A2Council Meeting Summaries

Tag: Unarmed Response Program

Ann Arbor City Council: June 20, 2023

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

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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)

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)

APPROVED: An ordinance requiring landlords to provide their tenants with local voter registration information will be repealed.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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for June 20, 2023 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for June 20, 2023 Part 2
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for June 20, 2023 Part 3
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for June 20, 2023 Part 4
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for June 20, 2023 Part 5

Ann Arbor City Council: May 16, 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.

CM Song was absent

Legistar
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Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

APPROVED: An employment agreement with Milton Dohoney, Jr. to serve as the City Administrator. Mr. Dohoney will receive an annual base salary of $250,000, with no compensation adjustments for the first 24 months. (Legistar)

Two resolutions related to the South State Street reconstruction project:

  • APPROVED: A $6,727,358.01 contract with Fonson Company, Inc for the South State Street reconstruction project. Improvements are planned for the South State Street area from Huron to North University, including water main replacement, resurfacing, bicycle improvements, and street reconstruction with a curbless design. Total project cost is estimated at $9,083,000. (Legistar)
  • APPROVED: An agreement with the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) to share costs of the South State Street reconstruction project. The DDA’s portion of the cost allocation is an estimated $4,218,283. (Legistar)
  • The South State Street reconstruction project is split into two stages: Stage 1 in June-August 2022 (E. Liberty St. to E. William St), Stage 2 in March-August 2023 (E Liberty St. to E. Huron St.)
  • https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2022/05/ann-arbor-oks-deal-to-move-forward-with-9m-state-street-redesign.html

APPROVED: The City appropriates $374,738 of federal grant money toward funding “smart intersections.” A network of these intersections is part of a University of Michigan project to enable autonomous vehicles in our local community. (Legistar)

APPROVED: By resolution, City Council reaffirms its support for women and individuals to access abortion and other reproductive rights services. The City Administrator and City Attorney’s Office will take appropriate legal action, including but not limited to, filing amicus briefs in Planned Parenthood of Michigan v. Attorney General of the State of Michigan and Governor Whitmer’s legal challenge of Act 328. (Legistar)

APPROVED: The City Administrator will provide an opportunity for discussion between City Council members and U-M Regents to dialog about net zero energy Workforce Housing on U-M properties and elsewhere in the city, with the participation of stakeholder groups. The City Administrator will raise the issue of workforce housing at the quarterly U-M policy meetings and report progress to City Council, as appropriate, while soliciting the support of the Michigan Municipal League, the City’s lobbyist, the Chamber of Commerce, and any other local groups and leaders. (Legistar)

APPROVED: The City’s water rates will increase by 6% on July 1, 2022. (Legistar)

APPROVED: The City’s stormwater rates will increase by 4% on July 1, 2022. (Legistar)

APPROVED: $24.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds are appropriated to the City’s Major Grants Program Fund, following allocations previously approved by Council on April 4, 2022. (Legistar)

  • Council approved the following APRA fund allocations at the April 4, 2022 meeting (Legistar)

    • $4,500,000 Solar on City Facilities
    • $3,500,000 Property Acquisition for Affordable Housing (including $500,000 allocation to residential support services)
    • $3,500,000 Unarmed Response
    • $2,300,000 Gallup Park Bridge
    • $2,000,000 Galvanized Water Service Line Replacement
    • $2,000,000 Vision Zero Plan Implementation
    • $1,682,630 Coordinated Funding Support
    • $1,600,000 Universal Basic Income
    • $1,000,000 City Clerk Election Center
    • $1,000,000 Housing for Homeless Households
    • $500,000 Community and Law Enforcement Data Platform
    • $500,000 Funding for the Arts (including $200,000 to “arts-based trauma response programs and workforce development”)
    • $100,000 Liberty Plaza

