Hello neighbors!
This week, Ann Arbor City Council meets on Tuesday, due to Yom Kippur. A long agenda includes one public hearing for an ordinance amendment (B-1), two public hearings for amendments to brownfield plans (DS-2, DS-3), and another hearing on updated fees from the Ann Arbor Fire Department (DS-1). At first reading, Council will consider a rezoning of over 40 acres at Woodbury Gardens (C-1). This rezoning will redevelop current residential units in order to add density for a TC-1 zoning district (C-1).
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 8, 2026:
County Edition
At the September 2 meeting of the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners, they heard updates from Citizens for Racial Equity Washtenaw (CREW) and heard about projects for alternative transportations funded by the Southeastern Municipal Council of Governments (SEMCOG). On their regular agenda, the
increased budget for public health and affirmed support for retaining the name Lake Ontario.
See how these issues were discussed in the latest episode of COUNTY EDITION.
Hollow Hype Podcast – New Episodes
Last week I released Episode 13 of my podcast HOLLOW HYPE, which is available wherever you get podcasts or you can listen online at HollowHype.com. New episodes are released every Tuesday.
Episodes released since my last City Council newsletter:
Episode 12: “It’s how much? 13 million”
Plans to resolve the Southtown bankruptcy would direct millions in cash or equity interest to Heidi, through Marge’s estate. Heidi gains control of businesses that she and Marge built together.
Episode 13: “Less than good reputations”
A new site plan for Southtown is approved, despite unpaid property taxes. Heidi shares a misleading appraisal to investors. In three states, Heidi has looked to elected leaders to help her get money.
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
Tuesday, September 22, 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=1368511&GUID=CDA8EAEB-31D3-4B3E-B11A-CB1130E935C1
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 (26-1608) Agenda Response Memo and eComments – September 22, 2026
This agenda item has a PDF attachment with all questions raised by Council Members, and the answers provided by staff.
Communications from the Mayor
MC-1 (26-1442) Appointments – Confirmations
These appointments from the Mayor were presented at the previous meeting, and will therefore be voted on at this Council meeting.
- Helen Bunch – Public Market Advisory Commission
- Diana Marsh – Downtown Development Authority
- Ryan Calhoun – Renters Commission (Non-Voting Landlord Representative)
- Andrew Robbins – Renters Commission
- John Jourden – Zoning Board of Appeals
MC-2 (26-1443) Reappointments – Confirmations
These appointments from the Mayor were presented at the previous meeting, and will therefore be voted on at this Council meeting.
- Anthony DiGiovanni – Employees Retirement System Board of Trustees
- Jordan Schreier – Employees Retirement System Board of Trustees
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 (26-1542) Resolution to Approve Street Closing for the Ann Arbor SPARK Tech Talk (a2Tech360) on Friday, October 2, 2026, from 6:00 AM until 8:00 PM
CA-2 (26-1544) Resolution to Approve Street Closings for the Ann Arbor Marathon Running Event – Sunday, October 4, 2026
CA-3 (26-1457) Resolution to approve a General Services Agreement with RACM, L.L.C., D/B/A Servpro Team Miller, for Water Damage Remediation Services ($170,000.00, ITB No. 4790)
CA-4 (26-1490) Resolution to Approve a Sole Source Professional Services Agreement with Covalence Consulting Inc., for UKG Pro Support of the Transition of the City from Ultimate Time and Attendance (UTA) to UKG Pro Workforce Management (WFM) Platform and Appropriate Funds ($279,400.00) (8 Votes Required)
CA-5 (26-1480) Resolution to Approve a Sole Source Purchase Order with West Shore Services, Inc. for Replacement of Outdoor Warning Siren Controllers and Cabinets ($55,870.00)
CA-6 (26-1326) Resolution to Approve a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) for the Affordable Housing Project at 2810 Boardwalk
CA-7 (26-1489) Resolution to Appropriate and Increase the FY 2027 Office of Sustainability and Innovations Climate Action Millage Expenditure Budget by $874,467.00 (8 Votes Required)
CA-8 (26-1495) Resolution to Accept a Sidewalk Easement at 2800 Dexter Road from the Catherine E. Wadhams Revocable Trust Dated 02/11/2014 (8 Votes Required)
CA-9 (26-1541) Resolution to Accept a Sanitary Sewer Easement at 400 S. Maple Road from The Kroger Co. of Michigan (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 (26-1524) An Ordinance to Add Title XI (Tenants Bill of Rights) and Chapter 150 (Tenants Right to Organize) of Title XI of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor (ORD-26-24)
A new ordinance would establish a tenants bill of rights including the right to organize.
