A2Council Meeting Summaries

Tag: Healthy Streets

Ann Arbor City Council: June 21, 2021

This was the thirtieth 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.

CM Eyer called in from Mackinac Island, MI
CM Song called in from Newaygo, MI

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Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

APPROVED: One year contract for temporary staffing to support seasonal workload fluctuation and to temporarily fill gaps in the Public Works department. (This appeared on our agenda as a three-year contract including an option to extend; at Council it was amended to one year.) (Legistar)

APPROVED: $554,704 to the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) from the Capital Improvement Bond fund, for streetscape improvements on Huron, First & Ashley, and William (e.g. protected bike lanes, streetlights, street trees, widening sidewalks, etc.).  Improvements on Division & William, and other areas within the development district are planned (e.g. replacing delineators on the bike path with curbs, installing raised transit stop on William, etc) (Legistar)

APPROVED: $215,030.64 contract for deployment of Healthy Streets 2021 on 34 residential streets, South Main, and Packard. Estimated total project cost is $353,973. (Legistar)

APPROVED: $1,299,868 contract with MDOT for depth milling and repaving of Plymouth Rd. at Murfin/Upland and Broadway (Plymouth Rd. Resurfacing Phase II) (Legistar)

APPROVED: $974,510 contract for replacement of 197 streetlights and maintenance for 68 streetlights as part of the 2021 Streetlight Replacement & Painting Project. (Legistar)

APPROVED: $445,000 for city-wide Pavement Marking Maintenance (traffic & bike lanes, intersections, crossings, etc.) (Legistar)

APPROVED: $42,510 purchase of five street light poles and fixtures for Stadium Boulevard (Industrial-Main and Hutchins-Maple) (Legistar)

APPROVED: One-year License Agreement to permit Spin, Inc. to distribute 400 scooters in the City of Ann Arbor (fee: $146,000) (Legistar)

APPROVED: Settlement with Michigan Environment, Great Lakes, & Energy (EGLE) regarding the wastewater treatment plant and phosphorus discharge limits under the National Pollution Discharge Elimination Program. (Legistar)

APPROVED: $915,177 five year contract for upgrades to tasers and body cameras for the Ann Arbor Police Department. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Amendments to the City’s non-discrimination ordinance to add protections for Race-Based hair discrimination by referencing “traits historically associated with race.” Amendments include specific mention of  hairstyles such as “braids, locks, twists, and wraps.” (Legistar)

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for June 21, 2021 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for June 21, 2021 Part 2
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for June 21, 2021 Part 3

Ann Arbor City Council: May 3, 2021

This was the twenty seventh 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.

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Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

APPROVED: Amendments to an ordinance regulating Short term rentals, removing language that restricts location by zoning district. Short term rental is a newly defined use, added to the City zoning code. This change creates a new class of “legal non-conforming use,” permitting all current investment properties – non-owner occupied short term rentals established prior to March 1, 2021 – to continue operating indefinitely in residential areas. New investment properties would be prohibited in residential areas moving forward. (Legistar) (Legistar)

APPROVED: $646,595.50 for renovation of the Border-to-Border Pathway at the Gallup Park Vehicle bridge and Mitchell Field bridge. (Legistar)

APPROVED: City Council asks the Michigan Department of Transportation to take deliberate measures to either reduce speeds, re-engineer the road to increase traction and prevent hydroplaning, or take other steps to reduce the frequency of truck crashes on Eastbound M14. This resolution will be sent to state legislators.and Governor Whitmer. (Legistar)

DEFEATED: Budget amendment to appropriate $320,830.00 from the Major Street Fund Balance and $33,143.00 from the Local Street Fund Balance to fund 2021 Healthy Streets Deployment: 34 residential “Slow Streets”, temporary reconfiguration at South Main, and permanent re-design of Packard. (Legistar)

