[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6301965,"mediaKeyId","2482953-f807f3f2d156af93d5d4de28fa898888","parentId",2482953,"title","Votes at a glance: key council actions March 3, 2025","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",4344000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2482953-f807f3f2d156af93d5d4de28fa898888&start=4344&end=4344","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2482953-f807f3f2d156af93d5d4de28fa898888/thumbnail_4344000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6301965/Ann-Arbor-City/Washtenaw-County/Michigan/Votes-at-a-glance-key-council-actions-March-3-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6301965-7c653f6345870980c420cdd396cf17c7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203014&Signature=Xp8xYtBhZbFw63DV96MItZikSekoOzFc8Gln5l1nwpDiraoFUrl7ecnZwW~zyFhpJQeunECzIHIFApQe~mmuCyemIFv5AklNMKYhnImJHoBQS8f0LILwCr3O4dassUzOV6lkTbM8hLbMpOKX4MBwpNvoaxeKkzhOUSzsyoAE0D8Jmbv2pHERp3YK-LCmfX4fItmOQPsY7scdLIKVryaz4TsWVCu6Q1emR6JN6v6QIpojmx61Mm1UJtdmLVIFXBY4o-FQbPvTyABZio8UNG1rFOFdWrJDTeLJWSrJ~k2QWbva4cncvsGTCSah27DP~PPKETNHUgN~KzMAgwO31UqZvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","CTN Ann Arbor","date","2025-03-03T00:00:00Z","article","The Ann Arbor City Council took action on several routine and substantive items during its March 3 meeting. Below are the principal outcomes recorded on the public agenda.

Passed

- B‑1 (rezoning): Ordinance to rezone approximately 0.6 acres from R1C (single‑family dwelling) to PL (Public Land) at Dexter Road and Siebel Drive (parcels listed in packet). Motion moved by Council Member Disch, seconded by Council Member Cornell; approved (voice vote).

- C‑1 (nonconforming structure code amendment): Amendment to Section 532.2 of Chapter 55 (Unified Development Code) to reduce the burden for certain alterations to nonconforming structures. Moved by Council Member Disch; seconded by Council Member Watson; approved. Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals had recommended the change.

- CA7 (gift acceptance): Council acknowledged a $117,000 gift from the estate of James Robert Packard to increase routine street tree pruning; referenced in council commentary and approved as part of consent agenda.

- CA10 (grant match for Avalon Housing): Resolution to grant Avalon Housing $100,000 from the Office of Sustainability to match a $600,000 MSHDA (Michigan State Housing and Development Authority) grant for accessibility and energy improvements at a 23‑unit affordable housing property; approved as part of the consent agenda.

- CA5 (construction contract with Bailey Excavating Inc. for 2025 miscellaneous utility projects and appropriation of $3,473,600) — approved as amended (see separate article on Wallingford‑Harding).

Appointments and other

- Appointment confirmation: Alice Owings confirmed to the Board of Review (moved by Council Member Cornell; seconded by Council Member Ackman; approved).

- Executive session: Council authorized a closed session under statute Section 8(h) to discuss a written attorney‑client communication dated March 2, 2025 (roll call approved).

Votes that failed or did not advance

- DC1 and DC2 related to a phase‑2 municipalization valuation study and preparatory staff work failed (see municipalization article). Those motions did not carry on roll call votes.

