A2Council Meeting Summaries

Month: June 2023

Ann Arbor City Planning Commission: June 21, 2023

This meeting was held in person at City Hall.

APPROVED: South Town Rezoning, Site Plan, and Street Vacation (1601 S State St) (Legistar)

A project (“SouthTown by 4M”) with three petitions to redevelop the block bounded by South State Street, White Street, Henry Street, and Stimson Street:

1) A petition to rezone a block of 10 parcels from R4C (Multi-Family Dwelling) to C1A/R With Conditions (Campus Business Residential) with an offer to reduce the maximum height limit to 100 feet, set a maximum vehicle parking limit of 0.25 per dwelling unit, and set a minimum active open space requirement of 50 square feet per dwelling unit;

2) A site plan for City Council approval to construct a 220,000-square feet mixed-use building with ground floor retail, office and child care space, and approximately 215 apartments; and

3) A petition to vacate the public alley in the block. Site includes addresses 1601 S State St, 1605 S State St, 1607 S State St, 1609 S State St, 1611 S State St, 1606 White St, 1608 White St, 1610 White St, 1612 White St, and 714 Henry St.

APPROVED: Rezoning request for 2670 and 2690 Ann Arbor-Saline Road. The two parcels totaling approximately 1.6 acres will be rezoned from R1C (Single-Family Residential) to O (Office District). No new development is being proposed at these two sites with the existing buildings to remain and allow for office uses. Any future expansion or redevelopment of this site requires a site plan review and approval. (Legistar)

Legistar and Video Links

Legistar: http://a2gov.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1069302&GUID=03B0C051-83E0-4D7C-B288-D6D6FCA08628

YouTube: https://youtu.be/ffetlpXIYGk

CTN Video: https://ctnvideo.a2gov.org/CablecastPublicSite/show/8485

Meeting Length: 1h 43m

Ann Arbor City Council: June 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.

CM Song was absent
CM Watson was absent
CM Eyer left the meeting early

Legistar
YouTube
Newsletter
Voting Chart

A2Council Update Video

Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

APPROVED: Rezoning and site plan for a parcel of 1.2 acres at 721 S. Forest. The parcel is re-zoned from R4C to Planned Unit Development (PUD) to permit the construction of a 12 story building with 228 residential units: 733 bedrooms in a mix of studio and one to six bedroom units. The PUD and corresponding site plan includes 95 parking spots, rooftop pool, and a small retail space of less than 5,000 square feet. Supplemental regulations include a requirement for 15% affordable affordable units or payment in lieu. The developer has offered payment in lieu of $4.7 million to the Affordable Housing Fund and an additional $50,000 to the Ann Arbor Housing Development Corporation. (Legistar) (Legistar)

APPROVED: An ordinance amendment will clarify that bicycles impounded by the Ann Arbor Police Department may be sold at public sale or they may be donated to a charitable organization, such as Common Cycle Community Bicycle Repair, a local nonprofit. (Legistar)

APPROVED: An ordinance requiring landlords to provide their tenants with local voter registration information will be repealed. This is in response to court decisions that invalidated similar laws in Minneapolis and St. Paul (Minnesota), declaring them unconstitutional. Similar ordinances in East Lansing and Ypsilanti are currently the subject of litigation. City staff report that the Ann Arbor ordinance is not actively enforced and other methods of voter outreach are more effective. (Legistar)

APPROVED: An ordinance amendment will prohibit the sale of dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits, long-lived birds, or large reptiles at pet stores, the roadside, public rights- of-way, commercial parking lots, outdoor special sales, swap meets, flea markets, or other similar events in the City of Ann Arbor. Animals may only be sold on the premises of a breeder, by a publicly operated shelter or rescue organization, or private nonprofit rescue organization. Pet stores may provide space and care for animals owned by a shelter/rescue organization, for the purpose of adoption. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Racial deed restrictions – now illegal and unenforceable – will be removed from County records for City-owned property at Allmendinger Park. The City will file appropriate paperwork with the Washtenaw County Register of Deeds in order to discharge the restrictions from deed records. (Legistar)

