This was the ninth regular Ann Arbor City Council meeting since Governor Whitmer declared a state of emergency and stay-at-home order due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This meeting was held online via the Zoom application.
Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary
APPROVED: $127,140 to purchase a high speed absentee ballot vote tabulator in preparation for the November election. This equipment is partially paid for with a grant ($30,000) from the State of Michigan Bureau of Elections. (Legistar)
APPROVED: Site plan and development agreement for 2658 W. Liberty Street (north side of Liberty, immediately east of 94). Nine three-story buildings with 52 units will be built on a 4.6 acre parcel zoned R4B (Multi-family dwelling). (Legistar)
APPROVED: Extend downtown street closures for restaurant and retail use until Sept 21, 2020 (Legistar)
- These street closures were originally approved at the June 1, 2020 Council meeting (Legistar)
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2020/08/ann-arbor-bars-restaurants-can-use-streets-for-patio-seating-until-september.html
POSTPONED to Sept 8th: A proposed ordinance to regulate short term rentals (STRs) would include a system of application and paid licenses. Applications would include description of the space for rent (location, bedrooms, occupancy) and name/telephone/email information for two responsible contact persons. Whole house and host-stay STRs would be permitted for all principal residences. Non-principal residence STR’s would only be permitted in Mixed Use Zoning areas. (Legistar)
- Postponed for legal staff to assess whether existing non-principal STRs in were legal, nonconforming use in residentially zoned areas
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2020/08/ann-arbor-officials-still-debating-best-approach-to-regulating-airbnb-houses.html
DEFEATED: A ballot question for a charter amendment would allow ranked choice voting in our local elections. As written, ranked choice voting would apply separately to both the August party primary and the November general election for the offices of Mayor and City Council. One candidate chosen from each party primary in August would be included in a November election.(Legistar)
- If approved, Ann Arbor could not implement ranked choice voting because it is not currently permitted under State law. Proposed State bills on this topic are not expected to pass this legislative session.
- A2ELNEL: Ranked Choice Ballot Proposal on Aug 6th Agenda
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2020/08/ann-arbor-council-divided-6-5-on-putting-election-reform-proposal-to-voters.html
A2ELNEL Voting Chart
