Hello neighbors!
This Monday, Ann Arbor City Council considers a fairly short agenda, which includes two public hearings ahead of final approval for two ordinances: increasing the amount the City Administrator can spend or sell without a vote of Council (B-1) and temporary amendments to location restrictions for marijuana businesses (B-2). At first reading, Council will consider adding a phrase to the bylaws of the Transportation Commission (C-1).
An item on the Consent Agenda explains how adding 4800 beds in UM dorms translates to $23 million in City infrastructure costs. The cost sharing agreement in CA-5 assigns $6 million of that cost to the City, with UM covering the rest.
PUBLIC POWER BLOCK PARTY
Tomorrow, join Ann Arbor for Public Power, the Michigan Climate Action Network (MiCAN), and the U-M ACLU for an afternoon of live music, art, and food from Pilar’s Tamales!
Sunday, October 5 (3:00 – 6:00pm)
Liberty Plaza
(Suggested donation of $20)
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 September 15, 2025:
Affordable Housing & “Other Initiatives”
In 2019, the Ann Arbor City Council set aside ten City-owned properties for the intentional development of affordable housing. In 2020, City voters approved an Affordable Housing millage to fund the development of affordable units on those City-owned sites. Watch what has happened since the elections of 2022: affordable housing millage funds were used to pay off debt and buy an election center. Mayor Christopher Taylor led a unanimous City Council in reversing plans for affordable housing so that City property could be sold for market rate development.
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 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=1251590&GUID=DF613BAB-FAD3-4B34-8AF5-0E35E7079C3E
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 (25-1729) Agenda Response Memo and eComments – October 6, 2025
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 (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. 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)
Communications from the Mayor
MC-1 (25-1614) Appointments – Confirmations
This appointment from the Mayor was presented at the previous meeting, and will therefore be voted on at this Council meeting.
- Michael Cole – Local Development Finance Authority (LDFA)
MC-2 (25-1720) Appointments and Nominations for October 6, 2025
These appointments from the Mayor are being presented at this meeting, and will therefore be voted on at the next Council meeting.
- Jodie Hecker – Recreation Advisory Commission
- Conor Neville – Recreation Advisory Commission
- Ciara Witt – Recreation Advisory Commission
- Roberta Sutton – Zoning Board of Appeals
MC-3 (25-1721) Resolution to Appoint Dandan Chen to the Renters Commission 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”.
- Dandan Chen – Renters 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 (25-1688) Resolution to Approve Street Closures for the Main Street Area Association Trick or Treat Parade on Sunday, October 26, 2025 from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM
CA-2 (25-1579) Resolution to Approve a Best Source Contract with Williams Scotsman, Inc. for Lease of a Portable Trailer for the Farmers Market ($100,000.00)
CA-3 (25-1581) Resolution to Approve a General Services Contract with Margolis Companies, Inc. for the Purchase, Delivery and Planting of Trees Along City Street Rights-of-Way ($476,432.00; RFP 25-37)
CA-4 (25-1544) Resolution to Approve Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Services Agreement with Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Inc. (“Fishbeck”), for Water Treatment Professional Engineering Services ($350,000.00 Increase, Total Contract $850,000.00)
CA-5 (25-1631) Resolution to Approve a Cost Allocation Agreement with the Regents of the University of Michigan for the High-Level Trunkline Sewer Capacity Improvements Project
A cost sharing agreement with the University of Michigan will allocate costs for updating sewer capacity, which is needed to accommodate 4,800 new beds of student housing.
The University of Michigan is building two large dormitories:
- 2,300-bed student residence facility and a dining facility on the former Elbel Field property bounded by Hill Street, South Division Street, East Hoover Street, and the Ann Arbor Railroad tracks.
- 2,500-bed student residence facility and a dining facility on the block bounded by Hill Street, South Fifth Ave, East Madison Street, and South Division Street.
In anticipation of that expansion, the City and the University have negotiated an agreement to share the cost of updating City sewer infrastructure. From the agreement: “portions of the City’s sanitary sewer collection system do not have adequate capacity under certain conditions to receive and accommodate all of the new projected sanitary flows from the University’s Student Housing Complex without improvements to the City’s sanitary sewer collection system.”
