Hello neighbors!
This week, Ann Arbor City Council will host two public hearings: one on an annexation of township property (DS-1) and another on the new Comprehensive Land Use Plan (DS-3). The rest of the regular agenda is small: capital improvement bonds to support affordable housing at 350 S Fifth (DS-2), a resolution directing the City Administrator to collaborate in discussion about crisis response (DC-1), and expenditures related to the Sustainable Energy Utility (DC-2, DC-3).
This week’s consent agenda includes amendments to the development agreement for Arbor South. Amendments specifically delay timelines related to the developers’ commitment of affordable housing (CA-3). The consent agenda is typically approved without discussion– one item appears to be a consultant contract for improvements on a previous consultant contract (CA-4).
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 March 2, 2026:
County Update
At their last regular session, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners discussed plans to remove trees on Werkner Road, approved two brownfield plans for affordable/workforce housing in Ann Arbor, and postponed a resolution regarding a planned UM data center in Ypsilanti Township.
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, March 16, 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=1368488&GUID=6F32FFB9-2E39-463D-883D-086C2CBB6267
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 (26-0442) Agenda Response Memo and eComments – March 16, 2026
This agenda item has a PDF attachment with all questions raised by Council Members, and the answers provided by staff.This agenda item has a PDF attachment with all questions raised by Council Members, and the answers provided by staff.
There were no questions asked by Council Members for this meeting
Communications from the Mayor
There are no appointments from the Mayor on the agenda when this newsletter was published.
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 (26-0313) Resolution to Approve Change Order #2 to the Construction Contract with T&M Asphalt Paving, Inc. for the Bicentennial Park – Phase II Improvements and Appropriate Funding ($230,106.31 Increase; $796,979.76 Total Contract) (8 Votes Required)
CA-2 (26-0316) Resolution to Approve a Grant Application to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Grants Management for the Replacement of the South Barton Pedestrian Bridge
CA-3 (26-0349) Resolution to Approve Amended Arbor South Development Agreement, 2845 S. State St. Site Plan (SP24-0011)
Amendments to the Arbor South development agreement will extend the deadline for applying for loans that will fund affordable housing on-site. Council approved the original agreement on February 2, 2026, but in the five weeks since, it has not been signed.
The development agreement includes a plan to fund affordable housing with Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) administered by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA). The original agreement included a deadline of March 1, 2026 for “first application for a LIHTC loan” to fund that affordable housing. Amendments proposed this week will push the original deadline out a full year, to March 1, 2027.
A staff memo references this date change but does not mention that amendments also add new parties to the agreement: Sevens Associates, LLC and CIG Eisenhower, LLC. Both of these new LLCs are controlled by local developer Jeff Hauptman.
The developer has committed to “negotiate in good faith” with the City’s housing commission to execute an “Affordable Housing Development Agreement.” This week, a staff memo explains that:
“The referenced joint venture between the Developer and the Ann Arbor Housing Commission has not yet been created nor its Affordable Housing Development Agreement executed.”
CA-4 (26-0357) Resolution to Approve a Professional Services Agreement with Park Consulting Group for Consultant Services to Evaluate the City’s Use of Energov and Appropriate Funds ($300,000.00) (8 Votes Required)
A consulting contract for $300,000 will evaluate the City’s use of Energov permitting software and related systems from Tyler Technologies.
The city adopted Energov software in 2019, when City Council approved a five year contract for $1,489,684 with Tyler Technologies. Energov replaced the previous “TRAKiT” land management and permitting software. In 2019, staff described Energov as providing “opportunities to improve the permit/plan review routing and approval process internally to streamline process timing, drive implementation of on-line permitting and develop infield inspection services via hand held devices.”
https://a2gov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3972860&GUID=DD1EFD97-00A9-40B5-A025-A145B5AA3460&Options=&FullText=1
Among the scope of services to be approved this week: “identify opportunities for streamlining, simplifying, and enhancing the efficiency of the City’s building and trade permit workflows and related configurations.” A staff memo explains that the recommended consultant was chosen “based on its prior experience improving Tyler Technologies.”