APPROVED: City Council expresses support for State Senate Bill 352, which restores local control over gun regulations on public property. Cities, townships, and counties would be able to adopt rules like those governing courthouses or schools. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Amendments to Council Rules restricting the addition of items to the agenda after 5 PM on the Thursday before a meeting. New rules require three cosponsors to add a late agenda item, create a “Proposed Agenda Items” section to the agenda, require a vote in order to add late items and reduce the vote required (from three-quarters to simple majority) to add those items. Problematic language added three months ago (and challenged by the ACLU) is removed. New Rules add a new Ethics violation for “conduct that is unbecoming of a Councilmember.” (Legistar)

REFERRED TO ADMIN COMMITTEE: In consultation with the director of Human Resources, the City Administrator would be asked to spend up to $20,000 to retain a professional mediator to teach effective meeting management and discourse methodology for Councilmembers. (Legistar)

TABLED: The City of Ann Arbor would hold a forum about the Palestinian people and Palestinian-Americans with the goal of having a community conversation. (Legistar)

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for May 3, 2021 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for May 3, 2021 Part 2
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for May 3, 2021 Part 3

Ann Arbor City Council: January 19, 2021

This was the twentieth 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.

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Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

APPROVED: Grant money of $14,000 will fund administrative staffing to support the Aging in Place Efficiently Program, helping low-income seniors age in a place of their choosing for longer by combining energy efficiency improvements with aging support and services. (Legistar)

APPROVED: The 2021 Sidewalk Gap Elimination Project Budget will appropriate $50,000 for initial projects at Barton Drive (Brede to Pontiac), Stimson Street (State to end of gaps), Boardwalk (Eisenhower to Oakbrook). Funds from the New Sidewalk Millage (approved by voters in Nov 2020) will not be available until July 1, 2021, so this is interim financing from the Street, Bridge, and Sidewalk Millage Fund to allow construction in the summer/fall of 2021. Once the revenue from the new millage is available, the Street, Bridge and Sidewalk Millage Fund will be reimbursed. (Legistar)

APPROVED: New parking standards will require new developments to equip a percentage of parking spaces with electric vehicle chargers and infrastructure to accommodate future chargers. (Legistar)

APPROVED: New poverty exemptions for property taxes on a principal residence will be set at 2.2 times the Federal Poverty Level income. The maximum asset level will be set at $50,000. (Legistar)

POSTPONED: A resolution to appoint three at-large members to the Council of the Commons was postponed to permit more coordination/communication between CM Hayner and CM Briggs. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Resolution to Rescind Council resolution R-19-139, requiring Council approval for lane reductions on major streets/corridors. City staff may now remove lanes of traffic on major streets and corridors without a vote of City Council. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Council directs Evan Pratt (County Drain Commissioner) to issue a Notice of Violation to Gelman Sciences, Inc. for causing the seepage of contaminated water into the Allen Creek Drain. (Legistar)

APPROVED: A budget amendment of $40,000 from the General Fund for design of a spring deployment of Healthy Streets for 2021. Additional funding will be requested in the future for implementation. Recommendations include “identifying locations where previous Healthy Streets reconfigurations could be made permanent.” (Legistar)

POSTPONED TO INDEFINITE DATE: Direction to the City Attorney to provide a memo appropriate for publication, on the topic of Council Rules and Constitutional First Amendment Rights (Legistar)

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for January 19, 2021 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for January 19, 2021 Part 2
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for January 19, 2021 Part 3

Ann Arbor City Council: October 5, 2020

This was the thirteenth 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.

Legistar
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Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

APPROVED: Traffic reconfigurations (“Healthy Streets Initiative”) at three locations – South Main, Broadway/Swift, and Packard – will end early, ahead of the planned end date of November 29th. Lane closures will end October 15th. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Revised Solid Waste Resources Management Plan. This plan was on the Jan 6, 2020 agenda and tabled for review by staff. The plan includes year-round compost pickup, curbside textile collection, limited bulky item collection (on a monthly schedule or at request and for a fee), and possible consolidation of waste, recycling, and compost collection services. (Legistar)

APPROVED: $8,022.25 and $106,859 contracts with the Ecology Center for Recycling Plant Tours of the Material Recovery Facilities Education Center and School Recycling Education programs on recycling, composting, zero waste, stormwater and waste reduction for Ann Arbor and Dexter (2nd Grade stormwater only) schools. (Legistar)

