Hello neighbors!
This Monday, Ann Arbor City Council considers a lengthy agenda covering a wide range of topics. Council will host public hearings for three items: rezoning to allow the current uses of 1007 Woodlawn (B-1), amendment to the bylaws of the Transportation Commission (B-2), and rezoning for development at 2525 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd (B-3). At first reading, Council will consider rezonings of annexed township parcels on Arlington (C-1) and Pontiac Trail (C-2) and amendments to the marijuana ordinance (C-3) and trees/vegetation ordinance (C-4).
In agenda item DC-3, Council will rescind a subrecipient grant agreement that was approved at their last meeting on October 6. A new agreement names a different grantee, so that $560,000 in federal grant money will not be directed to a client of Council Member Jen Eyer’s consulting business. For more information about that, see my “Additional Thoughts” section below, also linked here: Eyer Consulting & the $560,000 “Mistake”
The Consent Agenda this week has two items of note: an allocation to the Community Action Network (CAN) and the start of a public comment period for an updated Comprehensive Land Use Plan.
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 6, 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
Monday, October 20 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=1251591&GUID=E9ACBD39-8C08-4641-B91F-27FFB708F33A
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 (25-1789) Agenda Response Memo and eComments – October 20, 2025
This agenda item has a PDF attachment with all questions raised by Council Members, and the answers provided by staff.
No Council Members asked questions of the agenda this week
Communications from the Mayor
MC-1 (25-1720) Appointments – Confirmations
These appointments from the Mayor were presented at the previous meeting, and will therefore be voted on at this Council meeting.
- Jodie Hecker – Recreation Advisory Commission
- Conor Neville – Recreation Advisory Commission
- Ciara Witt – Recreation Advisory Commission
- Roberta Sutton – Zoning Board of Appeals
MC-2 (25-1811) Appointment to the Local Officers’ Compensation Commission (1- Step Appointment, 8 Votes Required)
This appointment from the Mayor is being presented at this meeting, and is being voted on in a “1-Step Appointment” process requiring 8 votes.
- Laurence O’Connell – Local Officers’ Compensation Commission
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 (25-1662) Resolution to Approve a Professional Services Agreement with Community Action Network for Community Engagement, Outreach, and General Support to Fully Decarbonize the Bryant Neighborhood ($300,000.00)
The Community Action Network (CAN) will be paid $300,000 for community engagement, outreach, and general support for the Bryant Neighborhood Decarbonization Project. Funding comes from the City’s Community Climate Action Millage. The “Scope of Services” includes tasks like monthly meetings, storytelling, identifying residents to receive drainage work, and “needs and tasks that emerge.” Detailed description of tasks is listed in a document attached to this week’s resolution. (link)
In July 2023, CAN was awarded $225,000 to perform the same services for the “Bryant Neighborhood Decarbonization Project.” That funding came from the 2024 Council adopted budget. (Legistar)
In November 2023, the Office of Sustainability and Innovations directed another $94,000 to CAN in order to lead community engagement for the Bryant Neighborhood Community Geothermal project. This allocation was federal grant money from the Department of Energy. (Legistar)
Earlier this month, Council approved a sub-recipient agreement for CAN to receive $150,000 in federal grant money from the Department of Energy for the same task of “community engagement.” (Legistar)
Since July 2023, the City has allocated a total of $769,000 to Community Action Network specifically for “community engagement” around sustainability projects in the Bryant neighborhood. Of that total, $525,000 came from local city funds and $244,000 came from federal grants.
CA-2 (25-1670) Resolution to Approve Professional Services Agreement with Carlisle/Wortman Associates, Inc. for Third Party Building, Rental and Planning Services for Three Years at a Total of $1,950,000 with Three Optional One-Year Extensions at $650,000 Per Year
CA-3 (25-1744) Resolution to Approve the Distribution of the Proposed Ann Arbor Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CPC Recommendation: Approved – 8 Ayes and 0 Nays)
City Council has received a proposed Comprehensive Land Use Plan from the City Planning Commission and will approve its distribution for the purpose of collecting public comments.
The final draft of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan was discussed at the Planning Commission meeting on October 7, 2025
https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-planning-commission-october-7-2025/
After distribution, the public comments will be collected during a 63-day review period (through January 5, 2026). Staff will collect public comment through a form on the project page:
https://engage.a2gov.org/comprehensive-land-use-plan
At meetings of the Planning Commission on November 18th and December 16th, staff will provide comments received to date so this feedback can inform potential amendments. Planning Commissioners may propose amendments and City Council may request amendments by resolution.
