Ann Arbor City Council Special Session: August 24, 2020

This was a Special Session of Ann Arbor City Council to implement a temporary emergency ordinance on masks/gatherings, and to decide next steps in the search for a City administrator. This meeting was held online via the Zoom application.

Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

APPROVED: Consent for Mayoral Declaration of Emergency (Legistar)

Council approved this in order to pass an ordinance (without delay) that will require mask-wearing in public places and prohibit large gatherings in accordance with directives issued by Governor Whitmer.

APPROVED: Temporary emergency ordinance on mask/gatherings (Legistar)

Ann Arbor will now require people to wear masks in public places both indoor and outdoor. Business must require customers to wear masks on premises. Indoor gatherings of more than 10 people and outdoor gatherings of more than 25 people are prohibited. Some exceptions apply, consistent with directives from Governor Whitmer. Violation of this ordinance is a civil infraction, subject to a fine.
https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2020/08/citing-concerns-about-um-student-gatherings-ann-arbor-enacts-emergency-ordinance.html

APPROVED: City Administrator Search Process Next Steps (Legistar)

All four finalists in the City Administrator search process – Tom Crawford, Cara Pavlicek, Joyce Parker, Eric Wobser – will participate in additional process of engagement before a decision is made.
A2ELNEL: Additional Thoughts (Aug 22, 2020) – City Administrator Next Steps
https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2020/08/accusations-fly-during-heated-council-debate-over-ann-arbor-city-administrator-search.html

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for August 24, 2020

Ann Arbor City Council: August 17, 2020

This was the tenth 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: Lurie Terrace is approved for acquisition and renovation though the Ann Arbor Affordable Housing Corporation (a nonprofit entity of the Ann Arbor Housing Commission) (Legistar)

A total of 136 units will be maintained as affordable housing for seniors. Current residents may continue to live there, but moving forward all tenants will be income restricted so that 40% of tenants have 60% AMI or less and 60% of tenants have 80% AMI or less. The purchase is supported by HUD- insured loans, $319,000 from AAHC budget and up to $1 million from the An Arbor Downtown Development Authority. The City will contribute $260,000 for staffing.
A2ELNEL: Additional Thoughts (Aug 15, 2020) – Lurie Terrace
https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2020/08/ann-arbor-purchasing-lurie-terrace-for-4m-to-preserve-affordable-senior-housing.html

APPROVED: The Ann Arbor Housing Commission will maintain a centralized waitlist process for affordable housing units included in market-rate development projects (Legistar)

https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2020/08/over-400-apply-to-get-on-ann-arbors-new-affordable-housing-waitlist-but-only-8-units-available.html

APPROVED: Two developments (rezoning and site plans) approved for new hotels

The parcel where Red Roof Inn is currently located on Plymouth Road was approved for rezoning (from PUD to C3) and redevelopment with a new hotel and renovated restaurant. The planned restaurant will include a drive- through. (Legistar) (Legistar)
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2020/08/red-roof-plus-hotel-restaurant-redevelopment-moves-forward-in-ann-arbor.html
The former location of the Michigan Inn at 2800 Jackson Road was approved for rezoning (from R5 to C3) and redevelopment as two hotels. The site plan includes the installation of new sidewalks. (Legistar) (Legistar)
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2020/08/2-hotels-approved-for-former-michigan-inn-site-in-ann-arbor.html

APPROVED: A land lease agreement with University of Michigan for three parking lots (Fuller Road) is extended for one year with payment of $127,007. (Legistar)

https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2020/08/ann-arbor-keeping-short-leash-on-parking-deal-with-university-of-michigan.html

APPROVED: $34,700 for sampling and laboratory testing of City water for PFAS. (Legistar)

https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2020/08/ann-arbor-oks-35k-contract-to-test-for-pfas-in-city-drinking-water-as-research-continues.html

APPROVED: Drip House Coffee at 1336 South Main Street (NW corner of Main/Stadium) will be permitted to use three outdoor parking spaces for outdoor seating until November 1, 2020, in accordance with standards for a Special Event Sale. (Legistar)

https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2020/08/ann-arbors-drip-house-offers-outdoor-seating-near-the-big-house.html

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for August 17, 2020 Part 1

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for August 17, 2020 Part 2

Ann Arbor City Council Special Session: August 10, 2020

This was a Special Session of Ann Arbor City Council to discuss a Charter Amendment for Nonpartisan Local Elections. If approved, the question would be put to voters on the November 2020 ballot. This meeting was held online via the Zoom application.

Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

APPROVED: A charter amendment would be placed on the 11/3/20 ballot for voter approval, establishing non-partisan nomination and elections to the city offices for Mayor and members of Council. This removes party affiliation from the ballot and also ensures a contested election in November if more than one candidate files to run for the offices of Mayor or City Council. If there are two or fewer candidates, there is no primary election in August and the candidates appear on the ballot in November, without party affiliation. If more than two candidates petition to run for Mayor or City Council, all candidates would appear on a primary ballot in August, without party affiliation. The two primary candidates receiving the highest number of votes in August would then appear on the November ballot, again without party affiliation. (Legistar)

This resolution was previously considered and approved by Council on July 1, 2019 for inclusion on the November 2019 ballot (Legistar) but was vetoed by Mayor Taylor on July 5, 2019 (Legistar). An attempt to override the veto was defeated on July 15, 2019 (Legistar)
A2ELNEL: Additional Thoughts (Aug 8, 2020) – Nonpartisan Election Ballot Proposal
This resolution was vetoed by Mayor Taylor on Aug 11, 2020 (Legistar)
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2020/08/ann-arbor-mayor-vetoes-nonpartisan-elections-proposal.html

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council: August 6, 2020

This was the ninth 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: $127,140 to purchase a high speed absentee ballot vote tabulator in preparation for the November election. This equipment is partially paid for with a grant ($30,000) from the State of Michigan Bureau of Elections. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Site plan and development agreement for 2658 W. Liberty Street (north side of Liberty, immediately east of 94). Nine three-story buildings with 52 units will be built on a 4.6 acre parcel zoned R4B (Multi-family dwelling). (Legistar)

https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2020/08/52-unit-liberty-townhomes-development-gets-unanimous-ok-in-ann-arbor.html

APPROVED: Extend downtown street closures for restaurant and retail use until Sept 21, 2020 (Legistar)

These street closures were originally approved at the June 1, 2020 Council meeting (Legistar)
https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2020/08/ann-arbor-bars-restaurants-can-use-streets-for-patio-seating-until-september.html

POSTPONED to Sept 8th: A proposed ordinance to regulate short term rentals (STRs) would include a system of application and paid licenses. Applications would include description of the space for rent (location, bedrooms, occupancy) and name/telephone/email information for two responsible contact persons. Whole house and host-stay STRs would be permitted for all principal residences. Non-principal residence STR’s would only be permitted in Mixed Use Zoning areas. (Legistar)

Postponed for legal staff to assess whether existing non-principal STRs in were legal, nonconforming use in residentially zoned areas
https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2020/08/ann-arbor-officials-still-debating-best-approach-to-regulating-airbnb-houses.html

DEFEATED: A ballot question for a charter amendment would allow ranked choice voting in our local elections. As written, ranked choice voting would apply separately to both the August party primary and the November general election for the offices of Mayor and City Council. One candidate chosen from each party primary in August would be included in a November election.(Legistar)

If approved, Ann Arbor could not implement ranked choice voting because it is not currently permitted under State law. Proposed State bills on this topic are not expected to pass this legislative session.
A2ELNEL: Ranked Choice Ballot Proposal on Aug 6th Agenda
https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2020/08/ann-arbor-council-divided-6-5-on-putting-election-reform-proposal-to-voters.html

A2Council Meeting Summaries

Month: August 2020

Ann Arbor City Council Special Session: August 24, 2020

Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council: August 17, 2020

Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Special Session: August 10, 2020

Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council: August 6, 2020

Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

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