A2Council Meeting Summaries

Month: August 2021

Ann Arbor City Council: August 16, 2021

This was the thirty fourth 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. Michigan Open Meetings Act changes effective April 1, 2021 require all Council Members to state their location.

CM Briggs was absent

CM Disch called in from Evanston, IL


A Special Session was held before the regular Council meeting in order to approve the performance evaluation and employment agreement for Stephen Postema, City Attorney. That agreement included a lump sum payment, salary increase, and cashing out of 100 hours of vacation time. (Legistar)


Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

APPROVED: The current Assistant City Administrator, John Fournier, is named Acting City Administrator through September 20, 2021 with salary adjusted (increased) to that of the City Administrator. The City will search for an external candidate to act as interim for a period of approximately one year. (Legistar)

APPROVED: A new ordinance bans sales, offers for sale, and displays for sale or trade of fur products in the City of Ann Arbor. A person may not distribute a fur product for monetary or nonmonetary consideration in the City. Exemptions include re-sale of used items (pawn or vintage), traditional tribal, cultural or religious practice, and sales permitted by state or federal law. Effective date of this ordinance is in one year, to allow time for businesses to sell off existing inventory. (Legistar)

APPROVED: A new ordinance will ban “conversion therapy” on minors within the City of Ann Arbor. It will be unlawful for any person who is licensed by the State of Michigan to engage in counseling, practice, or treatment that seeks to change, reduce, or eliminate an individual’s Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, or Gender Expression. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Downtown street closures will be extended to November 1, 2021. Main, W. Liberty, and E. Liberty will continue to be closed from Thursday afternoon to Monday morning. West Washington will continue to be closed 24/7. On football game days, Main Street will not be closed. (Legistar)

APPROVED: A “Social District” would be established downtown, allowing for shared outdoor dining space (and service of alcohol by licensed establishments). The social district will permit use of the right-of-way on Main, 4th, Washington, Liberty, and Ashley to promote social distancing on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 4 PM to 11 PM. (Legistar)

Three event related street closures were approved:

  • APPROVED: Street Closures for UM Go Blue Mix on September 4, 2021 (4 PM to midnight). Washington will be closed from Fletcher to Thayer. (Legistar)
  • APPROVED: Street Closures for the Mayor’s Green Fair on October 1, 2021 (3-11 PM). S. Main, Liberty and Washington will be closed. (Legistar)
  • APPROVED: Street Closures for the A2 Artober Fest the weekend of October 8-10, 2021. Fourth Avenue and Ann Street will be closed. (Legistar)

APPROVED: September 2021 is proclaimed Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Awareness month to increase the awareness and understanding of mental ailments, the need for appropriate and accessible treatment options, and the transformative power of psychedelic-assisted therapy for all those suffering or looking to improve their mental health. (Legistar)

APPROVED: A total of $59,000 will be distributed to twelve local entities, to cover city costs related to various community events: Art fairs (2021), Monarch Migration Festival, Taste of Ann Arbor (2021 and 2022), Veterans Day Memorial, Earth Day Celebration (2022), Fool Moon (2022), Festifool (2022), Standing Tough Against Rape Society (2022), Top of the Park and Summer Festival (2022). (Legistar)

APPROVED: Acceptance of four sidewalk connectors as public rights-of-way (off of Delaware & Morehead in Lawton neighborhood) (Legistar)

APPROVED: $87,450 to renovate and resurface tennis and basketball courts at Burns Park, adding a pickleball court. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Evergreen Downtown restaurant at 208 W. Liberty Street will be issued a downtown development district liquor license. This license will permit them to serve beer and wine. (Legistar)

APPROVED: The City will purchase a property at 519 Eighth Street for $180,000 plus costs (not to exceed $20,000) out of the Solid Waste Fund balance. The purchase of this property will ensure city access to a sanitary sewer main and also provide space for city vehicles (e.g. solid waste trucks) to turn around after servicing residents on Eighth Street. (Legistar)

APPROVED: The City Administrator is directed to evaluate interim measures that can be implemented to address reported flooding issues in the Narrow Gauge area and communicate a report to Council by September 16, 2021. (Legistar)

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for August 16, 2021 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for August 16, 2021 Part 2
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for August 16, 2021 Part 3
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for August 16, 2021 Part 4

Ann Arbor City Council Special Session: August 4, 2021

This was a special hearing of Ann Arbor City Council for a complaint filed by CM Grand against CM Hayner regarding an MLive story. This meeting was held online via the Zoom application. Michigan Open Meetings Act changes effective April 1, 2021 require all Council Members to state their location.

CM Eyer called in from Lexington, VA

CM Radina called in from Roscommon, MI

CM Song called in from Charlevoix, MI

Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

APPROVED: A reprimand of Council Member Hayner in response to an official complaint filed by Council Member Grand. Council Member Grand’s complaint is based on a phone conversation between Council Member Hayner and a journalist from MLive in advance of an article published on May 12, 2021. CM Hayner was found in violation of a new Council Ethics Rule 13 “Behavioral Norms” (approved May 3, 2021). (Legistar)

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for August 4, 2021

Ann Arbor City Council: August 2, 2021

This was the thirty third 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. Michigan Open Meetings Act changes effective April 1, 2021 require all Council Members to state their location.

CM Radina called in from Roscommon, MI
CM Song called in from Charlevoix, MI

Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

Two resolutions related to concluding employment with City Administrator Tom Crawford

APPROVED: The City’s Early Leasing Ordinance will add requirements: for leases longer than eight months, a landlord must communicate the terms of a lease renewal no later than 180 days before the end of the term. Landlords will not be permitted to show rental units to prospective tenants or enter into leases for a subsequent term until 150 days before the end of the current lease term. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Downtown street closures (Main and Liberty) for Taste of Ann Arbor on Sunday, September 19, 2021 (6 AM to 6 PM) (Legistar)

APPROVED: Street closures (E. Keech and S. Main) for home games during Michigan Football Season: 9/4, 9/11, 9/18, 9/25, 10/23, 11/6, 11/27 (Legistar)

APPROVED: Allocation of $439,780.38 to fill sidewalk gaps on Barton, Traver, Stimson, and Boardwalk. (Legistar)

APPROVED: A historic study committee will be established to make recommendations about the Robert Hayden House at 1201 Gardner Avenue. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Amendments to Council Rules will allow the Chair of a meeting (Mayor) to determine when any attendee has engaged in a personal attack that disrupts the meeting or (in language added) is “unrelated to Council business.” The Chair may make a call to order and mute any attendee who is attending remotely. (Legistar)

APPROVED: A ballot question for 11/4/21 will approve ranked choice voting in our local elections (if the state ever passes a law that would permit ranked choice voting). In a conventional election, voters communicate a single choice and, among multiple candidates, a contest can be one with a plurality rather than a majority of votes. A ranked choice system of voting would permit voters to “rank” every candidate for City Council and Mayor numerically in both our partisan primaries and general elections. Ranked choice voting would measure voter preferences more accurately in contests between more than two candidates. (Legistar)

APPROVED: A question will be put on the 11/4/21 ballot for a City charter amendment. The City charter will acknowledge a method for emergency procurement of supplies, materials, equipment, professional services, and construction services without obtaining prior Council approval and securing competitive bidding. The City charter would permit such emergency procurement, according to city ordinance. (Legistar)

APPROVED: A question would be put on the 11/4/21 ballot for a City charter amendment. The City Administrator would be permitted to make appropriations and purchases of up to $75,000 without competitive bidding or the approval of Council. (The amount of $75,000 would also be subject to adjustment for inflation.) Currently, the limit for such purchases is $25,000. (Legistar)

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

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