APPROVED: The City’s budget for FY 2023. General Fund recurring expenses have increased by 3.4% ($3,915,640) compared to FY 2022’s adopted budget; recurring revenues have increased by 4.5% ($5,075,679). The FY 2023 budget includes a total of 16 additional full time employees (FTE) in City departments: Parks & Recreation, Building & Rental, Public Services, City Attorney, Police, Fire, and Downtown Development Authority. Ten additional FTE’s will be permitted on a temporary basis as part of the workforce planning initiative. (Legistar)

  • AMENDMENT: Allocations for $935,336 in FY23 Marijuana Excise Tax Revenue:

    • $572,000 to City Attorney’s Office for Deflection Program
    • $100,000 to Public Works department for an apprenticeship program to fund 10 commercial driver’s licenses
    • $100,000 to Washtenaw County to fund Utility Support for low income residents through Barrier Busters
    • $75,000 to Ann Arbor Housing Commission for A BIPOC small business development space at 121 E. Catherine
    • $60,000 to Office of Sustainability & Innovations for low income sustainability grants
    • $28,336 to Washtenaw County for Child Savings Accounts
    • DEFEATED: Amendment to remove $100,000 from the Public Works Apprenticeship program and re-direct it to Dawn Farms (long-term addiction treatment services).
    • DEFEATED: Amendment to remove $60,000 from low income sustainability grants and re-direct it to Home of New Vision (substance use disorder treatment) and A Brighter Way (support for formerly incarcerated).
  • AMENDMENT: An additional $240,000 to the Office of Sustainability & Innovations for low income sustainability grants

  • AMENDMENT: Additional funding to support the City Attorney’s office:

    • $165,252 for an additional full time employee (FTE)
    • $20,000 to replace CityLaw software
    • $48,000 to fund annual maintenance for new software
  • A2ELNEL: Proposed City Budget Amendments for FY2023
  • https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2022/05/ann-arbor-oks-525m-budget-after-heated-debate-over-marijuana-money.html

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for May 16, 2022 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for May 16, 2022 Part 2
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for May 16, 2022 Part 3
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for May 16, 2022 Part 4

Ann Arbor City Council: April 4, 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.

Legistar
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Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

APPROVED: The 0.8 acre parcel at 350 S. Fifth (the “Y Lot”) is rezoned from D1 (Downtown Core) to PUD (Planned Unit Development District). This PUD allows for more height (up to 275 feet) and lifts requirements for driveway width, building frontage, and street trees along Fourth and Fifth Avenue right of ways. No parking will be required. In exchange, a minimum of 100 (40% of total) residential dwellings will be affordable dwelling units, property will be allocated for Blake Transit Center expansion, there will be no curb cut on William, and the building will be fully electrified. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Sixty-eight lots in the South State and East/West Eisenhower area, including Boardwalk Drive and Victors Way are rezoned TC-1. This new zoning district (Transit Corridor district) will permit unlimited density, create height minimums except where adjacent 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: A Brownfield Plan will reimburse the developer of 3874 Research Park Drive $145,125 for environmental-related activities (Environmental Due Diligence, Site Control and testing; excavation, transportation, and disposal of impacted soil; and related Brownfield Plan and Work Plan preparation) and $1,513,586 for non-environmental activities (Demolition; infrastructure improvements, site preparation activities, and related Brownfield Plan and Work Plan preparation). An additional $1,101,727 of TIF capture will be deposited into the City’s Affordable Housing Fund. This plan will advance to the Washtenaw County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners for authorization. (Legistar)

POSTPONED: An Industrial Facilities Exemption certificate for Sartorius BioAnalytical Instruments will permit a 12-year abatement of local taxes up to $54,587,000 of real property site improvements and up to $8,943,000 of personal property. An Industrial Development. District was previously established for Sartorius at 3874 Research Park Drive, making them eligible for local tax abatement. This resolution was postponed to the May 5th 2022 Council meeting. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Allocations for $24.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Final allocations are listed below. (Legistar)

