A2Council Meeting Summaries

Month: December 2021

Ann Arbor City Council: December 20, 2021

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

CM Disch called in from Chicago, IL
CM Song called in from Honolulu, Hawaii

APPROVED: Masks will be required for those attending in-person City Council meetings, starting in January 2022. Free masks will be provided. Remote public comment will be available outside of City Hall. An area at City Hall will be established for unmasked members of the public to watch meetings live and provide comment. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Council approves an employment contract with Atleen Kaur, who will serve as the Ann Arbor City Attorney, starting April 11, 2022. (Legistar)

Two items related to the proposed Mill Creek Townhomes development:

  • APPROVED: Rezoning of 32.6 acres at 3002 Chelsea Circle from R3 (Townhouse Dwelling) to R4B (Multiple Family Dwelling) to allow for infill development of apartment buildings (Mill Creek Townhomes). Current zoning allows for the development of ten housing units per acre and the new zoning permits up to fifteen housing units per acre. (Legistar)
  • APPROVED: A site plan for Mill Creek Townhomes that includes 383 dwelling units and 669 parking spaces with a 5,000-square foot community center at 3002 Chelsea Circle. This development will not fully comply with Electric Vehicle (EV) parking requirements but this site plan was granted a variance by the Zoning Board of Appeals. (Legistar)
  • https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2021/12/15m-apartment-development-gets-ann-arbor-councils-final-ok.html

APPROVED: The PUD zoning of Monroe and Tappan (“Casa Dominicks”) is modified to delay closure of a curb cut that is recommended in the Supplemental Regulations. Supplemental Regulations were written in 2010, as requirements to be implemented with a site plan for expansion. That expansion never took place, but a site plan was required as part of licensing for a provisioning center on the property. The curb cut currently provides access for a residential tenant. At first reading (11/15/21), the PUD was amended to require the removal of all impervious surface currently used as parking. At second reading, the PUD was further amended to remove two parking spots that have existed since the 1960s. (Legistar)

Two items related to allowing customers to opt out of automatic water reading:

  • APPROVED: An ordinance amendment creates an “Opt out” provision for properties that are not equipped with a device that allows automatic or remote reading of a water meter. Where the public services area is not able to install, repair or replace a meter, water may be cut off or property owners may be assessed a surcharge under an “opt out” provision. (Legistar)
  • APPROVED: A set of new fees and regulations is established for utility customers who wish to opt-out of the city’s current automatic remote meter reading equipment. Two options for opt-out are proposed. Customers may relocate the meter transmitter unit to an outside location and will be charged $115 as a one time fee (homeowners would be required to install an exterior wire to accomplish this). Alternatively, customers who wish to remove the meter transmitter unit will be charged $399 as a set up fee for installation of reading display equipment outside of the home, plus a $58 quarterly meter reading fee. (Legistar)
  • https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2021/12/ann-arbor-homeowners-who-dont-want-smart-meters-must-pay-extra-fees-city-decides.html

APPROVED: An ordinance amendment updates the list of substances considered intoxicating agents, clarifies that operating a motor vehicle while under their influence is a violation whether or not they were ingested legally, and updates pronouns for gender neutral language. (Legistar)

APPROVED: An ordinance is repealed and replaced to add Juneteenth and Indigenous Peoples Day to the list of referenced national holidays, add forfeiture of a firearm to penalties, incorporate state law and International Fire Code (IFC) definitions, and update pronouns for gender neutral language. (Legistar)

APPROVED: The City of Ann Arbor will participate in a settlement of national prescription opiate litigation. Per the settlement, three pharmaceutical distributors and one manufacturer will pay up to $26 billion over 18 years, which will be distributed to state and local governments. The state of Michigan expects to receive up to $800 million. Ann Arbor’s participation means that the City would receive funds for abatement of the opioids epidemic, e.g. treatment and prevention. (Legistar)

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for December 20, 2021 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for December 20, 2021 Part 2
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for December 20, 2021 Part 3

Ann Arbor City Council: December 6, 2021

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

APPROVED: Council appointments to boards, commissions and committees for the upcoming year are changed. Council Member Hayner now has no Council appointed positions. Council Members Briggs, Disch, Eyer, and Grand take positions formerly held by CM Hayner. Council Member Nelson is removed from Budget & Labor committee. Council Member Ramlawi is removed from Budget & Labor and Council Administrative committees. Council Members Disch, Grand and Radina take positions formerly held by CM Nelson and CM Ramlawi. (Legistar)

Two resolutions related to a proposed Climate Action Millage

  • APPROVED: A Climate Action Millage will be put on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2022. A millage of 1.0 mills will be collected for 20 years, and is projected to collect $6.8 million in the first year. An earlier version of this proposal would have directed a special election in May 2022. In advance of discussion, a substitute version places the millage on the ballot in the regular November 2022 election. (Legistar)

    • DEFEATED: An amendment to change the term of the millage to ten years.
  • APPROVED: A Resolution of Intent lists the planned use and administration of funds collected from a proposed Climate Action Millage. (Legistar)

    • DEFEATED: A postponement in order to have this resolution reviewed and discussed by the Energy and Environmental Commissions.
  • A2ELNEL: Thoughts on the Climate Action Millage Proposal
  • https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2021/12/inaction-is-irresponsible-ann-arbor-climate-action-tax-headed-to-ballot.html

APPROVED: Council requests that the DDA extend the Curb Side Carry Out Program and continue the repurposing of 148 regular metered parking spaces through May 31, 2022. These spaces are repurposed to support dozens of local downtown business who must rely on take-out business in order to financially survive. (Legistar)

APPROVED: $1,093,021.50 allocated from the General Fund to support 6-month transition grants for area nonprofit service providers. This is a response to the end of the Coordinated Funding program and in anticipation of a new Human Services Partnership that is currently being developed between the City and the County. (Legistar)

Three resolutions related to Greenbelt purchases

APPROVED: Site plan for 106 North Fourth Avenue will allow for construction of a two story, 910 square foot addition at the rear of an existing one story office building. It is within the Fourth-Ann Historic district and the City Historic Commission. Council approval is required because this addition is more than 10% of the existing building. (Legistar)

Two resolutions related to electric vehicle chargers

APPROVED: $449,034 for engineering design services on a water main, resurfacing, crosswalk lighting, safety improvements, and a 2-way bike facility at State and Hill. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Winchell Park is renamed, in honor of former school board president Dr. Harold J. Lockett. (Legistar)

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for December 6, 2021 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for December 6, 2021 Part 2
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for December 6, 2021 Part 3
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for December 6, 2021 Part 4

Ann Arbor City Council Special Session: December 1, 2021

This was a special session of Ann Arbor City Council to waive privilege and release an Investigative Report in response to a complaint filed by the HR Director against the Assistant (then Acting) City Administrator. 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 Traverse City, MI
CM Radina called in from Washington DC
CM Griswold attended the beginning of the meeting, but was absent for the vote 

Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

APPROVED: Waive privilege and public release of Investigative Report related to formal complaints by HR Director Tom Guajardo against Assistant (then Acting) City Administrator John Fournier. Simultaneous release with original complaints. (Legistar)

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for December 1, 2021

Subscribe To My Newsletter

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.