2026-10-05 - City Council

04:55Good evening everyone and welcome please

04:58to the October 5th meeting of the Ann

05:00Arbor City Council. If you're able,

05:02please rise and join us for a moment of

05:04silence followed by the pledge of

05:05allegiance.

05:20I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

05:22United States of America and to the

05:25republic for which it stands, one nation

05:28under God, indivisible, with liberty and

05:30justice for all.

05:33Would

05:35our clerk please call the role of

05:36councel?

05:41>> Council member Dish

05:42>> here.

05:43>> Council Harrison

05:44>> here.

05:44>> Councilor Watson

05:45>> here.

05:46>> Councilor Malik

05:46>> here.

05:47>> Council Rodina

05:48>> here.

05:48>> Council Gazi Edwin

05:49>> here.

05:50>> Mayor Taylor

05:51>> here.

05:51>> Council Ayer

05:52>> here.

05:52>> Council Aman

05:53>> here. Councilor Briggs

05:54>> here. Council Cornell

05:56>> here. We have a quorum.

05:57>> May have a motion please to approve the

05:59agenda. Moved by council. Second by

06:00council member Aman. Discussion of the

06:02agenda.

06:05Council member Malik.

06:08>> I would like to move to add uh the

06:11proposed item to be added to the agenda.

06:13Resolution to approve purchase of green

06:14belt district land and appropriate

06:16766,517

06:19for purchase of fee title to the James

06:20R. Giesel property. And I believe it

06:23would be DC5.

06:25>> DC5 seconded by Council Mayor Readina.

06:27Discussion. All in favor? opposed. It is

06:32approved. Will you do me a favor and

06:33help remind me of that? Thank you. Uh

06:36further discussion of the main motion as

06:38pardon me of the agenda as amended.

06:42All in favor? All oppose? The agenda

06:44amended is approved. Are there

06:46communications today from our city

06:47administrator?

06:48>> No, ma'am.

06:49>> Uh we have the pleasure of a report from

06:50the Independent Community Police

06:52Oversight Commission. Chair uh Aman.

06:54Chair Aman, if you're here, you have the

06:55you have the con. Ah, welcome.

07:02Thank you and good evening, Mr. Mayor,

07:05city council members, city administrator

07:08Clark and the community. Um,

07:13my name is Muhammad Atman and I'm the

07:15chair of the Anarbor Independent

07:17Community Police Oversight Commission.

07:20First, I would like to thank the council

07:21for your vote to appoint three new

07:24commissioners to ECPO. I see also that

07:27you have on the agenda tonight uh two u

07:31new names of or two names of new

07:34candidates. Um I hope the council will

07:37confirm their appointment to the

07:38commission. Um thanks go to EPA and

07:42human rights commissioner um leazison

07:45for their help with the uh nominations

07:48and moving the uh names forward. Um and

07:52with this uh we are going to have a full

07:54house um with uh all vacancies being uh

07:58filled with no worries uh not having a

08:02quorum in any time in the future. Uh the

08:05commissioners um have diverse

08:09um experiences and backgrounds. We have

08:12a couple of engineers, three lawyers, uh

08:15community activist, committed mental

08:17health u uh specialist, physical

08:21therapist, uh author and physical

08:24activity and public health. So we have a

08:26quite a diverse uh backgrounds on our

08:29commission. Uh in regard to meetings,

08:33um EPA uh had our regular meeting

08:36September 29th uh 2026. a week later due

08:40to the council meeting on the 22nd

08:43um of September and also uh a lack of

08:47quorum because one uh commissioner was

08:51uh not available for the meeting and we

08:53had only six members. So we do not have

08:55a quorum. Um with the 29 we had uh nine

09:01um commissioners and even with the

09:03absence of two commissioners still we

09:05had uh a quorum and we had a regular

09:08meeting. Um

09:16and again thank you for appointing those

09:19three.

09:20Um, I had a meeting with Chief Anderson

09:23on September 16 to discuss issues of

09:27mutual interest to EPACH and APD and

09:30also Chief Anderson attended part of our

09:33um September 29th meeting and talked

09:36about and answered questions from the

09:39commissioners regarding the acquisition

09:41of Taser 10. Um and uh we are working on

09:46with the training committee subcommittee

09:48to arrange with APD to have a training

09:51session for EPACH commissioners to learn

09:53more about taser 10. Also the policy

09:57subcommittee will review APD policies

10:00regarding the use of the new taser.

10:05Um I had a meeting also with Lieutenant

10:08King from professional standards section

10:10to review the supportive materials of

10:14citizens complaints like bodywn camera

10:17videos. Um in terms of complaints we

10:20received so far 32 complaints and um a

10:24few of those were closed because they

10:26did not involve APD. Um and uh

10:30information managers generated EPACH

10:32reports for all uh completed complaints

10:35and these will be conveyed to the

10:37complainants. Uh there are still six uh

10:40complaints uh complaints being

10:42investigated by APD.

10:46Um Nickel uh annual conference uh Nickel

10:50stands for National Association for

10:52Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement.

10:55uh two commissioners will be attending

10:56the conference which will be held

10:58November 8 to 12 in Louisville,

11:01Kentucky. EKP is a member of Nicole that

11:05allows commissioners to attend uh these

11:08conferences as well as webinars at

11:10reduced rates.

11:13subcommittees. Uh we formed new

11:15subcommittees with the new

11:17commissioners. Uh and uh the

11:20commissioners were invited to choose any

11:22of subcommittees that would be suitable

11:25to uh their experiences. Uh

11:28subcommittees uh we have include the

11:30policy training, community outreach,

11:32recruitment, planning and information

11:35managers with the expectation that these

11:37subcommittees now are going to be more

11:39effective because of the number of

11:42commissioners who are going to be

11:44serving on these subcommittees. The uh

11:47policy subcommittee will uh be looking

11:50into our bylaws and ordinance regarding

11:53the term limits of the commissioners and

11:56provide the commission with their um

11:59suggestions to be discussed in our

12:01October 27th meeting. This is an

12:04proactive step to avoid any future no

12:07due to vacancies uh on our commission.

12:10Uh this will conclude my um report. Um

12:14uh if there are questions or no

12:17questions.

12:18Thank you.

12:19>> Thank you very much.

12:20>> Thank you, sir.

12:22>> We now come to public comment reserve

12:24time. Public comment reserve time is an

12:26opportunity for members of the public to

12:27speak to council in the community about

12:29matters of municipal interest. To speak

12:31at public comment reserve time, one

12:32needs to have signed up in advance by

12:35contacting our city clerk. Speakers in

12:37all instances will have three minutes in

12:39which to speak. So, please pay close

12:41attention to the time. Our clerk or the

12:43time clock will notify you when 30

12:45seconds are remaining and when your time

12:47has expired. When your time is expired,

12:49please conclude your remarks and seed

12:51the floor. Uh today we have 35 folks

12:55signed up for public comment. The uh

12:58council rules provide for uh 45 minutes

13:01full public comment. At the beginning of

13:03the meeting, we run through uh that full

13:06set either 45 minutes or 15 speakers. 15

13:09speakers are guaranteed, but if we can

13:11fit more in under that 45minute clock,

13:13we do. Um, in the event that we are

13:15unable to get through all uh identified

13:17speakers at that time, we then have

13:19public comment overflow uh at the uh the

13:22tail end of the meeting. And so we'll uh

13:25we'll see how this all works.

