Hello neighbors!
This week, City Council considers a very short agenda, including two public hearings: one on changes to the vegetation ordinance and another on a brownfield plan to divert tax dollars in support of a private development. Council meets tomorrow (Thursday) due to the special election yesterday.
The largest topic on this week’s agenda is whether or not the City will subsidize private development with public money. Agenda item DC-1 will direct $300 million in tax dollars toward supporting “Arbor South,” a private development at State and Eisenhower. In agenda item DC-2, eight votes are required to authorize the purchase of property at Arbor South and move forward with a public private partnership in which the City will own and maintain parking decks there. Approval of DC-2 will permit the purchase of property at Arbor South “subject to availability of funding.” A detailed purchase agreement will not be voted on by Council and budgeting for the purchase could happen with a simple majority vote.
For more on that, see my “Additional Thoughts” section below, also linked here:
https://a2elnel.com/post/the-council-that-cant-say-no-300-million-for-arbor-south/
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 October 20, 2025:
In Case You Missed It…
On my YouTube channel, you can find recordings of public meetings that are open to attend live (online or in-person) but are not made available by the City to view later. Please reach out if you have suggestions about public meetings that should be recorded. Subscribe to my YouTube channel if you would like to be alerted to new content as it gets added.
https://www.youtube.com/@a2elnel
715-717 E Huron St Resident Participation Meeting: October 27, 2025
This is my recording of a resident participation meeting for a proposed development at 715-717 E Huron St in Ann Arbor. The meeting was held on Monday, October 27, 2025 at 6:00 pm in the Downtown Branch of the Ann Arbor District Library. The meeting was led by an owner of the property and a representative from Miller Johnson.
https://a2council.com/715-717-e-huron-st-resident-participation-meeting-october-27-2025/
3400 Dexter Ave Resident Participation Meeting: October 27, 2025
This is my recording of a resident participation meeting for a proposed development at 3400 Dexter Ave in Ann Arbor. The meeting was held on Monday, October 27, 2025 at 4:00 pm at Veterans Memorial Park. The meeting was led a representative of the developer Toll Brothers.
https://a2council.com/3400-dexter-ave-resident-participation-meeting-october-27-2025/
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
Thursday, November 6 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=1251592&GUID=E7C38F64-451B-4CD3-8627-D98C6094CB33
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 (25-1852) Agenda Response Memo and eComments – November 6, 2025
This agenda item has a PDF attachment with all questions raised by Council Members, and the answers provided by staff.
For the second meeting in a row, no Council Members asked questions of the agenda
Communications from the Mayor
MC-1 (25-1828) Resolution to Appoint Wayne Powell to the Airport Advisory Committee as a Non-registered Elector (7 Votes Required)
This appointment from the Mayor is being presented at this meeting, and will therefore be voted on at the next Council meeting. Seven votes are required because the “appointee is not a registered elector of the City of Ann Arbor”.
