The Belle Isle Giveaway

Today, Tuesday January 24 at 1pm Neighborhood Community Services committee of Detroit City Council meets and on the agenda is the amended Belle Isle Lease proposal. You may have only seen the January 17 version of the lease proposal. You can find the amended version of the lease from January 22 through our public documents. And you may not have seen the confidential analysis done by Research And Development (RAD). These were declassified and released to the public Tuesday during the City Council session.

A lengthy conversation regarding closed versus open meeting was held and security measures appeared to be the stumbling point for opening the 2pm planned closed session. It is anticipated all council members will be at the 2pm meeting and likely the 1pm committee session (click for agenda). Public comments usually take place at the end of committee meetings, whereas on Tuesdays public comments are held first.

PUBLIC HEARING UPDATE
MONDAY JANUARY 28 at 1:00PM

Banner at rally on Belle Isle held September 22, 2012

There is significant public opinion that Belle Isle should remain with the City of Detroit and claims that it is poorly maintained are false allocations. Off season employment is under 5 people taking care of the island, which rises seasonally. This has been presented to council this fall at the time that Free Detroit, Occupy Detroit, We The People of Detroit, and other organizations gathered for an informational rally on Belle Isle.

Citizens are concerned and the Bing administration doesn't seem to be listening. We are asking what is Detroit getting from this lease arrangement? The owner of property should be in the favored position in negotiations. Voice of Detroit created a chart showing the score and it certainly doesn't seem to be favoring the city. The people opposed state this is a land-grab, or giveaway and hundreds of people have appeared when these issues are brought forward. Perhaps the delay of working on the Belle Isle lease agreement until the weather is bitter cold is a plot to keep the public from showing in force.

From Voice Of Detroit article

Please read over the analysis document and the lease agreement as it is evolving through amendments. If you are unable to attend prepare a statement and email it ASAP to the members of the Neighborhood Community Services committee before the meeting, requesting it is read onto the records and discussed during public comments. Email addresses are: councilmembertate@detroitmi.gov, WatsonJ@detroitmi.gov, K-Kenyatta_MB@detroitmi.gov, CouncilPresidentPugh@detroitmi.gov

Points of information to consider:

• The greenhouses on Belle Isle remain operating under the City of Detroit. They have been in disrepair for a number of years. Nearby are the Aquarium (oldest municipally ran aquarium in the world), and Conservatory - both of which would be transferred to Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR). The Aquarium has received corporate and foundation grants allowing the roof to be repaired and it has been staffed by volunteers to open it on weekends to the public. It was closed April 3, 2005 until August 18, 2012.
• Roads servicing the park would be transferred to Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). Funds to service them would come from the trunkline roads budget. Does this mean these roads will be improved beyond being park service roads?
• Does the State of Michigan have any restrictions on development through the lease agreement? Will we see skyscrapers, condominiums, or other dwellings erected on the island?
• All funds will be paid to State of Michigan with nothing to the City of Detroit. There is a current deal on the table with the City of Detroit for the Orion Music and More Festival scheduled for June 8-9 being arranged through internally know headlining act Metallica. This festival is scheduled to return in 2014 and 2015. Proceeds from that festival are $100,000 in 2013, $100,000 in 2014, and $250,000 in 2015. Park hours are stated to be normal hours 11am-10pm both days of the event. Given the contract is coming through the city, will it remain city revenues or be usurped by the State of Michigan?

Upcoming City Council meetings where a quorum of the whole may be present include: Friday 9:00am (PUBLIC HEARING regarding Reduction in hours), Monday 10:00am (Public Health & Safety), and Tuesday 10:00am (Council Of Whole). We encourage those attending to be onsite waiting at least a half hour in advance.