CA-5 (26-0351) Resolution to Approve an Agreement with the Downtown Development Authority for the Fourth Avenue Reconstruction Project and to Appropriate $2,188,032.00 in Contributing Funds (8 Votes Required)
CA-6 (26-0035) Resolution to Approve Revised Bylaws of the Renters Commission
CA-7 (26-0337) Resolution to Approve a Renewal of the Uniform Video Service Local Franchise Agreement with DIRECTV, LLC
CA-8 (26-0398) Resolution to Approve the Appointment of Nancy Wang as Magistrate of the 15th Judicial District Court
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/DS-1 (26-0297) Resolution to Approve the 615 Riverview Drive Annexation, 0.33 Acres
A property at 615 Riverview Drive, currently in Ann Arbor Charter Township, will be annexed into the city. The 0.33 acre parcel is proposed for future zoning of R1B, consistent with adjacent zoning, land uses, and comprehensive plan.
PH-2/DS-3 (26-0367) Resolution to Adopt the City of Ann Arbor’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan – 2050 (Adopted and Recommended by the CPC on February 18, 2026 – 7 yeas, 0 nays)
Adoption of the City’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) will replace and supersede multiple previously adopted plans for future land use in the City.
The latest map for future uses:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6819124ed9bce75b5793c431/t/69123922ddadc0718d96228f/1762801954314/A2_FutureLandUseMap_PublicComment.pdf
Explanation of new land use categories – residential, transition, hub – and what has been suggested as permitted uses in each:
https://a2pausetheplan.com/future-land-use-map
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.
There are no ordinance second readings on the agenda
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.
There are no ordinance first readings on the agenda
Motions and Resolutions
DS-1 (26-0297) is the same as PH-1 above
DS-2 (26-0352) Resolution Authorizing Issuance of 2026 Capital Improvement Bonds for the 350 S. Fifth Avenue Affordable Housing Development (Not to Exceed $35,000,000.00) (Limited Tax General Obligation – Taxable) (6 Votes Roll Call)
Capital Improvement bonds up to $35,000,000 will be issued in order to fund the development of affordable housing at 350 S Fifth. The bonds will be repaid with proceeds from the Affordable Housing Millage.
DS-3 (26-0367) is the same as PH-2 above
DC-1 (26-0281) Resolution Directing the City Administrator to Discuss Crisis Response with Washtenaw County Community Mental Health to Determine Whether Partnership Opportunities Exist
This resolution was previously on the 2/19/26 Council agenda. Sponsor Cynthia Harrison was absent from that meeting and it was removed from the agenda.
By resolution, Council will direct city administrator to meet with and “gain insight” from Washtenaw County Community Mental Health (WCCMH), the Ann Arbor police department, and other stakeholders regarding unarmed crisis response. Within 90 days, the City administrator will report back to Council on opportunities for partnership, budget considerations, and whether or not collaboration with WCCMH is “prudent.” A pilot program for City-led unarmed crisis response was presented to Council at a planning session in December 2025, to be named SPROUT (see slides 86-112)
https://a2gov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=15015475&GUID=580DB89C-68AE-4880-B191-580DADA05498
DC-2 (26-0426) Resolution to Authorize a Purchase Order with FranklinWH Energy Storage Inc. for Battery Energy Storage System Equipment for the Sustainable Energy Utility ($1,500,000.00)
The purchase of $1,500,000 in battery energy storage will support the Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) operations in the Bryant neighborhood. The purchase includes an aPower S DC-coupled battery with integrated inverter, the aGate energy hub, a compatible rapid shutdown device, software, and training and certification for installation contractors.
DC-3 (26-0427) Resolution to Authorize a Purchase Order with Michigan Solar Solutions, Inc. for Solar Photovoltaic Equipment for the Sustainable Energy Utility ($500,000.00)
The purchase of $500,000 in solar photovoltaic (PV) modules will support the Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) operations in the Bryant neighborhood. The purchase includes training and certification for the City’s installation contractors.
DC-4 (26-0452) Resolution to Amend 2026 Council Calendar
The Council Calendar for 2026 will be amended to add a work session on April 27.