- Wayne Powell – Airport Advisory Committee
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 (25-1792) Resolution to Amend the Grant Agreement with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation for the Bicentennial Park Splash Pad
CA-2 (25-1693) Resolution to Increase Sole Source Purchasing Authority with Brown Equipment Company for Repair and Replacement Parts for Closed-Circuit Television Equipment for FY26 ($45,001.00 Increase, Total Purchase Value $70,000.00)
CA-3 (25-1750) Resolution to Approve the Purchase of Ice Control Salt through the Michigan Delivering Extended Agreements Locally (MiDEAL) from The Detroit Salt Company, L.C. for Seasonal Backup Supply ($215,240.00)
CA-4 (25-1758) Resolution to Approve Amendment No. 1 to the Construction Contract with Watertap, Inc. for Watermain Line Stops and Insertable Valves (Additional $100,000.00 for a Contract Total of $450,000.00)
CA-5 (25-1714) Resolution to Approve Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Services Agreement with Tetra Tech Inc., for Geotechnical and Environmental Services (Additional $100,000.00 for a Contract Total of $200,000.00)
CA-6 (25-1719) Resolution to Prohibit On-Street Parking on the South Side of Brockman Boulevard from Brock Court to Ferdon Road
CA-7 (25-1722) Resolution to Authorize the Purchase of Vehicles from Lunghamer Ford (State of Michigan MiDeal – $215,212.00)
CA-8 (25-1761) Resolution to Authorize the Purchase of Two Western Star Swap Loader Chassis with Underbody Snowplow and Eight Swap Loader Bodies from D & K Truck Company (State of Michigan MiDeal – $1,056,590.23)
CA-9 (25-1803) Resolution to Approve a Best Source 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 ($88,500.00)
CA-10 (25-1812) Resolution to Approve a Professional Services Agreement with Live Zero Waste Inc in the Amount of $90,231.60 to Support the City’s A2ZERO Swap Program ($90,231.60)
CA-11 (25-1825) Resolution to Exercise a Right of First Refusal to Purchase and Resell the Affordable Unit at 105 Ashley Mews and Appropriate Funds (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-2 (25-1696) An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 40 (Trees and Other Vegetation) of Title III (Parks and Public Grounds) of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor (ORD-25-34)
Ordinance amendments will address guidelines for how trees and vegetation can be cultivated on private property adjacent to streets and sidewalks. Trees, shrubs and vegetation must allow 8 feet of clearance over sidewalks and 14 feet of clearance over streets. Amendments specifically address corners, where growth in a “sight triangle” can obstruct the view of pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists.
PH-2/DC-2 (25-1847) Resolution to Approve a Brownfield Plan for the Arbor South Project – 2845 South State Street
A brownfield plan will divert tax incremental financing (TIF) of an estimated $345,054,904 or not in excess of $373,825,905 with administrative fees to support the development of “Arbor South” at State and Eisenhower. The TIF will be diverted for the maximum timeframe: 30 years, through 2057.
Of the total TIF, about $184,866,844 will fund parking structures and $160,188,060 will fund off-site sanitary sewer trunklines and interceptor, water, storm sewer, bus rapid transit stop, pedestrian improvements and other utilities. An estimated $2 million will be used to remediate a gas station on-site.
The developers of Arbor South have declared a private investment of $406,000,000.
A brownfield plan with such a high percentage of public investment is typically ineligible for TIF funding. A staff report explains that developer-reimbursable Brownfield TIF should not exceed 20% of overall project investment.
Eligibility for this brownfield plan seems to depend on approval of the Public-Private partnership (see DC-2).
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 (25-1696) 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.
There are no first readings on the agenda
Motions and Resolutions
DC-1 (25-1847) is the same as PH-2 above
DC-2 (25-1846) Resolution to Approve a Public-Private Development Agreement for the Arbor South Project and Authorize the Purchase of up to Three Parking Structures Subject to Availability of Funding (8 Votes Required)
By resolution, City Council will approve the purchase of property from the developers of Arbor South for City-owned parking decks. The City Administrator will be authorized to negotiate and finalize terms of a public-private partnership with co-developers Oxford Companies and Crawford Hoying. Approval of this item requires eight votes and will permit the purchase of property at Arbor South (at an unnamed price) subject to “availability of funds.” A detailed purchase agreement will not be voted on by Council and budgeting for the purchase could happen with a simple majority vote.
As part of the public private partnership, City-issued bonds in the amount of not less than $166,390,000 will fund parking structures to meet the needs of residents and visitors to Arbor South. These structures will then be owned and maintained by the City.
From the staff memo:
“Transforming one of Ann Arbor’s most automobile-dependent districts into a walkable urban neighborhood requires major infrastructure investment that cannot be supported by the private sector alone. To achieve this, the City and the developer intend to enter into a public-private partnership in which the City will finance, own, and operate three parking structures”
From the agreement:
“the privately owned components of the Project are contemplated to be served by three public parking structures”
According to the agreement, the bonds will be paid back from two sources:
- Brownfield Plan TIF revenue
- “Net Parking Revenues” from the parking structures.
The agreement does not include any estimate of what the city might extract in fees from parking structures at State/Eisenhower (“Net Parking Revenues”). That revenue will be “computed and determined by the City.”