APPROVED: The City Administrator will implement a process for the collection of demographic information for all contractors, suppliers of goods, and service providers who submit bids or proposals to supply goods or services to the City beginning in Fiscal Year 2024. This information will be collected but “not directly factored into decisions to approve contracts.” (Legistar)

APPROVED: The City Administrator is directed to issue an RFP (Request for Proposals) in order to procure a a third party to implement an Unarmed Response program in the City of Ann Arbor. (Legistar)

APPROVED: City staff is directed to collaborate with the federal government on redesign and potential expansion of the pedestrian plaza at the 200 block of East Liberty Street. Staff explained at the meeting that a Downtown Area Circulation study is planned and will consider potential changes in the area. The anticipated study will consider the conversion of Fifth Avenue and Division Street to two-way traffic and expanded bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. (Legistar)

APPROVED: $1,003,000 construction contract with Cadillac Asphalt for replacement of asphalt pavement, utility structure repairs, curb ramp improvements, lane narrowing to accommodate bike lanes, and wider pavement markings on Ellsworth (S. State St. to Platt Rd.) as part of the Ellsworth Road Resurfacing Project. (Legistar)

https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/06/14m-project-to-improve-ann-arbors-ellsworth-road-to-start-in-july.html

APPROVED: $99,000 payment to settle litigation with a woman injured from an accident caused by a pothole. Christine Harris suffered severe injuries as a passenger on a motorcycle that hit a pothole in the City of Ann Arbor. This payment settles litigation filed in March 2020. (Legistar)

https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/06/motorcycle-rider-injured-by-ann-arbor-pothole-gets-99k-in-settlement.html

APPROVED (first reading): An Ordinance amendment to add Chapter 124 (Initiation of Traffic Stops) of Title IX (Police Regulations) of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor (Legistar)

APPROVED (first reading): The City ordinance for Solid Waste management will add a category – “Household Items” – that may be placed on the curb (public right of way) for up to 48 hours for the purpose of donation or re-use. (Legistar)

  • The ordinance cites examples of “Household Items” in good condition (suitable for re-use) that may be placed in the public right-of-way. Toxic, hazardous, construction, commercial, and demolition waste are specifically prohibited. The City reserves the right to remove any item that’s an interference to use or maintenance of the public right-of-way, a safety hazard, or otherwise not in compliance with the definitions for “Household Items.” In order to prevent illegal street parking or blockage of bike lanes, residents and property owners consent to the use of their driveways by anyone interested in viewing or taking an item. Within ten feet of a crosswalk or sidewalk/road intersection, household items may not exceed three feet in height.
  • DEFEATED: An amendment to limit these activities to the weekend (Friday noon to Sunday at 5 p.m.)
  • APPROVED: By resolution, the Community Standards unit of the AAPD is directed to comply with the terms of the ordinance amendment prior to final Council approval and effective date. (Legistar)
  • https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/06/putting-household-items-at-curb-for-others-to-take-no-longer-illegal-in-ann-arbor.html

APPROVED (first reading): Rezoning petition for the 1140 Broadway “Beekman on Broadway” development. The existing the C1A/R Campus Business Residential With Conditions zoning designation would be amended, lifting the requirement that a future building conform to a site plan previously approved. In 2018, the 6.4 acre property was rezoned from PUD (Planned Unit Development) to C1A/R with conditions, including a site plan that would attach to the zoning designation. The development at 1140 Broadway is comprised of three buildings, two of which are already built. The amended conditional zoning will apply to the third building and “enable significantly more dwelling units to be constructed within approximately the same approved building mass.” (Legistar)

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for June 20, 2023 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for June 20, 2023 Part 2
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for June 20, 2023 Part 3
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for June 20, 2023 Part 4
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for June 20, 2023 Part 5

Council Policy Agenda Committee: June 15, 2023

This is a recording I made of a Zoom audio meeting held on Tuesday, April 20, 2023 by the Ann Arbor Council Policy Agenda Committee. Video was not made available.