Under the agreement, the City will cover the following costs:
- $1,800,723.96 for “1,520 feet of 36-inch sanitary relief sewer needed to accommodate projected new flows”
- $5,040,000.00 for “lining of approximately 4,000 feet of existing 36-inch sanitary sewer pipe to both accommodate projected flows… and to perform maintenance.”
The total project cost is estimated at $23,048,065.13. The cost share between the City and the UM:
- City: $6,840,723.96
- UM: $16,207,341.17
CA-6 (25-1576) Resolution to Authorize the Purchase of Four Ford Mustang Mach-E’s from Lunghamer Ford and Appropriate Funding (State of Michigan MiDeal – $157,852.00) (8 Votes Required)
CA-7 (25-1621) Resolution to Approve Amendment No. 5 to the License and Services Agreement with Tyler Technologies, Inc. ($794,355.99)
CA-8 (25-1583) Resolution to Increase Purchasing Authority with Insight North America LLC from the Current Limit Authorized in Resolution R-22-207 to $150,000.00 Annually for Investment Advisory Services
CA-9 (25-1623) Resolution to Approve Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Services Agreement with Hylant Administrative Services LLC to Establish Annual Compensation Limit of $75,000.00
CA-10 (25-1624) 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 (25-1625) Resolution to Assess Certain Delinquent Municipal Utility Charges as a Tax and Order Collection Thereof
CA-12 (25-1575) Resolution to Approve Amendment 1 to the Grant Agreement with State of Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity to Support the Sustainable Energy Utility with Launching a Solar Virtual Power Plant and Adding a Full Time Equivalent Position to the SEU
CA-13 (25-1651) Resolution to Approve a Best Source Professional Services Agreement with Lake State Labs LLC for Consulting Services Related to the Creation of a Virtual Power Plant as Part of the Sustainable Energy Utility ($142,200.00)
CA-14 (25-1665) Resolution to Accept a Stormwater Easement at Pittsfield Village (8 Votes Required)
CA-15 (25-1678) Resolution to Accept an Amended Sidewalk Easement at 2111 Packard Street from Packard ROW Owner, LLC (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 (25-1509) An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 14 (Purchasing, Contracting and Selling Procedure) of Title I of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor (ORD-25-28)
City procurement policy will be amended to allow purchases (and disposal of City property) up to $90,000 without the approval of City Council. Currently, transactions up to $75,000 are permitted without a vote of City Council.
Prior to 2021, purchases over $25,000 required a vote of City Council. In 2021, voters approved a City Charter Amendment to raise this limit to $75,000. That Charter amendment permitted ongoing adjustments based on the rate of inflation.
The Council Administration committee discussed the amendment at their meeting on July 8, 2025. The Mayor suggested that future adjustments to the spending limit could happen without a vote of Council. The Mayor explained that this would provide “flexibility and efficiency” and the City Administrator would update Council via memo or report, informing them that he has increased his own spending limit based on inflation. This term – allowing the City Administrator to increase his own spending limit without a vote of Council – was included in the ordinance at first reading (9/15/25) but was removed by amendment.
Other changes will allow the disposal of property valued at up to $5,000 by whatever method is deemed “in the best interest of the City” and raise the threshold requiring formal solicitation of bids. Moving forward, up to $50,000 can be spent without a formal request for proposals or invitation to bid. Staff summarized another amendment this way:
“Section 1:234.5 [will] allow City Council to use its own discretion in determining best value in contracts that involve public-private partnerships for real estate development, rather than using the City Administrator’s scoring rubric. These types of contracts often have substantially different considerations than typical contracts for public improvements.”
PH-2/B-2 (25-1626) An Ordinance to Add Chapter 95 (Temporary Reduction of Distance Requirements Between K-12 Schools and Marijuana Facilities and Establishments) to Title VII (Businesses and Trades) of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor (ORD-25-29)
Amendments to the City marijuana ordinance will change location restrictions relative to two addresses. Currently, the ordinance prohibits the operation of a marijuana establishment within 1000 feet of a K-12 school. A location previously licensed for marijuana operations was recently assessed by the State and found to be in violation of the City ordinance, based on proximity to a preschool.