13:28[clears throat]

13:29Is that right?

13:40two minutes. Uh I am reminded since

13:43since this is the first time that it has

13:45occurred and so you will all forgive me.

13:47uh due to the number of folks who have

13:50signed up for public comment. Uh we uh

13:53we have we provided that when this when

13:56the a number in excess of 30 perhaps

14:00when a number in excess of 30 speakers

14:02sign up for public comment that the

14:04public speaking time is reduced to two

14:06minutes so that more people who have

14:08signed up for public comment will have

14:10the opportunity to speak in advance of

14:12the uh the bulk of the meeting. And so

14:15uh you know contrary to my my prior uh

14:18my prior recitation public speaking

14:20times in this context are two minutes.

14:22So uh whether you are here or online uh

14:25please pay close attention to the time.

14:26The time clock will be running letting

14:28you know that there's two minutes um and

14:30the the lights will uh notify you

14:32accordingly. Thank you. Thank you all.

14:38Uh our first speaker today is Brian

14:41Chambers.

14:44Before we begin, Mr. Chambers, I'll just

14:45say that the 45minut rules uh continues

14:47to apply. So, as we can get as many

14:49people in under that 45minut uh clock,

14:52we'll uh we'll endeavor to do so. So, uh

14:54thank you.

15:08Our first speaker today is Brian

15:10Chambers.

15:12I believe he might be on Zoom.

15:16Mr. Chambers.

15:21Go ahead, Mr. Chambers. Go ahead. Okay.

15:25Thank you, Mayor Taylor and Council. I

15:27want to recognize planning, economic

15:30development, and the city team for the

15:32proposed Stantic contract. More than a

15:34chapter 5 rewrite, it creates an

15:36architecture for carrying the

15:37comprehensive plan from vision into

15:40practice. The plan asks Ann Arbor to be

15:42more affordable, equitable, sustainable,

15:45and dynamic.

15:46The contract gives us a disciplined

15:48path, diagnosis, engage, calibrate, test

15:53representative sites, and only then

15:55codify. Zoning can grant permission for

15:59housing, but it cannot assure that

16:00housing will be financed, be built, or

16:03be attainable.

16:05As we all appreciate, serious

16:06neighborhood engagement must be central.

16:08The contract provides place-based

16:10engagement, working groups, walking

16:13tours, visual test fits, surveys, and

16:16transparent comment tracking. The

16:18opportunity is to use those tools

16:20broadly, early, and before major choices

16:24are fixed. The same applies to building

16:27form. The contract lets us test massing

16:31and setbacks and potentially stepbacks,

16:34facade articulation and changes in

16:37plane, the three-dimensional almost

16:39cubist approach to reducing visual bulk

16:42without sacrificing housing capacity. We

16:46should also test fit project economics.

16:48Stantic has the prior experience to do

16:51this across different builders and

16:53ownership and affordability pathways and

16:56measure results over time. The

16:58comprehensive plan gives us the

17:00destination. This contract gives us a

17:03serious vehicle.

17:04>> 30 seconds. Y

17:06>> the opportunity now is to engage deeply,

17:09test rigorously, learn continuously, and

17:12show that housing opportunity, good

17:14urban farm and sustainability and

17:16quality of place can advance together.

17:18Thank you everyone, those who supported

17:20this work, those who challenged it

17:22sharply, and all those who engaged for

17:24helping bring Ann Arbor to this point.

17:27Thank you.

17:28>> Thank you. Our next speaker is Andy

17:30Brocius.

17:33Andy Broius,

17:35>> this caller should also be on Zoom.

17:37>> Perfect.

17:48>> Andy Brcio, go ahead.

17:51>> Hello. Can you hear me?

17:52>> Yes, we can.

17:54>> Great. All right. Uh, I'm here to speak

17:55on DC4, the resolution against the

17:58Citizen Lled Public Power Ballot

17:59Initiative. Uh before we're done

18:01tonight, we're going to hear a lot of

18:02thoughts on this resolution. So I want

18:04to just focus on one line that I think

18:06is telling and offers some important

18:07insight that we should pay attention to.

18:10The line is whereas establishing a

18:12municipal electric utility would as a

18:14practical matter require the city to

18:16forcibly acquire DTE's local

18:18distribution system. This ballot

18:21initiative does no such thing. It opens

18:23a door. It sets up the city to elect and

18:25appoint a board in 2028. It encourages

18:28but does not require a phase 2 study

18:30which would give us sorely needed

18:32information. And it gets us ready to

18:34acquire DTE's grid if and only if a

18:37super majority of well-informed Ann

18:39Arbor voters decide that we should. The

18:41authors of this resolution know that. Um

18:45so this resolution aims to misrepresent

18:47what a ballot initiative does while

18:49telling city residents to vote against

18:51it. I think that Mayor Taylor and

18:54council members Briggs, Aman, and Watson

18:56are lying to us to suppress a

18:59citizen-led grassroots initiative to

19:01move our city away from one of the worst

19:03energy companies in the country. I find

19:06that concerning. I'm I really I want to

19:08know who on city council wants to put

19:10their names on this disingenuous

19:12statement siding with the state's

19:14biggest lobbyist against the voices of

19:16the city's residents and the process of

19:19participatory democracy. Um, so you

19:21know, I'm calling in from home with a

19:23sick child taking my time to come and

19:25speak out on this. And frankly, just to

19:26say to quote every parent ever, I'm not

19:29mad. I'm just disappointed.

19:31>> 30 seconds.

19:32>> Thank you.

19:34>> Thank you. Our next speaker is Mike

19:37Noak. [applause]

19:44>> Hello. Uh, good evening. My name is Mike

19:47Noak. I'm a Ward 4 resident. I'm also

19:50speaking about agenda item DC4, the

19:52resolution regarding proposal E.

19:55[snorts] And I want to focus on the part

19:56that directs the city attorney to

19:58challenge the proposal's legality. This

20:01resolution would commit the city to a

20:02legal challenge before we even voted.

20:06>> Excuse me. Oh, I thought somebody said

20:08something.

20:09>> I don't believe so.

20:09>> Oh, sorry. Just imagining things. That's

20:11fine.

20:12>> It's all good.

20:12>> If proposal E passes, why should the

20:14city take the lead in trying to overturn

20:16our decision? A proposal doesn't become

20:19immune from legal challenge just because

20:20voters approve it. I understand that.

