Hello neighbors!
Welcome to my Ann Arbor City Council newsletter, where you can connect with primary sources to understand the work of your local government. My goal is to provide clear explanations of all the issues your elected representatives will be discussing at their next meeting and alert you to local policy and decisions that have been assigned to unelected Mayoral appointees.
This week, Ann Arbor City Council will host three public hearings related to ordinance amendments: allowing theaters and pinball parlors in more places (B-1), eliminating the Design Review Board for downtown developments (B-2), and renewing the franchise agreement with DTE Gas for ten years (B-3).
At first reading, Council will consider increases to water, stormwater, and sewer rates (C-2, C-3, C-4) and an ordinance amendment that will eliminate requirements to register home alarm systems with the City (C-1). By resolution, Council will adopt an annual policy agenda (DC-2) and direct the City Administrator to negotiate the transfer of air rights to the Library for $1, subject to the approval of ballot questions this August (DC-3).
The agenda also includes the City Administrator’s presentation of the proposed FY26-7 Budget. As of this writing, a slide presentation is not yet loaded on Legistar. It will eventually appear at this link:
https://a2gov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7297985&GUID=1C3AD98E-BFF2-45FE-B23B-7BA251E9D7D2
City Council met for one work session last month to discuss the budget. The presentation from that meeting can be found here:
https://a2gov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7260140&GUID=9E35FD32-4594-49FE-A28E-B0B774053963
COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN
Last week, the City released a draft of an updated Comprehensive Land Use Plan for the City. You can find it here:
https://engage.a2gov.org/comprehensive-land-use-plan
In the days before that draft was released, there was quite a bit of public discussion among elected leaders on City Council and Mayoral appointees on the City Planning Commission. Some people have suggested that “loud voices” are driving discussion of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan at City Council and the Planning Commission.
This week, I posted a new video about ongoing public conversations and recent meetings about the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. Watch it here:
The City has scheduled three additional opportunities for more public feedback on the Comprehensive Land Use plan:
- Thursday, April 24, 3–7 p.m. at the Westgate Library (2503 Jackson Ave.)
- Wednesday, April 30, 3–7 p.m. at the Mallets Creek Library (3090 E. Eisenhower Parkway)
- Wednesday, May 7, 3–7 p.m. at the Traverwood Library (3333 Traverwood Drive)
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 7, 2025:
Remembering Shirley Beckley
I heard some very sad news this week. Local activist and historian, Shirley Beckley, has passed away.
I met her when I was elected to City Council in 2018— she asked to meet with me and we had breakfast together. She had a lot to say, warning me about how difficult it would be to challenge the status quo. In 2018, I was too naive to understand much of what she told me at the Bob Evans that day. More recently – more than once – Shirley reminded me of that breakfast in 2018 and said, “Didn’t I warn you? I was right wasn’t I?” Yes, she was.
Shirley was wise and brave and determined. She showed courage, challenging people in power and demanding more of our local institutions.
In 2023, I talked to Shirley about her life experiences and memories of Ann Arbor in the 1970s. You can find that conversation here:
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 21 2025 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=1251579&GUID=933C0FBA-FEBD-4C91-A4A0-2AB7E2114372
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-1 (25-0850) Agenda Response Memo and eComments – April 21, 2025
This agenda item has a PDF attachment with all questions raised by Council Members, and the answers provided by staff.
Communications from the Mayor
MC-1 (25-0736) Resolution to Appoint Members to the Ann Arbor Building Authority Board
These are reappointments of the City Administrator, City Treasurer, and Chief Financial Officer to the Ann Arbor Building Authority Board. These appointments are being presented at this meeting, and will therefore be voted on at the next Council meeting.