This week’s amendment will meet the needs of dispensaries that are located too close to preschools.
A dispensary on South Main recently changed ownership – the state denied the new owners a license due to the location near Doughty Montessori preschool. Another dispensary – the Jungle Room – is currently licensed and operating at similar proximity to Doughty.
An amendment refers to the address of Doughty preschool (S. Ashley Street), directing that the 1000 foot distance requirement for k-12 schools be reduced to 250 feet relative to that location.
Another street address is named, directing that the 1000 foot distance requirement be reduced to 750 feet for a dispensary currently operating on Research Park Drive. Crave Cannabis is currently operating within 1000 feet of the U School preschool.
The amendment will be effective in ten days, for one year only.
In August, City Council directed the Planning Commission to consider multiple amendments to the marijuana ordinance: reducing K-12 school distance requirements, eliminating permits for “special exception use,” changing provisions for growing and processing, and lifting the cap on the number of retailers.
https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-council-august-7-2025/
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 (25-1509) is the same as PH-1 above
B-2 (25-1626) is the same as PH-2 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 (25-1585) An Ordinance to Amend Section 1:207 of Chapter 8 (Boards and Commissions) of Title I of City Code
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.”
Motions and Resolutions
DC-1 (25-1711) Resolution to Approve Election of Lynette Findley to a Third Consecutive Term as President of the Ann Arbor Summer Festival Board
On September 23, 2025 the City Clerk’s Office received notification of the election of Lynette Findley to a third consecutive term as President of the Ann Arbor Summer Festival (AASF) Board of Trustees. Under Section 7.03 of the AASF bylaws, no Trustee may serve more than two consecutive terms as President unless consented to by the City and University of Michigan. This resolution provides the City’s consent.
DC-2 (25-1666) Resolution to Accept and Appropriate Grant Funds from the U.S. Department of Energy to support a Community Geothermal Installation in the Bryant Neighborhood and to Approve an Assistance Agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy ($10,778,167.00) (8 Votes Required)
The City will accept and appropriate grant funds from the US Department of Energy to support a district geothermal system in the Bryant neighborhood. An assistance agreement with the DOE for $10,778,167 will fund designs and permitting, workforce development, public engagement, competitive bidding, construction and testing of the system.
Contracts in DC-3, DC-4 and DC-5 this week are part of this grant.
DC-3 (25-1671) Resolution to Approve a Best Source Professional Services Agreement with IMEG Consultants Corp. for Design, Engineering, and Advisory Services Related to the Installation of a Community Geothermal System in the Bryant Neighborhood ($1,821,628.00) (8 Votes Required)
A federal grant from the US Department of Energy (DC-2) will support the installation of a district geothermal system in the Bryant neighborhood. Part of that grant will fund a $1,821,628 contract with IMEG Consultants Corp. for Design, Engineering, and Advisory services.
DC-4 (25-1672) Resolution to Approve a Subrecipient Grant Agreement with Community Action Network to Lead Community Engagement as Part of the U.S. Department of Energy District Geothermal Grant in the Bryant Neighborhood ($150,000.00)
A federal grant from the US Department of Energy (DC-2) will support the installation of a district geothermal system in the Bryant neighborhood. The City will use $150,000 of these grant funds to enter into a subrecipient grant agreement with Community Action Network (CAN) for “ongoing and sustained” community engagement.
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)
A federal grant from the US Department of Energy (DC-2) will support the installation of a district geothermal system in the Bryant neighborhood. The City will use $560,000 of these grant funds to enter into a Subrecipient Grant Agreement with UA 190 – IBEW 252 for geothermal workforce development.
DC-6 (25-1716) Resolution to Approve Change Orders #2 and #3 to the Construction Contract with Fonson Company, Inc. for the Fuller Park Parking Lot Improvements Project and Border to Border Trail Improvements Project and Appropriate Funding ($75,116.59 Increase; $937,892.51 Total Contract) (8 Votes Required)
Change orders will add $75,116.59 to construction contracts for improvements at Fuller Road parking lot and the Border to Border trail. A total of $75,116.59 is added for a new contract amount of $937,892.51.
Thank you for taking the time to be informed about our local government!
Elizabeth Nelson