20:22But council should explain why the city

20:24itself should bring that challenge, what

20:26public interest it serves, and why

20:29residents should pay for it. I have to

20:31wonder, is this about protecting the

20:32city or about advancing council's

20:34political position?

20:36Residents use the petition process to

20:38put this question before voters. Council

20:40members can argue against it, but

20:42directing the city's attorneys to

20:44challenge it goes much further.

20:46During a week when Governor Whitmer is

20:48recognizing the benefits of public

20:50power, I hope council will respect our

20:52opportunity to decide whether or not to

20:54pursue it here. Please withdraw this

20:56resolution in its entirety. Let us make

20:59our decision and respect the result.

21:01Thank you.

21:02>> Thank you. [applause and cheering] Our

21:04next speaker is Jamie Lackner.

21:15>> You speak up. I I've already Jamie

21:17Lechner

21:22>> here. This caller is on the phone.

21:24Caller with the phone number end running

21:25in 037.

21:30>> Press star six to unmute your phone. Go

21:32ahead.

21:34>> Thank you. Can you guys hear me? Okay.

21:36>> Yes, we can.

21:38>> Okay. Thank you. Good evening. My name

21:39is Jamie Lner and I live in W five. I'm

21:42asking you all to vote no on this

21:44resolution regarding propositions. As

21:47far as I know, the city has never taken

21:48an official position against a local

21:50ballot initiative now weeks before this

21:52vote. There is uh the council wants to

21:55do that and direct the city attorney to

21:56challenge it in court. Please let the

21:58voters decide. This resolution also gets

22:00proposal E wrong. Nearly every cost it

22:03warns about from billion dollar price

22:04tag to lawsuits to lost tax revenue

22:06comes from buying DTE's grid. Proposal E

22:09doesn't buy anything. It creates a

22:11board. Under state law, any purchase

22:13would need another vote of the people

22:15saying this would bankrupt the city of

22:16Ann Arbor people instead of informing

22:18them. I do want to be clear that we do

22:21share a lot of common ground. I do

22:22appreciate the city's work in fighting

22:24GTE rate increases. This resolution

22:26admits that DTE rates and outages have

22:27hurt residents and we have organized

22:29because of years of this approach hasn't

22:31been enough. um

22:35how you both how you all vote tonight

22:36will tell residents whether you trust us

22:38to make this news we will be paying

22:39attention. Thank you all for your time.

22:41>> Thank you. [applause] Our next speaker

22:43is Lauren Sergeant.

22:48>> Dr. Warren Sergeant Ann Arbor voters

22:50since 1984

22:52co-founder of Washington 350 partners in

22:55creation of the A20 plan until we were

22:58told by Mrs. stalts that we were

23:00collaborators for some legal reason. At

23:03the time I asked myself like the Vichi

23:05French, little did I know how preant

23:07that was. Now we see this resolution

23:10appropriating tax fund taxpayer funded

23:12city attorney time to prepare

23:15essentially an amicus brief to

23:17facilitate DTE's lawfare against public

23:20power. At our inception, Washington 350

23:24studied draw down and concluded that the

23:27best way to achieve our climate goals

23:29was a municipal electric utility. We

23:32found Ann Arbor for public power and

23:34joined in. There are six communities in

23:36the US who unlike Ann Arbor are meeting

23:38their climate goals. All six have public

23:41power. This is not a coincidence. The

23:44model is the magic. And now with our

23:46climate goals way out of range, we're

23:48talking about wrecks and offsets. This

23:51resolution is full of deliberate

23:53misinformation and I have never seen

23:56anything like that in this town.

23:58Directing the public how to vote on a

24:00citizen's initiative and directing the

24:02city attorney to spend taxpayer funded

24:04time to develop a legal case against

24:06proposal EP priori before the voters

24:09have even had a chance to decide.

24:12claiming that proposal E commits us to

24:14the second step of acquisition when

24:16those on this body know or should know

24:19that step two requires a second

24:21twothirds vote by the people of Ann

24:23Arbor before any condemnation or

24:26acquisition of DT assets. This is state

24:28law. More disconcerting are claims that

24:32no climate groups support public power.

24:34I give you exhibit A from Earth Day

24:372024.

24:39You may recognize the name Bill McKibben

24:42as our keynote speaker supporting public

24:45power. Also the policy and legislative

24:49head of the Sierra Club of Michigan.

24:52Vote no.

24:53>> Thank you. [applause] Our next speaker

24:56is David uh Conl.

25:05Hi, my name is Dave Conl. I was the

25:08energy coordinator for the city of Ann

25:10Arbor for 20 years and boy would I have

25:13loved to have you guys as active as you

25:15are when I was creating the energy

25:18programs in Ann Arbor. I have to say I

25:21have some doubts about it. I don't

25:23totally not support it but it worries me

25:25a little bit. In 1992, U of M called my

25:29office and asked if the city of Ann

25:30Arbor wanted to partner with U of M to

25:32become a municipal utility. And we began

25:35to research that.

25:37We found out that Alma, Michigan was

25:39four years into their effort to try to

25:41get away from consumers energy led by a

25:43steel plant that wanted cheaper electric

25:45rates. They failed in six years. The

25:48steel plant left. The city was just

25:50devastated morally and economically by

25:53that loss of all those jobs.

25:56Um, it's a difficult road. And I'm going

25:58to tell you there's two other way things

26:00we can try. One of them is the franchise

26:03agreement. The state law requires

26:06utilities to have a franchise to operate

26:09in our roads. The utilities claim they

26:11have a law from 1909 that says they

26:14don't have to negotiate with us for the

26:16the law says they have to negotiate

26:18every 30 years with us. Let's enforce

26:20that. Let's make that utility franchise

26:23law real and then be able to talk on

26:26equal basis with DTE and negotiate

26:29something with them. They are not evil.

26:31I've worked with lots of DTE people who

26:33are wonderful people who are trying

26:35their best to keep us in electricity.

26:38Try to work with them. The other thing

26:40we could do, we used to for a couple

26:42years we were able to buy electricity

26:46off the national grid. Ann Arbor City

26:48and the public schools both did that for

26:51two years and saved hundreds of

26:52thousands of dollars till they changed

26:55the law on us. Let's bring that law

26:57back. 16 other states in the United

26:59States have that law that we can do

27:01that. This is a tough road. It worries

27:04me economically with all that money.

27:07Let's look at other options also.

27:09>> Thank you. Our next speaker is Charles

27:12Locust.

27:24Hello, council. I'm Charles LS. Uh I

27:27live in Ward 1. Um last time I was here,

27:31uh the mayor kind of invited us. He uh

27:33asked us to support his proposal to get

27:36the funding for the phase 2 study

27:38through. Uh we all showed up and then we

27:41were one vote short. Well, we're back.

