Detroit Unveils Plan To Bring City Services Closer to Neighborhoods, Enhance Resident Engagement

The Department of Neighborhoods is finishing a plan to bring municipal services into the areas where residents live. Director Bryan Peckinpaugh said the goal is to spare people from traveling downtown to the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center.

"(Mayor Mary Sheffield) heard a lot of feedback about in-person services, and barriers to coming downtown," Peckinpaugh said in a February interview according to Bridge Detroit. "We're meeting with all service delivery departments and coming up with a plan for how we bring services to the neighborhoods."

This approach marks a shift. The network of small city halls closed years ago as part of pre-bankruptcy cost-cutting measures. Those locations had allowed residents to handle business such as getting licenses and permits, filing tax exemptions, registering to vote, and much more.

The first four small city halls were set up in 1971. The network expanded to 11 sites, then shrank over time. The final five closed in 2012.

The plan will roll out within the next few months. Officials are determining what types of services different areas need based on data the Department of Neighborhoods collected.

Deputy Director Joshua Roberson said district managers serve as go-betweens for residents and the municipality. Each council district has two workers who answer calls and help residents work through issues with the municipality.

The prior administration tested an artificial intelligence tool that automated calls to district managers in two City Council districts. Roberson said they're still reviewing the data to see if city-wide implementation makes sense.

"We never want to lose the person to person effect," Roberson said. "Our district managers are still making phone calls, answering text messages and email."

Peckinpaugh said his main goal is to advance outreach so residents know about all the services offered and improve the customer experience so residents can take advantage of them.