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 Song was absent
CM Watson was absent
CM Eyer left the meeting early

A2Council Update Video

Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

APPROVED: Rezoning and site plan for a parcel of 1.2 acres at 721 S. Forest. The parcel is re-zoned from R4C to Planned Unit Development (PUD) to permit the construction of a 12 story building with 228 residential units: 733 bedrooms in a mix of studio and one to six bedroom units. The PUD and corresponding site plan includes 95 parking spots, rooftop pool, and a small retail space of less than 5,000 square feet. Supplemental regulations include a requirement for 15% affordable affordable units or payment in lieu. The developer has offered payment in lieu of $4.7 million to the Affordable Housing Fund and an additional $50,000 to the Ann Arbor Housing Development Corporation. (Legistar) (Legistar)

• A ground floor “bicycle room” will hold 62 bicycles with two charging stations for electric bicycles. A public sidewalk will be widened from the site north to Forest Court. The developer has promised to purchase “offsets” – Renewable Energy Certificates representing green energy for 100% of the building’s energy consumption for 10 Years – but this is not part of their petition and not required.
• Multiple City departments recommend denial of the rezoning in a staff report: https://a2gov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=11951361&GUID=C8CEABF7-30ED-4283-89D0-618401EADBEF
• From the report:
  • Planning – Planning staff does not support the project as presented. While the site plan proposal does offer some positive aspects, the substantial increased height and massing over the Land Use Plan recommendation, the surrounding zoning district and the adjacent historic neighborhood is a significant hurdle to overcome.
  • Office of Sustainability & Innovations (OSI) – OSI Staff does not support approval of this project. While LEED Silver certification is welcome, LEED does not inherently meet the strategy goals of the A2 ZERO plan and in some instances falls short of what is needed to move Ann Arbor successfully toward carbon neutrality by 2030.
• In a split vote (6-2), Mayoral appointees on the City Planning Commission voted in support of this rezoning.
• https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/05/733-bed-student-apartment-tower-gets-ann-arbor-councils-initial-ok.html
• https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/06/we-do-have-a-housing-crisis-ann-arbor-oks-12-story-high-rise-development.html

APPROVED: An ordinance amendment will clarify that bicycles impounded by the Ann Arbor Police Department may be sold at public sale or they may be donated to a charitable organization, such as Common Cycle Community Bicycle Repair, a local nonprofit. (Legistar)

• https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/06/where-do-abandoned-ann-arbor-bikes-end-up-change-in-law-gives-new-option.html

APPROVED: An ordinance requiring landlords to provide their tenants with local voter registration information will be repealed. This is in response to court decisions that invalidated similar laws in Minneapolis and St. Paul (Minnesota), declaring them unconstitutional. Similar ordinances in East Lansing and Ypsilanti are currently the subject of litigation. City staff report that the Ann Arbor ordinance is not actively enforced and other methods of voter outreach are more effective. (Legistar)

APPROVED: An ordinance amendment will prohibit the sale of dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits, long-lived birds, or large reptiles at pet stores, the roadside, public rights- of-way, commercial parking lots, outdoor special sales, swap meets, flea markets, or other similar events in the City of Ann Arbor. Animals may only be sold on the premises of a breeder, by a publicly operated shelter or rescue organization, or private nonprofit rescue organization. Pet stores may provide space and care for animals owned by a shelter/rescue organization, for the purpose of adoption. (Legistar)

• Existing pet stores may continue sales for one year after the effective date of this ordinance.
• At the Council meeting, it was explained that no Ann Arbor pet stores currently engage in these sales.
• https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/06/ann-arbor-to-ban-sale-of-dogs-cats-other-animals-at-pet-stores.html
• https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/06/new-ann-arbor-law-restricting-pet-sales-gets-enthusiastic-support-from-humane-society.html

APPROVED: Racial deed restrictions – now illegal and unenforceable – will be removed from County records for City-owned property at Allmendinger Park. The City will file appropriate paperwork with the Washtenaw County Register of Deeds in order to discharge the restrictions from deed records. (Legistar)

• https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/06/ann-arbor-getting-rid-of-racist-deed-restrictions-for-city-park.html

APPROVED: The City Administrator will implement a process for the collection of demographic information for all contractors, suppliers of goods, and service providers who submit bids or proposals to supply goods or services to the City beginning in Fiscal Year 2024. This information will be collected but “not directly factored into decisions to approve contracts.” (Legistar)

APPROVED: The City Administrator is directed to issue an RFP (Request for Proposals) in order to procure a a third party to implement an Unarmed Response program in the City of Ann Arbor. (Legistar)

• In April 2021, Council directed the City Administrator to develop a program of Subject Matter Expert response (or report on obstacles to creating one) by December 2021. The report in response to that resolution can be found here: https://a2gov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=10413590&GUID=1F682731-50B7-4092-B539-91F8D59FC347
• In April 2022, Council allocated $3,500,000 of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to the development of an Unarmed Response program. In June 2022, Council approved a $99,918 contract with Public Sector Consultants (PSC) to conduct community engagement around an unarmed crisis response program. In October 2022, the PSC contract was amended to add $5,000. In March 2023, PSC issued a report, which can be found here: https://a2gov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=11936315&GUID=B2B18927-8747-4820-91BB-FBBCA2382044
• https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/06/ann-arbor-seeks-third-party-to-implement-new-alternative-to-armed-police.html