27:44Um, but we've organized and we got this

27:46proposal on the ballot and uh the mayor

27:48is now the soon to be former mayor. Um,

27:51maybe you should consider that. But

27:53anyways, uh, I have one number I want to

27:56share with everybody from all the

27:58research I've done. I'm with Ann Ar. I'm

28:01part of the research group. Um, the cost

28:04of not dumping DTE is $8 billion over 30

28:07years.

28:08Yep, [snorts]

28:09that's the number. How do I get it?

28:11Well, Chelsea, um, a city to the west of

28:15us charges only 13 cents for their

28:18power. They get it off the Myo grid. We

28:21pay DTE over 20 cents. That difference

28:24would fund the purchase of our municipal

28:26electric utility over a 30-year period.

28:30Um, that information was not found in

28:34the phase one study. Uh, the OSI

28:36department made sure that kind of

28:38information would never appear there.

28:40And uh that's just another example of

28:42the kind of manipulation of information

28:44that has been going on. There's another

28:47thing too, the taxes. The claim is that

28:51if you municipalize, local governments

28:53will deprive the tax money. False. Every

28:56municipal electric utility has a pilot

28:59program to replace the lost tax revenue.

29:02I asked Erica Briggs on her Next Door

29:05page to retract that information. She

29:08has not gotten back with me. All right.

29:11This is the quality of the people we are

29:13dealing with. Have a nice night.

29:16>> Thank you.

29:17>> Our next speaker is Dave Zin. [applause]

29:26>> Oh, started before I got here. Uh, hi.

29:28My name is Dave Zglin. I'm a volunteer

29:30with Ann Arbor for Public Power. Um, I

29:32was actually canvasing on Sunday and I

29:34knocked on Mayor Taylor's door. Um,

29:36because that's what we do. We do

29:37outreach to everybody. Uh maybe we were

29:39hoping you would have flipped, but uh

29:41you know, we got to try. Um I also ran

29:43for city council in Ward 4 during this

29:45past election cycle uh with a campaign

29:47platform that fully supported uh public

29:49power. So uh I'm here tonight to

29:51encourage city council members to uh

29:53remember their responsibility as elected

29:55officials, which is to represent the

29:57public interest. And part of doing so

29:59means accurately conveying information

30:00to the public sphere in its resolutions

30:03from the standpoint of the public

30:04interest. Resolution DC4 does not do

30:07this. Instead, it contains unusual

30:09mischaracterizations, misleading

30:10statements, and outright falsehoods

30:12about Proposition E. The language of

30:14Prop E is clear to establish an elected

30:16and appointed municipal energy board at

30:18no additional cost to the taxpayer. Prop

30:21E does not propose or authorize

30:22acquisition of the grid. That would

30:24require another public vote years from

30:26now. Public sorry, Prop E is a gradual

30:29step in a much longer citizens campaign

30:31that advocates for energy democracy in

30:33the public interest. DC4 on the other

30:36hand sounds like it was written by DTE

30:38as it mirrors DT DTE's dishonesty about

30:40public power and Prop E. You're

30:42misleading the public on a ballot

30:44initiative. City Council is already

30:46perceived as being beholden to the

30:48interests of corporations rather than

30:50the public. DC4 only hardens that view

30:52due to the corporate macity of the

30:54resolution's language. Not only do I

30:56encourage you to vote this resolution

30:58down, but also that moving forward, you

31:00do your due diligence on resolutions so

31:02they're thoughtfully written to

31:03encourage meaningful public discussion

31:05and not reproduce corporate deceit.

31:08>> Thank you. Our next speaker is Alex Mo.

31:13[applause]

31:22Good evening. I'm here to talk about

31:24proposal E and DC4.

31:26While I don't particularly believe that

31:29uh that DC4 will be very effective, I

31:32want to focus specifically on all the uh

31:35misinformation that we're seeing around

31:36proposal E because the internet is full

31:39of uh full of it. Uh false claim one,

31:43proposal E uh enables a phase 2 study.

31:46This is false in two ways. First, we can

31:49do a a phase 2 study without proposal E.

31:53And second, proposal E neither does nor

31:57should it require a phase two uh to

31:59study. This one's especially egregious

32:02to uh uh to talk about uh when also

32:06talking about h uh how proposal uh uh e

32:10doesn't cost anything since the uh uh

32:13since the whole reason why a phase 2

32:15study was previously postponed was due

32:18uh uh uh due to the cost.

32:21False claim two proposals ease language

32:24is clear about what it says. I have

32:26asked multiple lawyers who are members

32:28of the Michigan bar about whether uh

32:30proposal E gives the city council the

32:32ability to reject uh contracts or uh or

32:35uh or financial obligations made by the

32:37board. In all cases, they told me that

32:40the plain language of the proposal uh

32:42suggests not. But uh but that uh uh

32:45state law turns it from a clear no into

32:48a complex maybe that would ultimately uh

32:52uh result in a lot of expensive uh uh

32:54litigation.

32:56False claim three. If a phase two study

32:59shows that this is a bad idea, it's easy

33:01to undo. We're putting this in the

33:03charter, guys. Come on. Phase uh false

33:07claim four. Teling and lancing show the

33:09feasibility of proposal E. Telsey and

33:12Lancing have been running their uh

33:14electric utilities for over a century

33:17since before the current Michigan state

33:19constitution existed. In fact, my

33:21reading says that it would be illegal to

33:23uh to build landing utility under state

33:26law.

33:26>> Thank you. Our next speaker is Duncan

33:29Darnell.

33:36>> Uh my name is Duncan Darnell. I'm a W2

33:38resident um speaking to you regarding

33:40DC4. Um may council members, I'm here to

33:44oppose the resolution targeting proposal

33:46E. I will not use my time to argue the

33:48merits of public power. said, "I'm

33:50condemning the method you're using to

33:52shut it down. Using the city council's

33:54power and the city attorney's office to

33:56try to strangle a citizen-led initiative

33:58before voters rather say the message of

34:01the co-sponsors to the people is clear.

34:03We do not trust you to decide."

34:06The resolution directs the city attorney

34:08to challenge the proposal's legality.

34:10Proposal E supporters have gathered over

34:125,000 valid signatures. The clerk

34:14certified it. The proposal survived

34:16legal challenges in Washington County

34:18Circuit Court and the Michigan Court of

34:20Appeals. The courts have spoken. Now the

34:22council wants another legal challenge,

34:24taking unprecedented action to preempt

34:27the vote. This resolution also appears

34:29to willfully misinterpret the text of

34:31proposal E in order to mislead NRAs.