APPROVED: A legal memo that was shared internally as “privileged and confidential” will be made public. It answers the questions: Does City Council have the ability to dissolve the Downtown Development Authority (DDA)? What is the procedure for dissolving the DDA? What are the effects of dissolving the DDA? (Legistar)

APPROVED: “Community Commons Initiating Committee” is recognized as a Community Partner in the process of developing the Center of the City Community Commons (approved by ballot initiative in 2018). (Legistar)

  • For the purpose of writing bylaws, membership of the “Council Commons” will include City Administrator (a non-voting member) and voting members comprised of two City Council members appointed and approved by City Council, a citizen member of the City Planning Commission nominated by Planning Commission and affirmed by City Council, a citizen member of the Parks Advisory Commission nominated by PAC and affirmed by City Council, two members of the Community Commons Initiating Committee, two members of the Library Green Conservancy, and 3 citizens-at-large to be nominated by the City Council representatives Commons Council members, and affirmed by City Council. The Initiating Committee will work to implement repurposing of the Library Lane lot location as called for in the approved Task Force recommendations.
  • https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2020/10/ann-arbor-accelerates-plans-for-downtown-central-park-as-some-argue-its-designed-to-fail.html

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for October 5, 2020 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for October 5, 2020 Part 2

Ann Arbor City Council: September 21, 2020

This was the twelfth 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.

Legistar
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Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

APPROVED: City Council will request a meeting with University of Michigan leadership (before November 1, 2020) to discuss the potential use of campus housing for shelter in the event of a resurgence of the COVID-19 virus. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of Ann Arbor and Ann Arbor Police Officers Association effective January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022. A PDF version of the agreement is available at the Legistar link. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Downtown street closures at location on Washington, Main, Liberty, Detroit, Maynard, State, S. University, and Church are extended until November 1, 2020 so that businesses are able to use the street for seating and sales in compliance with social distancing requirements. (Legistar)

POSTPONED: Traffic reconfigurations (“Healthy Streets Initiative”) at three locations – S. Main, Broadway/Swift, and Packard – proposed to end on October 1, ahead of the previously planned end date of November 29. This resolution was postponed to the October 19th Council meeting, in order to give staff time to improve conditions and collect data. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Declaration that the investigation and prosecution of crimes related to entheogenic plants is the lowest priority in the City. The Mayor and Council use the County District Attorney to cease prosecution of people for crimes related to entheogenic plants or plant based compounds. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Site plan for a PUD development “Broadway Park West” at 841 Broadway (former DTE site). It will include 96 attached residential units, 8200 sq. ft. of retail, 5600 sq. ft. of restaurant uses, 148 room hotel, and a minimum of six contiguous acres of public open space. (Legistar)

APPROVED: The City accepts a grant of $417,268 from the Center for Tech and Civic Life to operationalize safe and secure election administration. The grant will fund an additional “client seat” for a high speed absentee ballot tabulator, application for absentee ballots, postage for any new ballot applications, staffing and extended hours for the City Clerk’s office (and satellite office), ballot drop boxes, marketing materials, and bonus pay for election inspectors during the pandemic. (Legistar)

APPROVED: $14,000 for a Budget Priorities Citizen Survey (similar in size and scope to a similar survey conducted in 2018) to help inform discussion of the City’s FY22 Budget and FY 23 Financial Plan. (Legistar)

APPROVED: $147,019 contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation for the Fuller Court Sidewalk Gap Project. (Legistar)

APPROVED: $152,435 for the installation of traffic calming devices (speed bumps) on Fernwood Avenue from Packard to Lorraine streets. (Legistar)

APPROVED: $401,500 for for traffic control materials and supplies for gateway signage, signals (Ellsworth/Research Park Drive, Broadway Park Drive/Broadway, and Pauline/Maple), multiple RRFB (Rectangular Rapid Flash beacons at crosswalks), and other maintenance. (Legistar)

APPROVED: $314,000 for traffic control products to rebuild signals at Hubbard & Huron Pkwy and Pauline at Maple Rd, upgrade school zones, install intersections at Ellsworth/Research Park Drive and Broadway Park/Broadway, and provide maintenance and repair in support of other City projects. (Legistar)

APPROVED: $187,000 for Streetlight Replacement and Asset Management (Legistar)

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for September 21, 2020 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for September 21, 2020 Part 2
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for September 21, 2020 Part 3

Ann Arbor City Council: July 6, 2020

This was the seventh 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.