Notes

If readers need complete roll‑call tallies, the meeting transcript includes full roll‑call sequences for the significant roll‑call votes (DC1, CA5 amendment, DC3/DC4).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Ann Arbor City Council 3/3/25","oneSentenceSummary","Summary of ordinances, code amendments, appointments and consent‑agenda items the Ann Arbor City Council approved March 3.","taxTitle","Ann Arbor City, Washtenaw County, Michigan","taxId",5773,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6301969,"Council approves utility contract with amended language after neighborhood dispute over Wallingford‑Harding redesign",470,3683000,4153000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2482953-f807f3f2d156af93d5d4de28fa898888&start=3683&end=4153","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2482953-f807f3f2d156af93d5d4de28fa898888/thumbnail_3683000.jpg","/articles/6301969/Ann-Arbor-City/Washtenaw-County/Michigan/Council-approves-utility-contract-with-amended-language-after-neighborhood-dispute-over-WallingfordHarding-redesign","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6301969-6127a26296f2309f5df8f716d441429f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203014&Signature=AQTz7wWqWg51cC0UQUW9IJqbppkoRW5-ZRJCh1ZFV~NCy9aCfAKkZMaM6jRg5pG8Ul8qB5ymVt261xGn2wcXRM2YtO8vLypl26Zj9nKjXxJD1JoFn~5q1CGbY966VwWqFetHyu0G-7fVi0IarVJIktLWPidHMM~tft5yHIRIxN4Y1IxIi9mSIIPu5HlOmKzmvMWW1MwAJLQChk73LIyNNgb7I-4GRawSP0aeqe4xSnDWDdkjOXCOoq2A2ArUPpJEcvV3nLKKBczjr9g8vlBcGWIuAt~zMuJiEd-PghmkcrmJAYo0V66m4ZsxHXbvN-pH-32a8fguM1tWztItg0hRPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council on March 3 approved CA5, a construction contract with Bailey Excavating Inc. for the 2025 miscellaneous utility projects that includes new water main, sanitary sewer work and roadway resurfacing at several city locations. The council amended the packet language for the Wallingford‑Harding intersection so the item now refers to \"safety improvements\" rather than an explicit \"narrowing\" and directed the city administrator to continue collaborative engagement with residents on final plans.

At a staff introduction, Nick Hutchinson (city engineer representative) told council the project combines multiple small locations for efficiency and that Harding Road work will require removing pavement where the Wallingford‑Harding intersection will be reconstructed. Hutchinson said design decisions were not finalized and staff were evaluating additional concepts — including neighborhood‑style roundabouts and speed humps — and that traffic calming program funds were not being used on this project.

Public comment and neighborhood response

Residents near the Wallingford‑Harding intersection spoke at length in opposition to a narrowing design and criticized the public engagement process. Speakers including Gina Katz, Maruri Guttupalli and Victoria Langland described petitions (171 residents and 111 households reported by Katz) and said they were not engaged collaboratively. They cited a neighborhood‑run traffic count finding average daily traffic of about 274 cars with 5th‑percentile speeds near 15 mph and asked the city to remove narrowing language from the bid and instead work collaboratively on a design.

Council amendment and vote

Council Member Adena moved an amendment to replace the phrase \"narrowing of Wallingford Harding Intersection\" with \"Wallingford Harding intersection safety improvements\" and to add a directive that the city administrator continue to engage and collaborate with the public before selecting final plans. The amendment passed on roll call (majority yes; Council Member Cornell voted no). The amended CA5 then passed as part of the consent/contract vote; council recorded the main motion as approved after the amendment.

Why it matters: the project will replace utility infrastructure and provides an opportunity to redesign the public right‑of‑way for safety and ADA compliance. Neighborhoods emphasized that process and meaningful collaboration matter and requested alternative calming measures be fully considered before final plans.

Supporting details and context

- Hutchinson (staff) said the intersection was evaluated for ADA compliance, long pedestrian crossing distances, and large turn radii that encourage higher vehicle speeds; proximity to Tappan Middle School and Burns Park Elementary were cited as factors supporting safety work.
- Staff said the intersection was chosen because utility work required pavement removal there, not because the site was prioritized over other streets.
- The formal traffic calming petition program has its own budget and is not being tapped for this project; staff said other petitioned projects would not be delayed by CA5.

Ending

Council approved the contract as amended and directed staff to continue a public, iterative design process before finalizing improvements at Harding and Wallingford.

