Detroit City Council

2 at-large

Neighborhood and Community Services, Human Resources, Law and Public Safety, Planning and Economic Development Block voting (at-large seats) (We hope for better things, It will rise from the ashes)

The Detroit City Council is the legislative body of Detroit, Michigan, United States. The full-time council is required to meet every business day for at least 10 months of the year, with at least eight of these meetings occurring at a location besides city hall. The Detroit City Council most recently elected James Tate to be its president. The council may convene for special meetings at the call of the mayor or of at least four members of council.

History

The city council was first constituted as the legislative body of the city in 1824. The city began to grow more rapidly in the late 19th century, absorbing immigrants from Europe and migrants from the rural South and other areas. This body was called the Common Council until July 1, 1974.

Until the early 20th century, the council was elected from city wards, or single-member districts. However, starting in 1918, at a time of changes in local government thought to be Progressive, the city council voted to require all city council members elected at-large. This reduced representation by geography from wards, where various ethnic groups tended to concentrate. It was considered unusual for a city of Detroit's size, which had competing political parties.

While voters in the city have become predominantly affiliated with the Democratic Party, they wanted more representation by district. On November 4, 2009, city voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum to once again elect seven of the nine council seats from single-member districts, and two at-large seats, beginning in 2013.

Composition & Election

The council is composed of nine members, seven of whom are district representatives elected from single-member districts, with two additional members elected at-large using block voting. The district representatives are elected by a majority in a general election, with the general election candidates being selected in a top-two non-partisan primary election. The council includes two officers, the president and president pro tempore, who are elected from among the members of the council at the beginning of each new session of the body for four-year terms. The officers can be removed by a unanimous vote of council, exclusive of the member being removed, during any session meeting. Elections to the body are officially non-partisan.{{cite web | access-date = January 19, 2024

City Council Electoral Districts

A major overhaul of Detroit City Charter took place in 2012. This change moved to election by district for 7 districts and 2 at-large positions.

Current members

Committees

The council has six standing committees:

• Budget, Finance & Audit
• Neighborhood & Community Services
• Internal Operations
• Public Health & Safety
• Planning and Economic Development
• Rules

The council is granted the power to form additional committees at its own discretion

Vacancies and special elections

If a vacancy occurs on the city council, it is filled by appointment of the city council based on a two-thirds vote of its existing members. The appointee serves until an elected member takes office, which is filled at the next general election scheduled in the city not held sooner than 180 days after the vacancy occurs, be that an election to fill federal, state, county or city offices.

Former members

Starting in 1919, nine Detroit City Council members were elected at large. Members of the council, from 1919 to the present, are:

• Color coding: pink = Republican; blue = Democratic; light green = Farmer-Labor; dark green = Progressive; gray = unaffiliated.

Salaries

Salaries for elected officials are recommended every odd-numbered year by the Detroit Elected Officials Compensation Commission. The 7-member board is appointed by the mayor and approved by the council, each member serving a 7-year term.

City council approved a recommendation by the commission in February 2023, with an immediate pay increase of 7% and 3.5% each fiscal year for the next three years. Regular City Council members will be paid $106,231 annually by July 2025, while the City Council President will be paid $111,647. Prior to 2015, increases had not happened since 2001.

References

References

1. "City elections in Detroit, Michigan (2025)".
2. Afana, Dana. (January 5, 2025). "Detroit City Council appoints James Tate, Coleman Young II as president, pro-tem".
3. "Charter of the City of Detroit, January 1 2012". City of Detroit.
4. Josar, David. (November 4, 2009). "Plan to elect council by districts wins". The Detroit News.
5. "Detroit, Michigan city council elections, 2013".
6. "City Council Standing Committees Information".
7. "The Proposed Detroit City Charter". Citizens Research Council of Michigan.
8. "Detroit City Council, 1919 to present". Detroit Public Library.
9. (19 Nov 2019). "Detroit City Council approves pay raises for members, mayor". Gary Miles.
10. "Part IV - Detroit City Code, Article II. Elected Officials, Division 1. - Elected Officials Compensation Commission".
11. (28 February 2023). "Pay raises approved for Detroit mayor, clerk and council". Center for Michigan.