A2Council Meeting Summaries

Month: December 2022

Ann Arbor Council Of The Commons Special Meeting: December 21, 2022

This meeting was held remotely using the Zoom application. A recording of this working session was not made available by the City. I uploaded my recording of the Zoom meeting to YouTube.

This is a recording I made of a Zoom meeting held on Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 3:00PM by the Ann Arbor Council Of The Commons. This was a special meeting to discuss the Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation Open Space (PROS) Plan

This is the Legistar link for this meeting:
https://a2gov.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1066926&GUID=E10FE3AC-011F-4545-A69E-D0014B493E4A

This is the link to the Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation page for the PROS plan:
https://www.a2gov.org/departments/Parks-Recreation/administrative/Pages/Park-Planning.aspx

The City Planning Commission approved the PROS Plan on January 4, 2023: https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-planning-commission-january-4-2023/

City Council approved the PROS Plan on January 9, 2023: https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-council-january-9-2023/

Ann Arbor City Council: December 19, 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.

CM Akmon was absent
CM Cornell was absent
CM Disch was absent
CM Song was absent

Due to absences, items requiring 8 votes were removed from the agenda

Legistar
YouTube
Newsletter
Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

APPROVED: A collective bargaining agreement between the City and the Ann Arbor Police Officers Association. (Legistar)

  • In addition to adjusting pay scale, wages, benefits, pension contributions, and vehicle replacement timelines, the new agreement includes the following changes:
    • When imposing discipline, a “look back” period has been extended from two years to four years. The Chief may consider written reprimands within four years and any suspensions (without any time limit).
    • The Chief is empowered to waive any progressive discipline in cases of major infractions. A prior list of major infractions – excessive use of force, mishandling of a weapon, and mishandling of evidence – has been expanded to include dishonesty, cowardice, theft, insubordination, criminal conduct, harassment, and discrimination.
    • Mutually agreed on mediation will be permitted as one more option for discussion of grievances in a neutral setting. This can happen before a formal request for potentially costly/risky arbitration.
    • An on-call system is established to provide more consistent around-the-clock coverage.
  • https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2022/12/ann-arbor-police-officers-more-accountable-for-misconduct-under-new-contract.html

APPROVED: A City agreement with Recycle Ann Arbor is amended to extend the current Municipal Resource Recovery Services Contract for an additional two-month period (January 1, 2023, to February 28, 2023) to give time for negotiations of a longer extension. Estimated costs of $207,773 include an 8.5% increase to the current per cart tip fee ($11.07/cart tip). The new per cart tip fee will be $12.01/cart tip. (Legistar)

APPROVED (FIRST READING): Amendments to the City ordinance establishing “Best Value” procurement (BVP) policies for City contracts. The original ordinance was approved in January 2022, in response to a successful ballot initiative that amended the City charter. A “Best Value” policy for awarding City contracts has replaced the previous policy of “Lowest responsible Bidder.” (Legistar)

  • The Best Value Procurement (BVP) ordinance is amended to address problems identified:
    • The BVP policy is not accepted by MDOT and other partnering agencies that help fund City projects. MDOT will agree to pay a percentage of project cost based on the price of the Lowest Responsible Bidder. Amendments give the City Administrator complete discretion to exempt contracts from BVP policy where third-party funding is a factor. Decisions will be made “at the sole determination of the City Administrator.”
    • Previous BVP requirements were impossible to apply to simpler contracts, where only smaller firms are available to do the work but only larger firms can meet requirements such as apprenticeship programs. Amendments will apply Best Value Procurement policies only to contracts exceeding $50,000.
    • Previous BVP policy referred to (and required) a Michigan OSHA safety program certification that did not exist. Amendments remove this reference.
    • Previous BVP policy included an evaluation of employment ratios for categories of employee – masters, journey persons, and apprentices – that were not recognized by the state of Michigan. Employment ratios for these categories are federal requirements through the Department of Labor (DOL). There is no published standard for ratios of these employees; they are determined by the DOL on a case by case basis. Amendments remove the “completely redundant” criterion.
    • Previous BVP policy did not require disclosure of non-craft employees or contract labor. Amendments will add disclosure requirements and preference to those companies that employ fewer non-craft employees.
    • From the resolution: “Staff worked closely with Councilmembers Eyer and Councilmember Radina to finalize these amendments and bring them forward to City Council.”

APPROVED: The Council Policy Agenda committee comprised of Mayor Taylor, Council Members Eyer, Harrison, Radina, Song, and Watson updated a list of state-level policies and legislative goals approved in July 2022. This Council Legislative and Policy Agenda is typically presented as a plain document, listing state policy preferences and priorities to be approved by the whole of Council. This agenda is formatted as a 37 page booklet with graphics and a table of contents, to be shared directly with the whole of the Michigan State Legislature. It includes an introductory greeting from Mayor Taylor. (Legistar)

  • Highlights of Legislative Proposals:
    • Local control and community self-determination related to specific policy issues
    • Community Choice Aggregation for alternative energy
    • Energy efficiency requirements in state building code
    • Legalization of Community Solar and support for on-site solar
    • Polluter Pay laws
    • Regulation of plastic containers and bags
    • Support for lower minimum speed limits
    • Local ownership of state trunklines
    • Incentivizing by-right duplexes, triplexes and quadplexes in all residential districts
    • Repealing ban on rent control
    • Codify Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act
    • Repeal of Right to Work
    • Infrastructure priorities are listed in two groups – “Mega Projects” and “Priority Projects”
  • “Mega Projects” Identified
    • Water Treatment Plant Replacement ($108.1 Million)
    • New Train Station ($100+ Million)
    • The Treeline Trail ($110 Million)
  • “Priority Projects” Identified
    • Wheeler Center Solar Park ($15 million)
    • Net-Zero Fire Stations 3 and 4 ($8.3 Million each)
    • Vision Zero Project Implementation ($30 million)
    • Sustainable Energy Utility Startup (no cost estimate given)
    • Road Paving (no cost estimate given)
    • From the description of Road Paving – “The City of Ann Arbor has road resurfacing needs across the community. Any funding amount from the state to assist in these needs would be appreciated and well used.”
  • https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2022/12/10-ways-michigans-shift-in-power-could-advance-ann-arbors-agenda.html

A2Council Update Video

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for December 19, 2022 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for December 19, 2022 Part 2
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for December 19, 2022 Part 3

Ann Arbor City Planning Commission Working Session: December 13, 2022

This meeting was held remotely using the Zoom application. A recording of this working session was not made available by the City. I uploaded my recording of the Zoom meeting to YouTube, as well as a video summary.