","Council approved a $3.47 million miscellaneous utility contract that includes work on Harding Road and associated safety changes at the Wallingford‑Harding intersection after adding language directing further collaborative design work with residents.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6301974,"Council sends two library‑lot charter amendments to the ballot, orders election",6318,914000,7232000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2482953-f807f3f2d156af93d5d4de28fa898888&start=914&end=7232","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2482953-f807f3f2d156af93d5d4de28fa898888/thumbnail_914000.jpg","/articles/6301974/Ann-Arbor-City/Washtenaw-County/Michigan/Council-sends-two-librarylot-charter-amendments-to-the-ballot-orders-election","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6301974-67e6d3dc38572e47ae66945f1d560e0b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203014&Signature=jbh~-YU620NVTfr9ae2LaE2IeHsu~THGHtbG6FthO3u~DD3dnkPXmg6vuT~kRPSB54oA0bNIy1OzdLO5BCj9AE2ZtNmAfXLdk8Ag66x9FeKubuKqrPiDshcG~LoCzU8D2hYWzVfbnpTIub7qHA-SdhynxHse0v7niSKNHcV0KCV9ip-9~4PFZhMmPkhJT3AFyWJZpMuV94Ow1KqzvOQplZT03ncxIvbsFNLM30ikWOsofTTgKSvCQ1NxEXwTeW2GKeYROQM~ScinvWO4RmiNzrPBx3Gujb6a7Nz6NLxVvL6ewcB7pT-UFGR13P-MJB5ttUEK6Uh3wb4CnV3wci8~tA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ann Arbor City Council voted March 3 to place two charter amendment questions on the ballot that would (1) authorize the sale of 319 South Fifth Avenue to the Ann Arbor District Library and (2) repeal section 1.4 of the city charter that currently specifies a narrow use for that parcel.

Council members described the action as a way to enable a larger mixed‑use redevelopment that would include a new downtown library branch, programming spaces, public open space and mixed‑income housing without new city taxes. Council Member Cornell, who moved DC3, said the plan envisions “a much needed new expanded library, an attractive public open space, mixed use housing, small and local business incubation, all without any new taxes.”

Public comment showed disagreement. Several residents and civic groups, including the Library Green Conservancy and longtime advocates for the 2018 ballot question (“Proposal A”), urged caution and asked that any ballot caption and timing be clear and not mislead voters. Thomas Sweeter, who identified himself as representing a citizens group that previously litigated ballot caption language, said the ballot caption must accurately reflect what voters will be asked and argued voters should know details before they vote.

Votes and procedure

- DC4 (repeal of charter section 1.4) — moved by Council Member Iyer, seconded by Council Member Cornell; roll‑call vote carried (10 yes, 0 no). The council president noted that specifics about proposed uses were omitted from the ballot language to avoid legal objections that ballot language be non‑advocatory; fuller project details will be distributed prior to the election.

- DC3 (authorize sale of 319 South Fifth Avenue to the Ann Arbor District Library) — motion reconsidered and then approved as amended; final vote recorded as carried with 10 council members voting yes.

Why it matters: supporters argued converting the lot into a library‑anchored mixed‑use development would create housing, expand library services and activate downtown; opponents said the 2018 citizen‑led Proposal A and its promise of an open park should be honored or at least clearly explained to voters, and some asked to move a special election to November for higher turnout.

Supporting details and context

Council and several public speakers noted the library lot sits atop an underground parking structure that was not designed as a park, which complicates purely surface‑park proposals. The council packet included a late memo describing negotiation points and possible easements. The council also added a parcel (319 South Fifth Avenue and a related parcel) to the ballot language so any development that relies on existing ramps or easements would be authorized if voters approve.

Ending

Both measures will appear on a future ballot as council directed, with more public information promised before the vote. Council members said they expect further public outreach and additional detail on the library’s proposed approach in the coming weeks.

","By vote March 3, Ann Arbor council approved two charter amendments to let the Ann Arbor District Library acquire and develop the downtown library lot and to repeal the charter's specific land‑use language for the site.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6301979,"Ann Arbor council rejects $1.73 million phase‑2 municipalization study vote",5611,649000,6260000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2482953-f807f3f2d156af93d5d4de28fa898888&start=649&end=6260","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2482953-f807f3f2d156af93d5d4de28fa898888/thumbnail_649000.jpg","/articles/6301979/Ann-Arbor-City/Washtenaw-County/Michigan/Ann-Arbor-council-rejects-173-million-phase2-municipalization-study-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6301979-96bbf17296b3a6620767e05da12620fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203014&Signature=GHkcjlgmbMwtuZaZExJDUnTekTjrnxHzI7CEmtW1wCoCIMSvQwZb1-mr0gPj8wNb71AKJrqnt9Tpw78hWQ5rpsYl0hpvuu2Q6cxJyLrcn8XWg4rYVeppY~0~yjVeSN3xo26yQvBASJ-u3lxsIGBaTfaiCWJKmH0abYwJn3IorOWh18OdswiRgGjzpJM8hlHoV1ntugw00O2IjWS6OPWT-D3PsvcbURS8xQXuKkr69JSo5tcpgGo1-v0ojaz4QHxhsBKeryMJ1vH2uYYogzDxEO8GRYceleC5WG0UsRep9maRouHiV2RpyP7iHx3tz8Hoy0aQ9JHjuQcaPY1gv8gn-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ann Arbor City Council voted down a proposal on March 3 to hire NewGen Strategies and Solutions LLC for a phase‑2 electric grid valuation and municipalization study, rejecting a $1,728,000 contract that would have advanced work on whether the city should acquire DTE Electric Company assets.