- Michael Pettigrew – Building Authority
- Milton Dohoney Jr. – Building Authority
- Marti Praschan – Building Authority
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 (25-0780) Resolution to Approve Street Closings for the 2025 Taste of Ann Arbor Special Event – Sunday at 6:00 A.M. on June 1, 2025 through Monday at 6:00 A.M. on June 2, 2025
CA-2 (25-0786) Resolution to Close N. Fourth Avenue and E. Ann Street for the 27th Annual African-American Downtown Festival, Friday, June 6, 2025 to Saturday, June 7, 2025
CA-3 (25-0662) Resolution Authorizing Summary Publication of Ordinance 25-08 – An Ordinance to Amend Sections 5.15 and 5.16 of Chapter 55 (Unified Development Code) of Title V of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor (General Entertainment Uses)
CA-4 (25-0661) Resolution Authorizing Summary Publication of Ordinance 25-09 – An Ordinance to Amend Sections 5.17, 5.27, and 5.28 of Chapter 55 (Unified Development Code) of Title V and to Repeal Section 1:239 of Chapter 8 (Organization of Boards and Commissions) of Title I of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor (Building Design, Design Review Board, Design Review)
NOTE on CA-3 & CA-4
This highlights a new norm: an assumption that everything on a Council agenda will be approved. This week, the public has the opportunity to participate in public hearings to respond to and offer feedback about ordinance changes subject to final approval at second reading. After these public hearings, Council considers and votes on these ordinance changes. After approval and before enactment, the ordinance changes must be published. For that purpose, Council approves resolutions authorizing “Summary Publication.”
The resolutions in CA-3 and CA-4 direct summary publication of ordinance changes in B-1 and B-2 before public hearings and before Council consideration of final approval. In short: the agenda now presumes that a public hearing and Council consideration will have no impact on the final result of a vote. The agenda now acknowledges that there is no possibility of postponement or defeat – approval of all agenda items (even ordinance amendments) is apparently inevitable, regardless of any concerns that might be heard during a public hearing or raised in Council consideration.
CA-5 (25-0504) Resolution to Approve a Purchase Order for Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) and Emulsion to Cadillac Asphalt, LLC. (Not to Exceed $264,975.00; ITB 4764)
CA-6 (25-0506) Resolution to Approve a Purchasing Agreement for Utility Infrastructure Materials from Core and Main LP, (Not-to-Exceed $876,143.63) for One Year (ITB-4761)
CA-7 (25-0629) Resolution to Approve a Construction Contract with Miller-Boldt, Inc. for the Wheeler Service Center Rooftop Unit Replacement Project (RFP 25-05, $105,320.00), and to Appropriate $300,000.00 from the Wheeler Service Center Unobligated Fund Balance (8 Votes Required)
CA-8 (25-0684) Resolution to Appropriate $16,047,998.00 to the Water Supply System Fund Capital Budget for Bond Fund Administrative Clean Up (8 Votes Required)
CA-9 (25-0520) Resolution to Approve a Sole Source Purchase Order with Andritz Separation Inc. for the Purchase, Programming and Installation of Three Variable Frequency Drives for Centrifuges at the Water Resource Recovery Facility ($69,989.00)
CA-10 (25-0624) Resolution to Approve a Sole Source General Services Agreement with Howden USA Company To Perform Preventative Maintenance Services on Three Turblex/Siemens Process Air Blowers at the Water Resource Recovery Facility ($53,900.50)
CA-11 (25-0638) Resolution to Approve a Sole Source Purchase Order with Access Michigan LLC To Perform Repairs on the Screen and Grit Switchgear Room Vertiv/Liebert Unit at the Water Resource Recovery Facility ($39,884.00)
CA-12 (25-0660) Resolution to Authorize the Purchase of Vehicles from Lunghamer Ford and Appropriate Funding (State of Michigan MiDeal – $839,023.00) (8 Votes Required)
CA-13 (25-0705) Resolution to Approve the Locations for Early Voting Centers for Special Elections, including the Upcoming August 5, 2025 Special Elections
CA-14 (25-0710) Resolution Recognizing ReLeaf Michigan as a Civic Nonprofit Organization Operating in Ann Arbor for the Purpose of Obtaining a Charitable Gaming License
CA-15 (25-0772) Resolution to Approve a Construction Contract with Motor City Electric Utilities Co. for Fiber and Conduit Construction for the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Broadband Project ($2,876,032.25, ITB 4754)
CA-16 (25-0769) Resolution to Approve a Maintenance Agreement at 1100 Broadway with Morningside Maiden Lane, LLC
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 (25-0428) An Ordinance to Amend Sections 5.15 and 5.16 of Chapter 55 (Unified Development Code) of Title V of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor (General Entertainment Uses) CPC Recommendation: Approval (9 Yes, 0 No) (ORD-25-08)
Ordinance amendments will remove specific use standards of “general entertainment” currently described in the Unified Development Code (UDC). Two named uses – enclosed theaters (600 seat maximum) and pinball parlors – would be removed from the code and allowed in all districts where “general entertainment” is permitted. Currently both theaters and pinball parlors are restricted to only Campus Business zoning districts. With amendments, they would be permitted as a primary use in commercially zoned districts, downtown districts, and transit corridor districts.
