Hello neighbors!
This week, Ann Arbor City Council will hear a budget presentation from the City administrator and host a public hearing about expansion and renewal of the DDA development district. At first reading, Council will consider increases to water, stormwater, and sewer rates. On the Consent Agenda, Council will express support for MDOT plans to reconfigure East Huron/Washtenaw between Main and Stadium.
NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH SIGN UPDATE
A communication this week updates Council on the City effort to remove Neighborhood Watch signs. Council approved spending $16,500 in order to accomplish the task more quickly. Staff report that one sign remains:
The final remaining sign is pending removal, with scheduling underway to document the process through video and photography.
https://a2gov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=15387722&GUID=F92F0A1D-4EE5-4FCA-A509-A0C30FFC49A3
A2Council Update Video
After every City Council meeting I send out an “A2Council Update” newsletter, which includes a summary video. Here is my A2Council Update video from the Council meeting of April 6, 2026:
Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Agenda
Below is my summary of issues on the City Council Agenda this week, with links to more information about each of them. If you have comments about any of these issues, you can email all of Council at CityCouncil@a2gov.org
Ann Arbor City Council Meeting
Monday, April 20, 2026 7:00PM
Ann Arbor City Hall (2nd Floor)
301 E Huron St, Ann Arbor 48104
The full agenda (including a link to the latest published PDF agenda, and instructions for dialing into the meeting) is on the A2Gov Legistar website:
https://a2gov.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1368501&GUID=035F6E9A-FA66-42CE-9414-0EEE649A5E7F
City Council meetings are broadcast live by CTN on Comcast (channel 16) and AT&T (channel 99) and online at a2gov.org/watchCTN
Meetings are also streamed live on the CTN YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/ctnannarbor
How to reserve public comment
People that wish to comment at a City Council meeting must sign up with the City Clerk’s office in advance. Speakers are allotted 3 minutes, with the first 15 speakers allowed to speak in a 45 minute session near the beginning of the meeting. Remaining speakers will speak at the end of the Council meeting. Public comment can be made either in person or remotely via phone/Zoom audio.
To sign up for public comment, please go to or call the City Clerk’s Office at 734-794-6140 on the day of the meeting between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. At 4:00 PM, all speakers that have signed up are randomly ordered in “priority groups”. After 4:00 PM, speakers are added to the end of the applicable priority group in the order received. No new speakers will be added to the list after 5:00 PM. For more information, visit the City’s website:
https://www.a2gov.org/city-council/council-meetings-overview/
Questions to the Agenda
In preparation for a Council meeting, Council members can ask questions of staff about scheduled agenda items. Questions must be submitted by noon on the Wednesday before a Council Meeting, and answers are returned the next day (Thursday) by 5pm.
AC-2 (26-0677) Agenda Response Memo and eComments – April 20, 2026
This agenda item has a PDF attachment with all questions raised by Council Members, and the answers provided by staff.
For the third meeting in a row, there were no questions asked by Council Members
Communications from the Mayor
MC-1 (26-0594) Appointments – Confirmations
These appointments from the Mayor were presented at the previous meeting, and will therefore be voted on at this Council meeting.
- Josh Winslow – Parks Advisory Commission
- Sarah Bassiouni – City Planning Commission (this appointment was added on the day of the previous Council meeting, and was therefore not announced in time for the last newsletter)
According to an MLive story from June 2025, Sarah Bassiouni is pursuing a PhD in epidemiology at U-M, and Mayor Taylor presided over her wedding at City Hall.
https://www.mlive.com/life/2025/07/u-m-graduates-find-love-through-ann-arbor-librarys-summer-games.html
According to an MLive story from October 2025, Sarah Bassiouni spoke at City Council in favor of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, warning about “when insularity hardens into ‘not in my backyard’ exclusion.”
https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2025/10/mayor-pushes-back-on-fear-mongering-as-ann-arbor-puts-growth-plan-out-for-review.html
MC-2 (26-0596) Resolution to Appoint Joe Giant to the Economic Development Corporation Board as a Non-registered Elector (7 Votes Required)
This appointment from the Mayor was presented at the previous meeting, and will therefore be voted on at this Council meeting. Seven votes are required because the “appointee is not a registered elector of the City of Ann Arbor.”