Council Policy Agenda Committee members audible in recording:

  • Deputy City Administrator John Fournier
  • CM Travis Radina
  • CM Chris Watson
  • Two lobbyists from Dykema Gossett PLLC

This meeting included updates by lobbyists from Dykema Gossett PLLC. In March 2022, City Council approved a contract for $120,000/year with Dykema Gossett PLLC for State and Federal Lobbying Services. (Legistar)

This is the Legistar link for the meeting: http://a2gov.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1064306&GUID=B8BC2938-375F-4638-9295-0E6EBDEF5607

Council Administration Committee: June 13, 2023

This is a recording I made of a Zoom audio meeting held on Tuesday, June 13, 2023 by the Ann Arbor Council Administration Committee. Video was not made available. Note that the Zoom audio began shortly after the meeting started.

These meetings are public and theoretically accessible for anyone to attend, both in-person and via phone, My recording illustrates the poor quality of phone access – unlike other meetings held by boards and commissions via Zoom, the audio quality of phone-access is so poor that it is extremely difficult to hear what is said much of the time.

Council Administration Committee members audible in recording:

  • City Administrator Milton Dohoney Jr
  • Deputy City Administrator John Fournier
  • Chief Deputy City Attorney Kevin McDonald
  • Mayor Christopher Taylor
  • CM Travis Radina
  • CM Chris Watson

This is the Legistar link for this meeting: http://a2gov.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1070012&GUID=2B87B63D-DF96-4EDB-A774-DF602A4502C7

2295 S State Street Citizen Participation Meeting: June 7, 2023

This is my Zoom recording of a public engagement meeting held on June 7, 2023 for a proposed Marriott Springhill Suites hotel at 2295 S State Street, Ann Arbor.

From the meeting announcement:

A site plan is proposed that would include the development of a 4-story Marriott Springhill Suites hotel with indoor pool. The existing building and site would be demolished and redeveloped. The property is presently zoned O and the hotel is a permitted use within the zoning

For more about this project: https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/06/see-renderings-for-marriott-hotel-proposed-for-ann-arbors-state-street.html

Video of Resident Participation Meeting

Meeting Announcement Postcard

This is the postcard that was sent to local residents:

2295 South State Street Ann Arbor Citizen Participation Meeting June 7 2023
2295 South State Street Ann Arbor Citizen Participation Meeting June 7 2023

Ann Arbor City Planning Commission: June 6, 2023

This meeting was held in person at City Hall.

Commissioner Abrons was absent
Commissioner Gibb-Randall was absent
Commissioner Mills was absent

DENIED: Proposed Amendments to Chapter 55, Unified Development Code, Section 5.15, Permitted Uses, to define and allow Banquet Hall use in mixed-use zoning districts. (Legistar)

  • From the minutes: “Commissioner Wonwoo Lee recused himself from Agenda item 8-a noting the petitioner is his employer (he left the Chamber).” According to Linkedin, Wonwoo Lee is the Chief Real Estate Officer for Oxford Companies.
  • Staff recommended approval. Although the Planning Commission vote was 5-0 in favor of approval, the minutes note: “Lacking six affirmative votes, a denial recommendation to City Council shall be recorded“.

APPROVED: Proposed Amendments to Chapter 55, Unified Development Code, Section 5.20, Landscaping, Screening and Buffers, to amend the requirements for Conflicting Land Use Buffers and reorganize for improved consistency. (Legistar)

APPROVED: 2195 East Ellsworth Lockwood Planned Unit Development (PUD) Text Amendment – Proposal to adjust the east side setback by 4 feet from 144 feet to 140 feet and the south side setback by 4 feet from 68 feet to 64 feet. No new construction is proposed. (Legistar)

POSTPONED: 3945 – 3957 South State Site Plan and Special Exception Use – A proposal to reduce the size of the existing building at 3949-3957 South State by 1,384 square feet and add a drive through lane along the rear of the building. (Legistar)

  • The Planning Commission voted 5-1 to postpone this item until the July 18, 2023 meeting.

