Dharma's Council Newsletter, March 2, 2025
- dharmafora2
- Mar 2
- 5 min read
Neighbors,
I hope this email finds you well and that you are enjoying the first glimpses of Spring. City Council meets Monday, March 3 at 7pm. This week, I'm jumping right into a preview of our agenda.
City Council Meeting, Monday, March 3 at 7pm
Responses to Council Member Questions. There were no questions submitted by council members for this agenda.
Agenda Highlights
Pauline City-State Agreement (CA-3). This is a resolution to approve a contract between the City and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) for the construction phase of the Pauline Water Main and Resurfacing Project, which will start early this Spring. The project includes replacing the water main between Seventh Street and Main Street and resurfacing the road over the same limits, and a number of features to reduce vehicle speeds and improve safety for people walking and biking (raised intersections, a raised crosswalk, a speed hump, ADA accessible ramps, and the addition of on-street bike lanes as part of our All Ages All Abilities network). The estimated total cost of the project is $5.4M. The City will receive $600.000.00 in Federal funds for this project.
Resolution to Approve Contract with Bailey Excavating - 2025 Misc. Utility Project ($4,384,077.17)(CA-4). The annual Miscellaneous Utilities project typically combines smaller utility projects from the Capital Improvements Plan into one construction contract to reduce administrative costs and bid prices. This year's projects include:
Resolution to Approve a Grant Agreement with Avalon Housing for $100,000 to Improve Energy Efficiency at Stimson Apartments (CA-10) Avalon Housing applied for and was awarded $590,000.00 from the MSHDA MI Neighborhood Program, contingent upon receiving $100,000.00 in matching funds from the City. This resolution would grant Avalon Housing $100,000.00 to improve energy efficiency and decarbonization efforts at Stimson Apartments (affordable housing). This work will include installing energy-efficient heat pumps for heating and cooling.
UDC Amendments (Nonconforming Structure) (C-1). I serve as the Council liaison to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), and this change was initiated at the request of the ZBA. Current regulations limit approval of alterations to nonconforming structures to only nonconforming single-family structures in R1 (Single-Family), R2 (Two-Family), R3 (Townhouse), and R4 (Multiple-Family) districts that meet the setback requirements of the district. Alterations to any other type of nonconforming structure (a two-family dwelling, multiple-family dwellings, nonresidential buildings), and/or alterations that continue an existing nonconformity, require approval by the Zoning Board of Appeals. As noted in the staff report, "Over the past 10 years, the ZBA has approved nearly all petitions to alter a nonconforming structure. Since January 2023, all these petition types have been approved by the Board... The ZBA rarely receives neighbor correspondence in opposition to an alteration to a nonconforming structure. These approvals and lack of opposition indicate the regulations no longer align with the community’s goals." The proposed amendment will allow an alteration to any type of residential nonconforming structure if all of the following are true: the alteration does not extend closer to a lot line; the alteration does not create any new nonconformities; the alteration complies with the district height, setback and other dimensional standards; and the alteration complies with all building code requirements. This will save residents seeking to make such changes time and money.
Resolution to Approve a Professional Services Agreement with NewGen Strategies and Solutions, LLC to Complete an Electric Grid Asset Valuation and Municipalization Study and Resolution to Authorize City Staff to Perform the Preliminary Work Necessary to Put the Question of the Acquisition of DTE Electric Company’s Assets to a Vote of the People and Prepare for Litigation Should the Voters Authorize Such Acquisition (DC-1 and DC-2). Postponed during the last meeting, City Council will consider these items at Monday's meeting. I will not be supporting these. You can read my thoughts on these items in my February 16 newsletter.
Resolution to Order Election and to Determine Ballot Question for Charter Amendment to Authorize the Sale of 319 South Fifth Avenue to the Ann Arbor District Library (DC-3) (Sponsors: Taylor, Eyer, Harrison, Cornell and Akmon). This would place on the August 5, 2025 election ballot a proposed City Charter amendment that would authorize the sale of 319 South Fifth Avenue—commonly known as the Library Lane Parking Structure—to the Ann Arbor District Library (AADL). If Ann Arbor voters pass it, it would allow the city to sell the property exclusively to AADL for a mixed-use development featuring: expanded library services, housing, Retail space, programmable open public space. This proposal does not authorize new taxes and will only take effect if the following related ballot measure is also passed by voters.
Resolution to Order Election and to Determine Ballot Question for Charter Amendment to Repeal Section 1.4 of the City Charter (DC-4) (Sponsors: Taylor, Eyer, Harrison, Cornell and Akmon). This would place on the August 5, 2025 ballot
a repeal of Section 1.4 of the City Charter, which currently designates the public land bounded by Fifth Avenue, William, Division, and Liberty Streets as the "Center of the City"—a space to remain publicly owned in perpetuity and developed as an urban park and civic commons. This controversial provision was approved by voters in 2018, however the envisioned urban park has not materialized, primarily due to a lack of funding. City funds were never available and efforts to attract private investments have fallen short. As a result, only a few temporary events have been held on the site, with no permanent developments taking place. In January 2025, City Council introduced a resolution to explore alternative uses for the site by engaging with the Ann Arbor District Library to consider constructing a new downtown library and housing on the property as well as public programmable space. This initiative seeks to activate the space in a manner that aligns with the community's evolving needs. Adoption of this amendment is conditioned on adoption of City Proposal A at this election. If both Proposal A and Proposal B pass, the city could move forward with selling the site to AADL for redevelopment. If Proposal B fails, the "Center of the City" designation would remain in place, requiring the land to stay in public ownership indefinitely.
Email: DAkmon@A2gov.org | Phone/text: 734-492-5866
You can also communicate your thoughts via:
Email City Council: CityCouncil@a2gov.org
Comment at the meeting (remote or in person): Call the City Clerk's office at 734-794-6140 beginning at 8 a.m. on the day of the meeting to reserve a public speaking time. NOTE: you do not need to reserve time to speak during a "public hearing (PH)" item.
