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.
A2Council Update Video
Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary
At the beginning of the meeting, City Administrator Milton Dohoney presented the proposed FY2026 City budget, which includes $6 million for downtown street bollards, $8 million in new vehicles, $5 million toward “strategic acquisitions” of property, $12 million for a new fire station, $250,000 toward unarmed response, and $500,000 for eight public bathrooms downtown.
The FY2026 budget adds 14 FTEs and $1,918,591 (+1.3%) in recurring expenditures; it also includes $1,956,899 in nonrecurring expenditures.
The budget presentation can be found here:
https://a2gov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7297985&GUID=1C3AD98E-BFF2-45FE-B23B-7BA251E9D7D2
The whole of the proposed city budget can be viewed on the City’s Financial Reporting page (along with previously adopted annual budgets):
https://www.a2gov.org/finance-and-administrative-services/guide-to-finance-and-budget/budget-public-process/
This is a direct link to the proposed FY2026 budget:
https://www.a2gov.org/media/crbievrv/fy26-proposed-budget.pdf
MLive stories about the budget presentation:
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2025/04/15m-in-ann-arbor-marijuana-money-to-help-fund-unarmed-response-other-programs.html
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2025/04/bulletproof-glass-needed-for-ann-arbor-justice-center-due-to-new-hotel-across-street.html
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2025/04/about-20-downtown-ann-arbor-intersections-may-get-retractable-posts-for-street-closures.html
APPROVED: Ordinance amendments remove the design review board as part of the approval process for new developments. As it previously existed, the Design Review Board was meant to “foster excellence in the built environment” specifically downtown. It advised developers on how to meet Downtown Design Guidelines. The Board also advised Council on recommended changes to the Downtown Design Guidelines. Membership included significant expertise: 2 members shall be landscape architects, 2 members shall be architects, 1 shall be an urban planner, 1 shall be a developer, and 1 shall be a construction contractor. The Board was advisory and consulted with developers in public meetings held once a month. Amendments dissolved the Design Review Board and delegated their review to City staff. As described, the intent is “alleviate any undue burden on the land development that may be caused by city inefficiency.” (Legistar)
- A second ordinance change to permit the use of exterior insulation finishing systems was removed by amendment during the Council meeting.
- The dissolution of the Design Review Board is consistent with recommendations offered by former Assistant City Administrator John Fournier in 2023 in a report titled “A New Approach to Economic Development” (link)
- Among his recommendations (page 48): “The utility of the Design Review Board is debatable…. It delays review of the site plan documents and extends the overall approval timeline… the review from the Design Review Board rarely uncovers missed opportunities for favorable design changes… As these meeting are held in compliance with the OMA, city planning staff must notice and advertise them, prepare agendas and packets, attend them, compile minutes from them, and document the comments of the board members…several hours [of staff time] for each meeting per staff member— and this is time that is taken away from a planner actually working on site plan review and seeing it through to completion, which is what their focus should be.”
- Fournier’s recommendations – to accelerate approval time and remove review and public hearing procedures for new developments – were, by resolution, unanimously approved by City Council in April 2024. (Legistar)
- These amendments were approved by the Planning Commission on February 19, 2025. https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-planning-commission-february-19-2025/
APPROVED: Ordinance amendments remove specific use standards of “general entertainment” currently described in the Unified Development Code (UDC). Two named uses – enclosed theaters (600 seat maximum) and pinball parlors – are removed from the code and allowed in all districts where “general entertainment” is permitted. Previously both theaters and pinball parlors were restricted to only Campus Business zoning districts. With these amendments, they are now permitted as a primary use in commercially zoned districts, downtown districts, and transit corridor districts. (Legistar)
- These amendments were approved by the Planning Commission on February 19, 2025. https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-planning-commission-february-19-2025/
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2025/04/ann-arbor-lifts-restrictions-on-pinball-parlors-theaters.html
APPROVED: An ordinance referring to the local gas franchise with DTE is amended, defining a shorter commitment. (Legistar)
- As explained in the Legistar text: “Rather than lasting 30 years like a typical gas franchise, this franchise only lasts until 2035, signaling to DTE Gas, developers, and residents that the City is exploring alternatives for heating that better align with A2ZERO goals (geothermal, electric heat pumps, etc.). This does not mean the City could not choose to enter another franchise with DTE Gas (or another utility) at the end of this franchise term, but another franchise is not guaranteed.”