Staff anticipate a Public Hearing and consideration for final approval in February.
I’ve made several videos about the Planning Commission and their work on the Comprehensive Land Use plan. You can find them at this playlist: (YouTube Playlist)
CA-4 (25-1691) Resolution to Approve a Contract with Aquatic Source, LLC for On-Call Pool Mechanical Services for Up to Five Years, Not to Exceed $425,000
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 (25-1479) An Ordinance to Amend the Zoning Map of Chapter 55 (Unified Development Code), 0.11 Acre from P (Parking) to C1 (Local Commercial), 1007 Woodlawn Ave Rezoning (CPC Recommendation: Approval 7 Yes, 0 No.) (ORD-25-27)
A parcel at 1007 Woodlawn will be rezoned from P (Parking) to C1 (Commercial) to permit current uses by its owner, Argus Farm Stop. The parcel on Woodlawn is currently used for small scale storage, which is not a permitted use in the zoning district for “Parking.” No construction or development is planned.
The owners of Argus Farm Stop hosted a public engagement meeting on March 24, 2025 to explain the purpose of the rezoning, consistent with adjacent parcels occupied by Argus. https://a2council.com/argus-farm-stop-1007-woodlawn-resident-participation-meeting-march-24-2025/
The Planning Commission approved the rezoning of 1007 Woodlawn on August 5, 2025. https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-planning-commission-august-5-2025/
PH-2/B-2 (25-1585) An Ordinance to Amend Section 1:207 of Chapter 8 (Boards and Commissions) of Title I of City Code (ORD-25-30)
A phrase is added to the Bylaws of the Transportation commission, stating that the commission will advise on safety related programs “including consideration of vehicle and pedestrian crash information and recommendations for crash prevention provided by City staff.”
PH-3/B-3 (25-1451) An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 55 (Zoning), Rezoning of 4.16 Acres from O (Office District) to R4E (Multiple-Family Dwelling District), The Crescent Rezoning, 2525 Ann Arbor-Saline Road (CPC Recommendation: Approval – 6 Yeas and 1 Nays) (ORD-25-26)
A vacant parcel at 2525 Ann Arbor-Saline Road will be rezoned from O (office) to R4E (Multiple-Family Dwelling District), A development called “The Crescent” will occupy 4.16 acres and include 262 residential units in a five story building.
Developers hosted a public engagement meeting on April 4, 2024, when the project was called “Cranbrook Village”. https://a2council.com/cranbrook-village-resident-participation-meeting-april-4-2024/
The rezoning and site plan was approved by the City Planning Commission in August 5, 2025. https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-planning-commission-august-5-2025/
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 (25-1479) is the same as PH-1 above
B-2 (25-1585) is the same as PH-2 above
B-3 (25-1451) is the same as PH-3 above
B-4 (25-1655) Resolution to Approve The Crescent Site Plan and Development Agreement, 2525 Ann Arbor-Saline Road (CPC Recommendation: Approval – 6 Yeas and 1 Nays)
A detailed site plan for 2525 Ann Arbor-Saline Road (rezoned in B-3) will permit 262 residential units in a five story building, with 268 enclosed parking spaces and 29 surface parking spaces. The developer will install a crosswalk on Ann Arbor-Saline Road and on Oakbrook Drive to connect to Cranbrook Park but has “elected to not contribute a voluntary donation to Parks and Recreation Services.” Similarly, the developer was asked to include additional trees or sustainability elements but “has not committed to any additional trees or sustainability measures.” The project was granted an 18-foot variance at the Zoning Board of Appeals to reduce a side setback and locate closer to the Whole Foods parking lot.
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 (25-1652) An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 55 (Unified Development Code), Rezoning of 1 Acre from TWP (Township) to R1A (Single-Family Dwelling), Tai Zoning, 1155 Arlington Boulevard (CPC Recommendation: Approval – 8 Yes, 0 No)
A 1-acre parcel at 1155 Arlington will be rezoned from TWP (Township) to R1A (Single-Family Dwelling). This parcel was recently annexed into the City and the zoning designation was consistent with the adjacent zoning, surrounding land uses, and the Comprehensive Plan.