Legistar and Video Links

Legistar: https://a2gov.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1069301&GUID=8D2997C7-BDAF-48EE-9C0A-E3A5B0695346

YouTube: https://youtu.be/_hycv6Cc3eo

CTN Video: https://ctnvideo.a2gov.org/CablecastPublicSite/show/8428

Meeting Length: 2h 8m

Ann Arbor City Council: June 5, 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

APPROVED: By resolution, the City Planning Commission is directed to make recommendations regarding TC-1 rezoning of Washtenaw and Plymouth corridors and that this work be “prioritized above any additional considered modifications to the TC-1 Zoning district beyond those identified in Resolution R-22-390.” (Legistar)

APPROVED: The Council of Commons (CoC) is dissolved with explanation that moving forward “the evaluation of the feasibility and vitality of a central plaza on the Center of the City site can be conducted by City staff and City Council.” The City-owned property described as the “Commons” is the result of a City charter amendment approved by voters in 2018. That charter amendment designates the “Center of the City” as a public resource to remain under City ownership for the purpose of an “urban park and civic center commons.” The CoC was established in 2020 and has met since 2021. (Legistar)

APPROVED: A subrecipient grant agreement with the University of Michigan will facilitate a universal basic income pilot program. The UM group – Poverty Solutions – will partner with the Steady company to disburse a total of $1,600,000 in federal ARPA funds to 100 local families (estimated $528 per month for two years). Staff memo explains: “Details on how individuals may be selected for participation in the program will be announced after the contract is executed.” (Legistar)

APPROVED: A construction contract for $2,759,293.42 with Bailey Excavating will replace a water main, make stormwater improvements, resurface roads, replace curbs, add bumpouts, improve sidewalk ramps, and add buffered bike lanes on Pontiac and Moore as part of the Pontiac, Swift, Moore and Wright water main and resurfacing project. (Legistar)

APPROVED: $7,543,000 construction contract with Cadillac Asphalt for resurfacing and rehabilitation of streets on the west side (Norfolk, Suffolk,Tudor, Dunmore, Winsted) and in Ann Arbor Hills (Burson, Avon, Stratford, Belfield, Devonshire, Melrose, Aberdeen, Hawthorne, Bedford, Exmoor, Newcastle, Edinborough, Stonehaven, Mills, Shannondale). The contract also includes traffic calming devices on Granger Avenue (Packard to State), planned improvements to the shared use asphalt path along Huron Parkway and minor repairs to stormwater structures, water supply systems, and sewage disposal systems. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Up to $206,367 to purchase a conservation easement on a 20-acre forested parcel along Zeeb Road between Jackson and Liberty Roads in Scio Township (DeVine property). Washtenaw County will contribute $150,000. This is a Greenbelt Purchase paid for with the Open Space and Parkland Preservation Fund. (Legistar)

APPROVED: A $8,133,255 contract with Enerlogics Networks for purchase and installation of solar arrays at City facilities (approved 1/9/23) was RESCINDED in order to approve a $7,499,999 contract with Melink Solar. The size of a planned solar array at Steere Farm – on the site of the city airport in Pittsfield township – will be reduced by nearly half (from roughly 605kw of solar to 303kw). (Legistar)

  • In answer to a question to the agenda, City staff explained (link) that “the initial proposed size has been flagged by DTE as problematic. We are not fully clear on why, but we are working hard to resolve the issue. As one way to help compromise, we are proposing a decrease in size at Steere Farm and a slight increase to the size of the Wheeler system to help move the project forward.”