This was a working session of the Ann Arbor City Planning Commission held on December 13, 2022. The purpose of the session was to discuss potential changes to the Transit Corridor Zoning district (TC-1) recently applied to West Stadium and Maple.

On December 5, 2022, Ann Arbor City Council passed a resolution directing the City Planning Commission to evaluate and recommend amendments to the TC-1 Zoning District or Unified Development Code (UDC) that incorporate limited automobile uses (excluding drive throughs and gas stations) and address the constraints of existing narrow rights of way.

Legistar link for this working session: http://a2gov.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=954632&GUID=24686321-C6EC-45CE-ABC1-C1F70D698C28

A2Council link for the City Council meeting of December 5, 2022: https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-council-december-5-2022

https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2022/12/proposed-changes-to-ann-arbors-new-high-density-zoning-spark-more-debate.html

https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2022/12/ann-arbor-begins-task-of-reexamining-citys-new-high-density-zoning.html

A recording of this working session was not made available by the City. I uploaded my recording of the Zoom meeting to YouTube, as well as a video summary. Both videos are available below:

A2Council Update Video Summary

Video of Entire Meeting

Ann Arbor City Planning Commission: December 6, 2022

This meeting was held in person at City Hall.

APPROVED: Recommendation that City Council approve amendments to the UDC that would permit the installation of solar panels in front yards.

POSTPONED: A proposed ordinance to require full electrification of all new building, banning new gas line hookups in new or substantially renovated or expanded buildings in the city of Ann Arbor.

Legistar and Video Links

Legistar: https://a2gov.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=954624&GUID=E9C610EF-C1D3-4B2E-8D8A-CC29E12B4652

YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZewNYlFQv7U

CTN Video: https://ctnvideo.a2gov.org/CablecastPublicSite/show/7732

Meeting Length: 2h 23m

Ann Arbor City Council: December 5, 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: A resolution in response to two specific concerns raised regarding the TC-1 zoning district at Stadium/Maple: the viability of ongoing commercial businesses, and narrow rights of way on Stadium Boulevard. It is proposed that some commercial outlets be permitted as a special exception use within the TC-1 district. Further, the minimal setback requirements in the TC-1 district at Stadium are problematic, given the limited distance between curbs and lot lines (~7 feet). Mayoral appointees on the Planning Commission are directed to evaluate and recommend amendments to the TC-1 zoning district in order to incorporate limited automobile-related uses (except for drive-throughs and gas stations) and address the issue of narrow existing rights of way. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Council members were appointed to Boards, Commissions, and Council committees (Legistar)

APPROVED: 2023 calendar for Council meetings, both regular sessions and work sessions. This calendar eliminates all work sessions traditionally scheduled as public meetings to discuss the annual City budget. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Council Rules and procedures, including recent amendments. Rules were amended to clarify language regarding mask requirements at in-person Council meetings: mask requirements will follow CDC guidance, consistent with local transmission rates. (Legistar)

APPROVED: A motion to suspend Council Rule 13, in order to bring a budget amendment back for reconsideration. Council rules allow that an issue previously decided can be brought back for reconsideration at the following meeting and that such a motion must come from a Council member who voted on the prevailing side in the original decision. Neither of these conditions would have been met in bringing back a budget amendment that was defeated at the September 19, 2022 Council meeting. (Legistar)

APPROVED: A budget amendment for $134,000 to fund a consultant to study the feasibility of the City taking control of major corridors at North Main, Washtenaw, Huron, and Jackson. These corridors are currently considered “state trunklines” and the Michigan Department of Transportation is wholly responsible for their maintenance and repair. (The state reimburses the City for minor repairs, e.g. filling potholes.) City control of these corridors would give the City complete responsibility for the cost of maintenance and repair (with some additional funds from Act 51 and other state funds). (Legistar)

Two resolutions related to the reallocation of ARPA funds:

APPROVED: Memorandum of understanding between the City of Ann Arbor & Washtenaw County for extension of the Border to Border Trail, connecting Bandemer Park to Huron River Dr. A plan for collaboration will create a safe, non-motorized connection between Bandemer Park and Huron River Drive part of the Bandemer-Barton Trail and Underpass Project. (Legistar)

APPROVED: $4,242,055.60 construction contract for sanitary sewer pipe lining work near downtown: Jefferson/Ashley to Miller/First and Hoover/Division to Arch/White. Work is scheduled to take place January to April 2023 as part of the High Level Trunkline Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Phase 2 Project. (Legistar)

APPROVED: A grant application for up to $1,000,000 from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for improvements to Buhr Park Ice arena. A Michigan Spark Grant program funds creation, renovation, or redevelopment of public recreation facilities. The Buhr Park project will replace the whole refrigeration system, reduce energy consumption, and improve accessibility and operations. The estimated total cost of the project is $1,665,000 – $2,350,000. (Legistar)

A2Council Update Video

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for December 5, 2022 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for December 5, 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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