Hello neighbors!
Tomorrow, Ann Arbor City Council will host nine public hearings, for a rezoning on Wagner (B-1) and in anticipation of the FY2027 budget which will be approved at their next meeting. Council will hear feedback about increases to water/stormwater/sewer rates (B-2, B-3, B-4) and fee adjustments across City departments (PH-6, PH-7), the Fire Department (PH-5), and Fairview cemetery (PH-8). Council will approve two ballot questions and resolutions of intent for the renewal of two millages (DS-1, DS-2, DS-3, DS-4).
“INTERIM SOLUTION” to Downtown Cleanup
A last minute addition to the agenda will address conditions downtown.
(26-0761) Resolution Directing Periodic Cleanups of City of Ann Arbor’s Downtown
By resolution, Council would direct the City Administrator to find an “Interim Solution” to cleaning up downtown. The recently renewed and expanded Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is funded to care for and improve downtown, but according to a staff memo, it will take them a minimum of 12 months to develop a cleanup program. This week’s resolution calls for a “periodic cleaning of the downtown by City employees” until the DDA can organize its own efforts.
At the beginning of the meeting, Council must vote to add this “proposed item” to the agenda.
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 20, 2026:
County Edition
At their last meeting on April 15, 2026, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners discussed bond funding and future design for an East Side County Rec Center. The Board reacted to a federal lawsuit regarding the County’s response to local Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities. At first reading, the Board approved over $350 million in tax subsidy for Arbor South, a private development in the City of Ann Arbor.
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, May 4, 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=1368502&GUID=0C26DE78-2110-44C8-855D-F8ECACD05053
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 (26-0759) Agenda Response Memo and eComments – May 4, 2026
This agenda item has a PDF attachment with all questions raised by Council Members, and the answers provided by staff.
Communications from Council
CC-1 (26-0685) Resolution to Reappoint Elizabeth Riggs, Julius Buzzard, and Jason Boggs to the Greenbelt Advisory Commission (7 Votes Required)
These appointments are from CM Mallek, who serves on the Greenbelt Advisory Commission. They are being presented at this meeting, and will therefore be voted on at the next Council meeting.
- Elizabeth Riggs
- Julius Buzzard
- Jason Boggs
CC-2 (26-0723) Resolution to Reappoint Jonathan Overpeck, Sarah Nedrich, Brooks Curtis, Mobin Mazloomian, Mallika Kothari, and to Appoint Gillian Miller and Anuja Rajendra to the Sustainability Commission (7 Votes Required)
These appointments are from CM Cornell and CM Mallek, who serve on the Sustainability Commission. They are being presented at this meeting, and will therefore be voted on at the next Council meeting.
- Jonathan Overpeck
- Sara Nedrich
- Brooks Curtis
- Mobin Mazloomian
- Mallika Kothari
- Gillian Miller
- Anuja Rajendra
CC-3 (26-0728) Resolution to Reappoint Patricia Manley and Erica Liu to the Independent Community Police Oversight Commission
These appointments are from CM Eyer and CM Harrison, who serve on the Independent Community Police Oversight Commission, and CM Watson, who serves on the Human Rights Commission. They are being presented at this meeting, and will therefore be voted on at the next Council meeting.
- Patricia Manley-Reappointment
- Erica Liu
Communications from the Mayor
MC-1 (26-0688) Appointments – Confirmations
These appointments from the Mayor were presented at the previous meeting, and will therefore be voted on at this Council meeting.
- Susan Pollay – Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority Board
- Sven Sawin – Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority Board
Update: Without explanation, the nomination of Sven Sawin was not announced at the Council meeting when this item was voted on – only the nomination of Susan Polly was read aloud and vote on.
MC-2 (26-0748) Nominations and Reappointments for May 4, 2026
These 32 appointments from the Mayor are being presented at this meeting, and will therefore be voted on at the next Council meeting.
MC-3 (26-0762) Appointments and Nominations for May 4, 2026
This appointment from the Mayor is being presented at this meeting, and will therefore be voted on at the next Council meeting.
- William Bryan – Human Rights Commission
MC-4 (26-0749) Resolution to Reappoint Non-registered Electors to Ann Arbor Boards and Commissions (7 Votes Required)
These 7 appointments from the Mayor are being presented at this meeting, and will therefore be voted on at the next Council meeting. Seven votes are required because “the appointees are not registered electors of the City of Ann Arbor.”
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 (26-0712) Resolution to Approve Street Closings for the 2026 Taste of Ann Arbor Special Event – Saturday at 9:00 A.M. on May 30, 2026 through Sunday, May 31, 2026 at 8:00 P.M.
CA-2 (26-0631) Resolution to Approve Street Closings for the Dexter-Ann Arbor Run on Sunday, May 31, 2026
CA-3 (26-0711) Resolution to Approve Closure of East Liberty between South Division and South Fifth for Sonic Lunch Performance on Thursdays from June 4, 2026 to August 27, 2026 from 6:00 A.M. until 3:00 P.M.