Also unknown: the “Parking Structure Purchase Price.” The purchase price of each of three structures will be negotiated in consideration of “the Parking Structure Budget, the mutually approved land value and such other direct third party costs.” Money for the purchase price will be “negotiated either through authorized Bonds, an approved City budget or other appropriate funding source.” The purchase of each deck will not come back to City Council for a vote, but will be “reasonably approved by the City.”
The issuance of City bonds will include approval of an “inducement resolution,” which is required when public bonds are used by private entities. Approval of that resolution allows the opportunity for resident petitions demanding a public vote (Special Election) on the issue. When the City issues bonds to fund public capital projects, Council approves a “notice of intent” resolution that functions similarly.
Council last approved a “notice of intent” in January 2025 to issue $12 million in bonds to fund a new fire station on Huron Parkway. (Legistar) The opportunity to petition is the same for both types of City-issued bonds:
“The Bonds will be issued without a vote of the electors unless a valid petition requesting such a vote signed by not less than 10% or 15,000 of the registered electors of the City is filed with the City Clerk within forty-five (45) days after publication of this notice. If a valid petition is filed, the Bonds may not be issued without an approving vote of the majority of the qualified electors of the City voting thereon.”
The Arbor South project will redevelop seventeen acres of parking lot into 1000 rental housing units, 30 owner-occupied units, a 150 room hotel, a public plaza, and 100,000 sq feet of retail/commercial. Approximately 200 – but not fewer than 150 – of the rental housing units will be affordable, in a separate building to be owned by Ann Arbor Housing Commission.The City will issue more bonds to fund these affordable units at Arbor South. A staff memo explains:
“City Council is expected to separately authorize the issuance of City bonds to finance an anticipated amount of $18 million for the affordable housing building, backed by affordable housing millage revenue and/or rents.”
Additional Thoughts…
I also published this on my website:
https://a2elnel.com/post/the-council-that-cant-say-no-300-million-for-arbor-south/
The Council That Can’t Say No: $300 Million for Arbor South?
In the last three years, the city government of Ann Arbor has performed in choreographed meetings with scripted remarks and unanimity. Since the election of a City Council supported by all of the same special interests, large donors, and political action committees, whole agendas are approved without meaningful debate.
Since November 2022, profit interest and public interest have been one and the same. Current leaders – theoretically representing the community interest – consistently vote in support of whatever best meets the needs of property investors, specifically. In just three years, developers have requested fourteen rezonings— some were controversial and some were not. Every request from a developer is not just approved, but approved unanimously.
Unelected members of the City Planning commission – appointed by the Mayor – are similarly deferential to capital and profit interests. In 2020, the mayor appointed a commissioner who managed the portfolio of one of the largest property investors in town: Oxford Companies. While employed by Oxford, that commissioner had to recuse himself from more than twenty votes because so many decisions of that body – ordinance amendments and rezonings – were directly requested by or would directly enrich his employer. All of Oxford’s requests and other favorable amendments have been approved unanimously by City Council. The CEO of Oxford Companies, Jeffrey Hauptman, is a consistent campaign donor, giving thousands of dollars to current members of City Council and the Mayor.
This week, in an unusual Thursday meeting – rescheduled due to a special election – City Council will vote on two agenda items, both related to a very large request from Oxford Companies. This request is much bigger than a rezoning or ordinance amendment.
PUBLIC SUBSIDY OF PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT
Oxford Companies and its partner Crawford Hoying are asking the City to divert over $300 million in projected tax dollars over 30 years to support private development at State and Eisenhower. The money will fund parking decks at a project called “Arbor South.”
DC-1 (25-1847) Resolution to Approve a Brownfield Plan for the Arbor South Project – 2845 South State Street
A proposed public-private partnership calls for the City to issue over $160 million in bonds to buy, maintain, and operate City-owned parking decks. Those decks will meet the needs of residents and visitors to Arbor South— the arrangement spares the developer the risk of investing in those decks and the future cost of paying taxes on those decks.
