A2Council Meeting Summaries

Month: March 2023

Ann Arbor City Planning Commission: March 21, 2023

This meeting was held in person at City Hall.

Commissioner Lee was absent

APPROVED: Site plan and wetland use permit for Platt Road townhomes at 3680, 3696, 3746, and 3788 Platt Road (Legistar)

APPROVED: PUD zoning and site plan for Verve Ann Arbor development at 721 South Forest Ave (Legistar)

APPROVED: Site plan for a six story building at 121 Catherine St (Legistar)

Legistar and Video Links

Legistar: http://a2gov.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1069296&GUID=401B0A26-23B2-4D8C-8C4B-36A0FB6FCBAB

YouTube: https://youtu.be/WPnUydTL1YY (missing first 5 minutes – see CTN Video for entire meeting)

CTN Video: https://ctnvideo.a2gov.org/CablecastPublicSite/show/8110

Meeting Length: 4h 12m

Ann Arbor City Council: March 20, 2023

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

Two items related to the removal of the Insurance Board

  • APPROVED: The Insurance Board is eliminated as the body of review for claims filed against the City. The Insurance Board – two Council Members and the City’s treasurer – previously reviewed and awarded claims against the City between $500 and $10,000. Meeting minutes for the Insurance Board were approved by City Council and Council specifically approved all claims over $10,000. The City Administrator (or his designee) is now empowered to decide all awards or denials of claims against the City, up to $75,000. According to the ordinance, Information about expenditures under $75,000 will be available to Council members “upon request.” (Legistar)
  • APPROVED: A resolution requesting that the City Administrator provide Council with a “monthly claims review report.” This resolution was amended at the table to add a request that the claims be published on a page of the City’s website. The ordinance amendment eliminating the Insurance Board does not include any requirement for publication of Risk Fund claims under $75,000. (Legistar)
  • A2ELNEL: Council Evades Responsibility: Insurance Board, Downtown Street Closures, Brownfield Review Committee
  • A2ELNEL: Eliminating The Insurance Board Reduces Council Accountability

APPROVED: An ordinance amendment permits Waste Management to directly bill customers for commercial refuse hauling in the City of Ann Arbor. Currently, the City provides billing and customer service for commercial solid waste collection. These responsibilities are delegated to Waste Management for commercial customers. (Legistar)

APPROVED: $3.5 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds allocated to the Ann Arbor Housing Commission toward the purchase of eight duplexes (17 bedrooms) at 1474 W. Liberty, 1484 W. Liberty, 528 Virginia Ave,1540 Siller Terrace, 1550 Siller Terrace, 1560 Siller Terrace, 1570 Siller Terrace, and 1580 Siller Terrace. These housing units will be developed as affordable housing priced at 60% of Area Median Income. The total purchase price of these properties is $4,135,000. The Ann Arbor Housing Commission anticipates borrowing an additional $2 million from the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, to cover closing costs and renovations. Total development cost: $5,500,000. (Legistar)

APPROVED: $615,216.72 amendment to a contract for professional engineering services with DLZ Michigan, Inc. for a redesign of the East Medical Center Drive Bridge. Amendment to the DLZ contract includes nearly 4000 additional work hours over the course of seven months. This capital improvement was scheduled to occur during the 2023 construction season but has been delayed to 2024. (Legistar)

APPROVED: The City administrator is directed to negotiate a new or amended natural gas franchise without compromising the ability of our community to heat or cook in homes and businesses The current natural gas franchise is held by DTE and does not expire until 2027. (Legistar)

APPROVED: An expanded and amended contract with SPIN, Inc. will license 100 e-bikes and reduce the licensing fees charged and collected by the City. SPIN requested and was granted a reduction in licensing fees from $1 per day to 20 cents per day (per unit). The City estimates a $54,750 reduction in revenue. (Legistar)

APPROVED: The Ann Arbor Public Art Commission will develop a project plan to design a new City Flag. The project plan will include a public engagement process, schedule, and funding necessary to complete the project as a part of the bicentennial celebration. The resolution refers to the “Five Basic Principles of Flag” from the North American Vexillological Association (NAVO) (Legistar)