PH-2/B-2 (25-0432) An Ordinance to Amend Sections 5.17, 5.27 and 5.28 of Chapter 55 (Unified Development Code) of Title V (Building Design Requirements on Primary and Secondary Streets, Design Review Board, and Design Review) and to Repeal Section 1:239 of Chapter 8 of Title I of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor CPC Recommendation: Approval (7 Yes, 2 No) (ORD-25-09)
Ordinance amendments will remove the design review board as part of the approval process for new developments. A second ordinance change will permit the use of exterior insulation finishing systems, currently “prohibited on facades visible from primary and secondary streets.”
As it currently exists, the Design Review Board is meant to “foster excellence in the built environment” specifically downtown. It advises developers on how to meet Downtown Design Guidelines. The Board also advises Council on recommended changes to the Downtown Design Guidelines. Membership includes significant expertise: 2 members shall be landscape architects, 2 members shall be architects, 1 shall be an urban planner, 1 shall be a developer, and 1 shall be a construction contractor. The Board is advisory and consults with developers in public meetings held once a month. Amendments will dissolve the Design Review Board and delegate their review to City staff. As described, the intent is “alleviate any undue burden on the land development that may be caused by city inefficiency.”
Dissolution of the Design Review Board is consistent with recommendations offered by former Assistant City Administrator John Fournier in 2023 in a report titled “A New Approach to Economic Development”
https://a2gov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=12534936&GUID=37D9E110-A717-4499-82BE-9C23BBD17004
Among his recommendations (page 48)
“The utility of the Design Review Board is debatable…. It delays review of the site plan documents and extends the overall approval timeline… the review from the Design Review Board rarely uncovers missed opportunities for favorable design changes… As these meeting are held in compliance with the OMA, city planning staff must notice and advertise them, prepare agendas and packets, attend them, compile minutes from them, and document the comments of the board members…several hours [of staff time] for each meeting per staff member— and this is time that is taken away from a planner actually working on site plan review and seeing it through to completion, which is what their focus should be.”
Fournier’s recommendations – to accelerate approval time and remove review and public hearing procedures for new developments – were, by resolution, unanimously approved by City Council in April 2024.
https://a2gov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6607007&GUID=8848476B-C873-47D5-A029-B87B314B5248
PH-3/B-3 (25-0675) An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 34 (Gas Franchise) and Replace it with a New Heating Franchise And Adopt Accompanying Agreement Regarding Climate Action (ORD-25-10)
An ordinance referring to the local gas franchise with DTE will be amended, defining a shorter commitment.
As explained in the Legistar text:
“Rather than lasting 30 years like a typical gas franchise, this franchise only lasts until 2035, signaling to DTE Gas, developers, and residents that the City is exploring alternatives for heating that better align with A2ZERO goals (geothermal, electric heat pumps, etc.). This does not mean the City could not choose to enter another franchise with DTE Gas (or another utility) at the end of this franchise term, but another franchise is not guaranteed.”
As part of the terms of the agreement, DTE will fund $500,000 in grants to landlords making energy efficiency improvements. DTE will also invest in physical offices of the Local UA 190 Plumbers and Pipefitters union and make direct payments to two other labor unions: $50,000 per calendar year for three years to Local UA 190 and another $50,000 per calendar year for three years to Local UWUA 223.