34:34It implies proposal E would authorize

34:37city takeover of DTE's grid. That is

34:40false. The text of proposal E does not

34:42authorize acquisition. is clear the

34:45proposal in the proposal that any

34:47acquisition could only take place after

34:49a super supermajority vote in accordance

34:51with Michigan state law. The amendment

34:54simply establishes a utility board and

34:56defines his powers. The resolution also

34:59implies the board would be all powerful,

35:01seizing authority from council. Also

35:03false. City council retains say over the

35:06board's borrowing and has veto power

35:08over operational decisions. You may

35:10oppose proposal E. You may campaign

35:12against it, but you should not use the

35:14city council's platform and the

35:16attorney's office to place obstacles

35:18before voters, especially by lying about

35:20what the proposal actually says. I urge

35:23you to reject this resolution. Let the

35:25people decide. Thank you.

35:26>> Thank you.

35:28Our next speaker is Edward Platt.

35:32[applause]

35:34>> Mayor, this caller is on Zoom.

35:37Edward Platt, go ahead.

35:40Hi, my name is Edward Platt. Uh, I'm

35:43calling to speak on DC4, the resolution

35:46regarding proposal E. Um, good evening,

35:48council and Mayor Taylor. Uh, I am an

35:51Ann Arbor resident. I live in the

35:52Pittsfield Elementary neighborhood. Uh,

35:55I always make sure my backup generator

35:57is working uh because under DTE, we have

35:59needed it a lot. I've cleaned a lot of

36:01carburetors uh in the past 10 years. Um,

36:05under proposal E, the utility board will

36:08need to work with city council and city

36:10council will have the ability to

36:11override any of their actions. Uh, so

36:15the proposed resolution opposing it is

36:18inappropriate. Uh, Ann Arbor voters have

36:20shown that we care about public power

36:23and we deserve a chance to have our

36:25votes heard without interference from

36:27the city council. Uh, especially a lame

36:30duck city council. Uh, so Ann Arbor

36:32residents deserve affordable, reliable,

36:35and sustainable energy. Prop E is the

36:38first step in making sure we get it and

36:40in making sure that we do it right. Uh,

36:42so I urge you to withdraw resolution DC4

36:45in its entirety. Thank you.

36:46>> Thank you. [applause]

36:49>> Our next speaker is Kathleen Pedado.

37:01Um, I just wanted to express my support

37:03for Propy and my disappointment with

37:06this resolution against it. Uh, DTE has

37:09been giving our city subpar service.

37:12They only inspect our lines every 20

37:14years instead of the standard four to

37:16five neglecting our grid. They do not

37:19care about the price hikes that continue

37:21to go forward. and the council seems to

37:23be determined to leave us with no option

37:25but this monopoly that they have right

37:27now. Uh which I find very disappointing

37:29when everyone here is struggling to get

37:31by. It's the most expensive time I have

37:33ever experienced in my life. Um the SEU

37:37I think is great and A2P2 has always

37:40supported it and these two things are

37:42not in conflict and I find it sad that

37:46they're being pitched as being in

37:48opposition to each other when they don't

37:50have to be. So that's what I have to say

37:52with my time and I hope you reconsider

37:54this resolution. Thank you.

37:56>> Thank you. [applause]

37:57>> Our next speaker is B. Freellander.

38:12Good evening, mayor and city council

38:14members. My name is Be Freedellander.

38:17I'm a board member of the Bird Center of

38:20Michigan, who I'm representing this

38:22evening, in support of the proposed

38:25ordinance to ban the sale and use of

38:27glue traps. I'm here, but our staff

38:31currently still is at work at the bird

38:34center caring for our many patients,

38:37including a house sparrow who was caught

38:40in a glue trap and admitted to our

38:43facility in late September. He is one of

38:4717 patients since just May of 2025

38:51who we have admitted because of glue

38:54trap injuries.

38:56These represent 10 different species

38:59including robins, hummingbirds,

39:01cardinals, and morning doves. Since a

39:05picture is worth a thousand words, we

39:07emailed each of you two pictures of the

39:11sparrow in the glue trap. Although he

39:14appears to be on the road to recovery

39:17and hopefully will be released into the

39:19wild, many of these patients are not as

39:23fortunate for fortunate.

39:26There are innumerable reasons to ban

39:29inhumane, cruel, and indiscriminate use

39:32of glue traps. We, as a bird center, are

39:36in a position to pro provide firsthand

39:38experience about their impact on birds.

39:42Thank you to the council members who

39:44sponsored this proposal and we urge you

39:47to pass it. Thank you.

39:49>> Thank you. [applause] Our next speaker

39:52is Mozani.

39:55>> Deception. That's what this county city

39:57council is all about. Deception. Power

40:00to the people. Public power. Yes, Ann

40:04Arbor. That's what we want. Now, I am

40:07here to speak for this glue trap. uh ban

40:13banning of this glue trap. However, I

40:15want you to know that this city council

40:18has no compassion, no empathy for life

40:21on earth. How do I know? Because for 24

40:25years, I've come here. I've spoken to

40:27them about atrocities that Israel is

40:30committing in Palestine. I have TOLD

40:32THEM 40,000 children have been shredded

40:34to pieces in Palestine. I have told them

40:37children are starving to death. Children

40:39are dying of thirst and I've asked them

40:42to pass a simple resolution. No more

40:45military aid to the genocidal Nazi state

40:48of Israel. And every time they've turned

40:50their back on me, every time they've

40:53stood by the side of Israel. This city

40:55council is deceptive. It cares nothing

40:58for humans. It cares nothing for

41:00Palestinians. And it will fool you if

41:03you let them. Don't let them fool you. I

41:06urge you again, pass the resolution and

41:08save yourselves because nobody in

41:11Anorbert trusts you. As you can see from

41:13all the people who have spoken, we don't

41:15TRUST YOU. WE'VE VOTED YOU OUT and we

41:17can't wait to see THIS MAYOR GET OUT OF

41:20this council. Power to the people AND

41:23ELECTRICAL LOCAL POWER FOR ANN ARBOR.

41:26THANK YOU.

41:27>> Thank you. [applause] Our next speaker

41:29is Peter Higgins.

41:35>> [applause]

41:37>> Hi, I'm Peter Higgins. I'm resident of

41:39Ward 4. For years, utilities made small

41:42but safe 3% profit margins. And that was

41:45the deal citizens chose to make in

41:46exchange for providing investor own

41:48utilities the safety of a monopoly. That

41:50deal was voided in 2005 when the Federal

41:53Public Utility Holding Company Act of

41:541935 was overturned, allowing monopoly

41:57utilities to lobby their own regulators

41:58and legislators and expand in size. Now,

42:01DT is the biggest lobbyist in the state,

42:03has annual revenues of $15 billion and

42:0510% profits of $1.5 billion a year. They

42:08pay the CEO more than 15 million per

42:10year. While in Chelsea, they pay their

42:12utility director 153,000 per year. That

42:15100fold difference comes out of the

42:17pockets of Ann Arbor citizens along with

42:19another 17% divisent to shareholders. I

42:22think Ann Arbor needs to direct a city

42:24attorney to fight back against DTE slap

42:26lawsuits like the one justified one

42:28against the city clerk to keep proposal

42:30E off the ballot using the Michigan

42:32Uniform Public Expression Protection Act

42:34or UPIPA which will result in the city

42:36being awarded all court costs resulting

42:38from DT's abuse of the legal system. The

42:40upipa law signed in March of 2026 gives

42:43us a new weapon against DT and we can

42:45and should use it to make DT to pay for

42:48their lawfare. proposal is a citizens

42:50initiative and tonight's resolution is

42:52in opposition to participatory democracy

42:54and we'll end up on the wrong side of

42:56history.

