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Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summaries
from Council Member Elizabeth Nelson
Accessible from A2COUNCIL.com and A2ELNEL.com/A2COUNCIL
For each City Council meeting, I provide links to the agenda on the City's Legistar website, CTN's YouTube video of the meeting, and to my newsletters and voting charts. I write summaries of agenda items, along with Legistar links, articles I've written (highlighted purple), and articles published on MLive. Look for highlighted text to find votes on development, affordable housing, and the City's Sustainability and Innovations department.
This page is displaying information from a single Council meeting - click here to return to all meetings.
January 3, 2022
This was the first City Council meeting held in person at City Hall since March 2020. Members of the public can participate in public hearings and public comment either in person or via phone.
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CM Hayner was absent
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CM Song was absent
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APPROVED: The Unified Development Code (UDC) is amended to change the City process for revision and approval of site plans. Site plans not associated to rezoning petitions will now be reviewed by the City Planning Commission, rather than City Council. Site plans will no longer be required for construction of up to four residential units (current threshold is two units). Up to six residential units may be approved by the Planning Manager, without the review of Planning Commission. (Legistar)
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APPROVED: City ordinances are amended to reflect changes in the City’s procedures for contracting and purchases. Council approval is required only for contracts and purchases over $75,000; this is a change from the previous threshold of $25,000. A set of criteria aimed at achieving “best value” will be used to make purchases and enter into contracts over $75,000; this is a change from the previous standard of “lowest responsible bidder.” Additionally, City Council is empowered to sell “surplus” property by the same standard. From the amended ordinance: “City Council retains the right to dispose of City real and personal property in a manner that provides the best value to the City, with or without competitive bids, in City Council’s determination.” All of these changes are consistent with ballot proposals approved by voters in November 2021. (Legistar)
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PUBLIC HEARING: City Council held a public hearing (without any vote) regarding the establishment of an industrial development district comprised of 16.9 acres of land at 3874, 3990, 3886, 3994, 3950, 3958 Research Park Drive, owned by Sartorius BioAnalytical Instruments, Inc. Establishment of this district would allow Sartorius to apply for industrial facilities exemption certificates, which have the effect of creating certain tax abatements. State law allows up to 50% property tax exemption for up to 12 years. (Legistar)
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APPROVED: An employment contract for retiring City Attorney Stephen Postema will permit him to act as a legal advisor to the city through Nov 30, 2022, for up to ten hours per week. (Legistar)
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At the Dec 20, 2021 meeting, Council approved an employment contract with Atleen Kaur, who will serve as the Ann Arbor City Attorney starting April 11, 2022. (Legistar)
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APPROVED: City Council waived attorney-client privilege on a followup investigation report to another report dated June 29, 2021, regarding former City Administrator Tom Crawford, “for the sake of transparency.” (Legistar)