Hello neighbors!
Tomorrow, in a special Tuesday meeting, Ann Arbor City Council considers a lengthy agenda which includes a tenants’ right to organize and sale of the Kline’s lot.
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 August 17, 2026:
County Edition
This summer, the County board discussed adding a healthcare millage and authorization for a new 911 surcharge to the November 2026 ballot. The August meeting was the Board’s last opportunity to put these questions on the ballot. The healthcare millage was tabled and the 911 surcharge was defeated.
See how these issues were discussed in the latest episode of COUNTY EDITION.
Hollow Hype Podcast – New Episodes
Last week I released Episode 11 of my podcast HOLLOW HYPE, which is available wherever you get podcasts or you can listen online at HollowHype.com
Episodes released since my last City Council newsletter:
Episode 9: “I get a lot of calls from NIMBYs”
Ann Arbor residents discover Heidi’s criminal record, but local news outlets won’t report on it. Elected leaders defend the money that got them elected and organize against campaign finance reform. After weeks of delay, student journalists at the Michigan Daily finally publish a story about Heidi.
Episode 10: “The most diverse Council we’ve had in Ann Arbor history”
Local news outlets ignore the Michigan Daily story about Heidi. She offers excuses and others in the community defend her. Heidi has built valuable relationships with elected leaders allied with the Mayor.
Episode 11: “Compelling equity investment opportunity”
Southtown needs investors. After Marge’s death, Heidi leads the Southtown bankruptcy. The development is appraised at such a high value that money from investors could pay off all creditors.
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 8, 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=1368510&GUID=F4F4E137-BC6A-4F21-8C25-FECC4437993A
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 (26-1516) Agenda Response Memo and eComments September 8, 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 (26-1235) 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 are being presented at this meeting, and will therefore be voted on at the next 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
CC-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.”
Communications from the Mayor
MC-1 (26-1442) Appointments and Nominations for September 8, 2026
These appointments from the Mayor are being presented at this meeting, and will therefore be voted on at the next Council meeting.
- Helen Bunch – Public Market Advisory Commission
- Diana Marsh – Downtown Development Authority
- Ryan Calhoun – Renters Commission (Non-Voting Landlord Representative)
MC-2 (26-1443) Nominations and Reappointments for September 8, 2026
These appointments from the Mayor are being presented at this meeting, and will therefore be voted on at the next 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 (26-1358) Resolution to Approve a Construction Contract with Inner City Contracting, LLC for the West Park Bandshell Demolition Project (ITB No. 4791) ($481,765.72)
Council will approve a contract for the demolition of the West Park band shell. Cost: $481,000.
The West Park bandshell was built by the Works Progress Administration in 1938. Fifty-five years ago, it hosted bands like MC5 and the Grateful Dead. You can read about it here:
https://aadl.org/node/193166
CA-2 (26-1202) Resolution to Approve the Purchase of Ice Control Salt through the Michigan Delivering Extended Agreements Locally (MiDEAL) from Detroit Salt Company, LC for Early Fill ($184,680.00) and Seasonal Backup Supply ($233,280.00) and Appropriate $168,000.00 (8 Votes Required)
CA-3 (26-1347) Resolution to Approve a Two (2) Year Purchase Order with Ajax Materials Corporation for Bituminous Patching Materials, ITB-4792 ($177,500.00 Annually)
CA-4 (26-1225) Resolution to Approve the 2026 Transportation Asset Management Plan Update
By resolution, Council will approve the 2026 Transportation Asset Management Plan. Pavement conditions can be found on page 5 of the Plan, here:
https://a2gov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=15791606&GUID=CE80272D-518D-43F9-BC3C-F627D8AC30FE
CA-5 (26-1267) Resolution to Approve Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Services Agreement with Spalding DeDecker Associates, Inc. for General Civil Engineering and Surveying Services (Additional $100,000.00 for a Contract Total of $600,000.00)
