Dharma's Council Newsletter, February 17, 2026

Feb 16
3 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

Neighbors,

City Council meets Thursday, February 19th at 7 p.m.

Tomorrow, Wednesday February 18th from 5:30-6:30pm, Council Member Eyer and I are hosting a Ward 4 coffee hour with Police Chief Andre Anderson at York. Please join us!

Also tomorrow evening, if land use policy is more your speed, the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing at 5:30 pm on Draft 4 of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan at Larcom City Hall. Details and the draft plan are available on the City’s Engage site: https://engage.a2gov.org/comprehensive-land-use-plan.

Lastly, as I have shared that I will not be seeking reelection, I am proud to endorse Aidan Sova for Ward 4 City Council. Aidan understands the work ahead on housing, transportation, and climate, and I believe he will serve Ward 4 well. You can learn more and follow his campaign here: https://www.voteaidansova.com/.

City Council Meeting, Thursday, February 19 at 7 p.m.

Agenda Highlights

CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS

Liberty Street Creek Restoration (CA-6). Council will vote on a contract to restore and stabilize nearly 500 feet of a tributary to Allen Creek near West Liberty Street in the Fair Glen and Liberty Knolls area. The project will address sediment buildup and severe bank erosion, install stormwater quality features, remove invasive species, and replant native trees and landscaping.The construction contract is $838,592, within a total project budget of $1.97 million funded primarily by the Stormwater Fund, with additional ARPA support. Construction is expected to run from March through July 2026. To learn more about this project visit: https://engage.a2gov.org/liberty-restoration.
Private Property Tree Planting Program (CA-13). City Council will vote on a $227,000 agreement with Margolis Nursery to support the City’s Private Property Tree Planting Program. The program expands tree planting on residential properties, with a focus on advancing tree equity and helping homeowners identify, prioritize, and care for new trees. Margolis will conduct site visits, recommend plantings based on anticipated benefits, carry out installations, and provide program evaluation. Funding comes entirely from a U.S. Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry grant secured by the City, aligned with our A2ZERO carbon neutrality and resilience goals.
Resolution to Appropriate Grant Funds from Ann Arbor SPARK to Develop Site Readiness Strategy (CA-17). Council will vote to accept and appropriate an $82,305 grant from Ann Arbor SPARK, funded through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, to develop a site readiness strategy focused on employment growth. This grant will fund a consultant led analysis of redevelopment opportunities and establish clear criteria to guide future land acquisition and site preparation efforts.

PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS

UDC Amendment - Bicycle and Vehicle Parking (PH-1). Council will consider second reading of an ordinance updating the City’s bicycle and vehicle parking standards in the Unified Development Code. This amendment primarily reorganizes and clarifies the code, but one notable policy change is a reduction in required Class A bicycle parking (long term, secure parking intended for residents or employees who leave a bike for hours at a time or overnight) in downtown residential buildings. Staff’s recommendation reflects data showing that many secure indoor spaces in high rise buildings are currently underused. Class C (short term, public facing parking meant for customers, visitors, or people making shorter trips) requirements in downtown remain unchanged, and a broader review of certain bicycle parking standards is expected in a future work plan item. Planning Commission supported these changes in an 8-0 vote.

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!