April 27, 2026

Detroit Financial Review Commission

City of Detroit Regular Meeting

Monday, April 27, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. 

Minutes

1. Call to Order
   1. Chairman, Kevin A. Smith called the meeting to order 1:01 p.m.
2. Roll Call
   1. Members Present – 6
      1. Hakim Berry
      2. David Blaskiewicz
      3. Ron Rose
      4. Kevin A. Smith
      5. Tanya Stoudemire
      6. John Walsh
   2. Members Absent – 5
      1. Dr. J. Barnwell
      2. Jen Flood
      3. Latrice McClendon (non-voting)
      4. James Tate
      5. Dr. Nicholai Vitti (non-voting)
   3. Let the record show that a quorum was present.
3. Approval of the Proposed Minutes of the March 30, 2026, Regular City Meeting
   1. Motion made by Commissioner Rose and supported by Commissioner Blaskiewicz to approve the draft minutes of the commission’s March 31, 2026, city meeting. The commission approved the minutes as presented.
4. Executive Director’s Report
   1. Patrick Dostine, Executive Director, informed the meeting that: The city of Detroit remains in good standing with the financial review commission. After reviewing the financial report for the month ending February 2026, the city remains in compliance with all statute relevant to its waiver.
   2. The city council approved the FY27 budget on April 7, and the mayor signed it; that makes 13 consecutive adopted balanced budgets. Mr. Dostine reported that city council’s changes to the general fund originally came in at $10.8M on April 7. The administration and the council agreed on each other’s spending priorities in the FY27 budget.
   3. The Financial Review Commission’s (FRC) city-finance committee meeting will be held on Thursday, April 30, 2026, where an in-depth review of the budget and other financial and operational topics will be discussed, a summary of the meeting will be written, and copies will be included in commissioners’ packets for the May 18 FRC meeting. At that meeting, the city’s CFO and her team will be making a comprehensive presentation to the commission on the city’s finances and operations, and they will also make a case for the 9th consecutive waiver. The waiver approval meeting will be held on June 29, 2026.
   4. The executive summary in the city’s financial report outlines Judge Tucker’s ruling in favor of the city’s motion to modify and enhance certain retirement benefits for beneficiaries of the Police and Fire Retirement System.
   5. He further reported that the city filed a motion on April 15 with the bankruptcy court recommending the case be closed. Last Friday an objection to the motion was also filed. Officials close to the case said that they expected Judge Tucker to still close the case. A hearing on the objection is scheduled for May 20 in Judge Tucker’s courtroom.
   6. Legal counsel for police and fire put the city of Detroit’s bankruptcy in perspective. He told pension trustees at the April board meeting that in 2017 Puerto Rico filed for bankruptcy, and the bankruptcy is still open at a cost so far of $28 billion.
   7. Mr. Dostine informed the commission that Sec.12 of Public Act 181 says the city will be released from oversight of the Financial Review Commission when the Plan of Adjustment expires and the city has earned 10 consecutive waivers. Assuming the city earns the final two waivers, June of 2028 is when the Financial Review Commission’s oversight will end for the city.
5. Old Business
   1. None
6. City’s Financial Report for February 28, 2026 – FYI Only
   1. The Budget Director in the OCFO’s office and Valerie Agoli gave an overview of the above-mentioned financial report and addressed questions from the commissioners.
7. Public Comment
   1. Michelle George
   2. William Davis
8. Next Meeting Date
   1. City Regular Meeting: Monday, May 18, 2026, at 1:00 pm. using Microsoft Teams.
9. Adjournment
   1. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m.