Dharma's Council Newsletter, December 14, 2025

Neighbors,

I hope you're all staying warm and looking forward to celebrating the holidays with your family and friends. In our last meeting of 2025, City Council meets next on Monday, December 15 at 7 p.m. Before my agenda highlights, here are a few items to share.

Compost Pickup and Christmas Tree Dropoff Sites 

Weekly curbside compost pickup ended December 12th. During the winter, the city shifts to once-a-month compost cart collection in January (week of the 5th), February (week of the 2nd), and March (week of the 2nd), picked up on your regular trash day. Only compost carts are collected in winter, no bags or bundles. If you do not have a cart, you can get one for free through the City’s customer service center (734.794.6320 or customerservice@a2gov.org). The city also has good tips online for winter composting at https://www.a2gov.org/wintercompost.

The City is also providing free Christmas tree drop-off at four city parks from December 15 through January 19. Learn more.

New Residential Rebates for Electric Snow Blowers

The City has launched a new rebate program for shovels and electric snow blowers, running from December 8 through March 1, or until funds are used. Residents can trade in a gas-powered snow blower and receive either a free shovel or up to $200 off an electric snow blower. Rebates can be used at any retailer, with one rebate per household. More details, including information on similar rebates on electric leaf blowers, are available on the city’s electric lawn care page.

City Council Meeting, Monday, December 15 at 7 p.m.

• Meeting Agenda

• Responses to Council Member Questions

Agenda Highlights

CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS

• Senior Center Staffing Using County Older Persons Millage (CA-1). This resolution would add one full-time staff position at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, funded entirely by the Washtenaw County Older Persons Millage approved by voters in 2024. The new senior-focused recreation coordinator would expand programming and provide more consistent support for older adults. The position does not affect the city’s general fund and was unanimously recommended by the Park Advisory Commission.

• High-Level Trunkline Capacity Improvement Project Construction Contract (CA-5). This resolution approves a construction contract for a major sewer capacity project along West Washington, First Street, and Miller that is being driven primarily by the University of Michigan’s new Central Campus student housing. The total project cost is about $20.5 million. The University of Michigan will cover $17.8 million of that cost, while the City’s share is $2.7 million, paid from the Sewage Disposal Fund. The project adds a new relief sewer to reduce pressure on the existing system during heavy rain, improving reliability for both the university and the surrounding area.

• Adopt Board of Review Guidelines for Poverty Exemptions for Property Taxes (CA-13). City Council will vote on updating the City’s poverty exemption guidelines for property taxes. The key change would be that eligibility is now tied to 50 percent of Washtenaw County’s area median income, not just the federal poverty line. This allows more low-income households to qualify for partial property tax relief, while keeping the existing $50,000 asset limit. The guidelines also formalize a tiered system, with full exemptions for those at or below the federal poverty level and partial exemptions for households slightly above it.

• Grant for Affordable Housing at 350 S. Fifth and PILOT for 350 S. Fifth Affordable Housing Project (CA-15 and CA-16). These two resolutions advance a major affordable housing project at 350 South Fifth Avenue (across from the library at the old YMCA lot) and put the final local pieces in place to secure state and federal financing. The first resolution approves a $4 million grant from the City’s Affordable Housing Fund to the Ann Arbor Housing Development Corporation to help close the financing gap for a 20-story, mixed-use affordable housing development on the former city-owned site. The project will include about 330 apartments, all affordable to households earning 80 percent of area median income or less, with an average affordability of 60 percent AMI. At least 110 units will be deeply affordable to households earning under 30 percent AMI and supported with project-based vouchers and services. A new permanent deed restriction will require the greater of 100 units or 40% of the building to remain affordable at 60 percent AMI or below. The second resolution approves a payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT, of $1 per unit per year for the residential portion of the project for 45 years. This step is required by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority to secure Low Income Housing Tax Credits, which are the primary funding source for the development. Together, these actions leverage local affordable housing dollars to unlock tens of millions in outside funding and deliver a large number of permanently affordable homes in the downtown core.

• Resolution of Intent to Expand DDA Boundaries (CA-21). This resolution declares City Council’s intent to expand the boundaries of the Downtown Development District to the north of the current DDA (see proposed map) and to consider adopting the DDA’s updated Development Plan and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) plan for 2026 to 2055. The updated TIF plan outlines how captured growth in property values would be reinvested in public improvements like streets, utilities, transit access, affordable housing support, and infrastructure needed to support a vibrant downtown. Proposed changes to TIF capture include that, starting in 2026, the DDA would move from the current cap system to a new revenue-sharing model for tax increment financing. When property values grow in the downtown district, the taxes from that new growth would be split: 70 percent would stay with the DDA for reinvestment, and 30 percent would be passed back to other local taxing jurisdictions. Only new tax growth within the DDA would be affected, not existing tax revenues. If approved, this resolution sets the process required by state law, including making the proposed plan available for public review and scheduling a public hearing on Monday, February 2, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. You can learn more about the DDA Plan on the City's Engage site.

  

  
  

NEW BUSINESS - Council

• Resolution to Direct Removal of Neighborhood Watch Signs (DC-4). Neighborhood Watch signs are a legacy of a defunct program and are no longer connected to any police operations. Research shows these programs do not reduce crime and often reinforce racialized suspicion and biased reporting. More than 600 signs remain posted across the city, despite no longer reflecting how Ann Arbor approaches public safety. The resolution sets a deadline of July 15, 2026 to complete sign removal, with a progress update to Council in April. (Sponsors: Eyer and Harrison) 

I'd love to hear from you.Feel free to reach out any time with your questions, concerns, or ideas:

Email: DAkmon@a2gov.orgPhone/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!