A2Council Meeting Summaries

Tag: Climate Millage

Ann Arbor City Council: November 10, 2022

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.

This was the final Council meeting for CM Grand, CM Griswold, CM Hayner, CM Nelson, CM Ramlawi.

CM Griswold left the meeting early

Legistar
YouTube
Newsletter
Voting Chart

In the November 8, 2022 general election, Ann Arbor voters approved the Community Climate Action millage. This is a 20 year property tax at the rate of 1.0 mills, effective from 2023 through 2043, estimated to raise $6.8 million per year.

Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

APPROVED: Amendments to the Council Rules will wholly eliminate open public comment from City Council meetings, except in cases where state law requires a public hearing.  Public comment would only be permitted by sign up in advance, by 5 p.m before a 7 p.m. meeting.  Fifteen pre-registered commenters are now allowed to participate at the beginning of the meeting.  Any additional pre-registered commenters will be allowed to participate at the end of the meeting.  Council comment minutes at the beginning of the meeting which were reduced in 2021 are restored. End of meeting Council comment minutes are removed. (Legistar)

APPROVED: One hundred ninety parcels along West Stadium Boulevard/Maple Road and additional parcels along Pauline Boulevard and Dexter Avenue are rezoned TC-1.  This zoning district (Transit Corridor district) will permit unlimited density, create height minimums except in close proximity to pre-existing residential areas, establish maximum (rather than minimum) parking requirements, require mixed use, eliminate any open space requirements, and eliminate side and rear setback requirements except where adjacent to pre-existing residential areas. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Annexation of parcels at 1855 N Maple Road, 1875 N Maple Road, and 1921 Calvin Street and zoning of a PUD for construction of a 79-unit apartment community with a single-story clubhouse. (Legistar)

APPROVED: A resolution directing the City Administrator to revisit a planned capital improvement project at Greenview and S. Seventh (south of Scio Church Road). Water main and resurfacing work will be delayed one year in order to re-design and repeat public engagement. Re-design and more feedback will be sent to the Transportation Commission. (Legistar)

APPROVED: The City Administrator is directed to add the development of public restroom infrastructure to the City’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and look for creative ways to accelerate the development of public restrooms in downtown Ann Arbor. (Legistar)

APPROVED: The City Administrator is directed to investigate the costs, operational needs, sustainability, and feasibility of utilizing the Library Lane surface parking lot for regular and recurring use by food trucks/carts and other similar and complementary programming no later than April 1, 2023. A final report from the City Administrator will examine the challenges and benefits of partnering with an external or non-profit entity to manage the program if City operation is too difficult. (Legistar)

APPROVED: The City Administrator is directed to investigate the formation of an Office of Ombudsperson and report on it prior to development of the 2023-24 budget. (Legistar)

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for November 10, 2022 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for November 10, 2022 Part 2
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for November 10, 2022 Part 3

Ann Arbor City Council: December 6, 2021

This was the forty first 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.

Legistar
YouTube
Newsletter
Voting Chart

APPROVED: Council appointments to boards, commissions and committees for the upcoming year are changed. Council Member Hayner now has no Council appointed positions. Council Members Briggs, Disch, Eyer, and Grand take positions formerly held by CM Hayner. Council Member Nelson is removed from Budget & Labor committee. Council Member Ramlawi is removed from Budget & Labor and Council Administrative committees. Council Members Disch, Grand and Radina take positions formerly held by CM Nelson and CM Ramlawi. (Legistar)

Two resolutions related to a proposed Climate Action Millage

  • APPROVED: A Climate Action Millage will be put on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2022. A millage of 1.0 mills will be collected for 20 years, and is projected to collect $6.8 million in the first year. An earlier version of this proposal would have directed a special election in May 2022. In advance of discussion, a substitute version places the millage on the ballot in the regular November 2022 election. (Legistar)

    • DEFEATED: An amendment to change the term of the millage to ten years.

  • APPROVED: A Resolution of Intent lists the planned use and administration of funds collected from a proposed Climate Action Millage. (Legistar)

    • DEFEATED: A postponement in order to have this resolution reviewed and discussed by the Energy and Environmental Commissions.
  • A2ELNEL: Thoughts on the Climate Action Millage Proposal
  • https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2021/12/inaction-is-irresponsible-ann-arbor-climate-action-tax-headed-to-ballot.html

APPROVED: Council requests that the DDA extend the Curb Side Carry Out Program and continue the repurposing of 148 regular metered parking spaces through May 31, 2022. These spaces are repurposed to support dozens of local downtown business who must rely on take-out business in order to financially survive. (Legistar)

APPROVED: $1,093,021.50 allocated from the General Fund to support 6-month transition grants for area nonprofit service providers. This is a response to the end of the Coordinated Funding program and in anticipation of a new Human Services Partnership that is currently being developed between the City and the County. (Legistar)