DTE commits to generally “collaborate” and “reasonably support” and “reasonably assist” and “reasonably work together” and “reasonably pursue” various projects with the City. In reference to one initiative, the agreement includes explanation: “DTE will determine in its sole discretion, the level of financial support.”
I wrote about this in my last newsletter:
https://a2elnel.com/post/money-back-forth-elected-leaders-labor-unions/
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 (25-0428) is the same as PH-1 above.
B-2 (25-0432) is the same as PH-2 above.
B-3 (25-0675) is the same as PH-3 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 (25-0701) An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 93 (Alarm Systems) of Title VII of the City Code of Ordinances
Ordinance amendments will remove the requirement that residents get permits and register home alarm systems with the city, with annual renewals. As currently written, an applicant must submit information such as name(s) and address(es) of who is responsible for maintenance and operation, names and phone numbers of people receiving notice of alarm activation, type of alarm, and name/phone/address of company monitoring the alarm system. These requirements are deemed redundant and would be eliminated.
C-2 (25-0718) 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. City staff estimate that the average residential customer will see an increase of 6%.
C-3 (25-0723) 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. City staff estimate that the average residential customer will see an increase of 3%
C-4 (25-0725) 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. City staff estimate that the average residential customer will see an increase of 3%.
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 (25-0728) Resolution to Appoint Molly Rowan to the Downtown Development Authority 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.”
- Molly Rowan – Downtown Development Authority
DC-2 (25-0841) Resolution to Adopt the FY2025 City Council Legislative Policy Agenda
An updated “Ann Arbor Policy Agenda” includes broad goals around local control, state funding, road safety, and sustainability. The agenda includes the most detail re: housing policy: the promotion of “infill development of relatively underutilized parcels.” One specific recommendation: “We recommend passing legislation that would allow municipalities to institute split-rate property taxes so the value of owned land would be much higher than the value of the buildings on them.”
DC-3 (25-0863) Resolution to Authorize the City Administrator to Negotiate with the Ann Arbor District Library for the Sale of Air Rights at Library Lane Conditioned on Voter Approval of Charter Amendments
The City Administrator is directed to negotiate with the Ann Arbor District Library (AADL) for the transfer of air rights over City owned property at Library Lane for $1. The AADL anticipates a partnership with a private developer to build a high-rise development on the lot that would “include some library operations” plus housing.
The AADL would be free to plan and design a project consistent with D-1 zoning:
“Whereas, Upon purchase of the air rights at Library Lane, AADL would be able to effectuate this vision without any involvement from the City aside from normal development and zoning approvals”
The development will move forward with the benefit of dedicated City staff support:
“AADL would select its own development partners to construct the project and the City would assign someone to ensure coordination through the development process once the project commences.”
The location is on top of a parking garage funded with approximately $50 million in bonds, originally issued in 2010. As part of that issuance, it was expected that the bonds be “paid from revenues of the City’s public parking system and tax increment revenues collected by the Downtown Development Authority.”
Link to Feb 2009 resolution approving the bonds:
https://a2gov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=327463&GUID=EB78D325-189A-4A56-BC84-D34884E1D486&FullText=1
This week’s resolution explains that the City will continue to repay these bonds through 2035 and “[o]nce the bonds are paid off on the City-owned parking deck, the City may elect to sell the deck to AADL.” Further clarification:
“There may be some disruption to parking revenue generation from the deck during construction. Future development to the site would generate potential real and personal property tax revenue.”
…
“This proposal does not include any new taxes on residents. The housing and other privately-owned elements of the proposed development will contribute to the City’s tax base.”
The negotiated transfer is dependent on voter approval of two questions, which City Council has placed on the ballot for August 2025. The questions will repeal a City Charter amendment approved in November 2018, and authorize the sale to the AADL for $1. For more on this, see
https://a2elnel.com/post/low-turnout-elections-no-questions-the-library-lot-proposals/
DC-4 (25-0865) Resolution to Finalize Evaluation Report and Amend the Employment Agreement for City Attorney Atleen Kaur
An employment agreement for City Attorney Aileen Kaur would be amended to include a salary increase and lump sum payment to be determined at the meeting.
Thank you for taking the time to be informed about our local government!
Elizabeth Nelson