Committee advances several procurement items, including major paratransit increase and preservation extension for Vaughn’s Bookstore

The Detroit Public Health and Safety Standing Committee on March 23 advanced a series of contract amendments and related procurement items, sending them to new business with recommendations to approve.

Paratransit contract increase: the committee approved sending amendment 2 for contract 6005361 — a city‑funded increase for ADA complementary paratransit services with Delray United Action Council — to new business. Chair noted the size of the increase and framed it as necessary: “A lot of money, but it’s needed. Our seniors need it, and this is a good investment that we’re making,” the chair said. The agenda lists the contract as extending to June 30, 2028 and the meeting transcript records a total contract amount in the meeting materials of about $18,447,122.49 (as stated in the sitting materials and read into the record); committee recorded no objections to forwarding the item.

Historic preservation and time extensions: the committee approved sending amendment 4 for contract 6006408 (ARPA‑funded) — a time‑only extension for stabilization of commercial structures — to formal. Gert Malil, planning and strategy specialist, said the extension specifically covers 12115 Dexter (Vaughn’s Bookstore), a recently designated historic site, and is needed to finish construction documents and obtain permits before beginning work. “This extension specifically is for Vaughn’s bookstore… we need to complete some construction documents to ensure we preserve the characteristics of the building,” Malil said. The department committed to provide additional detail by email about how many properties are under stabilization versus slated for demolition.

Police projects and procurement corrections: the committee forwarded a time extension for construction work at the Detroit Police Department’s Second Precinct (contract 6006115, D’Angela’s Diamond Construction) and approved sending a police uniform contract increase (6006861) for Enterprise Uniform (an added $220,000, bringing the total to $440,000) to new business. Anthony Johnson (LPD) acknowledged a typo in the Teeter report that mis‑categorized the uniform contract and said he would resubmit the corrected report; a correction rather than a formal correction letter will be entered if the agenda itself is correct.

Grants and donations: the committee also moved forward Ryan White HIV/AIDS program contracts (Wayne State University agreements and related grant acceptance items) and accepted a $2,000 donation to the Office of Mobility and Innovation tied to the Michigan Mobility Fellows program; Ryan Michael (OMI) said the funds were offered as an incentive related to retaining a fellow now employed full time by the office.

What comes next: each of these items was sent to new business or formal with recommendations to approve and will appear on upcoming council agendas for final action. Committee members requested follow‑up detail in writing on stabilization work and departmental activity to clarify preservation versus demolition counts.

Votes at a glance: all items listed below were sent to new business/formal with the committee’s recommendation to approve and recorded as carrying with no objections during the March 23 session.

• Contract 6005361 (Delray United Action Council) — paratransit contract increase; sent to new business with recommendation to approve.

• Contract 6006115 (D’Angela’s Diamond Construction) — Second Precinct construction time extension; sent to new business with recommendation to approve.

• Contract 6006408 (DMC consultants) — ARPA‑funded time extension for commercial stabilization (12115 Dexter, Vaughn’s Bookstore); sent to formal with recommendation to approve.

• Contract 6006861 (Enterprise Uniform) — increase of $220,000 (total $440,000) for police uniforms; sent to new business with recommendation to approve (clerical correction to Teeter report to be submitted by LPD).

• Grant and appropriation items (Ryan White/HIV program, Wayne State University) — sent to new business with recommendation to approve.

Committee members asked staff for clarifying reports on project status and requested that updates be circulated to all members before final council consideration.