CA-6 (26-1345) Resolution to Approve Professional Service Agreements with AECOM, HDR, Transportation Engineering Design, DPC, TYLin, Wade Trim, and WSP for As Needed Transportation Engineering and Planning Services (RFP #26-32), ($600,000.00 each; $1,200,000.00 annually over the three-year contract)
CA-7 (26-1157) Resolution to Authorize the Purchase of Nine Vehicles from Lunghamer Ford (State of Michigan MiDeal – $431,208.00)
CA-8 (26-1237) Resolution to Authorize the Purchase of Four Vehicles from National Auto Fleet Group (Sourcewell – $152,896.00)
CA-9 (26-1380) Resolution to Approve the Marijuana Excise Tax Rebate Funds and National Opioid Settlement Funds Grant Agreements Between the City of Ann Arbor, the Ann Arbor Housing Commission, and The Ann Arbor Housing Development Corporation
CA-10 (26-1476) Resolution to Approve the County Mental Health Millage Grant Agreement between the City of Ann Arbor, the Ann Arbor Housing Commission, and the Ann Arbor Housing Development Corporation
CA-11 (26-1341) Resolution to Approve a Professional Services Agreement with OpenSesame Inc. for an Enterprise Learning Management Subscription ($127,591.20)
CA-12 (26-1343) Resolution to Approve Schedule 34 to the Interagency Agreement for Collaborative Technology and Services with Washtenaw County for the Enterprise Content Management System ($328,907.53 over a 5-Year Period)
CA-13 (26-1419) Resolution to Authorize a Participation Agreement and Main Services Agreement with the Courts and Law Enforcement Management Information System (CLEMIS) Authority for the Ann Arbor Police Department ($122,652.00) and 15th District Court ($9,527.00)
CA-14 (26-1295) Resolution to Approve a Professional Services Agreement with Stantec Consulting Services Inc. for the Hazard Mitigation Plan Update (RFP 26-30) ($175,000.00)
CA-15 (26-1385) Resolution to Approve a Grant Agreement and Accept Funds from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity in the Amount of $174,548.00 for the Ann Arbor Climate Corps AmeriCorps Program, and Appropriate Funds ($575,741.89) (8 Votes Required)
CA-16 (26-1470) Resolution to Temporarily Relocate Precinct 5-45 to Bach Elementary School, 600 W. Jefferson Street, for the General Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 due to an Ongoing Construction Project at Slauson Middle School
CA-17 (26-1471) Resolution to Approve the Location and Hours of City Clerk Satellite Offices on the University of Michigan Campus and Extend the Days Authorized for Early Voting for the November 3, 2026 General Election at the UM Museum of Art (UMMA) and Duderstadt Center
CA-18 (26-1303) Resolution to Authorize Settlement of Pacinte Allam, as Next Friend of L.A., a minor v Sory Conde, Washtenaw County Circuit Court Case No. 26-001472-NI and Appropriate Funds ($400,000.00) (8 Votes Required)
CA-19 (26-1467) Resolution to Authorize Settlement of DeVincent McFarlin v Officer Pechtel, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan Case No. 26-cv-11988
CA-20 (26-1366) Resolution to Accept an Amended Sidewalk Easement at 3035 Brockman Blvd from Karen G. Richard and Barbara Jo Smith (8 Votes Required)
CA-21 (26-1479) Resolution to Approve a Purchase and Sale Agreement for the Kline’s Lot (8 Votes Required)
Council will approve the sale of the Kline lot for a minimum purchase price of $14,175,000. This item requires eight votes. This City owned lot was previously designated as “high priority” for the development of affordable housing and was the topic of extensive public engagement, including how to balance the need for on-site parking to support the downtown. For more on this, see my “Additional Thoughts” section below.
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/DS-2 (26-1171) Resolution to Approve the 2958 Shady Lane Annexation, 5,227 Square Feet
A township island at 2958 Shady Lane will be annexed into the City.
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.
There are no ordinance second readings on the Agenda
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 (26-1383) An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 55 (Zoning), Rezoning of 1.199 Acres from TWP (Township District) to O (Office District), 2080 South State Street Rezoning (CPC Recommendation: Approval – 9 Yeas and 0 Nays)
A recently annexed property at 2080 State Street (1.199 acres) will be zoned Office.
C-2 (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
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.