Enumerated rights include the posting and distribution of information, contacting tenants, meeting or attempting to meet tenants on premises, and other actions related to operating a tenant organization. A landlord is prohibited from interfering (or allowing others to interfere) with those activities. The ordinance includes a list of activities that will not be considered interference, e.g. exercising “reasonable limitations on time, manner, and place of activities” or reducing services “as part of a pattern of service reductions applicable to each tenant at the premises and the reduction is unrelated to a tenant’s exercise of their rights.”
A draft of this ordinance was presented to the Renters Commission earlier this year, as proposed by the Ann Arbor Tenant Union (AATU).
https://a2gov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=15294656&GUID=F49FCD8F-4BE6-4BDB-93D6-D0B420E016D1
The AATU draft included a more general prohibition that a landlord not “Threaten, Penalize, discriminate or retaliate against a tenant that exercise the tenants right under this act. Discriminatory or retaliatory conduct includes, but is not limited to, intentionally delaying maintenance services, revoking access too community amenities, refusing to renew a lease, or taking frivolous adverse actions against a tenant.”
Both the AATU draft and the ordinance proposed this week include penalties as civil infractions. The AATU draft proposed a fine of $1,000 for the first violation and fines of $2,000 for subsequent violations. The ordinance proposed this week includes a fine of not less than $500 for a first violation and up to $1000 for each additional or subsequent violation.
PH-2/DS-1 (26-1496) Resolution to Approve Fees for the Fire Department Ambulance Transport with Advanced Life Support (8 Votes Required)
When the Ann Arbor Fire department (AAFD) ambulance arrives on scene to an accident prior to Huron Valley Ambulance (HVA) service, the AAFD provides Advanced Life Support (ALS). The HVA charges the City for the ‘intercept’ and transfer of a patient. That fee will increase in 2028 from $200 to $210. A fee schedule for ALS provided by the AAFD will allow for invoicing patients under Medicare. That fee will be $1,206.33.
PH-3/DS-2 (26-1551) Resolution to Approve Amendment #1 to the Brownfield Plan for the Village of Ann Arbor
An amendment to the brownfield plan for “The Village” will increase the amount of reimbursement by about $7.6 million. This change is in response to more stringent environmental standards and other cost increases related to additional infrastructure. The Village is a 77 acre development on Pontiac Trail, originally approved to be 564 housing units. The number of units has now increased to 613. The original brownfield plan for the Village included $31.4 million in tax increment financing. As amended, that amount would increase to $39 million.
PH-4/DS-3 (26-1552) Resolution to Approve Amendment #1 to the Brownfield Plan for 300-312 E. Huron St. (AC Hotel)
An amendment to the brownfield plan for 300-312 E Huron (AC Hotel) will increase the amount of reimbursement by $338,590. This change is in response to unforeseen conditions, delays and additional regulatory requirements. The AC Hotel is now built, but suspending work to address this amendment would have caused delay and financial risk. The original brownfield plan (limited by what could be captured by local millage) reimbursed the developer $749,529 in costs. As amended, the developer is reimbursed a total of $1,088,119.
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 (26-1524) 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.
C-1 (26-1463) An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 55 (Zoning), Rezoning of Approximately 41.292 Acres from R3 (Multiple Family), R4 (Multiple Family), and PL (Public Land) Districts to TC1 (Transit Corridor), With Conditions – 1310 Wisteria Drive (CPC Recommendation: Approval – 7 Yeas and 1 Nay)
Approximately 41.292 acres at Woodbury Gardens would be rezoned to Transit Corridor with conditions, to allow for three seven-story buildings containing 342 dwelling units, and a five-level parking garage. The redevelopment will not be directly located on the transit corridor of Stadium Boulevard, but rather one block in. Frisinger city park sits between Woodbury Gardens and Stadium boulevard.
The TC-1 zoning district already exists on the Stadium corridor 1.2 miles to the east (including Washtenaw) and 2.3 miles to the west (including Maple). Those rezonings were theoretically designed to address the inefficiencies of large parking lots and single use commercial districts, to expand mixed use including residential. This will be the first application of TC-1 zoning in a district that is already higher density residential.
In 2022, a rezoning on the western end of Stadium boulevard was explained with these objectives:
- Locating higher residential densities near mass transit routes and in proximity to commercial, employment, and activity centers (LUE Goal B, Objective 1)
- Providing a full range of housing choices (size, price, design, accessibility, etc.) that meets the existing and anticipated needs of all City residents (LUE Goal C)
- Encouraging a variety of housing types within new and mixed-use development projects (LUE Goal C, Objective 2)
- Supporting mixed-use, “village” centers in existing commercial areas that are designed to provide new residential opportunities, increase pedestrian activity and reduce the total number of vehicular trips (LUE Goal E, Objective 1)
- Encouraging developers to design commercial and office centers where the parking lot is not the dominant feature from the road (LUE Goal E, Objective 2)
https://a2gov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=11255902&GUID=37309436-5B2A-4538-A4D8-2AE6CDDDC2FE
In 2024, a rezoning on the eastern end of Stadium/Washtenaw included this justification: “The TC1 district makes converting single-purpose developments, such as shopping centers or office complexes, into mixed-use centers easier by focusing standards on building form rather than floor area to lot area ratios.”
