Dharma's Council Newsletter, August 3, 2025

Neighbors,

City Council meets next on Thursday, August 7 at 7 p.m. Don't forget to vote Tuesday, August 5th.

Ann Arbor voters will weigh in on Proposals A and B, which would allow the City to transfer the downtown "library lot" to the Ann Arbor District Library. If approved, the Library will transform the surface parking lot into:

• A new downtown library branch with more room for events and programming

• Mixed-income housing

• Public outdoor space

• Local retail and business incubation opportunities

And all of this would come with no new taxes.

If the proposals are voted down, the lot will remain as it is today: a surface parking lot.

I strongly encourage you to vote YES on both proposals.

I’ve heard from many residents who are frustrated by the tenor of the campaign and by misleading “Vote No” mailers. To help you sort fact from fiction, the library director has provided a helpful list of FAQs that clarifies what’s actually on the ballot and provides factual information. Let’s make a decision grounded in facts.

Ward 4 Listening Hour, August 10

Councilmember Eyer and I will host our next Ward 4 constituent coffee hour on Sunday, August 10 from 10-11am at York (1928 Packard St.). We hope to see you there!

LED Streetlight Conversion Underway

DTE’s contractor, Harlan Electric, began converting non-LED streetlights to energy-efficient LEDs the week of July 14. This work, made possible through a SEMCOG grant and active coordination by the City, will continue through the end of 2025.

This effort will significantly reduce energy use and costs, while improving lighting quality and reducing light pollution over the LED lights that DTE would install otherwise. Key features include: 2700K warm light for reduced glare and improved nighttime comfort; house-side shields on every cobra-head fixture to limit light trespass; and different wattage lights for major streets, intersections, and school zones vs local streets.

To track progress and report any issues, visit the City's project page, which includes a map of installation plans.

City Council Meeting, Thursday, August 7 at 7 p.m.

• Meeting Agenda

• Responses to Council Member Questions

Agenda Highlights

CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS

• Resolution to Approve Third Amendment to Professional Services Agreement for Arbor South Project (CA-16). City Council will vote on allocating an additional $100,000 for legal services related to the Arbor South Project, a proposed public-private development at 2845 S. State Street that includes over 1,000 units of multi-family housing, a hotel, commercial space, and three public parking decks. The City has been working with the law firm Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, PLC to negotiate terms, advise on bonding and Brownfield financing, and draft agreements. This amendment would bring the total legal contract to $175,000, funded from the City’s General Fund unobligated balance.

CITY COUNCIL ITEMS

• Land Use Plan Amendment Postponement (DC-1). At our last meeting, City Council approved a resolution requesting that Planning Commission amend the Draft Comprehensive Land Use Plan. However, we postponed the vote on allocating $83,000 additional dollars to the existing contract with Interface Studios. In this meeting we will vote on that budget reallocation (this would bring the total revised contract to $883,990).

• Resolution to Adopt Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Use Policy (DC-2). City Council will consider a new Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Use Policy to guide how drones are used by the City of Ann Arbor. While drone operations are federally regulated, this policy outlines how the City will review and manage its own drone use to reduce risks to safety, privacy, and civil liberties. (Sponsor: Council Administration Committee)

• Resolution Directing the Ann Arbor Planning Commission to Review the Marijuana Facilities Provisions of the Uniform Development Code (DC-3). City Council will consider a resolution that would direct the Planning Commission to review and recommend updates to how Ann Arbor regulates the location and permitting of marijuana retailers and other facilities. The proposal responds to recent changes in how the state enforces the 1,000-foot buffer between marijuana retailers and K–12 schools, which now threatens the legality of some long-standing local businesses. It also raises concerns that the current Special Exception Use (SEU) permitting process, which ties permits to individual parcels, makes it difficult for retailers to relocate. Of the 28 allowed retail licenses, only 21 are currently operating in Ann Arbor. The resolution asks the Planning Commission to consider changes such as reducing the school buffer distance, eliminating or revising the SEU requirement, modifying rules for growers and processors, and reassessing the city’s cap on retail licenses. The resolution calls for the Planning Commission to hold a public hearing and report its findings to Council within six months. (Sponsor: Councilmember Cornell)

I'd love to hear from you.

Feel free to reach out any time with your questions, concerns, or ideas:

Email: DAkmon@a2gov.org

Phone/Text: 734-492-5866

There are also several ways to share your thoughts with the full City Council:

• Submit an eComment online

• Email all of Council: CityCouncil@a2gov.org

• Speak at a Council meeting (in person or remote):Call the City Clerk’s office at 734-794-6140 starting at 8 a.m. on the day of the meeting to reserve a speaking time.Note: You do not need to reserve time to speak during a formal public hearing.

Thank you for staying informed and engaged!