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 (26-1113) Resolution Authorizing Publication of Notice of Intent to Issue Capital Improvement Bonds for Various Park Capital Improvements (Not to Exceed $10,000,000.00) (6 Votes Roll Call)
Council would approve publication of a Notice of Intent to Issue up to $10,000,000 in Capital Improvement Bonds for Various Park Capital Improvements. Revenue from the bonds will pay for costs to acquire, construct, furnish and equip improvements to city parks
DS-2 (26-1171) is the same as PH-1 above
Additional Thoughts…
I also posted this on my website:
https://a2elnel.com/post/klines-lot-city-council-will-sell-out-the-city-until-there-is-nothing-left-to-sell/
Kline’s Lot: City Council will sell out the City until there is nothing left to sell
In anticipation of the September 8, 2026 City Council meeting, members of the public have pointed out the absurdity of placing one particular item on the “Consent Agenda”, among items that are not expected to prompt discussion.
CA-21 (26-1479) Resolution to Approve a Purchase and Sale Agreement for the Kline’s Lot (8 Votes Required)
In approving this agenda item, elected leaders will reject community priorities for one of the most valuable publicly owned parcels in the city. City Council members have offered a fictional narrative for how and why the Kline’s lot should be sold. Fortunately, the community does not have to accept a fictional narrative— the facts exist in public records.
PUBLIC PROPERTY FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES
A prior City Council directed that ten under-utilized City parcels should be assessed for the potential development of affordable housing. In 2020, the city’s Housing Commission director, Jennifer Hall identified the Kline’s lot as HIGH priority. See page 2 of the report “Analysis of the Financial Feasibility of Developing Affordable Housing on Under-utilized City-owned Property (Updated May 2020)”. The Kline’s lot is listed as “S. Ashley & William surface parking lot.”
https://a2gov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=8643648&GUID=B99B0D4A-D4DA-48A4-9A4F-B0740EB1894A
In May 2021, a commissioned report highlighted the results of significant public engagement: maximize affordable housing units, activate the ground floor, understand long term parking needs, consider the needs of downtown businesses. Starting on page 76 (slide 80):
https://a2gov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=9448604&GUID=03BA75F5-C897-4942-AB5C-FF5DADC2DA3D
Six months after the seating of a unanimous City Council endorsed by Mayor Christopher Taylor, there was a drastic shift in priorities. In April 2023, City Administrator Milton Dohoney told Council: “I also want to pursue taking what we call the Kline lot which was assessed at $19 million some years ago and I would like to see us pursue putting a market rate development on it”
VIDEO: Ann Arbor City Council Meeting 4/17/2023 time stamp 57:42
https://www.youtube.com/live/oaYHCuOpXPg?si=KOW_M7eIafUPVcnb&t=3462
In July 2023, Dohoney began negotiations behind the scenes with a former employee representing developers who wanted to build a Sports Illustrated Resorts conference center on the Kline’s lot. In October 2023 – presumably in anticipation of a deal with SI Resorts – the property was appraised for $16.9 million, a good bit less than Dohoney’s earlier statement that it was worth “$19 million some years ago.” (The 2023 appraisal is attached to this week’s agenda item.)
In November 2023, FOIA requests exposed the behind-the-scenes negotiations with SI Resorts. The deal was eventually abandoned when the bare minimum of Council members – four – expressed opposition to the deal. Mayor Taylor and Council Members Lisa Disch, Ayesha Ghazi Edwin, Chris Watson, Cynthia Harrison, Jenn Cornell and then Council Member Linh Song never expressed any opposition to the deal. More on that here:
VIDEO: Few Things Considered: Sports Illustrated Resorts Ann Arbor
https://youtu.be/RpiwXgqymr8
In the aftermath of the public outcry over the SI Resorts idea, Council approved the use of a private broker, so that a potential deal to sell the Kline’s lot would not happen at City Hall and communications would not be accessible via FOIA requests. More about that here:
https://a2elnel.com/post/from-public-process-to-private-broker-selling-and-developing-the-kline-lot/
In February 2025, Council unanimously approved a $700,000 brokers agreement, to pay a consultant to manage the sale of the Kline’s lot and 415 W. Washington. This consultant arrangement guaranteed that bids for the Kline’s Lot (and 415 W Washington) would be collected and terms of sale would be negotiated outside of City Hall, out of reach of FOIA requests.
https://a2gov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7129541&GUID=A9506F67-3329-40D6-9596-E0A535A33A6A&FullText=1
At a work session in July 2025, options were discussed. Council Members Ghazi Edwin and Cornell were absent. Council Member Cornell represents Ward 5, where the Kline’s lot is located.