Legistar
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Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

DEFEATED: Collective Bargaining Agreement with Ann Arbor Police Officers Association (effective January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2022) (Legistar)

APPROVED: City Council endorses the resolution of requests from the Independent Community Police Oversight Commission (ICPOC) regarding policy and the Ann Arbor Police Officer Association Collective Bargaining Agreement (AAPOA CBA). Requests include additional transparency to ICPOC (availability of personnel files), policies for discipline, and procedures for termination (elimination of binding arbitration). (Legistar)

APPROVED: Two contracts ($3,364,492.95 and $3,429,675) for two years of services for sewer televising and cleaning construction. (Legistar)

Three Greenbelt purchases approved:

  • APPROVED: $73,593 for Greenbelt purchase of 27 acres in Northfield Township. (Legistar)
  • APPROVED: $115,830 for Greenbelt purchase of 13 acres in Scio Township. (Legistar)
  • APPROVED: $60,000 for Greenbelt purchase of 40 acres in Ann Arbor Township. (Legistar)

Two Healthy Streets resolutions approved:

APPROVED: The City Administrator is directed to develop a plan to review and increase use of our Poverty Exemption Program that waives property taxes for low income residents. To be reviewed: increasing public awareness, raising the income level for eligibility, and simplifying the application process. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Application of any new C1 and C1A/R zoning requiring site plan approval is suspended for 180 days so that the Planning Commission can evaluate the continued viability of the C1A and C1A/R districts (central, campus business districts) and make recommendations whether to eliminate the C1A and C1A/R zoning districts. (Legistar)

APPROVED: The City property at 415 W. Washington is pre-entitled for plan approval to be conducted through a Planned Unit Development and Concept Plan, or another mechanism toward the realization of goals with a future development partner. Ann Arbor Housing Commission is the applicant, and the City is reviewer/property owner. Recommendations would be presented to the City Council by March 19, 2021. (Legistar)

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for July 6, 2020 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for July 6, 2020 Part 2
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for July 6, 2020 Part 3
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for July 6, 2020 Part 4

Ann Arbor City Council: May 4, 2020

This was the third 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.

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Voting Chart

APPROVED: Endorsement of the Fair and Equal Campaign, to put expansion of LGBTQIA protections (against discrimination) on the ballot in November (Legistar)

APPROVED: $250,000 budget amendment to support Washtenaw County and Shelter Association of Washtenaw County (SAWC) for current and future COVID-19 shelter response (Legistar)

APPROVED: Unit income target goals for the DDA Housing Fund would be aligned with the City of Ann Arbor’s Affordable Housing goals, adjusted from 50% of Area Median Income (AMI) to 60% of AMI.  This is adjusted to help fund planning, studies and process of potential projects at 11 City Owned properties (Legistar)

APPROVED: August late penalties (interest charges) would be waived for summer property taxes due July 31, 2020. September interest charges would be reduced: 2.5% (from 5%). (Legistar)

APPROVED: Direction to staff to review best practices for social distancing on sidewalks, bike lanes, and local roads. Staff will identify feasibility of expanding social distance space for cyclists and pedestrians with shared or dedicated roadways. An online public engagement tool will be used for input, a report on recommendations for implementations will be brought by June 15, 2020. (Legistar)

APPROVED The final report of the Center of the City task force would be accepted by the City: a vision for flexible, adaptable and sustainable public spaces that are inclusive and welcoming to everyone (Legistar)

APPROVED $1,087,050 for signal timing technology to promote smooth flow of traffic for 29 intersections and corridors including Maple Road, West Stadium Boulevard, Glen Avenue, Fuller Road and Huron Parkway (Legistar)

APPROVED: Four sidewalk gap projects

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for May 4, 2020 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for May 4, 2020 Part 2
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for May 4, 2020 Part 3

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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.

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