42:58I'd like to ask the council members to

42:59think about do you really want to vote

43:01against grassroots democracy? Do you

43:04really want to vote against the citizens

43:05you represent and do you really want to

43:08go on record is siding with DTE against

43:10your own voters? Thank you.

43:13>> Thank you. Our next speaker is JEFF

43:16ZICK. [applause]

43:22GOOD EVENING. I'm a resident of Ward

43:24Three and my family urges every council

43:28member to join the five co-sponsors of

43:30the glue trap ban. Thank you to those

43:32who have sponsored it and um the case

43:36against these traps is clear from every

43:38angle. Cruelty, public health, and the

43:40environment. The animals caught in glue

43:42traps often suffer for days until they

43:44finally die from stress, starvation, or

43:46dehydration. All slow and painful

43:49deaths. Some animals get their noses and

43:52mouths stuck in the glue and suffocate.

43:54Rodents are not the only ones hurt. Glue

43:56traps also capture birds, squirrels,

43:58chipmunks, kittens, and other small

44:00animals. Beyond the cruelty, there is a

44:03serious public health risk. The CDC

44:06explicitly advises against the use of

44:08glue traps because the trapped animals

44:10produce waste in an uncontained space.

44:13Pathogens that spread this way include

44:15haunt virus, leptosperosis, and

44:18salmonella. Major retailers including

44:21CVS, Walgreens, Wraid, and Target have

44:23voluntarily banned the sale of glue

44:25traps across their US stores. Ann Arbor

44:28has always led. Tonight, you have the

44:30chance to do so again.

44:33Humane alternatives exist which are

44:35reusable unlike the single-use plastic

44:40glue traps. There's no good reason for

44:43keeping glue traps in our city. My

44:45daughter is a seventh grader at Scarlet

44:47Middle School and she's passionate about

44:49protecting human rights, animals, and

44:51the planet. I hope that by making these

44:54cruel devices a thing of the past, Ann

44:56Arbor can lead the way for her

44:57generation as this council has done for

44:59many issues affecting animals, the

45:01environment, and public health. Thank

45:03you for your time and please vote yes.

45:06>> Thank you. [applause]

45:07Our next speaker is Allison Hermance.

45:16Mayor, I believe the speaker is on Zoom.

45:23Allison Hermmon, go ahead.

45:25>> Yes. Thank you so much. I really

45:27appreciate the opportunity to speak and

45:29I'm so glad to have the opportunity to

45:31thank all of you that have supported the

45:33bill in support of a ban on glue traps.

45:37I have worked in wildlife rehabilitation

45:39for the last 23 years and there is no

45:42doubt in my mind that the most

45:44heartbreaking cases that we saw and have

45:46seen in the wildlife hospital come in of

45:49their animals that are stuck to glue

45:51traps. And the thing about this is that

45:54this is an entirely preventable injury

45:57to wildlife. These are traps that are

45:59set by people who honestly don't know

46:02what glue traps do. And that is what I

46:04would like to convey to anyone that is

46:06thinking there are issues that are more

46:08important than what happens to animals

46:09on glue traps. The fact is these are the

46:12single most cruel and inhumane thing

46:15that can happen to an animal that is

46:18still technically legal. The animals, as

46:20have been discussed from other speakers,

46:22the animals don't die from the glue.

46:25It's not toxic. It doesn't kill them

46:27immediately. The animal is forced to

46:29suffer for hours or days on the glue in

46:32a way that is truly and deeply

46:35horrifying. No animal should have to

46:37have to suffer through this. And all of

46:39us that see this as a a a real problem,

46:43see this as a cruelty to animals, it it

46:46behooves all of us to take the steps, do

46:49the things and make bans on these

46:52horrible contraptions possible, change

46:55the way animals have to deal that that

46:57that people deal with animals that

46:58people deal with nuisance animals and

47:01make this cruelty impossible. I really

47:04really appreciate the support. I

47:06strongly, so strongly from my personal

47:08experience, cannot strongly enough say

47:11that you should really support this ban

47:14and in every way the city of Ann Arbor

47:16would be leading the way and preventing

47:19cruelty to animals, to wildlife in a way

47:22that will only benefit all. Thank you.

47:25>> Thank you. Our next speaker is Michelle

47:28Owen. [applause]

47:34>> Good evening. My name is Michelle Owen

47:36and I'm here on behalf of People for the

47:38Ethical Treatment of Animals and our

47:40more than 3,500

47:42members and supporters in Ann Arbor to

47:44express our strong support for a

47:45citywide glue trap ban. Glue traps are

47:48not just another wildlife control

47:50product. They are animal torture

47:52devices. That's because glue traps do

47:55not contain any mechanism that can

47:57instantly kill a trapped animal. So

47:59after their paws, tails, beaks or snouts

48:02get stuck in the adhesive, animals are

48:05left to struggle and suffer for days

48:07before dying slow painful deaths due to

48:10starvation, dehydration or blood loss.

48:13In some cases, their mouth and nostrils

48:15become glued shut and they suffocate to

48:17death. Studies on the welfare impact of

48:20glue traps revealed that 85% of animals

48:23suffer for more than 24 hours in these

48:25traps. These traps also indiscriminately

48:28capture non-target species. Data from

48:31wildlife rehab centers and animal

48:33hospitals reveal that in just the last

48:3510 years, glue traps have caught members

48:37of 180 different species, including

48:40dozens of types of federally protected

48:43birds, bats, frogs, lizards, squirrels,

48:46cats, and dogs. The CDC and state public

48:49health agencies around the country have

48:51also explicitly warned people to never

48:54use glue traps because trapped animals

48:56produce excess urine and feces as part

48:59of their fear response which increases

49:01the risk of zunotic disease

49:03transmission. Banning glue traps will

49:05protect public health and spare animals

49:07from extreme cruelty. A glue trap ban is

49:10compassionate common sense step toward a

49:13world with significantly less suffering.

49:15I hope the city council votes

49:17unanimously to support this ban. Thank

49:19you.

49:20>> Thank you. [applause]

49:25>> Our next speaker is Zack Buck.

49:29>> I'm sorry I missed one. Thank you. My

49:31Our next speaker is Daniel Karen. Daniel

49:33Karen, my apology.

