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.
Following a holiday weekend, Ann Arbor City Council this week considers a very short agenda, including a public hearing and final approval for ordinance amendments restricting waste carts in bike lanes (B-1). At first reading, Council will consider a cluster of ordinance amendments recently approved by the City Planning Commission (C-1). Finally, Council will consider approval of contracts to extend a runway at the Ann Arbor Municipal airport. For more on that, see my “Additional Thoughts” section below.
Ann Arbor Thanksgiving Quiz 2024
Test your knowledge of Ann Arbor streets! You can find the quiz here, including a link to the video, additional hints, and the solution at the bottom of the post:
https://a2elnel.com/post/ann-arbor-thanksgiving-quiz-2024/
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 November 18, 2024:
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 December 2, 2024 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=1141287&GUID=72975E15-A082-4111-AB42-195AC182028B
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 Clerk’s webpage about electronic meetings, section “City Council Public Commentary Time”
https://www.a2gov.org/departments/city-clerk/Pages/Virtual-Meetings-.aspx
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.
Agenda Response Memo and eComments
This agenda item has a PDF attachment with all questions raised by Council Members, and the answers provided by staff.
At the time of this newsletter, this item has not yet been posted to Legistar
Communications from the Mayor
MC-1 (24-1937) Appointments – Confirmations
These appointments from the Mayor were presented at the previous meeting, and will therefore be voted on at this Council meeting.
- Hannah Lane – Human Rights Commission
- Rebecca Noell – Human Rights Commission
MC-2 (24-1981) Reappointments – Confirmations
These appointments from the Mayor were presented at the previous meeting, and will therefore be voted on at this Council meeting.
- Alexa Nerdrum – Employees’ Retirement System Board of Trustees
- Nicholas Crowe – Recreation Advisory Commission
MC-3 (24-1985) Nominations and Reappointments for December 2, 2024
These appointments from the Mayor are being presented at this meeting, and will therefore be voted on at the next Council meeting.
- Ryan Dibble – Board of Review
- Katherine White – Board of Review
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 (24-1854) Resolution to Approve a General Services Contract with KBK Landscaping Inc. for Supplemental Residential Street Plowing Services (Not-to-Exceed $500,000.00, ITB 4756)
CA-2 (24-1888) Resolution to Authorize the Purchase of One Western Star Swap Loader Chassis with Underbody Snowplow and Five Swap Loader Bodies from D & K Truck Company and Appropriate Funding (State of Michigan MiDeal – $495,506.71) (8 Votes Required)
CA-3 (24-1878) Resolution to Approve a Lease Agreement between the City and the Regents of the University of Michigan for a Corporate Hangar Located at the Ann Arbor Municipal Airport (8 Votes Required)
This item was removed from the agenda on 11/26/2024
CA-4 (24-1933) Resolution to Approve Change Order No. 1 to the Contract with Melink Solar, LLC to Cover Additional Project Costs for Solar Installation at Ann Arbor Airport for an Additional Cost of $24,842.49 (Total Contract amount: $785,882.49)
CA-5 (24-1866) Resolution to Approve Change Order No. 1 to the Contract with Melink Solar, LLC for Solar Installations at the Water Recovery Facility to Cover Additional Project Costs of up to $27,441.70, to Include the ARPA Addendum, and to Extend the Time for Completion by 12 Months (Total Contract amount: $2,258,171.70)
CA-6 (24-1979) Resolution to Appropriate and Increase the FY 2025 Office of Sustainability and Innovations Climate Action Millage Expenditure Budget by $1,374,210.00 (8 Votes Required)
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.
B-1 (24-1929) An Ordinance to Amend Section 2:3 of Chapter 26 (Solid Waste) of Title II (Utilities and Services) of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor (ORD-24-30)
An ordinance amendment will clarify that solid waste carts may not be placed in bike lanes. Solid waste regulation will clarify where curb carts may be placed relative to bike lanes and paths.
Recommended regulation of cart placement:
- Waste carts may be placed in any painted non-bollarded buffer of a bike lane
- If buffer is unavailable, carts may be placed on a lawn extension
- If lawn extension is unavailable, carts may be placed on driveways next to the street
- If there is no lawn extension or driveway, carts will be placed on the sidewalk next to the curb
The City may refuse to collect solid waste where these regulations are not followed.