- Joe Giant – Economic Development Corporation Board
Joe Giant was hired as the City’s Economic Development Director on March 17, 2025.
https://www.a2gov.org/news/posts/ann-arbor-introduces-new-economic-development-director/
Attached to the previous meeting’s agenda is a letter dated March 24, 2026, stating that Milton Dohoney has resigned from the Economic Development Corporation Board, and that “Joe Giant is in the process of being appointed in his absence.” (Legistar)
MC-3 (26-0688) Appointment and Reappointment – Nominations
These appointments from the Mayor are being presented at this meeting, and will therefore be voted on at the next Council meeting.
- Susan Pollay – Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority Board
- Sven Sawin – Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority Board
Consent Agenda
Below is the list of items included on the Consent Agenda. If no one on Council specifically requests that an item be pulled for discussion, the whole of this list will be approved in a single vote.
CA-1 (26-0570) Resolution to Approve a General Services Agreement with Legacy Land Conservancy for Conservation Easement Services ($500,000.00)
CA-2 (26-0368) Resolution to Approve a Construction Contract with E.T. MacKenzie Company for the North University and Thayer Improvements Project (RFP 26-11; $6,760,000.00) and to Appropriate $7,673,000.00 in Contributing Funds and to Approve Cost Allocation Agreements (8 Votes Required)
CA-3 (26-0472) Resolution to Approve a Construction Contract with Bailey Excavating, Inc. for the Ingalls Kingsley Water Main Project ($4,268,513.70) and to Appropriate $3,116,219.00 in Contributing Funds (8 Votes Required)
CA-4 (26-0506) Resolution to Approve a Construction Contract with Eminent Excavating LLC for the South Maple, Arbordale and Sherwood Watermain Replacement and Improvements Project (RFP 26-17; $4,499,212.00) and to Appropriate $1,640,802.00 in Contributing Funds (8 Votes Required)
CA-5 (26-0470) Resolution to Approve a Construction Contract Renewal with Doan Construction Co. for the 2026 Sidewalk Repair Program ($820,005.02)
CA-6 (26-0473) Resolution to Approve a Construction Contract Renewal with Precision Concrete, Inc. for the Annual Sidewalk Repair Program ($283,908.00)
CA-7 (26-0540) Resolution to Approve a Purchase Order for Utility Infrastructure Materials from Core and Main, LP, (Not-to-Exceed $998,324.27) for One Year (ITB- 4782)
CA-8 (26-0541) Resolution to Approve a Purchase Order for Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) and Emulsion to Cadillac Asphalt, LLC. (Not to Exceed $249,517.00; ITB 4783)
CA-9 (26-0614) Resolution to Approve a Cost-Sharing Agreement with the Washtenaw County Road Commission (WCRC) for the State and Ellsworth Roundabout Project, Estimated Amount $164,047.50
CA-10 (26-0545) Resolution to Approve Support of Michigan Department of Transportation Road Reconfiguration Repaving Plan for East Huron/Washtenaw
By resolution, Council will approve MDOT plans for the I94 business loop, East Huron/Washtenaw from Main to Stadium. Reconfigurations will repaint pavement in three segments and establish a dedicated bus lane.
This agenda item includes few details and no map, but a staff memo explains:
MDOT is also proposing a reduction to the number of travel lanes that would support “right- sizing” the roadway, from S. University Ave. to Stadium Blvd. The preferred option of the Transportation Commission is the alternative that includes one bus-only lane from S. University to Tuomy Rd. and two bus-only lanes from near Tuomy Rd to near Stadium Blvd.
