A2Council Meeting Summaries

Month: January 2022

Ann Arbor City Planning Commission: January 20, 2022

This meeting was held in person at City Hall.

APPROVED: Recommendation that City Council approve Concept Plan, Development Agreement, and PUD Zoning at 350 S. Fifth a.k.a. the “Y Lot” (0.80 acre site)

Legistar and Video Links

Legistar: https://a2gov.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=931790&GUID=0437995E-0B95-4B0A-B2F7-B24523A204AB

YouTube: not available

CTN Video: https://ctnvideo.a2gov.org/CablecastPublicSite/show/6388

Meeting Length: 2h 17m

Ann Arbor City Council: January 18, 2022

This Ann Arbor City Council meeting was held in person at City Hall. Members of the public can participate in public hearings and public comment either in person or via phone.

Legistar
YouTube
Newsletter
Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

APPROVED: The City Administrator will create a Request for Proposals (RFP) to “study the technical, legal, and financial viability of multiple potential pathways” toward sustainable energy. The study of “multiple pathways” will include a detailed technical, financial and rate analysis of a municipal electric utility that would replace DTE as well as a Sustainable Electric Utility that would supplement DTE service. This resolution also directs the City Administrator to propose a governance model for, conduct public outreach about, and draft an ordinance to formally create a Sustainable Electric Utility. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Five properties totaling 73.2 acres that are currently part of Ann Arbor township are annexed into the City: 1680 Dhu Varren (67.599 acres), 2670 Pontiac Trail (1.859 Acres), 2672 Pontiac Trail (1.256 Acres), 2678 Pontiac Trail (1.245 Acres), and 2682 Pontiac Trail (1.248 Acres). These properties are associated with a site plan for “The Village of Ann Arbor” that will include single-family homes, townhomes, and stacked multiple-family units at a density of less than 10 dwelling units per acre. At a future meeting, Council will vote on a request for R4A (multiple-family) zoning. (Legistar)

APPROVED: A City ordinance regarding disorderly conduct is repealed and replaced to add existing penalties, alter pronouns for gender neutral language, and remove provisions already covered by state law (Crime Victims Rights Act of 1985). These amendments are part of a Reform Project and will go into effect on April 15, 2022. (Legistar)

APPROVED: A resolution condemning antisemitism “calls upon the persons who rally to express antisemitism on Washtenaw Avenue to renounce extremism, disband, and cease their weekly show of aggressive bigotry” and affirms “support for the Beth Israel Congregation, their guests, and all members of the Jewish Community in Ann Arbor, each of whom has the right to worship, gather, and celebrate free from intimidation, harassment, and fear of violence.” (Legistar)

APPROVED: The City Administrator will analyze the staffing and cost required to clear snow on city-owned sidewalks and paths on the same timeline as is required for private property owners. City code amendments will be prepared to allow for discretion and educational opportunities in enforcement. The City Administrator will pursue better snow clearing strategies in the DDA district in collaboration with downtown partners and also encourage AAPS to clear snow on sidewalks adjacent to their properties. (Legistar)

REFERRED: A resolution directing the City Administrator to organize a dialogue among federal, state and local elected officials and University of Michigan leaders to discuss the development of 2000 units of workforce housing on UM North Campus. He would be directed to discuss this topic at quarterly UM policy meetings and report progress to City Council. This resolution was referred to the following commissions for discussion: Planning, Transportation, Energy, Environmental, as well as the local Economic Development Corporation. (Legistar)

APPROVED: As part of the 2020 & 2021 Sewer Lining project, $5,946,305 is allocated toward repair and maintenance of 65,000 feet of sanitary and storm sewer pipes and 50 sanitary sewer manholes. (Legistar)

Two resolutions related to downtown street closures:

APPROVED: The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) will hire a new executive director, Jeffrey D. Watson. (Legistar)

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for January 18, 2022 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for January 18, 2022 Part 2

Ann Arbor City Council: January 3, 2022

This was the first Ann Arbor City Council meeting held in person at City Hall since March 2020. Members of the public can participate in public hearings and public comment either in person or via phone.

CM Hayner was absent
CM Song was absent

Legistar
YouTube
Newsletter
Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

APPROVED: The Unified Development Code (UDC) is amended to change the City process for revision and approval of site plans. Site plans not associated to rezoning petitions will now be reviewed by the City Planning Commission, rather than City Council. Site plans will no longer be required for construction of up to four residential units (current threshold is two units). Up to six residential units may be approved by the Planning Manager, without the review of Planning Commission. (Legistar)

APPROVED: City ordinances are amended to reflect changes in the City’s procedures for contracting and purchases. Council approval is required only for contracts and purchases over $75,000; this is a change from the previous threshold of $25,000. A set of criteria aimed at achieving “best value” will be used to make purchases and enter into contracts over $75,000; this is a change from the previous standard of “lowest responsible bidder.” Additionally, City Council is empowered to sell “surplus” property by the same standard. From the amended ordinance: “City Council retains the right to dispose of City real and personal property in a manner that provides the best value to the City, with or without competitive bids, in City Council’s determination.” All of these changes are consistent with ballot proposals approved by voters in November 2021. (Legistar)

PUBLIC HEARING: City Council held a public hearing (without any vote) regarding the establishment of an industrial development district comprised of 16.9 acres of land at 3874, 3990, 3886, 3994, 3950, 3958 Research Park Drive, owned by Sartorius BioAnalytical Instruments, Inc. Establishment of this district would allow Sartorius to apply for industrial facilities exemption certificates, which have the effect of creating certain tax abatements. State law allows up to 50% property tax exemption for up to 12 years. (Legistar)

APPROVED: An employment contract for retiring City Attorney Stephen Postema will permit him to act as a legal advisor to the city through Nov 30, 2022, for up to ten hours per week. (Legistar)

  • At the Dec 20, 2021 meeting, Council approved an employment contract with Atleen Kaur, who will serve as the Ann Arbor City Attorney starting April 11, 2022. (Legistar)

APPROVED: City Council waived attorney-client privilege on a followup investigation report to another report dated June 29, 2021, regarding former City Administrator Tom Crawford, “for the sake of transparency.” (Legistar)

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for January 3, 2022 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for January 3, 2022 Part 2

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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.

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