The annexation and rezoning of this parcel were approved by the Planning Commission in March 2025: https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-planning-commission-march-18-2025/
City Council approved the annexation of this parcel in May 2025: https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-council-may-19-2025/
C-2 (25-1656) An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 55 (Zoning), Rezoning of 5.7 Acres from TWP (Township) to R4A (Multiple-Family Dwelling District), The Village of Ann Arbor III, 2600 Pontiac Trail (CPC Recommendation: Approval – 9 Yes and 0 No)
A 5.7 acre parcel at 2600 Pontiac Trail will be rezoned from TWP (Township) to R4A (Multiple-Family Dwelling District). This parcel was annexed in 2022 and is anticipated as a component of “The Village of Ann Arbor” development.
You can learn more about the development here: https://a2council.com/village-of-ann-arbor-resident-participation-meeting-march-27-2023/
C-3 (25-1746) An Ordinance to Amend Section 5.16.3.F of Chapter 55 Unified Development Code of Title V of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor (Marijuana Business School Buffer Removal) CPC Recommendation: Approval (7 Yes, 0 No)
Amendments to the marijuana ordinance will remove location restrictions relative to schools. Any concern will be considered on a case-by-case basis via the Special Exception Use permitting process for marijuana businesses. Marijuana growers will no longer be required to annually report energy used, water used, and sanitary sewer discharge; that information will now only be provided to the City Clerk “upon request.”
Not included in these changes: the Planning Commission recommends that the cap on provisioning centers/retailers – 28 – be wholly removed. There are currently 21 marijuana provisioning centers/retailers in Ann Arbor. From the staff report: “Removing the cap may result in new businesses locating in the city, or others relocating, perhaps adding to the potential for a greater number of businesses to thrive.”
The Planning Commission approved these changes to the marijuana ordinance at their meeting on September 16, 2025.
https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-planning-commission-september-16-2025/
C-4 (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
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.
Motions and Resolutions
DC-1 (25-1700) Resolution to Appoint Mobin Mazloomian and Mallika Kothari to the Sustainability Commission
These nominations are from CM Cornell and CM Mallek, who serve on the Sustainability Commission. These were presented at the previous meeting, and will therefore be voted on at this meeting. Seven votes are required because the nominees “are not registered electors of the City of Ann Arbor”.
- Mallika Kothari – Sustainability Commission (Youth Member)
- Mobin Mazloomian – Sustainability Commission (Youth Member)
DC-2 (25-1721) Resolution to Appoint Dandan Chen to the Renters Commission 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”.
- Dandan Chen – Renters Commission
DC-3 (25-1776) Resolution to Rescind Resolution R-25-383 and Approve a Subrecipient Grant Agreement with United Association of Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 190 to Lead Workforce Development as Part of the U.S. Department of Energy District Geothermal Grant in the Bryant Neighborhood ($560,000.00)
At their last meeting (10/6), City Council unanimously approved a Subrecipient Grant Agreement for geothermal workforce development. That agreement directed $560,000 of a federal grant from the US Department of Energy to UA 190 – IBEW 252 LLC.
This week, the agreement approved on 10/6 will be rescinded, because the LLC implicates ethics violations for Council Member Jen Eyer. Public records show that Eyer’s consulting business (“Eyer Consulting”) has received over $65,000 from IBEW 252. Also in public records: the IBEW 252 lists the UA 190 – IBEW 252 LLC as an “asset” it owns 50% stake in.
This week, a new agreement will direct the $560,000 to UA 190 alone. There are no public records of UA 190 paying money to Eyer Consulting. For more on this, see my “Additional Thoughts” section below.
DC-4 (25-1787) Resolution Recognizing Howard Hanna Children’s Free Care Fund of Michigan as a Civic Nonprofit Organization Operating in Ann Arbor for the Purpose of Obtaining a Charitable Gaming License
For the purpose of obtaining a charitable gaming license from the state of Michigan, Howard Hanna Children’s Free Care Fund of Michigan will be recognized as a civic nonprofit organization operating in Ann Arbor. A raffle is planned for November 7, 2025, at the Howard Hanna Ann Arbor office, to support un- or underinsured families at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Arbor Hospice.
DB-1 (25-1654) Resolution to Approve Revised Bylaws of the Planning Commission
Bylaws for the City Planning commission will be amended to describe dedicated comment periods for special exception use permits, site plans, and area plans; these do not require public hearings. Also clarified: the commission will no longer have public hearings for annexations because these are now handled administratively and move directly to City Council for approval.