Additional Thoughts…
I also posted this on my website
https://a2elnel.com/post/epa-superfund-cleanup-of-gelman-plume-fact-check/
EPA Superfund Cleanup of Gelman Plume: Fact Check
This week, it was announced that the Ann Arbor 1,4 dioxane pollution has officially been added to the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund National Priorities list. The pollution that originated with Gelman Sciences is now eligible for federal intervention and cleanup.
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-adds-gelman-sciences-inc-ann-arbor-michigan-superfund-national-priorities-list
The City issued a press release about the news, expressing gratitude to U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell for her advocacy in bringing federal help to Ann Arbor.
https://www.a2gov.org/news/posts/epa-designates-gelman-plume-as-superfund-site/
Mayor Christopher Taylor is quoted:
“Ann Arbor has been fighting successfully for decades to protect our drinking water. I’m grateful now to have the federal government engaged and on our side and working with us to keep our water safe for generations to come.”
The path to this result was indeed long – for years, Mayor Taylor opposed federal intervention and cleanup, leading colleagues who tried to obstruct it as recently as December 2020.
In 2016, the Michigan Daily reported on township advocacy for federal intervention and quoted Mayor Taylor:
“If a portion of Ann Arbor is declared a superfund site, one expects that will reduce property values, even though the toxicity is of no immediate concerns to the immediately proximate residents.”
Instead, Taylor supported a plan for cleanup oversight at the state level, to be litigated in court. According to the Daily, Council allies at the time, Chip Smith and Graydon Krapohl “echoed” Taylor’s position.
https://www.michigandaily.com/news/ann-arbor-township-considers-federal-intervention-groundwater-contamination/
The solution favored by Mayor Taylor ultimately cost the City and other local municipalities over a million dollars in legal expenses. Taylor’s law firm, Hooper Hathaway, represented Scio Township in litigation against Gelman. In December 2019, Mlive reported that Scio Township had spent almost $400,000 on that litigation.
https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2019/12/gelman-plume-legal-case-costs-add-up-to-more-than-1m.html
From 2018-2020, a majority of City Council – one not allied with Mayor Taylor – tried multiple times to approve a resolution requesting federal EPA intervention and cleanup of the Gelman plume. In October 2020, Mayor Taylor was one of only four Council Members who supported a settlement with the polluter and ongoing litigation. At the same meeting, he threatened to veto a resolution directing a request for federal intervention.
https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-council-october-19-2020/
On November 5, 2020 – at the final meeting of a majority not allied with Mayor Taylor – City Council finally approved a resolution requesting federal EPA cleanup of the Gelman pollution. Mayor Taylor and four other Council Members voted against it. Taylor explained:
“you know, the likelihood of the EPA taking this as a Superfund site and the likelihood of them taking swift and decisive action is exceedingly small. In my view, this is, well, in my view, this is an unwise path.”
Weeks later, a new Council was seated and Mayor Taylor regained control of a majority. At their second meeting, new members Erica Briggs and Lisa Disch brought a resolution attempting to delay the City’s request for federal cleanup of the Gelman pollution. That resolution was withdrawn in response to public outcry.
https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2020/12/debate-flares-over-proposal-to-delay-seeking-superfund-cleanup-of-gelman-plume.html
The last minute effort to undo and derail efforts toward federal cleanup was shocking at the time and I wrote about it:
https://a2elnel.com/post/additional-thoughts-dec-5-2020-request-for-epa-intervention-in-gelman-plume-cleanup/
This week was the result of persistent advocacy against obstruction. It is a victory for local activists in the Coalition for Action on Remediation of Dioxane (CARD) who, for many years, have been raising awareness about this pollution and pressuring elected leaders to act. A debt of gratitude is owed to US Representative Debbie Dingell for her leadership on this issue. As the community celebrates the significant milestone toward cleanup of this pollution, it’s worth remembering the history of how it happened and the fact that it almost didn’t happen. The Gelman plume pollution is now eligible for federal cleanup because for a brief period of two years, Mayor Taylor did not control a majority of Council that shared his concern about “property values.”
Thank you for taking the time to be informed about our local government!
Elizabeth Nelson