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 Cornell was absent at the start of the meeting.
A2Council Update Video
Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary
APPROVED: A transformational brownfield plan will reimburse $29,983,781 in tax increment finance (TIF) over a 30-year period to support the affordable housing project at 350 S Fifth. The project will be co-developed by the Ann Arbor Housing Development Corporation and provide 330 affordable units, ground floor retail, and enhancements to the Blake Transit Center. (Legistar)
- The Ann Arbor Housing Commission and Related Midwest held a resident participation meeting for this project in June 2025: https://a2council.com/350-s-fifth-ave-resident-participation-meeting-june-5-2025/
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2026/01/ann-arbor-plans-to-issue-35m-in-bonds-for-high-rise-project.html
- UPDATE: The Michigan Strategic Fund Board approved this brownfield plan on May 19, 2026: https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2026/05/30m-tax-deal-for-ann-arbor-affordable-housing-project-gets-state-boards-ok.html
POSTPONED: A brownfield plan will divert tax incremental financing (TIF) of an estimated $345,054,904 or not in excess of $373,825,905 with administrative fees to support the development of “Arbor South” at State and Eisenhower. The TIF will be diverted for the maximum timeframe: 30 years, through 2057. (Legistar)
- In a 7-4 vote, this item was postponed to the February 2, 2026 Council Meeting.
- Of the total TIF, about $184,866,844 will fund parking structures and $160,188,060 will fund off-site sanitary sewer trunklines and interceptor, water, storm sewer, bus rapid transit stop, pedestrian improvements and other utilities. An estimated $2 million will be used to remediate a gas station on-site.
- The developers of Arbor South have declared a private investment of $406,000,000.
- This plan was posted and removed from two Council agendas in November 2025. Previously, it was presented together with a public private partnership agreement that committed the City to issue $166,390,000 in public bonds to purchase land and three parking decks from the developer.
- This week, the brownfield plan for Arbor South was presented separately, without the public private partnership (PPP).
The updated brownfield plan still refers to the PPP as likely or inevitable, referring to “an anticipated municipal bond issuance should the City of Ann Arbor chose (sic) to participate as such at a future date.” Without the benefit of the PPP, commitments to build affordable housing shift. The November brownfield plan describes the delivery of up to 215 affordable units “prior to delivering any market rate units.” That language is removed in the new plan. - The brownfield plan for Arbor South will allow tax incremental finance (TIF) greater than 20% of overall investment. According to City Brownfield Policy criteria, the tax increment finance should not exceed 20% of overall project investment.
- When the Arbor South brownfield plan was presented together with the PPP agreement, a staff memo explained that the 20% limit on brownfield reimbursement was applicable “where a public entity does not have a direct financial role.” Staff implied that the limit did not apply because the project was “unique” due to the public private partnership.
- Without the added context of that public private partnership, staff language shifted. A staff memo refers to brownfield award criteria – which, according to City policy, “must be met” – in the past tense, as “an effective benchmark for prior projects.”
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2026/01/ann-arbor-officials-still-not-sold-on-major-development-deal-as-details-become-less-clear.html
APPROVED: On-street parking will be prohibited on the north side of Catherine Street, between Ingalls and Division. This stretch of road includes the parking alongside to St Andrews Episcopal church. The parking is removed to make way for a Quick Build Cycletrack. (Legistar)
- In a split vote (6-2, plus 2 absences), the Transportation Commission recommended Cycletrack plans at their meeting on December 17, 2025. (Legistar)
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2026/02/another-expansion-of-ann-arbors-protected-bikeway-network-coming-this-spring.html
APPROVED: A budget amendment for $87,500 funds two additional employees in the Transportation Unit in order to cover “workload growth and operational demand.” The proposal to add one Signs and Signals Manager and one Signs and Signals Supervisor will increase “Transportation Engineers’ capacity to focus on development review, Council transportation goals, multi-modal transportation design, and project management.” (Legistar)
APPROVED: The city will work with Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C. and The Sam Bernstein Law firm to file a class action anti-trust lawsuit related to fire truck pricing. A retainer agreement establishes that the firms will be compensated from court awards. (Legistar)
- The Mayor was recused from this vote.
- In February 2025, City Council approved spending $2,384,695 on a new specialized fire truck that is able to navigate a tighter radius in response to new development and bike lane installations downtown. The expected delivery time on this truck is 46-49 months. In discussion at the meeting, Fire Chief Kennedy explained that this is the type of truck required and used in communities like New York City, Seattle, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-council-february-3-2025/
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2025/02/ann-arbor-is-getting-a-new-fire-truck-but-it-will-take-4-years-and-cost-24m.html
APPROVED: An employment agreement for City Administrator Milton Dohoney, including a salary increase and lump sum payment. Annual salary was increased from $280,000 to $300,000, retroactive to May 17, 2025. An additional lump sum bonus of $8400 was also granted. These amounts were decided in a closed session during the Council meeting. (Legistar)
- These recommendations were discussed in a closed session of the Council Administration Committee on January 13, 2026. https://a2council.com/council-administration-committee-january-13-2026/
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2026/01/retroactive-raise-boosts-ann-arbor-city-administrators-salary-to-300k.html
APPROVED (First Reading): Proposed changes to UDC 5.19 Parking requirements would remove the table of vehicle parking requirements for all land uses. That table currently establishes vehicle parking “maximums” as well as minimum requirements for EV parking spaces as a percentage of spaces provided. Amendments will also adjust requirements and design for bicycle parking facilities. (Legistar)
- These changes were approved by the Planning Commission in November 2025: https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-planning-commission-november-18-2025/
APPROVED (First Reading): Changes to the UDC will add a requirement that all-weather signs be posted on-site where certain development activity is planned. (Legistar)
- For activities that require a community participation meeting, signage must be posted 15 days before that meeting. The sign will include the file number, address, current zoning information, name and other details about the proposed project (if any), petitioner’s name and contact information, plus meeting information. Currently, the only activity requiring community participation are applications for Special Exception Use, Rezoning (with exceptions, e.g. annexations less than 2 acres to single-family residential use), Planned Unit Development, and Land Division appeal.
- For activities that will be approved by the Planning Commission without a public hearing, signage must be posted within 15 days after the application has been accepted for review. The sign will include the file number, address, current zoning information, name and other details about the proposed project (if any), petitioner’s name and contact information. Activities in this category are site plans.
- These changes were approved by the Planning Commission in December 2025: https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-planning-commission-december-2-2025/
APPROVED (First Reading): A rezoning of 715-717 E. Huron from Planned Unit Development (PUD) to R4C (Multi-Family Dwelling District) will allow the conversion of office to residential use. No development is proposed and an area plan is waived. (Legistar)
- These changes were approved by the Planning Commission in December 2025: https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-planning-commission-december-16-2025/
APPROVED (First Reading): An ordinance amendment regulates optional tenancy fees that are reasonably avoidable by the tenant, such as parking fees, pet fees, and lock-out fees. It also bans separate, mandatory tenancy fees. Any mandatory tenancy fee – one that cannot be avoided by the tenant – must be disclosed and advertised as part of the base rent. All optional tenancy fees must also be disclosed, listed on the first page of the lease agreement or clearly in one place as an addendum. A landlord cannot charge parking fees if the tenant has not agreed to use parking amenities. (Legistar)
- By friendly amendment, the term “Solid Waste” was capitalized to clarify reference to City garbage collection as a utility fee.
A2ELNEL Voting Chart
