A2Council Meeting Summaries

Month: February 2021

Ann Arbor City Council: February 16, 2021

This was the twenty 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.

APPROVED: Site plan for a two story 14,570 square foot parish addition at 2150 Frieze Avenue (St Francis Assisi). It is a Special Exception Use for a residential district. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Site plan for a six-unit 36 bedroom rental complex at 907 & 913 South Main Street (two existing houses will be demolished, lots combined). (Legistar)

APPROVED: $25,000 payment from the Police and Firemen’s Relief Fund to the widow of Craig Sidelinger (Ann Arbor Fire Department). (Legistar)

APPROVED: $83,085 for traffic calming treatments at Glenwood Road (from Overridge to Washtenaw). (Legistar)

APPROVED: $188,503 for outdoor pool UV disinfection improvements at Veterans Park, Fuller Park, and Buhr Park pools. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Resolution adopting energy criterion and principles to guide energy-related Investments in A2ZERO, as developed by the Sustainability and Innovations office. The City Administrator is authorized to take all necessary actions to implement this resolution. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Amendments to the City Attorney Contract will delay the timing to his personnel evaluation until next year, to include the Council Members seated in November 2020. (Legistar)

APPROVED: A street closure for the benefit of Conor O’Neil’s celebration of St. Patrick’s day at Main Street (between Liberty and William) from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on March 17, 2021. (Legistar)

DEFEATED: A request for the City Administrator to determine the cost and feasibility of supplemental snow and ice removal of our pedestrian infrastructure to improve pedestrian safety in the downtown DDA district. (Legistar)

RECONSIDERED & APPROVED: New Council Rules initially approved at the previous meeting of 2/1/21 were brought back for reconsideration by CM Ramlawi. The rules were re-approved with a different vote split (8-3), with CMs Hayner, Nelson, Ramlawi voting “No”. (Legistar) (Legistar)

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for February 16, 2021 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for February 16, 2021 Part 2
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for February 16, 2021 Part 3

Ann Arbor City Council: February 1, 2021

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)

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)

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

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)

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

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)

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)

Two resolutions related to the Council of the Commons

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

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for February 1, 2021 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for February 1, 2021 Part 2
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for February 1, 2021 Part 3

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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.