This was the thirty 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. Michigan Open Meetings Act changes effective April 1, 2021 require all Council Members to state their location.
Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary
APPROVED: A new Ward map adjusts boundaries to equalize the five local City wards, in response to the 2020 Census. As stated in the resolution: “The proposed changes were made with the goal of minimizing impacts; however, all five wards have some modifications, with Wards Four and Five moving more into the downtown area.” (Legistar)
- The legistar link for this item has several attachments, including this report showing the old and new boundaries: https://a2gov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=9884495&GUID=AC3B840A-EEFB-4459-B6FB-25F78C20C836
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2021/11/do-ann-arbors-pie-shaped-wards-dilute-university-of-michigan-student-vote-some-think-so.html
- To see the changes coming to Ward 4: A2ELNEL: https://youtu.be/10QX-qnvU5M
APPROVED: Attorney Atleen Kaur will be offered the position of Ann Arbor City Attorney to begin at a time in 2022 to be mutually determined by her and the City Council. An employment agreement will be negotiated by the Mayor and brought back to Council for approval at the December 6, 2021 meeting. (Legistar)
APPROVED: City Council formally expresses opposition to the Secure MI Vote initiative, and any similar efforts to limit ballot access or restrict voting rights. Council encourages residents to decline to sign the Secure MI Vote petition and directs that this resolution be sent to the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Michigan Senate, the Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the Michigan House of Representatives, and all elected officials representing Ann Arbor in the Michigan House and Senate. (Legistar)
On the Tuesday after this meeting (November 2, 2021), a city referendum election approved four ballot measures:
- Proposal A – The City Charter is amended to require the City to award contracts for supplies, materials, or public improvements, to the bidder that is deemed the “best value” to the City rather than the lowest responsible bidder.
- Proposal B – The City Charter is amended to provide that the Mayor and City Council members are to be nominated and elected by a Ranked Choice Voting method when it is authorized by State Law.
- Proposal C – The City Charter is amended to require City Council to establish, by ordinance, the procedure by which the City Administrator may make emergency purchases.
- Proposal D – The City Charter is amended to permit the City Council to delegate to the City Administrator the authority to approve purchases and to enter into contracts when the cost to the City is equal to or lesser than $75,000, to be adjustable for inflation.
- A2ELNEL: Thoughts on the November 2021 Ballot
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2021/11/ann-arbor-voters-ok-union-backed-proposal-to-change-how-city-awards-big-contracts.html
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2021/11/ann-arbor-voters-say-yes-to-significantly-reforming-city-elections.html
A2ELNEL Voting Chart