49:41>> Good evening. Uh thank you for your time

49:43and thank you for your service. I'm here

49:45to speak about the uh potential glue

49:47trap ban. U 25 years ago my friends and

49:50I were on our way to a football game. We

49:53stopped at a party store and my friend

49:55came out and said, "Dan, you better come

49:56in here. This guy needs some help." I

49:59went in and the uh party store owner had

50:01put glue traps out cuz someone

50:02recommended that when he had mice and he

50:05was distraught when he saw the mouse

50:07suffering on the glue trap. Um, I did

50:10what I could to help. We took that mouse

50:13to a vet immediately to get a humane

50:16euthanasia. But what I saw on the way to

50:19the vet is seared into my brain. Seeing

50:22that animal suffer still makes me

50:24emotional. Um, if you're wondering if a

50:27mouse can scream, I can tell you from

50:29personal experience they can. And they

50:31do. And they're seeing that mouse's skin

50:35torn from his body, seeing his limbs

50:38stuck to that, seeing him suffer and try

50:40to get out of that situation, knowing he

50:42wasn't going to, and knowing he was

50:44going to suffer more than he already

50:46had, knowing he had already been

50:48suffering is something that stuck with

50:50me. And uh I love that Ann Arbor always

50:54leads in decisions like this. Other

50:56cities will follow. If you guys vote and

50:59send the message that we can ban glue

51:01traps, there's a humane way to do this.

51:03Um, I hope that you do ban the glue

51:06traps. Again, thank you for your time.

51:08Uh, thank you for your service.

51:10>> Thank you. Our next speaker is Zack

51:13Buck. [applause]

51:16>> Thank you, Dan, for sharing that and

51:17thanks for everyone that spoke um for

51:20the gluten draft ban. Good evening,

51:22Mayor Taylor and council members. My

51:24name is Zachariah Buck and I am here to

51:27talk about Proposition E. I want to

51:30start by agreeing with the core premise

51:33of the resolution. City Council has a

51:35duty to protect our city's financial

51:37health and to responsibly direct public

51:40funds. We all share those values and

51:43this is precisely why I disagree with

51:44this resolution directing the city

51:46attorney to spend tax mayor taxpayer

51:49money on expensive legal battles.

51:52The text claims that Proposition E

51:55threatens the financial health by

51:57triggering an immediate billion dollar

51:59bio of DTE's grid. Or maybe not

52:01immediate, you know, down the road. But

52:03as a matter of law, as you all know and

52:05everyone has said here, uh, in Michigan,

52:08you can't do that without a 60% vote

52:10from the people to turn that um to turn

52:14on the power for the public power.

52:18Buying DTE's power system would require

52:20a separate second vote, a 60%

52:23supermajority. Proposal E does not send

52:25us spend a single dollar. This

52:27resolution is arguing against your

52:30resolution is arguing against an

52:31imaginary billion dollar takeover that

52:33is simply not on the ballot. So why we

52:35bring this forward? Let's be clear about

52:38the motive. Mayor Taylor and the

52:39co-sponsors brought this resolution

52:41forward specifically to build a legal

52:43paper trail. The tax explicitly tells a

52:45city attorney to lay the groundwork for

52:47an expensive court battle and ch to

52:49challenge a citizens initiative. Using

52:52public tax dollars to sue to block a

52:54citizen petition isn't fiscally

52:56responsible. It's using city hall's

52:59lawyers to override direct democracy. If

53:01leadership believes in Proposition E, if

53:03you believe it's bad policy or not not

53:05good use of our financial uh assets,

53:07make the case to voters. Get out there

53:09and knock doors. It's beautiful. the

53:11trees are are turning gorge, you know.

53:13Don't use public funds to fight citizen

53:15participation. Thousands of residents

53:17signed the petition to get this on the

53:19ballot. Trust the voters, protect direct

53:21democracy, and vote no on this

53:23resolution. Thank you very much.

53:25>> Thank you. [applause]

53:26Our next speaker is Eric McCclary.

53:30[applause]

53:35>> How council. Uh my name is Eric

53:38McCclary. I'm a resident of Epsilani,

53:40but I work right here in Ann Arbor for

53:42Clean Water Action. Um, we've been

53:44following this municipalization fight

53:46since its inception. Um, we've watched

53:49the conduct of this city council from

53:52its beginning to its end. Um, this is

53:55dishonorable conduct. You guys are

53:58pushing back against a community that

54:00has said with a clear and resounding

54:02voice, we want a green energy grade. We

54:07want to uh set the standard here in Ann

54:10Arbor. Um I was here the day you guys

54:14decided not to move forward with a phase

54:162 feasibility study. You all did a lot

54:19of work on that phase on getting that

54:22phase 2 feasibility study where it was.

54:24You all did a lot of work on that phase

54:26one feasibility study. This was an Ann

54:30Arbor project. It still is. We we've

54:33taken it to the people of Ann Arbor who

54:36time and time again vote overwhelmingly

54:39to support green initiatives, things

54:42that will take our energy green grid

54:45from a fossil fuel driven energy system

54:49to a renewable energy system. And

54:52instead, time and time again, this

54:55council has fallen short. Um, this is a

54:59clear attempt for a lame duck city

55:03council to uh exert their power over

55:08this decision. Um, I understand why you

55:12may want to do that, but you are showing

55:15that you support DTE, not your citizens.

55:20um taking your delegation as as your

55:23resolution says um taking your

55:25delegation to the to Lancing and pushing

55:28the state to hold DTE accountable is

55:31important work

55:34but this city has an opportunity to do

55:37groundbreaking work.

55:40Please do not let this pro proposal move

55:43forward. Do not use your city's attorney

55:46as a weapon.

55:46>> Thank you.

55:47>> Thank you.

55:47>> Thank you. Our next speaker is Cristiana

55:50Dangor.

55:53[applause]

55:58>> Okay. Um, good evening everyone. Um, I'm

56:02Chrisa. I'm an Ann Arbor resident and

56:04I'm here to speak in favor of the ban on

56:06glue traps. Um, as a resident who cares

56:09about animals, this issue is very

56:11important to me. Um, I grew up in Ann

56:13Arbor and I've always enjoyed watching

56:15the local wildlife and that's led me to

56:17see just how sensitive and intelligent

56:19rodents are, just like any other animals

56:21like cats and dogs and I believe they

56:24deserve just as much compassion.

56:26Glue traps um are extremely cruel for a

56:29lot of reasons. Um, it leads animals to

56:32die slow and painful deaths as they

56:34either starve or suffocate over hours or

56:37days and some have been known to even

56:39chew off their own limbs in an effort to

56:41escape.

56:42And in addition to that, they're also

56:44dangerous to all wildlife. Plenty of

56:46animals, like small birds, can get

56:48caught even if they're not the intended

56:50targets. And finally, they're completely

56:52unnecessary because there are far more

56:55effective humane alternatives.

56:57Um, so for all of these reasons, banning

56:59glue traps would be a huge step forward

57:02for animal rights and for protecting all

57:05of our wildlife.

