Ann Arbor City Council Preview: June 20, 2023

Gentle readers, it's #a2Council Night in Ann Arbor. Here's the agenda. 

The evening kicks off with a thick, 30-item consent agenda. CA-1 and CA-2 are street closures for Firefighter Spray Park and A2 Artoberfest. 

There are 5 public hearings on the docket this evening. PH-1/B-1 is the second reading of an ordinance to allow the city to donate abandoned bikes on city property to local non-profits. PH-2/B-2 is the second reading of the ordinance removing the requirement that landlords give tenants information on their rights as tenants and how to vote. PH-3/B-3 is the second reading of the Humane Pet Adoption ordinance.

PH-4/B-4 and PH-5/DB-1 are both on the proposed PUD for 721 S Forest. This is a great project. It replaces a mid-rise with an energy efficient high-rise. Unfortunately, there is already some opposition to this good project. So if you feel so inclined, please call into council tonight and let them know you support this project, gentle readers. 

There are three ordinance first readings tonight. C-1 is the first reading of an ordinance that modifies the conditional zoning Beekman on Broadway project at 1140 Broadway. C-2 is the first reading of a new  ordinance that is aimed at stopping the Ann Arbor Police Department from conducting pretextual traffic stops. C-3 is the first reading of an ordinance that would allow people to legally put free items on their curb. 

On to the resolutions. DC-1 is a resolution to appoint Benjamin Calderon to the Historic District Commission. DC-2 is a resolution directing the City Administrator to engage with the Federal Government on the re-development of Federal Plaza on the 200 block of East Liberty. DC-3 is a resolution to ensure transparency, non-discrimination and equal opportunity in municipal contracting. DC-4 is a resolution to correct the city's budget by adding appropriating $2.6 M from the Major Streets fund. DC-5 is a resolution to authorize an easement on south blvd. DC-6 is a resolution to issue a request for proposals for an unarmed response program DC-7 is a resolution authorizing settlement of Harris b City of Ann Arbor. DC-8 is a resolution allowing people to put free items out on their curb.  

And that's all there is. Looks like the meeting could be pretty short. What items are you most looking forward to seeing? Hopefully we will see you there. The CTN stream starts at 7 pm. Make sure you follow the action on the #a2Council hashtag or on a2mi.social. 

Ann Arbor City Council Preview: June 5 2023

 

Gentle readers, tonight is the first #a2Council night of June. Here's the agenda. 

The night kicks off with a respectable 23-item consent agenda. CA-1, 2, and 3 are street closures for the YMCA Community Block Party (June 10), The Event on Main (June 22), and the Townie Street Party (July 16). 

There are no public hearings nor ordinance second readings tonight, but there are three ordinance first readings.  C-1 changes the rules around impounded bicycles. Currently if they are unclaimed after 1 month, the AAPD can sell them. This ordinance change would allow them to be donated to a non-profit in the city. C-2 repeals the portion of the city's tenants rights code that requires landlords to provide tenants with a tenants rights booklet and information about voter registration. This comes after the city of Ypsilanti was sued by five Ypsilanti landlords (Ian Greenlee, Stewart Beal, Karen Maurer, C. Hedger Breed and Robert Barnes) for a similar provision in that city's rental ordinance. C-3 is an ordinance to add a chapter on Human Pet Adoption to the city code. 

On to the resolutions! DC-1 is a resolution to reappoint non-resident electors to city boards and commissions. DC-2 is a resolution to direct planning commission to prioritize TC1 for the Plymouth and Washtenaw Corridors. You love to see it. DC-3 is a resolution to dissolve the Council of the Commons. For some background on this, check out this great opinion piece by Daniel Adams. DC-4 revises the 2023 council meeting calendar. DC-5 revises council rules. DC-6 authorizes the City Attorney to initiate and pursue legal action on behalf of the city. DC-7 directs the administrator to evaluate bonding the affordable housing millage. DC-8 is a resolution directing the city administrator to identify incentives that would support voluntary efforts to increase emissions reductions. And finally, DC-9 is a resolution to approve a memorandum of understanding between the city and the Economic Development of the City. 

And that's all there is. Looks like the meeting could be pretty short. What items are you most looking forward to seeing? Hopefully we will see you there. The CTN stream starts at 7 pm. Make sure you follow the action on the #a2Council hashtag or on a2mi.social.