Supporters said the study was necessary to give residents independent information before considering municipalization. Milton Baker, a resident who spoke during public comment, urged council to “empower us with this information by voting for it tonight.” Several other residents — including Ella Edelstein, Mike Nowak and Isha Khan — urged the council to move forward, citing reliability, climate and equity concerns.

Opponents and some council members said the city’s current fiscal and political uncertainty made a large new allocation imprudent. Council members who voted no raised concerns that acquiring DTE assets could cost hundreds of millions to more than a billion dollars and that litigation and system upgrades would add many years of cost and uncertainty.

The contract (DC1) was moved by Council Member Medina and seconded by Council Member Disch. After a roll‑call vote the tally was 5 yes, 5 no, and the motion failed. A separate companion measure (DC2) to authorize preparatory staff work to put an acquisition question before voters also failed later in the meeting.

Why it matters: supporters argued the city needs an independent valuation to decide a potential billion‑dollar choice about utility ownership and climate goals; opponents said the city should not commit significant general‑fund dollars while federal support and local social‑service budgets face new uncertainty.

Supporting details and context

City staff and council members referenced results from the earlier phase‑1 work, which provided a broad cost range for acquisition and noted substantial legal and regulatory uncertainty. Speakers cited the phase‑1 estimate range discussed at the meeting (approximately $281 million to $1.15 billion) and said a phase‑2 study would reduce that uncertainty. Council and staff described potential funding sources for the study discussed during earlier budget work: identified air‑rights revenue and $1,000,000 of unanticipated revenue previously set aside, leaving roughly $1.7 million asked for DC1.

Council debate split along two lines: those who said the study is an essential informational step before any voter question; and those who said current budget and federal policy uncertainty — including possible federal funding cuts affecting local social services and grants — make such an allocation risky now. Council members who supported the study emphasized public power’s potential to improve reliability, advance climate goals and allow local rate design; opponents emphasized unknown litigation cost and the risk of diverting funds from existing programs.

Votes and formal actions

- DC1 (professional services agreement with NewGen Strategies and Solutions LLC for $1,728,000) — mover: Council Member Medina; seconder: Council Member Disch; roll‑call vote 5 yes, 5 no; outcome: failed.
- DC2 (authorize staff preliminary work to prepare for a voter acquisition question and litigation) — mover: Council Member Cornell; seconder: Council Member Disch; outcome: failed.

Discussion vs. decision

The record contains extensive public comment both supporting and opposing municipalization; staff and council described funding sources and prior budget actions. The council explicitly separated the discussion (public comments and policy arguments) from formal action (roll‑call votes), and both companion motions failed, leaving no formal direction to proceed with a municipal acquisition valuation study.

Ending

Because both motions failed, the council did not direct staff to proceed with a phase‑2 valuation or with preparatory work to put an acquisition question before voters. Council members and community advocates indicated the debate will continue in subsequent meetings and via potential citizen initiatives.

","Council deadlocks on a professional services contract to study buying DTE assets after hours of public comment; related staff preparatory actions also failed.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: key council actions March 3, 2025

Council approves utility contract with amended language after neighborhood dispute over Wallingford‑Harding redesign

Council sends two library‑lot charter amendments to the ballot, orders election

Ann Arbor council rejects $1.73 million phase‑2 municipalization study vote