A2Council Meeting Summary

Ann Arbor City Council: January 9, 2023

Best Value Purchasing | Greenbelt | PROS Plan | Village of Ann Arbor

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.

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Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

APPROVED: Brian D. Steglitz, P.E., F.ASCE, is appointed the City of Ann Arbor Public Services Area Administrator to oversee five units: engineering, public works, systems planning, water recovery and water resources. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Amendments to the “Best Value” purchasing ordinance. The original ordinance was approved in January 2022, in response to a City charter amendment approved by voters in November 2021. Before amendments to the charter, the City contracted with the “lowest responsible bidder.” (Legistar)

  • The following parts of the ordinance were amended:
    • The Best Value Purchasing (BVP) policy is not accepted by MDOT and other partnering agencies that help fund City projects. Amendments will give the City Administrator complete discretion to exempt contracts from BVP policy where third-party funding is a factor. Decisions will be made “at the sole determination of the City Administrator.”
    • Current BVP requirements are impossible to apply to simpler contracts, where only smaller firms are available to do the work but only larger firms can meet requirements such as apprenticeship programs. Amendments will apply Best Value Procurement policies only to contracts exceeding $50,000.
    • Current BVP policy refers to (and requires) a Michigan OSHA safety program certification that does not exist. Amendments will remove this reference.
    • Current BVP policy includes an evaluation of employment ratios for categories of employee – masters, journey persons, and apprentices – that are not recognized by the state of Michigan. Employment ratios for these categories are federal requirements through the Department of Labor (DOL). There is no published standard for ratios of these employees; they are determined by the DOL on a case by case basis. Amendments will remove the “completely redundant” criterion.
    • Current BVP policy does not require disclosure of non-craft employees or contract labor. Amendments will add disclosure requirements and preference to those companies that employ fewer non-craft employees.
  • The initial “Best Value” ordinance was approved by City Council at the January 3, 2022 meeting: https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-council-january-3-2022

APPROVED: Adoption of the 2023-2027 Parks and Recreation Open Space (PROS) Plan (Legistar)

Two Greenbelt conservation easement purchases were approved:

APPROVED: A 0.394 acre property at 2118 Victoria Circle will be annexed into the City. Council action on proposed R1A zoning will be scheduled after the annexation process is complete. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Two parcels adding up to 5.897 acres at 2520 & 2540 Pontiac Trail will be annexed into the City as part of the “Village of Ann Arbor” development site plan: 164 townhomes and 320 stacked multiple-family units. Planned use is consistent with the adjacent zoning, land uses, and master plan, Proposed zoning of R4A will be voted on by Council at a future meeting. (Legistar)

A2Council Update Video

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for January 9, 2023 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for January 9, 2023 Part 2