A2Council Meeting Summaries

Month: April 2020

Ann Arbor City Council: April 20, 2020

This was the second regular Ann Arbor City Council meeting since Governor Whitmer declared a state of emergency and stay-at-home order due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This meeting was held online via the Zoom application.

Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

Interim City Administrator Tom Crawford presented Council with the proposed FY21 City Budget (Legistar) and several community members presented on the topic of ” COVID-19 Community Impacts and Solutions” (Legistar)


APPROVED: Direction to City staff to begin a process of community engagement around affordable housing options at 353 S. Main (Legistar)

APPROVED: $10,655,000 constructions contract for 2020 Street Resurfacing Plan (Legistar)

POSTPONED to 7/6/20: The creation of proposed application materials and review/recommendations for development entitlements for 415 W. Washington to Support the Development of Affordable Housing in the City (Legistar) This resolution was postponed because:

APPROVED: Direct the City Administrator and Ann Arbor Housing Commission to create proposed application materials and review/recommend for development entitlements for 350 S. Fifth Avenue (former Y lot) to support the development of Affordable Housing in the City (Legistar)

APPROVED: A2ZERO Carbon Neutrality Plan is accepted (rather than adopted) (Legistar) with amendments clarifying that:

  • A funding plan and prioritization framework must be presented
  • The Sustainability & Innovations department will begin and continue to work to implement the plan, with quarterly updates on progress
  • In answer to questions at the meeting, City Administrator Tom Crawford clarified that the current budget includes nearly all funding for beginning and implementing this plan (“almost all of it, there were a couple of minor items that were not included”). It was also clarified that nothing in the amended resolution impeded progress or shifted directions in terms of pursuing climate action goals in the plan. Dr. Stults characterized the amendments as a “totally appropriate” issue of transparency and “not anything I’m concerned about.”
  • https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2020/04/ann-arbor-council-not-ready-to-adopt-a2zero-carbon-neutrality-plan.html

APPROVED: The City’s nondiscrimination ordinance to add definition to the protected class of “ethnicity” and also address discrimination in housing related to source of income. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Resolution asking the state to change regulatory policy re: use of food assistance benefits (EBT cards with SNAP program) (Legistar)

APPROVED: Re-zoning and site plan for a new credit union at 2151 Stadium Boulevard. (LegistarLegistar)

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for April 20, 2020 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for April 20, 2020 Part 2

Ann Arbor City Council: April 6, 2020

This was the first regular Ann Arbor City Council meeting since Governor Whitmer declared a state of emergency and stay-at-home order due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This meeting was held online via the Zoom application.

Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

APPROVED: $115,000 for plans and specifications to fill the sidewalk gap on S. Main (Legistar)

APPROVED: $409,402 contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation for repaving of road surface, replacement of pedestrian islands, and creation of buffered bike lanes for Plymouth Road Improvement Project (Murfin Rd./Upland Dr. to Nixon) (Legistar)

APPROVED: Special assessment district for Jackson Avenue Sidewalk Gap Elimination Project (Westover Ave. to Park Lake Ave.) (Legistar)

APPROVED: $396,752 agreement with Downtown Development Authority for design of South State Street and North University improvements, including: design for street resurfacing and watermain consolidation on State Street from South University Street to Washington Street and North University from State Street to Fletcher Street, and streetscape, safety, and mobility improvements on State Street from William Street to Washington Street (Legistar)

DEFEATED: Reallocation of $100,500 out of the Resident-Driven Sidewalk Gap Filling Program to subsidize the current Barton Drive Improvement Project and the Jackson Avenue Sidewalk Gap Project. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Amendment to the Nondiscrimination Ordinance to add reference and description of “ethnicity” as a protected category. Source of income calculations must multiply the value of housing assistance (X3) in order to more accurately assess a person’s ability to pay rent, prevent discrimination against housing vouchers in market rate rentals. (Legistar)

APPROVED: $200,000 in emergency aid for the Ann Arbor Affordable Housing Commission to protect residents: anticipate likely future evictions due to loss of income, food security for homebound households, and response to a possible outbreak of COVID-19 at congregate settings (e.g. Miller Manor & Baker Commons) with high risk households. (Legistar)​

APPROVED: $40,323 for sampling and testing for 1,4 dioxine in wet basements that are high risk, in the footprint of the Gelman dioxane plume. (Legistar)

TABLED: Resolution directing Planning Commission to consider designation of transit- supported zoning districts to increase housing density and options along major corridors. The commission would be asked to consider increasing allowable Floor Area Ratio (FAR) density, decreasing and/or eliminating parking requirements for new development along transit corridors and bring a recommendation to Council by June 15, 2020. (Legistar)​​​

APPROVED: Resolution encouraging the Governor to make an executive order addressing the need for political candidates to collect nominating signatures before an April 21 deadline, in compliance with the current stay-at-home orders. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Resolution recognizing the public service and contributions of Ethel “Eppie” Potts. (Legistar)

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for April 6, 2020 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for April 6, 2020 Part 2
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for April 6, 2020 Part 3
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for April 6, 2020 Part 4

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My name is Elizabeth Nelson, and I believe that your local government should be accessible and transparent. Since 2018 , I have sent out a newsletter before every Council meeting with my summary of agenda items coming before City Council, plus news and events of interest to Ann Arbor residents.

After each Council meeting, I create and post voting charts so that you can easily see how Council voted, and update this website with meeting summaries that include links to the City’s Legistar website, CTN’s YouTube video, and articles published on MLive.