This was the twenty 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: Rezoning and site plan for 2111 Packard to allow for development of a mixed use development. The project will include a 72 unit, 3-story apartment building with 118 bedrooms, 84 surface parking spaces, and 3642 square feet of retail space at each corner of the building that fronts Packard Street. (Legistar) (Legistar)

• https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2021/02/ann-arbor-officials-enthusiastically-ok-packard-street-mixed-use-development.html

APPROVED: Rezoning (PUD) and site plan for 2195 East Ellsworth to construct a three-story, 168,130 square foot residential building and a 154-space surface parking lot (“Lockwood”). The project will include 154 independent senior residential apartments (89 one-bedroom units and 65 two-bedroom units) in a single building. The building will also contain a commercial kitchen and dining area, small barber shop, activity room, movie room, fitness room, and small clinic. (Legistar) (Legistar)

• https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2021/02/expecting-senior-population-boom-ann-arbor-officials-ok-new-housing-for-older-adults.html

Three resolutions related to Greenbelt Purchases (One outside City limits, two inside City limits)

• APPROVED: Greenbelt purchase of 375 acres in Salem Township, ultimately costing the City $1,122,367 (30% of the purchase price). This would be the largest Greenbelt purchase in the history of the program. Cost-sharing terms with the County and use of grant funds (to reimburse the City) make up a total purchase price of $3,570,000.00. (Legistar)
• APPROVED: Parkland purchase (in city limits) of 3.77 acres of woodland adjacent to Mary Beth Doyle Park, with frontage on Cardinal Avenue at a cost of $1,507,500.00. This purchase was recommended for improved access to existing city parkland. (Prior to purchase, the parcel was zoned as a PUD, which would have permitted the construction of nineteen homes.) (Legistar)
• APPROVED: Parkland purchase (in city limits) of 0.6 acres at 2570 Dexter Road for $211,500. The parcel will offer park amenities that don’t exist at nearby Veterans Park (e.g. basketball courts) and can serve the residents at the West Arbor affordable housing development. (Legistar)
• A2ELNEL: Additional Thoughts (Jan 30, 2021) – Three Greenbelt Purchases
• https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2021/02/ann-arbor-oks-largest-greenbelt-purchase-in-history-preserving-375-acre-farm.html
• https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2021/02/ann-arbor-spending-15m-to-add-38-acre-wooded-area-to-city-park-network.html

APPROVED: A contract change order for $1,194,560 to replace galvanized water service lines. State Law requires that water suppliers replace both the publicly owned and privately owned portions of galvanized service lines that are or were connected to lead. Regulations state that water suppliers must replace these lines at a rate of 5% per year beginning January 1, 2021. (Legistar)

• https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2021/02/ann-arbor-approves-12-million-contract-increase-for-water-service-line-replacement.html

APPROVED: Amendment adding $157,500 to the legal services agreement with Bodman, PLC to fund ongoing litigation related to the Gelman Plume contamination. (Legistar)

• https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2021/02/ann-arbor-contract-for-outside-legal-services-in-gelman-case-jumps-to-750k.html

APPROVED: Special Event permit (through the end of 2021) for drive-through COVID testing site at Briarwood Mall, 100 Briarwood Circle (south of the former Sears wing). (Legistar)

• https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2021/02/briarwood-mall-lot-to-be-used-as-drive-thru-covid-testing-site.html

POSTPONED TO INDEFINITE DATE: Direction to the City Administrator to determine the cost and feasibility of supplemental snow and ice removal of our pedestrian infrastructure to improve pedestrian safety. Targeted areas would include sidewalks, driveway aprons, bus stops, and crosswalk ramps. (Legistar)

• https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2021/02/should-city-be-responsible-for-clearing-snow-ridges-left-by-plows-at-crosswalks-and-driveways.html

Two resolutions related to the Council of the Commons

• APPROVED: Membership of the Council of the Commons is expanded to add a fourth at-large member, for a total of 11 members. (Legistar)
• APPROVED: Appointment of four at-large members to the Council of the Commons and confirmed appointment of the representative from the Parks Advisory Commission to the Council of the Commons. All 11 members are now confirmed. (Legistar)
• https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2021/02/ann-arbor-makes-6-final-appointments-to-central-park-planning-group.html

APPROVED: New Council Rules limiting public announcements and also discussion and debate of agenda items with reduced speaking times for Council Members (second speaking time limit changed from 3 minutes to 2 minutes), with a goal to end Council meetings before 11 p.m. Requests for additional discussion and debate of agenda items would require a 3/4 vote of approval (nine Council Members). Council members are directed not to “assail, question or impugn the integrity, character, or motives of another Member” in any context (inside or outside of the meeting). The Presiding Officer (Mayor) will have full discretion to determine whether this violation has occurred and either grant an offended Council Member two minutes of “personal privilege” speaking time or call a Council Member out of order for making the complaint. (Legistar)

• DEFEATED: Amendment to remove additional two minutes of “personal privilege” speaking time.
• DEFEATED: Amendment to remove “Redress of Grievances” process for the Administrative Committee to regulate communication of Council Members.
• DEFEATED: Amendment to remove phrase “or in another public venue” that would allow the Administrative Committee to regulate communication of Council Members outside of public meetings.
• DEFEATED: Amendment to move public commentary to the beginning of special sessions.
• DEFEATED: Amendment to preserve three minutes of Public Announcement time for Council Members.
• https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2021/02/ann-arbor-officials-divided-on-new-rules-about-personal-attacks-against-colleagues.html

A2ELNEL Voting Chart