CA-4 (26-0595) Resolution to Approve a Participation Agreement with Superior Township and Appropriate $198,000.00 for Purchase of Fee Title to the MLC Cherry Hill Property (8 Votes Required)
CA-5 (26-0567) Resolution to Approve a Construction Contract with Doan Construction Co. for the 2026 Sidewalk Gap Elimination Project ($771,201.05) and Appropriate $22,000.00 in Contributing Funds (8 Votes Required)
CA-6 (26-0546) Resolution to Approve Restoration of Two-way Traffic on Ingalls and Kingsley Streets
Two one-way streets will be converted to two-way traffic: Ingalls (from Kingsley to Catherine) and Kingsley (from State to Ingalls).
CA-7 (26-0560) Resolution to Increase a Sole Source Purchase Order with Trojan Technologies Corp. for Parts and Service for the Water Treatment Plant Trojan Ultraviolet (UV) Disinfection System ($25,000.00 Increase, Total Purchase Value $75,000.00)
CA-8 (26-0615) Resolution to Approve Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Service Agreement with C&S Engineers Inc. for Work Related to the Ann Arbor Municipal Airport Taxilane Paving Project ($38,800.00)
CA-9 (26-0623) Resolution to Assess Certain Delinquent Municipal Utility Charges as a Tax and Ordering Collection Thereof
CA-10 (26-0624) Resolution Levying Certain Delinquent Municipal Solid Waste, Board Up, Clean Up, Vacant Property Inspection Fees, Housing Inspection Fees, False Alarm Fees, and Fire Inspection Fees as Special Assessments and Ordering Collection Thereof
CA-11 (26-0714) Resolution to Establish the 2026 Affordable Housing CI Bonds Fund and Appropriate Funding ($35,000,000.00) (8 Votes Required)
A dedicated fund will be established for $35 million in bonds. These bonds have been issued to fund a twenty-story, mixed-use building at 350 S. Fifth, adjacent to Blake Transit center. The building will include 330 units that will be affordable to low and moderate-income households (up to 80% of area median income).
CA-12 (26-0658) Resolution to Approve a Professional Services Agreement with RoCo Enterprises, LLC dba RoCo Roofing LLC for Roof Repair and Replacement Services Related to Bryant Neighborhood Decarbonization Work ($300,000.00)
CA-13 (26-0661) Resolution to Approve a Professional Services Agreement with American National Renovations LLC for Roof Repair and Replacement Services Related to Bryant Neighborhood Decarbonization Work ($300,000.00)
CA-14 (26-0664) Resolution to Approve a Professional Services Agreement with Old World Construction LLC for Roof Repair and Replacement Services Related to Bryant Neighborhood Decarbonization Work ($300,000.00)
CA-15 (26-0671) Resolution to Accept a Sidewalk Easement at 121 Catherine Street from Ann Arbor Housing Development Corporation (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.
PH-1/B-1 (26-0416) An Ordinance to Amend the Zoning Map of Chapter 55 (Unified Development Code), Rezoning of 0.28 Acre from R1D (Single-Family Dwelling) to R2A (Two-Family Dwelling), 359 and 371 S. Wagner Road (CPC Recommendation: Approval – 6 Yes, 0 No) (ORD-26-07)
Two parcels at 359 and 371 S. Wagner Road will be rezoned from R1D (Single Family residential) to R2A (Two-family residential) in order to permit the construction of duplexes. A single family home is located on one parcel and the other is vacant. The existing home will be demolished to accommodate a duplex on both that parcel and the vacant parcel.
PH-2/B-2 (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 (ORD-26-08)
Water rates will be increased. Every category of customer will see an increase of about 6% effective July 1, 2026.
PH-3/B-3 (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 (ORD-26-09)
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%.)
PH-4/B-4 (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 (ORD-26-10)
Sewer rates will be increased. Every category of customer will see an increase of about 3% effective July 1, 2026.
FY2027 Budget Public Hearings
These public hearings are part of the FY2027 Budget, which will be voted on at the next Council meeting.
PH-5 (26-0312) Resolution to Approve Fiscal Year 2027 Fee Adjustments for the Ann Arbor Fire Department
Fee rates for AAFD will be adjusted in two categories:
Ambulance transport fees: increased from $621.76 to $717.44.
Lift assist fees: increased from $219.18 to $288.37
The lift assist fee was first introduced in 2024. The fee applies to assisted living facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and ambulance service providers. The fee does not apply to individuals in private residences who call for help.
https://a2gov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6495943&GUID=D27032FE-8CB8-41CF-8070-A1C01BFB655E
PH-6 (26-0521) Resolution to Approve Fiscal Year 2027 Fee Adjustments for the Public Services Area
Updates to fee rates in the Public Services area includes City permits and inspections, planning review, forestry, maintenance of meters and storm sewers, and solid waste. Nearly all fees increase, most within the range 5-11%.
PH-7 (26-0569) Resolution to Approve FY 2027 Fee Adjustments for the Community Services Area
The Community Services area adds new fees for park activation events. Attachments do not include any update to other existing fees at City park facilities.
