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.

CM Song was absent

Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

APPROVED: An employment agreement with Milton Dohoney, Jr. to serve as the City Administrator. Mr. Dohoney will receive an annual base salary of $250,000, with no compensation adjustments for the first 24 months. (Legistar)

• https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2022/05/ann-arbor-boosts-city-administrators-salary-to-250k-under-new-contract.html

Two resolutions related to the South State Street reconstruction project:

• APPROVED: A $6,727,358.01 contract with Fonson Company, Inc for the South State Street reconstruction project. Improvements are planned for the South State Street area from Huron to North University, including water main replacement, resurfacing, bicycle improvements, and street reconstruction with a curbless design. Total project cost is estimated at $9,083,000. (Legistar)
• APPROVED: An agreement with the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) to share costs of the South State Street reconstruction project. The DDA’s portion of the cost allocation is an estimated $4,218,283. (Legistar)
• The South State Street reconstruction project is split into two stages: Stage 1 in June-August 2022 (E. Liberty St. to E. William St), Stage 2 in March-August 2023 (E Liberty St. to E. Huron St.)
• https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2022/05/ann-arbor-oks-deal-to-move-forward-with-9m-state-street-redesign.html

APPROVED: The City appropriates $374,738 of federal grant money toward funding “smart intersections.” A network of these intersections is part of a University of Michigan project to enable autonomous vehicles in our local community. (Legistar)

• https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2022/05/smart-intersections-project-nabs-nearly-10m-grant-for-university-of-michigan.html

APPROVED: By resolution, City Council reaffirms its support for women and individuals to access abortion and other reproductive rights services. The City Administrator and City Attorney’s Office will take appropriate legal action, including but not limited to, filing amicus briefs in Planned Parenthood of Michigan v. Attorney General of the State of Michigan and Governor Whitmer’s legal challenge of Act 328. (Legistar)

• https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2022/05/ann-arbor-councilwoman-remembers-when-abortion-was-illegal-in-michigan.html

APPROVED: The City Administrator will provide an opportunity for discussion between City Council members and U-M Regents to dialog about net zero energy Workforce Housing on U-M properties and elsewhere in the city, with the participation of stakeholder groups. The City Administrator will raise the issue of workforce housing at the quarterly U-M policy meetings and report progress to City Council, as appropriate, while soliciting the support of the Michigan Municipal League, the City’s lobbyist, the Chamber of Commerce, and any other local groups and leaders. (Legistar)

APPROVED: The City’s water rates will increase by 6% on July 1, 2022. (Legistar)

APPROVED: The City’s stormwater rates will increase by 4% on July 1, 2022. (Legistar)

APPROVED: $24.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds are appropriated to the City’s Major Grants Program Fund, following allocations previously approved by Council on April 4, 2022. (Legistar)

• Council approved the following APRA fund allocations at the April 4, 2022 meeting (Legistar)

  • $4,500,000 Solar on City Facilities
  • $3,500,000 Property Acquisition for Affordable Housing (including $500,000 allocation to residential support services)
  • $3,500,000 Unarmed Response
  • $2,300,000 Gallup Park Bridge
  • $2,000,000 Galvanized Water Service Line Replacement
  • $2,000,000 Vision Zero Plan Implementation
  • $1,682,630 Coordinated Funding Support
  • $1,600,000 Universal Basic Income
  • $1,000,000 City Clerk Election Center
  • $1,000,000 Housing for Homeless Households
  • $500,000 Community and Law Enforcement Data Platform
  • $500,000 Funding for the Arts (including $200,000 to “arts-based trauma response programs and workforce development”)
  • $100,000 Liberty Plaza

APPROVED: The City’s budget for FY 2023. General Fund recurring expenses have increased by 3.4% ($3,915,640) compared to FY 2022’s adopted budget; recurring revenues have increased by 4.5% ($5,075,679). The FY 2023 budget includes a total of 16 additional full time employees (FTE) in City departments: Parks & Recreation, Building & Rental, Public Services, City Attorney, Police, Fire, and Downtown Development Authority. Ten additional FTE’s will be permitted on a temporary basis as part of the workforce planning initiative. (Legistar)

• AMENDMENT: Allocations for $935,336 in FY23 Marijuana Excise Tax Revenue:

  • $572,000 to City Attorney’s Office for Deflection Program
  • $100,000 to Public Works department for an apprenticeship program to fund 10 commercial driver’s licenses
  • $100,000 to Washtenaw County to fund Utility Support for low income residents through Barrier Busters
  • $75,000 to Ann Arbor Housing Commission for A BIPOC small business development space at 121 E. Catherine
  • $60,000 to Office of Sustainability & Innovations for low income sustainability grants
  • $28,336 to Washtenaw County for Child Savings Accounts
  • DEFEATED: Amendment to remove $100,000 from the Public Works Apprenticeship program and re-direct it to Dawn Farms (long-term addiction treatment services).
  • DEFEATED: Amendment to remove $60,000 from low income sustainability grants and re-direct it to Home of New Vision (substance use disorder treatment) and A Brighter Way (support for formerly incarcerated).
• AMENDMENT: An additional $240,000 to the Office of Sustainability & Innovations for low income sustainability grants

• AMENDMENT: Additional funding to support the City Attorney’s office:

  • $165,252 for an additional full time employee (FTE)
  • $20,000 to replace CityLaw software
  • $48,000 to fund annual maintenance for new software
• A2ELNEL: Proposed City Budget Amendments for FY2023
• https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2022/05/ann-arbor-oks-525m-budget-after-heated-debate-over-marijuana-money.html

A2ELNEL Voting Chart