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 Harrison was absent
A2Council Update Video
Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary
APPROVED: A budget amendment allocating $2,850,000 from the General Fund fund balance for “one-time strategic initiatives” and reallocating $200,000 originally budgeted for Bicentennial celebrations for “legacy projects”. A total of $3,050,000 was allocated. (Legistar)
- The City Administrator initially proposed allocating $2,750,000 from the General Fund fund balance that is available due to larger than expected revenue from new developments. By friendly amendment, an additional $100,000 was allocated to support renovation of the Elks Lodge, for a total of $2,850,000.
- $1,000,000 Feasibility study for Municipal Public Power Utility (public power)
- $1,000,000 Response to local impacts of changes in the federal administration
- $250,000 Future Unarmed Safety Response
- $250,000 Economic Development Due Diligence
- $250,000 Funding to address parking equity (City employees)
- $100,000 Renovation of the Elks Lodge (Sunset Road)
- Additionally, Bicentennial celebration funds of $200,000 would be re-allocated:
- $100,000 Improvements at Southeast Area Park (Bicentennial Park)
- $100,000 Renovation of the Elks Lodge (Sunset Road)
- DEFEATED: Amendment to REMOVE the $1,000,000 allocation for response to local impacts of changes in the federal administration
- DEFEATED: Amendment to REMOVE the $250,000 allocation to address parking equity for City employees
- DEFEATED: Amendment to ADD $90,400 allocation to fund traffic calming
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2024/12/growing-property-tax-revenue-adding-millions-to-ann-arbor-city-budget.html
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2024/12/we-do-not-know-what-is-coming-ann-arbor-sets-aside-1m-to-brace-for-trump.html
APPROVED: An amended annual contract with Recycle Ann Arbor will cost $133,602.84 and allow City residents (with vouchers) to get unlimited and free access to the Drop-off Station at 2950 Ellsworth. Residents with authorized City vouchers may drop off all accepted items including up to three bags of textiles/clothes and up to five banker boxes of papers at annual shredding events. The City Administrator may authorize a one year contract extension (up to $137,610.96) with Recycle Ann Arbor to continue managing, supervising, staffing, and operating the Drop-off Station. The contract amendment and one year contract extension with Recycle Ann Arbor has a total cost of $271,213.80. (Legistar)
- NOTE: Council went into closed session prior to approval of this contract. In public discussion, members stated that the cost of this contract has more than doubled; they acknowledged “unresolved issues.”
APPROVED: A contractor will be paid $150,000 to remove snow on City sidewalks. A service contract will fund snow removal in the district of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) on an ‘as needed” basis, clearing snow piles that block sidewalks after street plowing. The contractor will clear snow at an additional 136 locations – pedestrian islands and crosswalks – across the city. (Legistar)
APPROVED: A construction contract for $835,765.92 to replace the parking lot at Fuller Park as well as expansion and repaving of the Border to Border (B2B) trail from Maiden Ln. to Cedar Bend Dr. south of Fuller Park. The 0.4 mile segment of the B2B trail will increase in width from eight feet to ten feet. (Legistar)
APPROVED: Amendments to the Unified Development Code will allow child care centers and private schools as permissible uses in more areas of the city. Amendments add the category of Child Care Centers to permitted uses in residential zoning districts (R1, R2A, R2B) and office/research/limited light industrial zoning districts (ORL) In those districts, Child care Centers are currently Special Exception Uses that require specific approval from the City’s Planning Commission. Child care Centers will also be allowed in Research (RE) zoning districts. Amendments will also allow private schools as a special exception use in the RE and ORL zoning districts. (Legistar)
- These amendments were specifically requested by Oxford Companies in a letter to the City’s planning department dated July 17, 2024. (link)
- On October 1, 2024, the amendments were approved unanimously at the City Planning commission. Planning Commission Chair Wonwoo Lee was recused, due to his employment as Chief Real Estate officer for Oxford Companies. https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-planning-commission-october-1-2024/
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2024/11/ann-arbor-making-it-easier-to-open-child-care-centers-including-in-neighborhoods.html
APPROVED (First Reading): The “Snow emergencies” ordinance will be renamed “On-street Snow Parking Ban” and empower the City Administrator to prohibit all on-street parking during snow events. (Legistar)
- The new ordinance would include three exemptions:
- Vehicles displaying a Disability License Plate or Disability Parking Placard
- Car owners on street blocks where no driveways exist
- Streets determined and publicized by the City Administrator as exempt
- Extensive amendments would wholly remove current policy during a snow emergency that allows street parking on either the even or the odd sides of a street and during the hours of 8 pm and midnight.
- In response to questions this week, City staff describe an “ambitious paid advertising approach” of mailings, social media, radio and targeted tv/cable/YouTube ads to educate the community about the new snow emergency policy. Staff explains that “[t]his paid approach is critical” and the City would “utilize the expertise of a media buyer.”
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2024/12/parking-on-ann-arbor-streets-during-snow-storms-could-be-illegal-soon.html
APPROVED (First Reading): A new ordinance will wholly ban a category of “pre-tenancy fees” and establish a maximum rental application fee of $50. Any rental application fee must be publicized in all advertisements or postings for the rental unit. A landlord may not charge a fee any higher than what was publicized. Anyone not offered an apartment will receive a full refund of such fees within 60 days of payment. The ordinance will not apply to fraternity/sorority houses and student co-ops, income/age/rent restricted housing subject to federal/state/City government guidelines, or short-term rental units. (Legistar)
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2024/11/apartment-waitlist-other-junk-fees-could-be-banned-in-ann-arbor.html
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2024/12/landlords-oppose-ann-arbor-move-to-ban-predatory-fees-charged-to-renters.html
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