https://a2gov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=M&ID=1318466&GUID=335642EA-B8C8-4924-8C83-2EF27A401CFB
GASLIGHTING & MISINFORMATION
This week, Council Member Erica Briggs told a constituent that “at the recommendation of our Housing Commission Director, Council determined that the site wasn’t a good candidate for affordable housing.” There is an extensive public record of the parcel being assessed and recommended for affordable housing. There are many public statements from the Housing Director, Jennifer Hall, confirming its suitability for affordable housing, identifying it as “high priority” for affordable housing. Hall found the Kline’s lot to be every bit as suitable for affordable housing as the Y lot – the Kline’s lot is eligible for all the same sources of funding, it could be used to develop 400-600 units and, according to Hall, it has “no negative site issues.”
The Housing Commission director, Jennifer Hall, has made no public statement (written or otherwise) recanting her own past statements. Why? Because she would look foolish. The facts have not changed. What changed? City leadership. A unanimous City Council has landed on a narrative that depends on Hall’s seal of approval. There is not a voice of dissent to challenge the new narrative. Council Members are comfortable speaking on Hall’s behalf, knowing she can not speak up or contradict them. How could she?
A previous City Council committed this public asset to the public purpose of affordable housing and then invested in significant community engagement to confirm that priority. Community engagement identified competing interests that must be balanced: the desire for affordable housing and the need for parking for downtown merchants. In selling the Kline’s lot for private, luxury housing, City Council delivers neither. Under this City government, what the community wants from a public asset doesn’t matter. Ms. Hall’s assessment of its suitability for affordable housing was easily set aside.
When Council discusses the sale of the Kline’s lot, they are likely to emphasize how thoughtfully the decision was considered in the last three years. That thoughtful consideration actually happened seven years ago, before any of the current Council Members were seated. Thoughtful consideration stopped abruptly in November 2022.
Just six months after Mayor Taylor achieved his unanimous Council, strategies shifted to secretive behind-the-scenes negotiations, outside of public view and outside of any public records that could ever be accessed via FOIA request. Since November 2022, City Council has methodically removed opportunity for public discussion of how the Kline’s lot would best meet community needs. In a newsletter to constituents, Council Member Briggs reflects on the history of this property and made the remarkable statement that in 2024, “Council proposed utilizing a broker to increase transparency.” Up is down and down is up.
In questions to the agenda this week, Council Member Akmon asked staff to provide a “brief summary of the public and stakeholder engagement conducted to date.” The list provided by staff included three unanimous City Council votes, one Council work session, meetings with the Main Street Area Association and one meeting described vaguely as a “stakeholder roundtable.” In other words: there has been no public engagement. The robust public engagement that happened previously, has simply been rejected.
Instead of transparency and public engagement, City leaders offer alternative facts and an alternative reality. The gaslighting is aggressive and persistent. They pretend that there was never any discussion about (or commitment to) maintaining the Kline’s lot in public ownership. Council members pretend that the public never offered its own priorities for the lot. Most appalling: City leaders would have us believe that we simply cannot afford to maintain public assets in public ownership.
WHY THIS MATTERS
One of Ann Arbor’s greatest resources is an educated community of residents who care. The decision this week illustrates exactly what happens when the people elected as representatives are not actually interested in the job of representation.
Current elected leaders behave as if Ann Arbor is economically depressed, desperate for any infusion of cash. The sale of city property to investors will bring tax revenue. For the current City Council, tax revenue is now the highest priority, above anything else that the community might value— every policy decision is now considered through that lens.
Regarding the Kline’s lot, specifically, you can follow the history of how City Hall shifted from a community-driven government to an investor-driven government here:
VIDEO: Few Things Considered: Affordable Housing & “Other Initiatives”
https://youtu.be/hIw3Ze-g5PQ?si=hBWWprtiDatBgj9C
Residents cannot assert priorities or raise concerns, because every decision depends on tax revenue, i.e. what investors want. City Council reminds us that we must simply create the most favorable conditions for the investors, our saviors. City Council will sell out the City until there is nothing left to sell.
Thank you for taking the time to be informed about our local government!
Elizabeth Nelson