APPROVED: City staff is directed to collaborate with the federal government on redesign and potential expansion of the pedestrian plaza at the 200 block of East Liberty Street. Staff explained at the meeting that a Downtown Area Circulation study is planned and will consider potential changes in the area. The anticipated study will consider the conversion of Fifth Avenue and Division Street to two-way traffic and expanded bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. (Legistar)

• https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/07/ann-arbor-mulls-permanently-closing-downtown-street-for-pedestrian-plaza.html

APPROVED: $1,003,000 construction contract with Cadillac Asphalt for replacement of asphalt pavement, utility structure repairs, curb ramp improvements, lane narrowing to accommodate bike lanes, and wider pavement markings on Ellsworth (S. State St. to Platt Rd.) as part of the Ellsworth Road Resurfacing Project. (Legistar)

https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/06/14m-project-to-improve-ann-arbors-ellsworth-road-to-start-in-july.html

APPROVED: $99,000 payment to settle litigation with a woman injured from an accident caused by a pothole. Christine Harris suffered severe injuries as a passenger on a motorcycle that hit a pothole in the City of Ann Arbor. This payment settles litigation filed in March 2020. (Legistar)

https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/06/motorcycle-rider-injured-by-ann-arbor-pothole-gets-99k-in-settlement.html

APPROVED (first reading): An Ordinance amendment to add Chapter 124 (Initiation of Traffic Stops) of Title IX (Police Regulations) of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor (Legistar)

• The ordinance amendment will specifically prohibit law enforcement from making traffic stops based solely on the following circumstances:
  • Cracked/chipped windshield
  • Loud exhaust
  • Tinted windows
  • Object hanging from rearview mirror (unless obstructing vision)
  • Cracked tail lamp
  • Registration plate violations (lighting, height, attachment)
  • Registration sticker location or expiration within prior 60 days.
• Law enforcement may stop, detain, or issue a citation for the offenses above if:
  • The motor vehicle has been lawfully stopped for another civil infraction or criminal offense.
  • It is a commercial motor vehicle
  • The driver or vehicle matches the description of a driver or vehicle involved in a criminal offense
  • The officer is investigating a traffic crash.
• https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/06/proposed-ann-arbor-law-aims-to-restrict-police-traffic-stops.html
• https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/06/ann-arbor-police-will-no-longer-pull-over-drivers-for-minor-offenses-chief-says.html
• https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/06/non-white-motorists-in-ann-arbor-stopped-and-searched-more-often-study-finds.html

APPROVED (first reading): The City ordinance for Solid Waste management will add a category – “Household Items” – that may be placed on the curb (public right of way) for up to 48 hours for the purpose of donation or re-use. (Legistar)

• The ordinance cites examples of “Household Items” in good condition (suitable for re-use) that may be placed in the public right-of-way. Toxic, hazardous, construction, commercial, and demolition waste are specifically prohibited. The City reserves the right to remove any item that’s an interference to use or maintenance of the public right-of-way, a safety hazard, or otherwise not in compliance with the definitions for “Household Items.” In order to prevent illegal street parking or blockage of bike lanes, residents and property owners consent to the use of their driveways by anyone interested in viewing or taking an item. Within ten feet of a crosswalk or sidewalk/road intersection, household items may not exceed three feet in height.
• DEFEATED: An amendment to limit these activities to the weekend (Friday noon to Sunday at 5 p.m.)
• APPROVED: By resolution, the Community Standards unit of the AAPD is directed to comply with the terms of the ordinance amendment prior to final Council approval and effective date. (Legistar)
• https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/06/putting-household-items-at-curb-for-others-to-take-no-longer-illegal-in-ann-arbor.html

APPROVED (first reading): Rezoning petition for the 1140 Broadway “Beekman on Broadway” development. The existing the C1A/R Campus Business Residential With Conditions zoning designation would be amended, lifting the requirement that a future building conform to a site plan previously approved. In 2018, the 6.4 acre property was rezoned from PUD (Planned Unit Development) to C1A/R with conditions, including a site plan that would attach to the zoning designation. The development at 1140 Broadway is comprised of three buildings, two of which are already built. The amended conditional zoning will apply to the third building and “enable significantly more dwelling units to be constructed within approximately the same approved building mass.” (Legistar)

• The developer held a public engagement meeting about these changes on January 17, 2023. A video of the meeting is available here: https://a2council.com/1140-broadway-street-public-engagement-meeting-january-17-2023/
• These changes were approved by the Planning Commission on May 2, 2023: https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-planning-commission-may-2-2023/
• https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2022/12/7-story-apartment-building-proposed-off-ann-arbors-broadway-street.html
• https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/01/developer-defends-decision-to-not-include-solar-for-proposed-ann-arbor-building.html
• UPDATE: City Council approved second reading of the rezoning and a resolution to approve the site plan on July 17, 2023: https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-council-july-17-2023/

A2ELNEL Voting Chart