APPROVED: A $200,000 amendment to a contract for legal services related to the Platt Convenience, Inc. v City of Ann Arbor lawsuit. With this amendment, the City will have spent a total of $810,000 on outside legal services to handle this case. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Council Rules amendment to allow pre-registration for public comment until 5 p.m. on the day of a Council meeting. In November 2022, a majority of Council eliminated open public comment at the end of City Council meetings, adding a requirement that all public commenters pre-register. This amendment extends the deadline for pre-registration of public comment by one hour. (Legistar)

  • The elimination of open public comment and the new policy of pre-registration (up to 4 p.m.) allowed that public comments may occur at the end of a Council meeting but only when the total of pre-registered comments exceed 45 minutes. Since this change, there have been no opportunities for public comment at the end of (and in response to what has happened at) a City Council meeting.

APPROVED: The Council Calendar will be amended in order to reschedule the Monday, July 3, 2023 meeting to Thursday, July 6, 2023. (Legistar)

APPROVED: By resolution, the City attorney now has the “authority to initiate and pursue litigation or other legal action on behalf of the City – including but not limited to, lawsuits, administrative actions, appeals, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods, amicus curiae briefs, and settlements as a class member.” The City Attorney will use “their best professional judgement” and provide “timely report to Council.” In the City charter, only two positions are directly accountable to City Council: the City Administrator and the City Attorney. (Legistar)

APPROVED: The City Administrator will work with the Ann Arbor Housing Commission to evaluate how to leverage the proceeds of the Affordable Housing Millage (approximately $6 million annually) for bond financing of affordable housing units and/or acquiring additional parcels. The millage proceeds would be used to “pay back bonds directly or as credit enhancement to improve the terms of the bond.” Recommendations and proposed timing of bond issuance will be reported to Council by December 2023. (Legistar)

APPROVED: The City Administrator is directed to work with staff to “identify incentives that would support voluntary efforts by residents and businesses to increase emissions reductions through a transition to sustainable and clean heating as well as beneficial electrification.” A friendly amendment asks the City Administrator to provide a written progress report to Council on “internal processes, particularly in the development review process” by December 30, 2023. (Legistar)

  • This resolution repeats goals and strategies approved by a previous Council and identified as the responsibility of the Office of Sustainability and Innovations (OSI).
  • Page 32 of the A2Zero Climate Action Plan issued April 2020 (link) explains: “To support the electrification of appliances, the City of Ann Arbor will work to establish policies that promote electrification of heating and cooking systems by evaluating options in codes, inventive programs, and through other avenues.”

APPROVED (first reading): An ordinance amendment will clarify that bicycles impounded by the Ann Arbor Police Department may be sold at public sale or they may be donated to a charitable organization, such as Common Cycle Community Bicycle Repair, a local nonprofit. (Legistar)

APPROVED (first reading): An ordinance requiring landlords to provide their tenants with local voter registration information will be repealed. This is in response to court decisions that invalidated similar laws in Minneapolis and St. Paul (Minnesota), declaring them unconstitutional. Similar ordinances in East Lansing and Ypsilanti are currently the subject of litigation. City staff report that the Ann Arbor ordinance is not actively enforced and other methods of voter outreach are more effective. (Legistar)

APPROVED (first reading): An ordinance amendment will prohibit the sale of dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits, long-lived birds, or large reptiles at pet stores, the roadside, public rights- of-way, commercial parking lots, outdoor special sales, swap meets, flea markets, or other similar events in the City of Ann Arbor. Animals may only be sold on the premises of a breeder, by a publicly operated shelter or rescue organization, or private nonprofit rescue organization. Pet stores may provide space and care for animals owned by a shelter/rescue organization, for the purpose of adoption. (Legistar)

A2Council Update Video

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for June 5, 2023 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for June 5, 2023 Part 2
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for June 5, 2023 Part 3
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for June 5, 2023 Part 4

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.

Subscribe