Neighbors,
City Council meets on Monday, September 18th for a relatively light agenda. Before I get to a preview, here are some updates about things going on around Ann Arbor.
Summer Parkside Constituent Hours The last of my summer parkside constituent hours is tomorrow, September 17th, from 10am-11am at Esch Park (in case of rain, we will move to York on Packard). Design the New City Flag! A competition is now open for city residents to design the new City of Ann Arbor flag. Six finalists will each receive $200, while the overall winner will receive an additional $500. Designs must be submitted by 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3. For complete details, visit: url.a2gov.org/flag. Community Input Sought on West Park Bandshell Throughout this fall and winter the community will have many opportunities to weigh-in and provide feedback on the West Park Bandshell project. One way is via a survey that closes Sept 18th. Special Council Work Session on Energy Options Report On Tuesday, September 26th, Council will have a special work session on the Energy Options Analysis Report (about municipal power feasibility, including a Sustainable Energy Utility). The report, slides, and a summary of a public survey will be posted next week. I look forward to our engagement with residents on this topic.
City Council Meeting, Tuesday, September 18th at 7pm
Agenda Highlights
Rename Southeast Area Park as Bicentennial Park (CA-2). Earlier this year, City Council passed a resolution directing the City Administrator to designate Southeast Area Park as Bicentennial Park (read more on MLive). CA-2 directs the City Administrator to rename Southeast Area Park as Bicentennial Park, pursue all reasonable efforts to fundraise private dollars to create and sustain improvements to Bicentennial Park from this point forward; and to prepare and convene an appropriate park dedication ceremony, in which the City joins with the community to commemorate the renaming as Bicentennial Park. The City has already received $1M from state earmarks to make improvements to transform this park.
Support the Installation of "Murals That Bridge" Project (CA-6). The railroad metal overpasses and concrete under passes on Huron Street near North First Street have been identified as blighted and generally unsightly fixtures in a main artery of the City of Ann Arbor. This project will physically restore these spaces in a way which aligns with our vision to improve the quality of public spaces and structures in the Ann Arbor community with a mural by Mary Thiefels of TreeTown Murals. MDOT requires that the City be the permit applicant given the mural's location, and this resolution directs the City Administrator to do that.
Ordinance to Rezone 2670 & 2690 Ann Arbor-Saline Road (PH-1). This public hearing item concerns an ordinance to rezone 2 parcels along Ann Arbor-Saline Rd. from R1C Single-Family Dwelling District to O Office District. The owners of the parcels have been using the existing structures as office space for a small cleaning business and for storage. The uses are not in compliance with allowable uses in the R1C zoning district, which has triggered the petitioner to apply for a rezoning or otherwise be in violation of City zoning codes. An approved rezoning brings this site into closer zoning conformance for the office use and the personal indoor storage falls under an existing non-conforming use. Any future expansion of either buildings or parking lots would require a formal site plan submission, review and approval by the City Planning Commission and/or City Council. Staff recommends this rezoning, and it was also unanimously supported by Planning Commission.
Please reach out if you have questions, concerns, or thoughts on any of the agenda items. Email: DAkmon@A2gov.org | Phone/text: 734-492-5866 You can also communicate your thoughts via:
eComment
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.
Comments