https://a2gov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=13182842&GUID=BEE6ED21-58B1-4C04-AD8F-55118A2B6758
The owner of Woodbury Gardens has offered zoning conditions for height and another condition that would limit permitted uses. The condition limiting uses means that a portion of the parcel cannot expand beyond those already allowed in R3 (multi-family) zoning district. I.e. the rezoning will not increase the mix of uses on-site.
This week’s TC-1 zoning at Woodbury Gardens targets an existing residential district for rezoning even though it is not technically located on a corridor, not dominated by parking lots, and not going to result in mixed use. The zoning district seems to have been chosen to justify the redevelopment of low-level dense housing with more profitable units in seven story buildings. It is the first TC-1 rezoning request specifically designed to destroy and replace existing, moderately priced housing, which is in increasingly short supply.
C-2 (26-1403) An Ordinance to Amend 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
The ordinance setting a rate schedule for the Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) will be amended to include all areas of the city. The original ordinance limited participation to the Bryant neighborhoods. After extensive public engagement, the SEU has attracted only 30% enrollment, about 80 households. The SEU has received grant funding to serve up to 100 households and proposes an expansion to other neighborhoods, to the extent that grant dollars are available.
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 (26-1496) is the same as PH-2 above
DS-2 (26-1551) is the same as PH-3 above
DS-3 (26-1552) is the same as PH-4 above
DS-4 (26-1500) Resolution to Allocate Proceeds from Sale of 309 S. Ashley (Kline’s Lot) and to Establish the Strategic Property Acquisition Fund and to Appropriate Funding ($9,700,000.00) (8 Votes Required)
At their last meeting (9/8/26), City Council unanimously approved the sale of the City property known as the Kline lot.
https://a2gov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=8194608&GUID=7B584514-7A3A-42A9-B670-C252AE9313DB
The proceeds from that sale are expected to be approximately $17.4 million. By resolution this week, Council will direct the use of all of these proceeds. The sale has not yet taken place, so the proceeds do not yet exist. The largest allocations require transfers from existing budget until the proceeds materialize:
- $4,600,000 (25%) will establish a new Governmental Fund for “strategic property acquisition purposes.” This fund is overseen by the Economic Development Director, other city staff, and “an EDC Board representative” (Council Members Jen Eyer and Jen Cornell serve on the EDC)
- $2,600,000 (15%) will be allocated to the Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU)
- $2,500,000 (14%) will be allocated to the Affordable Housing Fund
The resolution clarifies that the allocations “shall remain available until expended, without regard to fiscal year” and that “any future adjustments to these allocations shall require City Council approval.” The timing of these allocations— prior to the availability of funds— happen less than seven weeks before the seating of a new Council, including a new Mayor.
DC-1 (26-1235) Resolution to Appoint Mark Brantmeyer, Sheena Long, and Chris Mattox to the Independent Community Police Oversight Commission (7 Votes Required)
These appointments are from CM Eyer and CM Harrison, who serve on the Independent Community Police Oversight Commission, and CM Ghazi Edwin and CM Watson, who serve on the Human Rights Commission. They were presented at the previous meeting, and will therefore be voted on at this Council meeting. Seven votes are required because “Sheena Long is not a registered elector of the City of Ann Arbor”.
- Mark Brantmeyer – Independent Community Police Oversight Commission
- Sheena Long – Independent Community Police Oversight Commission
- Chris Mattox – Independent Community Police Oversight Commission
DC-2 (26-1504) Resolution to Appoint Councilmember Cornell to the Local Development Finance Authority (“LDFA”)
This appointment is from CM Radina, which states “under the terms of the LDFA Agreement with the City of Ypsilanti, Councilmember Cornell is appointed as the Council representative to the LDFA for the remainder of the term July 1, 2026-June 30, 2030.”
DC-3 (26-1532) Resolution Directing the City Administrator to Develop Recommendations Regarding a Regional Deer Management ProgramCC-1 (26-1235) Resolution to Appoint Mark Brantmeyer, Sheena Long, and Chris Mattox to the Independent Community Police Oversight Commission (7 Votes Required)
By resolution, City Council would direct the City Administrator to develop recommendations for a regional deer management program. The City Administrator will report to the Sustainability Commission by written report within 180 days. His report will include population data, various impacts, regulations and permits, methods, potential costs, consulting needs, available funding, and other considerations.
Thank you for taking the time to be informed about our local government!
Elizabeth Nelson