Additional Thoughts…
I also published this on my website
https://a2elnel.com/post/eyer-consulting-the-560000-mistake/
Eyer Consulting & the $560,000 “Mistake”
On October 6, 2025, Ann Arbor City Council Member Jen Eyer voted to approve an agreement that would direct $560,000 in federal funds to a client of her personal business, Eyer Consulting. Eyer did not recuse herself. In articles published in MLive, Council Member Eyer and the City attorney have claimed that there was no conflict of interest or ethics violation related to Eyer’s participation in approving the agreement. However, on October 20, 2025, that agreement will be rescinded in order to direct the $560,000 to a different entity. Dr. Missy Stults, director of the City’s Office of Sustainability and Innovations, has claimed that the agreement approved on October 6, 2025 was just a “mistake.”
DC-3 (25-1776) Resolution to Rescind Resolution R-25-383 and Approve a Subrecipient Grant Agreement with United Association of Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 190 to Lead Workforce Development as Part of the U.S. Department of Energy District Geothermal Grant in the Bryant Neighborhood ($560,000.00)
BACKGROUND
On October 6, 2025, City Council unanimously approved agreements and allocations of a federal grant from the Department of Energy. One of the items approved: a subrecipient grant agreement for $560,000 with UA 190-IBEW 252 LLC for “workforce development”:
DC-5 (25-1673) Resolution to Approve a Subrecipient Grant Agreement with UA 190 – IBEW 252, L.L.C. to Lead Workforce Development as Part of the U.S. Department of Energy District Geothermal Grant in the Bryant Neighborhood ($560,000.00)
The DOE guidelines attached to that item include “special terms and conditions” (bottom of page 26, top of page 27):
“In order to satisfy this notification requirement, the recipient documentation must, at a minimum, include the following:
…
4. An assurance that no planned, actual or apparent conflict of interest exists between the recipient and the selected subrecipient and that the recipient’s written standards of conduct were followed;”
This is the meeting discussion where it was approved. (CTN Ann Arbor YouTube link – timestamp 58m16s) Eyer advocated for it, voted to approve it, and failed to recuse herself.
CONFLICTS: “WHOLLY SEPARATE ENTITY”
In reports submitted to the federal Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS), two labor unions list payments to Eyer Consulting totalling $127,484. The payments start in 2021, shortly after Eyer was elected to City Council. All payments are from “ELECTRICAL WORKERS IBEW AFL-CIO” for “REPRESENTATIONAL ACTIVITIES”.
https://olmsapps.dol.gov/olpdr/#Union%20Reports/Payer/Payee%20Search
Search for “Eyer Consulting” in the “Name” box in the left column. According to reports submitted to the OLMS, Eyer is being paid by both IBEW 252 and IBEW 665. The IBEW 252 reports payments of over $65,000 to Eyer Consulting.
Eyer Consulting LLC was formed in March 2021, just four months after Jen Eyer was elected to Ann Arbor City Council. One month later (April 2021), the City’s Office of Sustainability and Innovations (OSI) announced a collaboration with IBEW 252 re: electrification programs for A2Zero. (link to A2Zero April 2021 newsletter)
The IBEW collaboration is boasted about repeatedly in subsequent OSI reports. The City also promoted the partnership with a dedicated A2Zero page on the IBEW 252 website. That page invites visitors to follow an IBEW 252 Facebook account, managed by “Eyer Consulting.”
https://www.ibewneca252.org/a2zero
On Thursday, October 9, 2025, I released a video summarizing the October 6, 2025 Council meeting during which Eyer voted on the contract benefitting UA 190-IBEW 252 LLC and I pointed out the connection to Eyer Consulting. You can watch that here: https://youtu.be/O7wmVNZ_XeY
In response, Council Member Eyer made statements on social media, claiming that IBEW 252 (the entity that pays her) is entirely separate from the UA 190-IBEW 252 LLC that would receive federal grant money, as directed by City Council. Eyer claimed:
“On this issue, I spoke with the city attorney and she confirmed there is no conflict of interest for me. The grant is being awarded to a wholly separate legal entity that I do not work for, and I do not stand to gain financially in any way.”
In the 2025 OLMS report filed on September 26, 2025 (link) IBEW 252 lists UA 190-IBEW 252 LLC as an “ASSET” that it owns 50% interest in (see schedule 7). The same report also includes over $19,000 that IBEW 252 paid to Eyer Consulting between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025. The UA 190-IBEW 252 LLC – the entity to which City Council directed $560,000 in federal funds – is an asset/subsidiary of IBEW 252. The IBEW 252 has paid Council Member Jen Eyer’s consulting business over $65,000.
