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.
Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary
APPROVED: A resolution in response to two specific concerns raised regarding the TC-1 zoning district at Stadium/Maple: the viability of ongoing commercial businesses, and narrow rights of way on Stadium Boulevard. It is proposed that some commercial outlets be permitted as a special exception use within the TC-1 district. Further, the minimal setback requirements in the TC-1 district at Stadium are problematic, given the limited distance between curbs and lot lines (~7 feet). Mayoral appointees on the Planning Commission are directed to evaluate and recommend amendments to the TC-1 zoning district in order to incorporate limited automobile-related uses (except for drive-throughs and gas stations) and address the issue of narrow existing rights of way. (Legistar)
- AMENDMENT APPROVED: Council approved an amendment to remove the last WHEREAS clause that stated: “requested amendments to TC-1 may delay future City-initiated map amendments.”
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2022/12/proposed-changes-to-ann-arbors-new-high-density-zoning-spark-more-debate.html
- PLANNING COMMISSION: The City Planning Commission held a working session on December 13, 2022 to discuss this resolution. (Legistar)
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2022/12/ann-arbor-begins-task-of-reexamining-citys-new-high-density-zoning.html
- A recording of this working session was not made available by the City. I uploaded my recording of the Zoom meeting to YouTube: https://youtu.be/_1bhh8_-r2E
- I also made a video summary of the meeting: https://youtu.be/eAOFuFEEm8Q
- A2Council link for the working session: https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-planning-commission-dec-13-2022
APPROVED: Council members were appointed to Boards, Commissions, and Council committees (Legistar)
APPROVED: 2023 calendar for Council meetings, both regular sessions and work sessions. This calendar eliminates all work sessions traditionally scheduled as public meetings to discuss the annual City budget. (Legistar)
APPROVED: Council Rules and procedures, including recent amendments. Rules were amended to clarify language regarding mask requirements at in-person Council meetings: mask requirements will follow CDC guidance, consistent with local transmission rates. (Legistar)
- At the November 10, 2022 meeting, an outgoing Council amended these Rules to require pre-registration (before 5 p.m.) for all public comments at Council meetings, which eliminated the traditional open, unreserved public comment at the end of meetings. (Legistar)
- The Council Rules are posted to the City website here: https://www.a2gov.org/departments/city-clerk/Documents/Council%20Rules.pdf
- A2ELNEL: Competing Interests, Representation, and Public Scrutiny
APPROVED: A motion to suspend Council Rule 13, in order to bring a budget amendment back for reconsideration. Council rules allow that an issue previously decided can be brought back for reconsideration at the following meeting and that such a motion must come from a Council member who voted on the prevailing side in the original decision. Neither of these conditions would have been met in bringing back a budget amendment that was defeated at the September 19, 2022 Council meeting. (Legistar)
APPROVED: A budget amendment for $134,000 to fund a consultant to study the feasibility of the City taking control of major corridors at North Main, Washtenaw, Huron, and Jackson. These corridors are currently considered “state trunklines” and the Michigan Department of Transportation is wholly responsible for their maintenance and repair. (The state reimburses the City for minor repairs, e.g. filling potholes.) City control of these corridors would give the City complete responsibility for the cost of maintenance and repair (with some additional funds from Act 51 and other state funds). (Legistar)
- This resolution was initially defeated at the September 19, 2022 Council meeting, and was brought back for reconsideration at this Council meeting (see above).
- A City Staff memo from January 2022 explains more about the feasibility study: https://a2gov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=11210491&GUID=9F7B2C3D-3440-436D-A441-25CAA91E4310
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2022/12/ann-arbor-officials-call-out-mdot-ok-looking-into-taking-control-of-state-roads.html
Two resolutions related to the reallocation of ARPA funds:
- APPROVED: Resolution reallocating $500,000 of ARPA funds, previously allocated (April 2022) to a Law Enforcement Data Platform. New allocations: $300,000 to fund an ambulance and $200,000 to fund downtown services. (Legistar)
- APPROVED: Purchase of a new 2023 Road Rescue Ultramedic III Ambulance for $295,085 to support the Ann Arbor Fire Department’s ongoing work as a basic life support transport agency. Funding will come from a reallocation of federal money received through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). ARPA funding ($500,000) previously allocated to a Community and Law Enforcement Data Platform is re-directed to fund this ambulance and downtown services. (Legistar)
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2022/12/ann-arbor-proposes-launching-citys-own-independent-ambulance-service.html
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2022/12/ann-arbor-reprioritizes-stimulus-funds-for-downtown-restrooms-city-ambulance.html
APPROVED: Memorandum of understanding between the City of Ann Arbor & Washtenaw County for extension of the Border to Border Trail, connecting Bandemer Park to Huron River Dr. A plan for collaboration will create a safe, non-motorized connection between Bandemer Park and Huron River Drive part of the Bandemer-Barton Trail and Underpass Project. (Legistar)
APPROVED: $4,242,055.60 construction contract for sanitary sewer pipe lining work near downtown: Jefferson/Ashley to Miller/First and Hoover/Division to Arch/White. Work is scheduled to take place January to April 2023 as part of the High Level Trunkline Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Phase 2 Project. (Legistar)
APPROVED: A grant application for up to $1,000,000 from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for improvements to Buhr Park Ice arena. A Michigan Spark Grant program funds creation, renovation, or redevelopment of public recreation facilities. The Buhr Park project will replace the whole refrigeration system, reduce energy consumption, and improve accessibility and operations. The estimated total cost of the project is $1,665,000 – $2,350,000. (Legistar)
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