- As part of the terms of the agreement, DTE will fund $500,000 in grants to landlords making energy efficiency improvements. DTE will also invest in physical offices of the Local UA 190 Plumbers and Pipefitters union and make direct payments to two other labor unions: $50,000 per calendar year for three years to Local UA 190 and another $50,000 per calendar year for three years to Local UWUA 223.
- DTE commits to generally “collaborate” and “reasonably support” and “reasonably assist” and “reasonably work together” and “reasonably pursue” various projects with the City. In reference to one initiative, the agreement includes explanation: “DTE will determine in its sole discretion, the level of financial support.”
- A2ELNEL: Money Back & Forth: Elected Leaders & Labor Unions
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2025/04/dte-can-provide-gas-service-in-ann-arbor-until-2035-under-new-climate-action-deal.html
APPROVED: The City Administrator is directed to negotiate with the Ann Arbor District Library (AADL) for the transfer of air rights over City owned property at Library Lane for $1. The AADL anticipates a partnership with a private developer to build a high-rise development on the lot that would “include some library operations” plus housing. (Legistar)
- According to the resolution, the AADL would be free to plan and design a project consistent with D-1 zoning: “Whereas, Upon purchase of the air rights at Library Lane, AADL would be able to effectuate this vision without any involvement from the City aside from normal development and zoning approvals”
- According to the resolution, the development will move forward with the benefit of dedicated City staff support: “AADL would select its own development partners to construct the project and the City would assign someone to ensure coordination through the development process once the project commences.”
- The location is on top of a parking garage funded with approximately $50 million in bonds, originally issued in 2010. As part of that issuance, it was expected that the bonds be “paid from revenues of the City’s public parking system and tax increment revenues collected by the Downtown Development Authority.”
- Link to Feb 2009 resolution approving the bonds (Legistar)
- As directed in the resolution, the City will continue to repay these bonds through 2035 and “[o]nce the bonds are paid off on the City-owned parking deck, the City may elect to sell the deck to AADL.” Further clarification: “There may be some disruption to parking revenue generation from the deck during construction. Future development to the site would generate potential real and personal property tax revenue.” … “This proposal does not include any new taxes on residents. The housing and other privately-owned elements of the proposed development will contribute to the City’s tax base.”
- The negotiated transfer is dependent on voter approval of two questions, which City Council has placed on the ballot for August 2025. The questions will repeal a City Charter amendment approved in November 2018, and authorize the sale to the AADL for $1.
- A2ELNEL: Low Turnout Elections & No Questions: The Library Lot Proposals
APPROVED: An updated “Ann Arbor Policy Agenda” includes broad goals around local control, state funding, road safety, and sustainability. The agenda includes the most detail re: housing policy: the promotion of “infill development of relatively underutilized parcels.” One specific recommendation: “We recommend passing legislation that would allow municipalities to institute split-rate property taxes so the value of owned land would be much higher than the value of the buildings on them.” (Legistar)
- APPROVED: An amendment to change reference to road funding among listed “high priority” goals. The original language: “advocate for increased local road funding and local public transit funding” was changed to “advocate for state investments in a sustainable 21st century transportation system (increased funding for road, transit, and non-motorized).”
APPROVED: An employment agreement for City Attorney Aileen Kaur is amended to include an annual salary increase of $30,000 and lump sum payment of $7389. (Legistar)
APPROVED (First Reading): Ordinance amendments will remove the requirement that residents get permits and register home alarm systems with the city, with annual renewals. As currently written, an applicant must submit information such as name(s) and address(es) of who is responsible for maintenance and operation, names and phone numbers of people receiving notice of alarm activation, type of alarm, and name/phone/address of company monitoring the alarm system. These requirements are deemed redundant and would be eliminated. (Legistar)
APPROVED (First Reading): Water rates will be increased. City staff estimate that the average residential customer will see an increase of 6%. Changes will take effect on July 1, 2025. (Legistar)
APPROVED (First Reading): Stormwater rates will be increased. City staff estimate that the average residential customer will see an increase of 3%. Changes will take effect on July 1, 2025. (Legistar)
APPROVED (First Reading): Sewer rates will be increased, City staff estimate that the average residential customer will see an increase of 3%. Changes will take effect on July 1, 2025. (Legistar)
A2ELNEL Voting Chart