“NO CONFLICT”…“HONEST MISTAKE”
An MLive article published on Monday, October 13 includes this explanation:
“City Attorney Atleen Kaur confirmed the city attorney’s office sees no conflict of interest.”
Local attorneys have questioned this interpretation. It is especially strange in the context of Ann Arbor City Council Ethics Rules, the first four of which address conflicts of interest.
City Council Ethics Rule 1 refers to state law (MCL 15.322 and MCL 15.324) with explanation that a public servant cannot take part in the approval of a contract with “Any firm, meaning a co-partnership or other unincorporated association, of which he or she is a partner, member, or employee.”
City Council Ethics Rule 2 prohibits a Council Member from voting on an issue in which they have any financial interest that is “unique to the Council member and not a financial interest shared by other members of the public.”
City Council Ethics Rule 4 explains that, in addition to financial interests, a Council member should be excused from voting when they have a “personal relationship with the matter at issue that 1) impairs their exercise of independence of judgment on the matter, or 2) creates a situation with conflicting fiduciary duties.”
https://www.a2gov.org/media/3iphn5qp/council-rules.pdf
On Wednesday, October 15, MLive published a follow-up article in which the original agreement is characterized as a “mistake”. The claim: the City never intended to execute an agreement with UA 190-IBEW 252 LLC but, rather, intended to execute the agreement with UA 190, alone. Dr. Missy Stults, director of the Office of Sustainability and Innovations (OSI) offered this explanation:
“The error of listing the wrong organization falls with me and I’m so incredibly sorry…It was an honest mistake as I was moving too quickly to get all grant documents together.”
Council Member Eyer made this remarkable statement to MLive:
“When I voted on the grant, I correctly believed it to be directed only to UA 190 because, in the geothermal transition, the workers who need retraining are primarily plumbers.”
If – as she claims now – Eyer was actually aware of the error in the agreement at the time of the vote, why didn’t she call Council’s attention to it and move to delete the mention of her client, IBEW 252? Eyer did not share her belief with colleagues and she apparently didn’t share it with Dr. Missy Stults, either. On social media recently, Dr. Stults explained:
“…when UA190 and I identified the error on Monday of this week, we immediately set to correct it.”
On October 20, 2025, City Council will vote to rescind the agreement directing $560,000 to UA 190-IBEW 252 LLC. They will vote to approve a new agreement that directs $560,000 in federal funds to UA 190, alone.
WHY THIS MATTERS
To the extent that a City decision confers any benefit to a client of Eyer Consulting, Council Member Jen Eyer can take credit for it – publicly or privately – in promoting her business and attracting more business.
Section 4.4 of the Ann Arbor City Charter states clearly that Council members should not vote on issues in which they have an interest. A financial interest is measured against the interest of the general public:
“(i) A member of the Council shall not vote on a question in which the member has a financial interest, other than the general public interest, or on any question involving the member’s own conduct.”
https://www.a2gov.org/media/j5gdtwr2/charter.pdf
A financial benefit to Jen Eyer is not the $560,000 that was – according to Dr. Missy Stults – “mistakenly” directed to an asset/subsidiary of her client. The financial benefit to Jen Eyer is the payments she can collect from potential and future clients. She can point to what she has achieved for current clients – specifically as a member of City Council – and use this to attract new clients. The website for Eyer Consulting currently does exactly that on the homepage, front and center. Jen Eyer advertises herself as a member of Ann Arbor City Council while taking credit for a relatively new City contracting policy.
“In her current business, Jen specializes in promoting progressive organizations. Jen also serves on the Ann Arbor City Council, where she championed and passed the city’s groundbreaking Best Value Contracting policy”
https://www.eyerconsulting.com
Eyer takes credit for a “best value” contracting policy that permits the City to reject the lowest responsible bidder on City work. As applied objectively by City staff, the “best value” rubric now regularly awards contracts to much higher bids, based on standards that favor union-affiliated companies. The “best value” policy has also opened the door for Eyer to direct lucrative City work to specific contractors, against the recommendation of City staff. Three times, Eyer has presented her own interpretation of “best value” and persuaded a majority of her colleagues to reject the work of City staff – assessment and scoring of hundreds of pages in bid documents – in order to give City contracts to more expensive bidders that she favored.
On October 6, 2025, Council Member Jen Eyer very clearly violated Council Ethics Rules. So far, none of Eyer’s colleagues have made any comment of concern. Like over 98% of Council votes since November 2022, their silence has been unanimous.
Thank you for taking the time to be informed about our local government!
Elizabeth Nelson