APPROVED (first reading): The parcel at 415 W Washington will be rezoned from Public Land (PL) to Planned Unit Development (PUD) to facilitate the development of residential and mixed uses as permitted in the D2 zoning district including residential, commercial and office uses. The PUD will require a minimum of 15 designated affordable housing units or 15% of the total units or a contribution in lieu of units, whichever number is greater. The PUD will also require 60% open space amenities such as the extension of the Treeline Trail, benches, and ambient lighting. (Legistar)

APPROVED (first reading): The City’s housing code will be amended to require carbon monoxide detectors in all current rental units, consistent with requirements for new construction and certain alterations. (Legistar)

A2Council Update Video

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for March 20, 2023 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for March 20, 2023 Part 2
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for March 20, 2023 Part 3

Ann Arbor City Planning Commission Working Session: March 14, 2023

This meeting was held remotely using the Zoom application.

On Tuesday, March 14, 2023 the Ann Arbor City Planning Commission held a working session for a presentation titled “Equitable Engagement Initiative & Findings” given by Heather Seyfarth, Director of Housing and Economic Development of the Ann Arbor Housing Commission

Legistar and Video Links

Legistar: http://a2gov.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1069338&GUID=864E09BC-F794-40AC-876D-BDD76487EB5F

YouTube: https://youtu.be/MfJiRsbhgZk

CTN Video: n/a

Meeting Length: 1h 32m

300 312 E Huron St Resident Participation Meeting: March 8, 2023

This is my Zoom recording of a public engagement meeting on March 8, 2023 held by First Martin Corporation, Meyers+Associates, and Midwestern Consulting. The developer is proposing demolition of an existing parking lot for construction of a new hotel. The proposed six-story building is roughly 79,800 square feet in gross floor area and will include approximately 140 guest rooms. The associated utility and stormwater infrastructure, parking, and landscaping are also proposed. Site access is proposed from S Fifth Avenue.

For more about this project: https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/02/new-hotel-proposed-on-east-huron-in-downtown-ann-arbor.html

On the same day as this public engagement meeting, the developer also presented at the City’s Design Review Board (March 8, 2023)

Video of Resident Participation Meeting

Meeting Announcement Postcard

This is the postcard that was sent to local residents:

300 312 E Huron St Resident Participation Meeting March 8 2023 Postcard
300 312 E Huron St Resident Participation Meeting March 8 2023 Postcard

Ann Arbor City Planning Commission Special Working Session: March 7, 2023

This meeting was held remotely using the Zoom application.

On Tuesday, March 7, 2023 the Ann Arbor City Planning Commission held a “special working session” to discuss two topics:

PUD zoning for a proposed 19 story building at 711 Church Street

An introduction to Interface Studio LLC, a Philadelphia based consulting firm that the City’s RFP evaluation committee is recommending to update the City’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

Legistar and Video Links

Legistar: http://a2gov.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1069295&GUID=79CCB8E3-22E3-4AB4-87AB-07B12C7A9286

YouTube: https://youtu.be/Wq6cB6PRcVc

CTN Video: n/a

Meeting Length: 2h 11m

Ann Arbor City Council: March 6, 2023

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

Three items related to “The Village” development were approved:

  • APPROVED: Multiple parcels adding up to 67.6 acres at 1680 Dhu Varren Road, 1710 Dhu Varren Road, 2670 Pontiac Trail, 2672 Pontiac Trail, 2678 Pontiac Trail, and 2682 Pontiac Trail are rezoned from Township (TWP) and R1C (Single-Family Dwelling District) to R4A (Multiple-Family Dwelling District) as part of The Village of Ann Arbor development site plan. Planned use is consistent with the adjacent zoning, land uses, and comprehensive land use plan. (Legistar)
  • APPROVED: A site plan will permit the construction of 484 dwelling units consisting of townhomes and stacked flats (apartment units) at 1680 Dhu Varren Road (“The Village”) (Legistar)
  • APPROVED: The City approves $31,369,715 in public funding for development of “The Village.” The development is eligible to receive this funding from the Washtenaw County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority due to its location in an “environmentally distressed” area that was used as a landfill in the mid-20th century. The developer will be reimbursed for environmental-related activities totaling $26,369,633 and for non-environmental activities totaling $5,000,082. This plan must be approved by the Washtenaw County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners. (Legistar)
  • https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/03/ann-arbor-oks-huge-housing-development-on-citys-north-side.html