MDOT held an open House on April 16.
https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/projects-studies/i-94-bl-repaving-ann-arbor
MDOT posted the plans for reconfiguration:
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/869513a540064489b82c09825b537e75
In 2022, one of the first acts of the new unanimous Council was approving a $160,000 consulting contract to pursue City control of MDOT thoroughfares like this one, in order to implement lane reductions.
https://a2gov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5815888&GUID=38C1CA4F-CBA6-4218-A5E9-B61041F23021&FullText=1
In 2024, after staff advised that City control of MDOT corridors would cost $82 million and the City Administrator warned that the City was not likely to receive “a reasonable amount of money to address what would be a very costly capital expenditure,” Council again directed negotiation to take over MDOT thoroughfares.
https://a2gov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6807441&GUID=A3914AB8-F79D-4C84-9FCE-981F2A9978D6&FullText=1
City takeover of MDOT thoroughfares has not been revisited in a City Council meeting since 2024.
CA-11 (26-0433) Resolution to Approve Amendment No. 4 to Extend the Professional Services Agreement with Geosyntec Consultants of Michigan, Inc. for Hydroelectric Dams – FERC Title 18 Part 12, Subpart D (Part 12D) Inspections and Other Engineering Services in the Amount of $556,000.00 (Total Contract Amount $996,700.00)
CA-12 (26-0542) Resolution to Approve An Amendment to the Circular Economy Grant Agreement with?the Michigan Department of Environment, Great?Lakes,?and Energy?to?Amend the Budget to Lower the City’s Required Match Amount
CA-13 (26-0597) Resolution to Approve Amendment 1 to the Professional Services Agreement with Orchard, Hiltz & McCliment, Inc. for Environmental Assessments Required for the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Award and the Congressionally Directed Spending Award ($120,000.00)
CA-14 (26-0572) Resolution Recognizing Non-Profit Enterprise at Work, Inc as a Civic Nonprofit Organization Operating in Ann Arbor for the Purpose of Obtaining a Charitable Gaming License
Public Hearings
Anyone wanting to comment on these issues may speak for 3 minutes, without having specifically reserved time. Issues subject to public hearing will also be up for a vote by Council later in the meeting.
PH-1/B-1 (26-0047) An Ordinance to Amend Sections 1:152, 1:154, 1:156, 1:158, 1:159 and 1:160 of Chapter 7 (Downtown Development Authority) of Title I of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor (ORD-26-05)
By ordinance amendment, the district of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) will be expanded and its funding mechanism will be amended to allow their budget to grow more rapidly.
The DDA district is funded by tax incremental finance (TIF), which ‘captures’ property tax growth within the district, i.e. the difference between existing value of a property and a newly constructed property. The DDA captures new property tax revenue that would otherwise go to the city of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (AAATA), Washtenaw Community College (WCC), and the Ann Arbor District Library (AADL).
This proposal was last presented to Council on February 2. The time since then has provided an “opt out” period for other taxing entities who will give up revenue from the expansion plan. Washtenaw County, the WCC, and the AADL have all opted out of participation in an expanded district.
In 2025, the DDA’s TIF capture was over $9.6 million. Of that, over $5 million came from the City budget and over $2 million came from the County budget. You can find annual reports with this data:
https://www.a2dda.org/reporting-requirements/
The state of Michigan created the mechanism of TIF financing to support downtown districts when suburban-style shopping was pulling business away from city centers and hollowing out downtowns. The TIF/DDA model promoted redevelopment and dedicated funds toward reinvestment in downtowns that were struggling. The state law enabling such districts allows a timeline of 30 years. Ann Arbor’s DDA was established in 1982 and renewed in 2003.
The City ordinance defining the terms of the DDA includes this explanation of purpose:
“The purpose of this chapter is to create a public body corporate to act in the best interests of the City to halt property value deterioration, increase property tax valuation where possible in the business district of the City, eliminate the causes of that deterioration, and to promote economic growth”
In 2013 – in response to rapid growth in the downtown district – City Council approved a ‘cap’ on the DDA’s TIF capture, limiting its growth to 3.5% per year:
“Beginning with the 2016 tax year the maximum captured taxable value shall be $224,000,000.00. Each tax year thereafter, the maximum captured taxable value shall be increased by 3.5% per annum.”