DC-2 (25-1846) Resolution to Approve a Public-Private Development Agreement for the Arbor South Project and Authorize the Purchase of up to Three Parking Structures Subject to Availability of Funding (8 Votes Required)
Approval of the Arbor South public-private partnership agreement requires eight votes. The higher vote threshold is necessary because the agreement authorizes the purchase of property from the developers for the parking decks. The resolution offers no price for what the property or the decks will cost, but simply refers to “subject to availability of funding.” A detailed purchase agreement will not be voted on by Council and budgeting for the purchase could happen with a simple majority vote.
In April 2022, the property at Arbor South was rezoned to “transit corridor development,” a zoning district meant to reduce reliance on cars and encourage walking, biking, and use of public transit. In the last year, significant time and money has been spent on figuring out how the City can use tax dollars to fund parking decks at this location. Repeatedly, Council has given direction to City staff to negotiate terms and approved payments to consultants and attorneys crunching numbers for the deal.
The plan to subsidize private development in this way should never have moved forward at all. The idea to fund parking decks in an area specifically zoned for “transit oriented development” should never have survived multiple votes of Council. The story of how it did is the story of how the current City Council votes unanimously nearly all of the time and – even when it doesn’t – the body approves virtually everything put in front of them.
ALL AGENDA ITEMS APPROVED
Since November 2022, over 98% of City Council votes have been unanimous. Dissent is rare and almost never impacts the result. In the last three years, City Council has voted on well over a thousand agenda items plus other procedural motions (amendments, postponements). Of those, only fifteen votes have resulted in “defeat.” Nearly all of these “defeats” were tedious and non-substantive amendments to agenda items— after a failed amendment, each agenda item was approved unanimously. In three years, the only agenda items that this Council has wholly rejected:
Resolution calling for more public process regarding sale of City-owned property (“Kline Lot”)
https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-council-october-16-2023/
Two contracts that would have led to expansion of the City airport
https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-council-december-2-2024/
Two resolutions to fund and support next steps toward establishing a public power utility
https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-council-march-3-2025/
Note that none of the topics above challenge the interests of property investors. In defeating the resolution regarding the Kline lot, Council rejected more transparency: a majority of City Council took a stand in defending a faster, behind-the-scenes process to sell public property to private investors.
Defenders of this Council have suggested that a meaningful sub-set of Council members reliably offer dissent and vote in a principled way. In short: they do not. Council Members offer dissent without intending it to have any impact on the result.
Regarding City-subsidy of the private development at Arbor South, seven members of Council have consistently voted in support of a generous campaign donor. Four members of Council have voted at least once in opposition: Council Members Ayesha Ghazi-Edwin, Jenn Cornell, Erica Briggs, and Dharma Akmon, However, at no point did their votes of dissent prevent the proposal from moving forward. Council Member Ghazi Edwin voted once in opposition to the plan, reacting to a letter from the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (that letter outlines concerns about the diversion of tax dollars), but last month, Ghazi Edwin voted in support of more funding for lawyers to craft the deal. Council Member Cornell twice voted against the plan, but when her dissent would have defeated a budget amendment for the project, she willingly changed her vote (the Mayor graciously thanked her).
To see that vote and a summary of other dissenting votes on Arbor South, watch the A2Council Update video for August 7, 2025, time stamp 5:13
https://youtu.be/AvjSGwXimNE&t=313
PREDICTIONS
For the last three years, dissent has existed in a specific context: all members expecting that their votes will not derail or otherwise block the issue they theoretically oppose. Split votes highlight how every elected representative knows the ultimate result ahead of time. Members do not respond or react to each other in debate and those in disagreement make no effort to persuade colleagues. Each member simply takes turns reading pre-written scripts for a public show of “dissent.”
The public-private partnership in support of Arbor South will almost certainly be approved with the eight votes required. Only two members of Council (Briggs and Akmon) have voted consistently in opposition to the plan, knowing that their votes would make no difference. Neither will be present this week. In light of those absences, the public might not even see the performance of scripted debate and dissent.
Thank you for taking the time to be informed about our local government!
Elizabeth Nelson