APPROVED: Street closures scheduled for April 1, 2023 will permit the Monroe Street Fair to take place adjacent to the Hash Bash. This item was postponed from the February 21st meeting. (Legistar)

APPROVED: An agreement with Creative Washtenaw for $500,000 to design and administer an art grant program with allocated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Creative Washtenaw will receive $40,000 to provide this service and will distribute the remaining $460,000 to qualifying artists and art organizations. (Legistar)

APPROVED: The City will purchase an all-electric mini-street sweeper and trailer for $258,445.00 in order to clean two-way partitioned bikeways in the City of Ann Arbor. A reimbursement agreement is anticipated so that the expense will be shared equally between the City and the Downtown Development Authority. (Legistar)

APPROVED: An unspent balance of $305,000 in the New Human Services Partnership FY23 budget will be allocated to Ann Arbor Housing Commission to fund eviction prevention and housing stability support to families experiencing homelessness. This spending is part of a larger annual budget that supports a range of community nonprofits, called the Human Services Partnership The City contributes over $1.2 million to the Human Services Partnership. (Legistar)

APPROVED: A service contract between the City and Recycle Ann Arbor is extended for a three year and four month period. Three thousand carts (monthly tips) will be converted to dumpster service for an estimated fee reduction of $10,000 a month. Service will continue for 32, 64, or 96-gallon curb carts to customers such as multi-family homes of eleven units or greater, commercial establishments, mixed unit buildings, and civic units. The estimated total contract is $4,534,303. (Legistar)

  • Council Member Cornell recused herself from this vote, due to a conflict of interest. Recycle Ann Arbor is a wholly owned non-profit subsidiary of the Ecology Center; Cornell serves on the board for the Ecology Center.

APPROVED: The City will pay $15,000 to Jason Kosnoski to settle a claim of personal injury caused by stepping in a hole on Brooks Street, near Sunset Road. (Legistar)

REFERRED: The City calls on the Michigan Legislature to take action toward addressing power outages, assisting rate payers and funding local resilience. It calls on the Michigan Public Service Commission to hold DTE accountable for improving the electrical systems and providing greater transparency in outage maps. The City Administrator is directed to work with the Council Policy Committee and DTE to facilitate timely installation of infrastructure. City Council asks DTE to attend meetings of the City’s Energy Commission. (Legistar)

APPROVED (First Reading): Parcels at 1815, 1855, and 1875 North Maple and 1921 Calvin Street are rezoned from TWP (Township) and R1B (Single-Family) to PUD (Planned Unit Development). A total of 3.13 acres are rezoned to allow the “North Maple Road Apartments” development of 79 dwelling units in a four-story apartment building with a single-story clubhouse with 65 off-street parking places with EV infrastructure. There will be 12 affordable units (priced permanently at 60% or less of Area Median Income). (Legistar)

APPROVED (First Reading): The Risk Fund ordinance will be repealed and replaced to eliminate the Insurance Board as the body of review for claims filed against the City. The Insurance Board – two Council Members and the City’s treasurer – reviews and awards claims against the City between $500 and $10,000. Meeting minutes for the Insurance Board are approved by City Council and Council specifically approves all claims over $10,000. The new ordinance eliminates the Insurance Board and empowers the City Administrator (or his designee) to decide all awards or denials of claims against the City, up to $75,000. Expenditures under $75,000 will no longer appear on public agendas of City Council but will be available to Council members “upon request.” (Legistar)

APPROVED: After a twenty minute closed session, the Council agenda was opened and amended to add a resolution directing the City Attorney to take legal action to enforce a 2006 settlement agreement with Gelman Sciences. (Legistar)

A2Council Update Video

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for March 6, 2023 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for March 6, 2023 Part 2
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for March 6, 2023 Part 3

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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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