On September 2, 2025, DDA Executive director Maura Thompson presented a recommendation to City Council that would increase DDA TIF capture under a “gainshare model.” This model would allow the DDA to keep 70% of tax revenue growth from new development and other taxing units (e.g. the City, County, AAATA, WCC, AADL) would retain 30%.
https://a2gov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7520639&GUID=8D842AA4-1F4F-422D-AA16-366AFA7E20E9
This week’s ordinance amendment will expand the boundaries of the DDA district to include an area to the north of Kingsley up to Depot Street. The District would also reach south to capture a single parcel, just north of Forest Court. The “gainshare model” of TIF collection will allow the DDA budget to grow by more than 3.5% a year
A requirement – added in 2016 – that the DDA contribute to affordable housing is unchanged in this week’s proposed amendments:
“Tax increment financing seed funds for the Housing Fund shall be budgeted effective tax year 2016 at an amount no less than $300,000.00.”
In Ann Arbor, the DDA also manages public parking within the district and sets parking rates. Until recently, City Council played a role in approving those parking rates. This fall (9/15/25), Council unanimously approved changes that remove the requirement for an annual DDA/Council meeting and allow the City Administrator to approve the DDA’s parking rates without the participation of Council.
https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-council-september-15-2025/
Ordinances – Second Reading
In order to amend the city code, Council must vote to approve the change, via ordinance, at two Council meetings. The following proposed ordinances were approved at a previous Council meeting, and are also subject to a public hearing as listed above.
B-1 (26-0047) is the same as PH-1 above
Ordinances – First Reading
In order to amend the city code, Council must vote to approve the change, via ordinance, at two Council meetings. The following proposed ordinances are being introduced for “first reading”. If approved, the ordinance will be voted on at a subsequent Council meeting (“second reading”), where it will also be subject to a public hearing.
C-1 (26-0543) An Ordinance to Amend Section 2:63 of Chapter 29 (Water Rates) of Title II of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor
Water rates will be increased. Every category of customer will see an increase of about 6% effective July 1, 2026.
C-2 (26-0530) An Ordinance to Amend Section 2:69 of Chapter 29 (Stormwater Rates) of Title II of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor
Stormwater rates will be increased. Every category of customer will see an increase of about 3% effective July 1, 2026. (Credit for off-sets like rain barrels and rain gardens will also increase by about 3%.)
C-3 (26-0529) An Ordinance to Amend Section 2:64 of Chapter 29 (Sewer Rates) of Title II of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor
Sewer rates will be increased. Every category of customer will see an increase of about 3% effective July 1, 2026.
Motions and Resolutions
The following agenda items are motions and resolutions, which are approved or rejected in a single meeting. Agenda items marked “DC” are proposed by Council members, items marked “DB” are proposed by City boards and commissions, items marked “DS” are proposed by City staff.
DC-1 (26-0550) Resolution to Recommend Approval of Issuance of a Downtown Development District Liquor License to SUGO ANN ARBOR LLC
Council recommends a liquor license for SUGO ANN ARBOR LLC at 203 N. Fourth Ave, which will be submitted to the state for final approval.
DC-2 (26-0586) Resolution to Revise and Amend List of Approved Participating Establishments in the Downtown Ann Arbor Social District
A revised Downtown Social District – for the open consumption of alcohol in outdoor common areas – will add new businesses and remove businesses no longer in operation.
No longer in operation (removed): Blue Tractor BBQ, Alo’s, First Bite, Haymaker Public House.
Updated/added to the district: Tomukun Noodle Bar, Taqueria Restaurant & Bar, Aperitivo, Slows Bar BQ/Mash Bar
DC-3 (26-0674) Resolution Directing the City to Conduct a Comprehensive Review of Temporary and Seasonal Position Classifications and Contracted Work
Council directs the City Administrator to review the use of contractors, temporary and seasonal employees to ensure that positions are properly categorized. Within six months, Council will receive an update of recommendations regarding which positions might be reclassified as regular City employees and how much it would cost.
Thank you for taking the time to be informed about our local government!
Elizabeth Nelson