Three resolutions related to Greenbelt purchases

APPROVED: Site plan for 106 North Fourth Avenue will allow for construction of a two story, 910 square foot addition at the rear of an existing one story office building. It is within the Fourth-Ann Historic district and the City Historic Commission. Council approval is required because this addition is more than 10% of the existing building. (Legistar)

Two resolutions related to electric vehicle chargers

APPROVED: $449,034 for engineering design services on a water main, resurfacing, crosswalk lighting, safety improvements, and a 2-way bike facility at State and Hill. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Winchell Park is renamed, in honor of former school board president Dr. Harold J. Lockett. (Legistar)

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for December 6, 2021 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for December 6, 2021 Part 2
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for December 6, 2021 Part 3
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for December 6, 2021 Part 4

Ann Arbor City Council: November 15, 2021

This was the fortieth 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.

Legistar
YouTube
Newsletter
Voting Chart

At the beginning of the meeting, Mayor Taylor announced plans to put a 20 year Climate Millage on the ballot next May, in order to support the A2Zero plan for carbon neutrality. According to the Mayor’s statement, the millage will fund year round compost and expanded recycling, weatherization of homes and businesses, miles of new bikeways and pedestrian infrastructure, neighborhood resiliency hubs, EV support and tree plantings because “in Ann Arbor we believe in science.” The ballot proposal is expected to be on the Dec 6th Council meeting agenda.

Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

APPROVED: After December 31, 2021, certain City Boards and Commissions (including City Council meetings) must meet in person, in compliance with Michigan Open Meetings Act. Other City bodies will continue to meet online. (Legistar)

  • City bodies meeting in person will be: Boards of Review I and II, Building Authority, Building Board of Appeals, City Council, Caucus, and all City Council Committees, City Planning Commission, Downtown Development Authority, Economic Development Corporation Board, Election Commission, Local Development Finance Authority, Local Officers Compensation Commission, Historic District Commission, Housing Board of Appeals, Housing Commission, Human Rights Commission, Independent Community Police Oversight Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, VEBA and Employee Retirement System Boards, Water System Advisory Council.
  • https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2021/11/ann-arbor-mayor-calls-forced-return-to-in-person-meetings-deeply-unwise.html

APPROVED: A new ordinance requires all toilet facilities that are open to customers, patrons, visitors, employees, licensees, invitees, students, or other members of the public to provide soap, toilet paper and menstrual products (both pads and tampons) at no cost, within the restroom, and openly accessible to users of the restroom. Violation of this ordinance will be a civil infraction, subject to a fine of no more than $100. Community Standards officers shall be responsible for enforcement. (Note: religious communities are exempted from providing supplies that are in conflict with religious beliefs) (Legistar)

APPROVED: A site plan for expansion of Grace Bible Church (1300 S. Maple Rd.) includes approximately 34,045 square feet and 107 parking spaces. The sanctuary will be expanded into existing courtyards and an addition to the south will contain a gymnasium, youth ministry, child ministry, and office space. It will comply with City requirements for electric vehicle parking, as calculated based on the total required number of parking spaces. (Legistar)

APPROVED: A 1.24 acre property at 201 Scio Church Road will be re-zoned from township to R2A (two-family) district. (Legistar)

APPROVED: A two year contract costing $2,026,223.30 will pay for the replacement of residential galvanized water lines. This work is necessary in order to comply with the State of Michigan’s Lead and Copper Rule, which requires water suppliers to replace both the publicly owned and privately owned portions of galvanized service lines that are or were connected to lead. The task of replacing these lines is expected to take about twenty years; the state mandates replacement at the rate of 5% a year. This contract includes an option to renew for one year. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Council supports a state grant application that will partially fund the resurfacing of Research Center Drive. The state of Michigan’s Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF) grants money to local communities in order to meet immediate economic development demands placed on highways, roads, and streets; this Ann Arbor location is eligible for those funds due to a planned Sartorius BioAnalytical Laboratories, Inc. facility at 3874 Research Park Drive. State grant money will provide $1,619,000 and the City’s Street, Bridge and Sidewalk Millage funds will cover the remaining cost of $911,000 in order to resurface Research Park Drive. (Legistar)

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for November 15, 2021 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for November 15, 2021 Part 2

Subscribe To My Newsletter

My name is Elizabeth Nelson, and I believe that your local government should be accessible and transparent. Since 2018 , I have sent out a newsletter before every Council meeting with my summary of agenda items coming before City Council, plus news and events of interest to Ann Arbor residents.

After each Council meeting, I create and post voting charts so that you can easily see how Council voted, and update this website with meeting summaries that include links to the City’s Legistar website, CTN’s YouTube video, and articles published on MLive.

Subscribe