  • $4,500,000 Solar on City Facilities
  • $3,500,000 Property Acquisition for Affordable Housing (AMENDED to permit $500,000 allocation to residential support services)
  • $3,500,000 Unarmed Response
  • $2,300,000 Gallup Park Bridge
  • $2,000,000 Galvanized Water Service Line Replacement
  • $2,000,000 Vision Zero Plan Implementation
  • $1,682,630 Coordinated Funding Support
  • $1,600,000 Universal Basic Income
  • $1,000,000 City Clerk Election Center
  • $1,000,000 Housing for Homeless Households
  • $500,000 Community and Law Enforcement Data Platform
  • $500,000 Funding for the Arts (AMENDED to direct $200,000 to “arts-based trauma response programs and workforce development”)
  • $100,000 Liberty Plaza
  • A2ELNEL: ARPA Funding Update: Proposed Amendments
  • https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2022/04/big-share-of-ann-arbor-stimulus-goes-to-solar-panels-unarmed-responders.html

APPROVED: City Council declares “No Mow May” and encourages residents to refrain from mowing open green space during the month in order to preserve floral spaces for bees and other pollinators. At Council, language was added by friendly amendment to clarify: City ordinances will be enforced if plant growth impacts sight lines and safety for pedestrians. (Legistar)

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for April 4, 2022 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for April 4, 2022 Part 2
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for April 4, 2022 Part 3

Ann Arbor City Council: April 5, 2021

This was the twenty fifth 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
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Newsletter
Voting Chart

APPROVED: Repairs to concrete pavement at S. Industrial (Eisenhower to Stadium). The $1,071,197.58 project will include re-striping to add north and south bound bike lanes throughout the corridor. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Sidewalk gaps will be filled at Newport/Sunset. The $120,000 project will be paid for with the Street, Bridge, and Sidewalk Millage. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Fair Chance Access to Housing – Criminal history will not be permitted as a determining factor in access to rental housing. An application for rental housing shall not require an applicant to disclose criminal history or authorize release of criminal history. (Legistar)

APPROVED: The City of Ann Arbor condemns hate crimes, hateful rhetoric, hateful acts against Asians and Asian Americans, white terrorism and white supremacism in all forms. The City encourages Asians and Asian Americans to report harassment, hate crimes, and discrimination to the Ann Arbor Police Department, the City’s Human Rights Commission, and/or the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. (Legistar)

APPROVED: This resolution expresses support for recommendations from the University of Michigan President’s Commission on Carbon Neutrality (PCCN). Recommendations include reductions in emissions and goals for carbon neutrality (exclusive of offsets) by 2040. (Legistar)

APPROVED: For the first citation of a season, the penalty for failure to comply with our snow removal ordinance is reduced from $100 to $60. (The snow removal ordinance requires making sidewalks, walks, and ramps free of snow and ice for their entire constructed width and length within 24 hours of a snowfall greater than one inch.) (Legistar)

APPROVED: The City Administrator will either establish a program of Subject Matter Expert response for public safety (in collaboration with Washtenaw County, Washtenaw County Sheriff’s office, “Subject Matter Agencies” and in consultation with the Independent Community Police Oversight Commission) or report on obstacles and ideas for overcoming them by December 31, 2021. The City Administrator may hire a consultant to help in this process and he is directed to include this endeavor in the Fiscal Year 2022 budget, while identifying sources of funding. (Legistar)

APPROVED: The City Attorney will review criminal ordinances that are enforced by the Ann Arbor Police Department and identify ordinance amendments that would be consistent with goals of the 2021 State Criminal Justice Reform Legislation and the general “spirit of progressive criminal justice reform.” Recommended ordinance amendments will be presented to Council before November 15, 2021. (Legistar)

APPROVED (First Reading): 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)

POSTPONED: Amendments to our early leasing ordinance will change a standard from 70 days to 240 days. A landlord would not be permitted to enter a leased premises for the purpose of showing it to prospective tenants or enter into a contract for a subsequent lease sooner than 240 days into a current lease. This agenda item was postponed to consider improved strategies for enforcement. (Legistar)

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for April 5, 2021 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for April 5, 2021 Part 2
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for April 5, 2021 Part 3
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for April 5, 2021 Part 4

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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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