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Detroit City Council standstill

April 30, 2025

Detroit's City Council was unable to proceed with its regular formal session on Tuesday when only four of nine members attended, resulting in a lack of quorum. Council President Mary Sheffield, along with Council Members Fred Durhal III, Mary Waters, and Angela Whitfield-Calloway were present, but five members were absent for various reasons including travel to professional conferences and illness. The meeting ended in less than an hour after in-person public comments, with Council operations director David Whitaker noting this was a rare occurrence that will delay council business until the next formal session.

Who is affected

  • Detroit residents and citizens who attend council meetings
  • People who wanted to participate in online public comment
  • Organizations and individuals with items on the council agenda
  • The Detroit Department of Transportation (related to delayed audit discussion)
  • Parties involved in solar farm litigation
  • City boards awaiting appointments
  • Ronald Foster and other regular council meeting attendees

What action is being taken

  • The City Council is postponing all agenda items to the next formal session
  • The Council is allowing in-person attendees to address the council during the shortened meeting
  • Council President Sheffield is documenting the excused absences of the five missing members
  • Three council members (Tate, Benson, and Johnson) are currently learning about sustainability practices in Philadelphia with the Green Task Force
  • Council Member Santiago-Romero is currently attending an immigrants rights summit in Denver

Why it matters

  • The council couldn't vote on action items, refer agenda items to committees, or conduct other city business
  • Progress on contracts, audits, legal settlements, and board appointments is being delayed
  • An update from the Law Department about solar farm litigation had to be postponed
  • As Ronald Foster noted, the situation raises concerns about democratic processes and city governance
  • According to Whitaker, not having a quorum for a formal session is "very irregular"
  • The council's inability to conduct business delays progress on city matters until the next session

What's next

  • The business scheduled for Tuesday will be addressed at the next formal session
  • According to Council Member Waters, "We'll just have to stay later next week"
  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com

Detroit City Council standstill