The chair and clerk reminded the speaker that publicly available meeting time cannot be used to promote a campaign; the clerk cited the charter and the committee’s rules and told Clark she could state general intent but not campaign on city time. Clark apologized and said she would be mindful going forward.

Reuben J. Crowley Jr.: absentee ballot allegations

Caller Reuben J. Crowley Jr. alleged widespread absentee‑ballot fraud in recent Detroit elections and made a named accusation. In the meeting transcript he said, “Charmaine McLeod did it,” and described what he called “voter trap houses” and absentee ballot fraud affecting council, the school board and judges. The committee recorded the statement as public comment; the claim was not corroborated in the meeting record and no city official confirmed it during the hearing. The committee did not take formal action on the allegation during the meeting.

Brother Cunningham and transit funding

A caller identifying himself as Brother Cunningham urged increased funding for DDOT, saying “DDOT, they need to increase the funding, double it,” and asking about a second bus ride‑along with council members. Council members told the speaker a second ride‑along would be scheduled.

Opposition to eminent‑domain use for solar projects

A caller identified as Miss Warwick thanked staff for constituent services and said she supported clean energy but opposed the city’s current approach to siting large solar projects if it would require eminent domain. She said the city should have hired a consultant to study alternative solar deployment methods, and cited a charter provision she said had not been complied with. Warwick suggested alternatives, including building‑integrated photovoltaics and consulting Michigan State University researchers who study photovoltaics on glass, and urged that property owners be given counsel if the city pursues takings.

What the committee did: The committee acknowledged the public comments. No formal motions or staff directives were initiated in response to the allegations or the solar‑siting criticism during the meeting; council members and staff said they would review concerns and take them up in the relevant review processes or follow‑up hearings where appropriate.","During the committee's public comment period callers made several substantive points: a caller alleged absentee‑ballot fraud in Detroit elections, an advocate urged higher DDOT funding and more ride‑alongs, and a caller opposed proposed solar projects that could use eminent domain and urged alternatives",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6389753,"Votes at a glance: committee advances contract, NEZ certificates and receives multiple reports",4328,5035000,9363000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2113095-76113ec6b3d999cba8bef1c27e6ed7d5&start=5035&end=9363","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2113095-76113ec6b3d999cba8bef1c27e6ed7d5/thumbnail_5035000.jpg","/articles/6389753/Detroit/Wayne-County/Michigan/Votes-at-a-glance-committee-advances-contract-NEZ-certificates-and-receives-multiple-reports","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6389753-8164ef2748147597e6c144ec8d01b651/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195407&Signature=JqlYjX393ZfZ9IUKybYMNotCVQrVNohXhrotlK9-00W6q1VLh5EVVD7jOuVlf8pOsfJUC3qWyTZbLXOue9Q-FKZTSR0WTKXlcv~3ndfkVMFropkkwnTUzWHRQKPMMLw5G1OfgV2fceeKOrwzFj98DFd2AWiJ33mlciS9c~hyjlpkvDUhAAEFsblJ8rZI4Uo4e~J-oFEth-OSV2f5TjygmfTa~ENQLJMiuIh1VLdvt8qurm-jjMa-QLB2t0pFphDZApfwe2D32FezL63ptlihVCIPHGFfIqkvcx9FI2llvsrTDvgwlJ-qFZY0pPhUWNIW3U~CQFEUubnPggckl~iDYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its Jan. 9 meeting the Budget, Finance & Audit Standing Committee voted to advance several administrative items to the full Detroit City Council and to receive or schedule follow‑up for others. Committee actions were largely procedural (motions carried without recorded roll‑call votes) and included recommendations to approve a city contract and two Neighborhood Enterprise Zone (NEZ) certificate requests.

Key committee actions

- Contract for promotional and apparel items (Agenda item 6.1): The committee moved to send the citywide contract for promotional novelty and apparel items (contract number 6006774) to the formal council session with a recommendation to approve. Leonard Jones, supervisor in the Office of Contracting and Procurement, described the item as a competitively bid multiple‑award contract; the committee recorded no objections to forwarding it for formal approval.

- Neighborhood Enterprise Zone certificate requests (Agenda items 7.3 and 7.4): The committee voted to send two NEZ certificate requests to the full council with recommendations to approve: a rehabilitation and reuse of the former Fisher Body building at 6051 Hastings (a large mixed‑use redevelopment with 433 rental units and a commercial ground floor) and two infill single‑family houses in the East Village NEZ area. City Planning Commission staff and the petitioners described the projects and CPC recommended approval.

- Reports received or referred for later action: The committee voted to receive and file multiple memos and reports, including LPD and OCFO fiscal materials, a monthly financial report and large‑events report, and various council memos requesting fiscal studies or information. Several other agenda items were scheduled to return to committee for more detailed review (for example, procurement‑ordinance questions and proposed animal‑keeping ordinance fiscal analysis).

How decisions were recorded

The committee used voice motions and unanimous procedural confirmations (“hearing no objections, that action shall be taken”) rather than roll‑call votes for the items advanced at this meeting. No formal recorded tally was provided in the transcript for these committee procedural actions.

What’s next

Items sent to formal carry the committee’s recommendation and will be considered by the full Detroit City Council. Multiple items will return to committee after staff (LPD, CPC, OCFO) prepare requested reports and recommendations.","The Budget, Finance & Audit committee sent several items to the formal council session with recommendations, including a citywide promotional‑items contract and two Neighborhood Enterprise Zone (NEZ) certificate requests; multiple memos and reports were received and filed for follow up","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Detroit committee opens public hearing on $2.4 billion proposed five‑year capital agenda

Public commenters raise allegations of election fraud, call for more DDOT funding and urge alternatives to eminent‑domain solar projects

Votes at a glance: committee advances contract, NEZ certificates and receives multiple reports