District 4 Has a New Community Advisory Council
With the election of new Detroit City Council Member Latisha Johnson in November 2021, also came a new elected District 4 Community Advisory Council. The Community Advisory Council (CAC) is established according to Article 9 Chapter 1 of the Detroit City Charter. District 4 is the second district to establish a CAC. The other is in District 7. The newly elected members of the District 4 Community Advisory Council, in addition to myself, are Dennis Bryant, Rose Jones, and Jocelyn Harris.
The primary duties and responsibilities of the District 4 Community Advisory Council are to communicate to City Council the concerns of groups, agencies, businesses, and residents within the District with respect to the delivery of programs and services. The CAC will also assist groups, agencies, businesses, and residents in community problem solving by meeting to clarify issues and demonstrate proper procedural approaches to accessing city government. We will also disseminate information to groups, agencies, businesses, and residents on social and physical plans for the District.
The CAC will provide advice to community representatives and to the Council Member Johnson on major issues within the district which may include housing development, commercial blight, safety and security, economic and community development, employment opportunities, code enforcement, and other concerns impacting social, economic, cultural, and environmental conditions within the District.
As members of the District 4 CAC, we should be familiar with the City Charter with the objective of assisting the community in understanding the intent and relevance of Charter provisions. We should also be familiar with the Master Plan for the City of Detroit in relationship to the City generally and land area within District 4.
The District 4 CAC will also meet annually with the Mayor and City Council to discuss the challenges confronting the district and the resources required to advance the interest and support the viability of the district.
A community council may require that the City Council representative receive prior consultation from the Community Advisory Council on all issues which relate exclusively to that district. The CAC does not cost taxpayers any money and the positions are not compensated. We also have no staff or budgets to manage. The CAC may accept donations or grants in accordance with state, federal or local law.
The District 4 Community Advisory Council must hold public meetings at least four times a year in donated facilities within the geographical boundaries of the district.
There is currently one additional vacancy among the elected CAC members and that seat will soon be appointed by Council Member Johnson. She will also appoint a Student Representative and a Seniors Representative to round out the seven-member Community Advisory Council.
