Community Advisory Councils

A New Path for Citizens to Engage with Detroit City Government

2012 City of Detroit Charter

• Passed by voters in 2011

• Instituted the Election of City

Council Members by District

• Sec. 9-101 requires the

creation of Community Advisory

Councils (CACs) in each

council district

• CACs will be an official body

in each district

• 7 citizens will serve on each

CAC• 5 members (elected)

• 1 youth member (appointed)

• 1 “representative for senior issues”

(appointed)

• CAC Districts have the same

borders as the City Council

Districts

What are Community Advisory Councils?

Why Community Advisory Councils?

• Intended to improve citizen

access to city government

and elected officials

• Increase Transparency in

Local Government

• Grooming the next

generation of city leaders

CAC Powers, Duties, and Limitations

• CACs must hold at least 4

meetings each year

• The City Council member of the

district, or their designee must attend

all official meetings of the CAC

• The District City Council

representative may be required to

receive prior consultation from the

CAC on all issues that relate to the

district

• CACs cannot receive appropriations

from city funds, but can accept

donations or grants

CAC Responsibilities• Communicating the concerns of groups,

agencies, businesses and residents within

the district to City Council, regarding the

delivery of programs and services

• Assisting groups, agencies, businesses and

residents in the district to clarify issues and

by providing proper procedural approaches

to accessing City government

• Providing advice to community

representatives and City Council on major

issues within the district such as housing,

blight, employment, safety, economic &

community development, code enforcement,

etc.

• Assisting the community with understanding

the City Charter

• Disseminating information to groups,

agencies, businesses and residents on social

and physical plans for the district areas

• Understanding the Master Plan for the City,

specifically as it relates to the land area of

the district

• Meeting annually with the Mayor and

annually with the City Council to discuss the

challenges confronting the district and the

resources required to advance the interests

and support the viability of the district

• Ordinance to be passed by City

Council

• In each district, Petitions signed

by 10% of the residents who

voted in the last election

• Election of CAC members

during the next general election

How can we get CAC’s?

• Nov 2013: Letter submitted

asking for City Council action

• Jan 14, 2013: Referred to

Planning & Economic

Development (PED)

Committee

CAC Progress with City Council

• Ordinance will be drafted in PED

Committee with input from Law Dept.

and Citizens

• Planning and Economic Development

Committee meets Thursdays, 10am –

13th Fl. of CAY Building

• City Council Members of PED

Committee:

• Gabe Leland (District 7), Chair

• Scott Benson (District 3), Vice Chair

• Mary Sheffield (District 5), Member

CAC Progress with City Council

• Commuinity Development Advocates of

Detroit (CDAD)

• Detroit Future City Process Leaders

• Restore Northeast Detroit (Restore NED)

• Metropolitan Organizing Strategy

Enabling Strength (MOSES)

• EcoWorks

• Michigan Voice / Detroit Voices Table

• Black Family Development

• Woodbridge Citizens District Council

• Warren/Conner Development Coalition &

LAND Inc.

Thank You and Get Involved!Members of the informal Community Advisory Council Working Group

include participants from the following groups and organizations:

We welcome your participation! For more information contact:

Aaron Goodman, CDAD Community Outreach Associate

aarongoodman@cdad-online.org 313-832-4566 (office) 313-451-0687 (cell)