PH-8 (26-0690) Resolution to Approve New Fees for Fairview Cemetery
Fees for grave lots, burial, and cremation at Fairview cemetery will increase.
PH-9 (26-0598) Resolution to Adopt Ann Arbor City Budget and Related Property Tax Millage Rates for Fiscal Year 2027
A City budget for FY2027 includes the addition of 30 staff. The proposed budget can be found at this link:
https://www.a2gov.org/media/nqxdr0p5/fy27-proposed-budget.pdf
Previous annual budgets can be found at this link:
https://www.a2gov.org/finance-and-administrative-services/financial-reporting/
An overview of the FY2027 budget was presented to City Council on April 20, including recommendations for use of proceeds from the sale of the Kline lot.
https://a2gov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7988565&GUID=3820CB86-14A0-48DF-8F61-C4228CBF4628
In 2021, Jennifer Hall (Housing Commission director) estimated that 400-600 units of affordable housing could be developed on the City-owned Kline lot. In July 2024, City Council unanimously approved use of a broker to sell the Kline lot for private development. In September 2025, City Council unanimously approved the sale of the Kline lot to the highest bidder.
As directed by Council, the property will be sold for market rate (luxury) housing and the City will receive $17.4 million in proceeds. As part of the FY 2027 budget, City Administrator Dohoney proposes that about 18% of the proceeds support housing and shelter needs (Housing Commission, Ozone House, Delonis Center). Nearly 30% of the proceeds will fund property acquisitions and legal services related to buying and selling City property for “economic development.”
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 (26-0416) is the same as PH-1 above
B-2 (26-0543) is the same as PH-2 above
B-3 (26-0530) is the same as PH-3 above
B-4 (26-0529) is the same as PH-4 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 (26-0399) An Ordinance to Amend Sections 5.18, 5.20, 5.29 and 5.37 of Chapter 55 (Unified Development Code) of Title V of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor (Solid Waste Terms) CPC Recommendation: Approval (6 yes, 0 no)
An ordinance regulating solid waste containers will be amended to update terms.
C-2 (26-0481) An Ordinance to Amend Section 5.22 of Chapter 55 (Unified Development Code) of Title V of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor (Stormwater Management Review) CPC Recommendation: Approval (6 yes, 0 no)
An ordinance directing the review of stormwater management systems will be amended to clarify when the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commission (WCWRC) is responsible.
C-3 (26-0642) An Ordinance to Amend Sections 2:402, 2:408, and 2:410 and to Add Section 2:413 (Rate Schedules) to Chapter 35 (Sustainable Energy Utility) of Title II (Utilities and Services) of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor
A rate schedule for the Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) for municipal solar arrays and homes in the Bryant Neighborhood PILOT program. Moving forward, City departments will pay fees to the SEU for solar installations and battery storage at City buildings: $14 per month for every installed solar energy kWDc and $14 per month for every kW of battery storage capacity. Customers in the Bryant neighborhood will pay a flat fee of $600 annually: $75 per month (April – September) and $25 per month (October – March). The SEU anticipates having 100-150 customers in the Bryant neighborhood, where the City would install solar arrays on homes as part of a PILOT program.
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.
DS-1 (26-0522) Resolution to Order Election and to Determine Ballot Question for Charter Amendment for the 2027 Street, Bridge, and Sidewalk Millage (7 Votes Required, Roll Call Vote)
Council directs that the November 3, 2026 ballot will include renewal of 2.25 mil for Street, Bridge, and Sidewalk Repair and Replacement
DS-2 (26-0523) Resolution of Intent on the Use and Administration of the Street, Bridge, and Sidewalk Millage Funds
Resolution of intent for use of the Street, Bridge, and Sidewalk Repair and Replacement millage in DS-1. The millage will cover resurfacing, reconstruction, preventative maintenance, and enhancements of streets, bridges, on-street bike lanes, sidewalks and pedestrian crosswalks.The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) will compensate the City for the cost of repairs within the Downtown Development District.
DS-3 (26-0524) Resolution to Order Election and to Determine Ballot Question for Charter Amendment for the 2027 New Sidewalk Construction Millage (7 Votes Required, Roll Call Vote)
Council directs that the November 3, 2026 ballot will include renewal of 0.20 mil for New Sidewalks.
DS-4 (26-0525) Resolution of Intent on the Use and Administration of the New Sidewalk Millage Funds
Resolution of intent for use of the New Sidewalk Millage in DS-3. This millage was first approved in 2020 and has been used to build sidewalks adjacent to properties on the tax roll. Previously, property owners were assessed for the cost of new sidewalks to fill ‘gaps.’. The millage does not remove the obligation of new developments to build and provide new sidewalks. The millage does not pay for new sidewalks adjacent to redeveloped properties in the DDA district (from which the DDA collects TIF). A proposed change will allow use of the millage to construct new sidewalks adjacent to City-owned properties.
Thank you for taking the time to be informed about our local government!
Elizabeth Nelson