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
Two resolutions related to expansion of the Ann Arbor airport runway were defeated.
- DEFEATED: A grant contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation (Office of Aeronautics) will fund engineering services for the extension of runway 6/24 at the Ann Arbor Municipal Airport. The grant will fund design, bidding and construction administration to shift the runway and add 720 feet to the southwest. A total of $623,200 (federal, state, and airport matching funds) will be spent on extending the runway at Ann Arbor Airport, installing new navigational aids and runway lighting, extending the parallel taxiway A to match the runway length, relocating taxiway D, and making other associated improvements. (Legistar)
- DEFEATED: A contract for $618,700 will provide engineering services for design, bidding and construction administration to shift the runway 6/24 at Ann Arbor Municipal Airport and add 720 feet to the southwest. The contractor will coordinate with the Federal Aviation Administration, Michigan Office of Aeronautics, Washtenaw County, Pittsfield Charter Township and the City of Ann Arbor to extend the runway, install new navigational aids and runway lighting, extend the parallel taxiway A to match the runway length, relocate taxiway D, and make other associated improvements. (Legistar)
- A2ELNEL: Ann Arbor Airport Expansion on December 2, 2024 Council Agenda
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2024/12/controversial-airport-runway-extension-halted-by-split-ann-arbor-council.html
APPROVED: An ordinance amendment clarifies that solid waste carts may not be placed in bike lanes. Solid waste regulation will clarify where curb carts may be placed relative to bike lanes and paths. (Legistar)
- Recommended regulation of cart placement:
- Waste carts may be placed in any painted non-bollarded buffer of a bike lane
- If buffer is unavailable, carts may be placed on a lawn extension
- If lawn extension is unavailable, carts may be placed on driveways next to the street
- If there is no lawn extension or driveway, carts will be placed on the sidewalk next to the curb
- The City may refuse to collect solid waste where these regulations are not followed.
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2024/12/curbside-carts-in-bike-lanes-are-a-sore-point-for-cyclists-new-ann-arbor-law-bans-it.html
APPROVED: The City will contract with a private company to supplement City services for snow removal. When the City issued an Invitation to Bid, the only response came from Saline contractor KBK Landscaping. The City will pay up to $500,000 for KBK Landscaping to plow streets in 14 (out of 23) residential districts in Ann Arbor. (Legistar)
APPROVED (First Reading): Amendments to the UDC will alter regulation of fences, policies for developer-provided affordable housing, and definitions for public utilities. (Legistar)
- These amendments were approved by the Planning Commission on October 1, 2024: https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-planning-commission-october-1-2024/
- One set of amendments will add restrictions on fences with sharp edges (barbs, spikes, electrification) in residential neighborhoods. Changes will allow fences with 100% opacity in side yards (previous standard: 80% opacity) and decrease allowable height for fences in the front setback to 12 feet.
- Other amendments will change policy around how application and permit fees are reimbursed when developers provide affordable housing. Currently, all fees are reimbursable. Amendments would allow the proportional reimbursement of fees relative to the percentage of affordable housing units provided. When discussed at the City Planning Commission, chair Wonwoo Lee was recused, because the policy was likely to impact the interests of his employer, Oxford Companies.
- According to the staff memo (link) “Currently, 50% of application fees are reimbursed when affordable housing is provided – regardless of the percentage of affordable housing dwelling units included in the development. The proposed formula is: Total Fees x (Percentage of Floor Area Dedicated to Affordable Housing Dwelling Units / 2) The amendment will have no effect to entirely affordable housing developments but will pro-rate reimbursements for mixed-use developments or developments that provide some affordable housing dwelling units among market rate units.”
- Further amendments will revise the definition of Public Utility and add a definition for “private or franchise utility.” According to the staff memo (link) “The proposed amendment seeks to correctly match public utilities and private or franchise utilities with their ownership entities and consistently use these terms across the City’s codes, ordinance and standards.”
A2ELNEL Voting Chart