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 (24-1929) 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 (24-1863) An Ordinance to Amend Sections 5.22, 5.26, 5.28, 5.29, 5.30, and 5.37 of Chapter 55 (Unified Development Code) of Title V of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor (Fences, Reimbursements, Public and Private Utilities) CPC Recommendation: Approval (Fences 7 yes/0 no; Reimbursements 6 yes/0 no; Utilities 7 yes/0 no)
Amendments to the UDC will alter regulation of fences, policies for developer-provided affordable housing, and definitions for public utilities.
These amendments were approved by the Planning Commission on October 1, 2024: https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-planning-commission-october-1-2024/
One set of amendments will add restrictions on fences with sharp edges (barbs, spikes, electrification) in residential neighborhoods. Changes will allow fences with 100% opacity in side yards (previous standard: 80% opacity) and decrease allowable height for fences in the front setback to 12 feet.
Other amendments will change policy around how application and permit fees are reimbursed when developers provide affordable housing. Currently, all fees are reimbursable. Amendments would allow the proportional reimbursement of fees relative to the percentage of affordable housing units provided. When discussed at the City Planning Commission, chair Wonwoo Lee was recused, because the policy was likely to impact the interests of his employer, Oxford Companies.
According to the staff memo (link) “Currently, 50% of application fees are reimbursed when affordable housing is provided – regardless of the percentage of affordable housing dwelling units included in the development. The proposed formula is: Total Fees x (Percentage of Floor Area Dedicated to Affordable Housing Dwelling Units / 2) The amendment will have no effect to entirely affordable housing developments but will pro-rate reimbursements for mixed-use developments or developments that provide some affordable housing dwelling units among market rate units.”
Further amendments will revise the definition of Public Utility and add a definition for “private or franchise utility.” According to the staff memo (link) “The proposed amendment seeks to correctly match public utilities and private or franchise utilities with their ownership entities and consistently use these terms across the City’s codes, ordinance and standards.”
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 (24-2011) Resolution to Accept Grant Funds from the American Lung Association and Appropriate to the Climate Action Millage Fund to reimburse $667,621.00 for the Purchase of Two Electric Refuse Trucks ($667,621.00) (8 Votes Required)
The City will accept and appropriate a grant for $667,621 from the American Lung Association. The grant will reimburse the City for two electric refuse trucks, previously purchased with funds from Fleet Services budget and Climate Action Millage funds (both 2024 and 2025 budget).
DC-2 (24-2021) Resolution to Approve 2025 Council Calendar
2025 calendar for Council meetings, both regular sessions and work sessions. The schedule includes 24 regular meetings and four work sessions. This calendar allows Council to anticipate and plan for attendance at meetings.
DS-1 (24-1883) Resolution to Approve a Grant Contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation for Engineering Services for the Safety Extension of Runway 6/24 at the Ann Arbor Municipal Airport ($623,200.00)
A grant contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation (Office of Aeronautics) will fund engineering services for the extension of runway 6/24 at the Ann Arbor Municipal Airport. The grant will fund design, bidding and construction administration to shift the runway and add 720’ to the southwest. A total of $623,200 (federal, state, and airport matching funds) will be spent on extending the runway at Ann Arbor Airport, installing new navigational aids and runway lighting, extending the parallel taxiway A to match the runway length, relocating taxiway D, and making other associated improvements.
DS-2 (24-1886) Resolution to Approve a Professional Services Agreement between the City and C&S Engineers, Inc. for Engineering Services for the Safety Extension of Runway 6/24 at the Ann Arbor Municipal Airport ($618,700.00)
A contract for $618,700 will provide engineering services for design, bidding and construction administration to shift the runway 6/24 at Ann Arbor Municipal Airport and add 720’ to the southwest. The contractor will coordinate with the Federal Aviation Administration, Michigan Office of Aeronautics, Washtenaw County, Pittsfield Charter Township and the City of Ann Arbor to extend the runway, install new navigational aids and runway lighting, extend the parallel taxiway A to match the runway length, relocate taxiway D, and make other associated improvements.
Additional Thoughts…
I also published this on my website:
https://a2elnel.com/post/ann-arbor-airport-expansion-on-december-2-2024-council-agenda/
Ann Arbor Airport Expansion on December 2, 2024 Council Agenda
This week’s agenda includes two significant items related to expansion of the Ann Arbor Municipal airport (DS-1 and DS-2). It is proposed that the City re-orient a runway and extend its length in the interests of safety. It’s worth noting: this is not a new issue.
In 2018, residents in both Ward 4 and Pittsfield township reached out to me with mountains of documents and studies (some of it reaching back decades) to help me understand the significance of City airport activities and potential expansion. More recently, while researching local political history, I was surprised to learn that airport expansion has been a topic of local debate for at least FIFTY years.
DEBATE THEN
In the 1970s and 1980s, advocates for airport expansion promoted its economic benefit: an opportunity to welcome corporate jets. In 1972, the local Democratic party issued a statement explaining its opposition, anticipating future growth:
“Whereas the Ann Arbor Municipal Airport is of limited use to the citizens of Ann Arbor and an unimportant part of the city’s economy;
Whereas the location of the airport is very close to existing and probably future population centers;
Whereas citizen opinion in the areas near the airport is strongly opposed to its expansion;
Whereas there are nearby alternate facilities for general aviation;
Therefore be it resolved that the Ann Arbor Democratic Party Executive Committee opposes any expansion of the airport and urges that studies be undertaken to investigate ways to make the airport self-sustaining at its present size.”
(Ann Arbor News, June 28, 1972 https://aadl.org/node/72208)
Historically, Council representatives from Ward 4 (and some in Ward 3) have opposed airport expansion, on behalf of constituents who are most impacted by its noise and flight patterns. Support for expansion came from Republicans. E.g. Former Republican Mayor Lou Belcher advocated most enthusiastically in favor of expansion. In 1983, the Ann Arbor Observer reported:
This is said to be Belcher’s last term as mayor, and without another mayor of his resourcefulness and tenacity to orchestrate the airport cause at city hall, Ann Arbor may never make its airport hospitable to corporate jets.
(Ann Arbor Observer, September 1983, page 17 https://aadl.org/node/625153)
DEBATE NOW
In recent years, economic benefit has been downplayed as a motive for airport expansion. Both agenda items this week emphasize ‘safety’ as the primary goal, rather than economic opportunity. An Environmental Assessment study recommends extension of the runway— an executive summary of that study includes only a single statement acknowledging economic interest:
“ARB is considered a vital transportation link and an economic driver for the community.”
A brief summary of Purpose and Need explains more (emphasis added):
1.5.1 Purpose of the Proposed Action The purpose of the proposed action is to improve operational utility of the Airport by meeting the takeoff and landing runway length requirements of aircraft that currently operate at the Airport and are projected to gradually increase operations over time.
1.5.2 Need for the Proposed Action The proposed action is needed because Runway 6/24 was designed to serve primarily small piston driven aircraft; however, the Airport receives regular use by small turboprop aircraft and occasional business jet aircraft that require a longer runway to operate at a greater payload than they do today.
https://a2gov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=13567718&GUID=7E783867-7550-4494-A4A1-D5A428CC72AC
I think this is important context for a debate that often includes disparaging remarks about the residents who care about this issue. This week, the staff summary of DS-1 explicitly refers to a “significant amount of misinformation being presented by opponents of the project,” suggesting that their concerns are to be dismissed. This is harsh criticism of resident activists, some of whom have documented the issue for decades.
The Ann Arbor airport is owned by the City, but is located in Pittsfield Township. This summer, Pittsfield Township filed a lawsuit against the City of Ann Arbor, challenging potential expansion. Ryan Stanton of MLive reported:
“They aim to block the city and MDOT from going ahead with the runway extension, arguing it’s not needed for safe or efficient airport operation and would cause irreparable harm to neighbors.”
I urge everyone to visit the website below to find more information about why residents oppose this expansion.
https://stopa2airport.com/
Thank you for taking the time to be informed about our local government!
Elizabeth Nelson