57:07Um, as an Ann Arbor resident, I greatly

57:10value Ann Arbor's um, local ecosystems

57:12and biodiversity, as well as all of Ann

57:15Arbor's sustainability initiatives. Um,

57:17so I hope that all of you will support

57:20this initiative um, and support Ann

57:22Arbor's local ecosystems,

57:24sustainability, and all of the wonderful

57:27wildlife in Ann Arbor by voting yes on

57:30this ban on glue traps. Um, thank you

57:32for your time.

57:33>> Thank you. [applause] Our next speaker

57:35is David Boyd Lel.

57:42Mayor, the speaker is on the phone.

57:54Caller, if you're on the line, can you

57:55please press star 9 to raise your hand?

58:07caller with the phone number ending in

58:09373.

58:11Press star six to unmute your phone.

58:16Go ahead.

58:19>> Hi, my name is Diego Wood. So, um

58:24I am calling on basically to talk about

58:27the city council resolution. Um, as many

58:30other people have said before, um, I

58:33believe that this the council, city

58:35council's resolution against Poppy is a

58:37massive, um, indicator that the city

58:40council is has been pretty much just all

58:43talk, no real action. It is trying to

58:46desperately ape the um, illusion of

58:49progressive policy while consistently

58:52um, going against the people of an arbor

58:54and their interests. Um,

58:57it is a last gasp of a lame duck mayor

59:02who is desperately trying to stop the

59:03change he has so feared. Thank you.

59:06>> Thank you. Our next speaker is Madison

59:11Mukamoski.

59:16Hi, I'm a resident of Ward 5 and I'm

59:18here to urge you to vote no on agenda

59:20item DC4. I don't really have much to

59:23say to you all other than this is an

59:25insane and blatantly anti-democratic

59:27move by the city council trying to pass

59:29a resolution to urge people how to vote

59:32on a citizen-led ballot initiative. What

59:34are you so afraid of? Prop E doesn't

59:37lock us into anything. It just gives

59:38people options, something that you

59:40clearly don't want for the people of Ann

59:42Arbor that you represent. How incredibly

59:44disappointing and frankly infuriating

59:46that you think that you have any say in

59:49the choices the people of Ann Arbor make

59:50for our city. Thank you.

59:52>> Thank you. Our next speaker is Kelly

59:57Nelson. [applause]

1:00:01>> Good evening everyone. My name is Kelly

1:00:03Nelson. I'm an Ann Arbor Ward 1 resident

1:00:06and I'm here tonight to express my

1:00:09support for the glue band trap. At this

1:00:11point, pretty much all my talking points

1:00:13have been covered by the other speakers.

1:00:15So, I'm just here to ask that you vote

1:00:17to protect small animals in our

1:00:18community from cruelty. As you've heard,

1:00:21glue traps are among the crulest forms

1:00:23of trapping and cause unimaginable

1:00:25suffering. There are far better, more

1:00:27effective, and more humane options

1:00:29available. Please support the glue band

1:00:31glue trap ban. Thank you. Thank you.

1:00:34[applause]

1:00:35Our next speaker is Brian Gaga.

1:00:43>> What's up, everybody?

1:00:45Uh, this is so this is hype. It's hype

1:00:48in this room. Um, so glad to be here.

1:00:51Thanks for letting me speak, uh, mayor,

1:00:53city council. Um, every, uh, radical

1:00:56climate solution, uh, in history, I

1:00:59feel, that has the ability to change

1:01:01things on the scale that the climate

1:01:03catastrophe calls for, has been met with

1:01:07well-meaning

1:01:09uh, establishment figures ringing alarm

1:01:12bells.

1:01:13And I urge you not to go down in history

1:01:19as actively disrupting the people's

1:01:22direct democratic process to take the

1:01:25proportionate climate action

1:01:28that you have refused to take.

1:01:32In this democracy, we applaud

1:01:34disagreement. And if only this body had

1:01:37chosen to merely disagree, we could have

1:01:40a fruitful conversation. For those who

1:01:42haven't seen, Ann Arbor for Public Power

1:01:43has released a retort to this

1:01:46resolution. If you go to an

1:01:47arborpower.org,

1:01:49there's a tab called learn, you can see

1:01:52the response. As far as I have seen,

1:01:54there has been no uh attempt at

1:01:56responding to our response.

1:01:59The decision here today to disguise your

1:02:02disagreement with public power and

1:02:04instead claim that you have reality on

1:02:07your side reveals not only that you are

1:02:11losing the fair fight of differing

1:02:13opinions but also I feel that you have

1:02:16run out of good arguments. It is the

1:02:19ultimate ad homonym

1:02:21and city council is sprinting right into

1:02:22it. We shared the resolution with

1:02:26members of city council over a year ago

1:02:29and it has been publicly posted on our

1:02:31website for over eight months. It is

1:02:36interesting timing

1:02:38that now you have found all these

1:02:40issues. I urge you to vote no.

1:02:44>> Thank you. [applause]

1:02:51We now have had 45 minutes uh in excess

1:02:54of 45 minutes of public comment. Uh and

1:02:57so you know we do have public comment

1:02:59overflow on the back end of the meeting.

1:03:01Meeting uh folks 27 through 35 will have

1:03:04time at that time uh to uh to speak

1:03:07again.

1:03:11Are there communications today from

1:03:13council?

1:03:16Council member Malik.

1:03:18>> Thank you, Mayor. Uh, yesterday I had

1:03:21the pleasure of taking part in the Ann

1:03:23Arbor Marathon. Uh, I wish I could say

1:03:26that I ran the marathon and I actually

1:03:29did, but it was actually just part of a

1:03:31relay marathon team. So, in actuality, I

1:03:34only ran a quarter of a marathon. Uh,

1:03:36but I bring this up to say how exciting

1:03:38it was to see Ann Arbor host an event

1:03:41like this. Um nearly 3,000 runners took

1:03:44part in one of the many options

1:03:46including the marathon, relay marathon,

1:03:48half marathon, 10K, and 5K. It was a

1:03:51really well-run event, and I wanted to

1:03:53give a special shout out to the many

1:03:55collaborators and partners that helped

1:03:57put on the race, including our very own

1:04:00Ann Arbor Police Department keeping

1:04:01runners and spectators safe, and the

1:04:03Office of Sustainability and Innovations

1:04:06for helping make the massive event

1:04:08nearly waste-free. It was an exciting

1:04:10event and I look forward to

1:04:11participating again next year. Thank

1:04:13you.

1:04:14>> Further communication from council.

1:04:22I'd like to recommend the following

1:04:24reappoint for your consideration uh to

1:04:26the Leslie Science and Nature Center

1:04:28board of directors pack representative

1:04:29Theres Pilleski to and I'd like to

1:04:32recommend the following nominations for

1:04:34your consideration to the parks advisory

1:04:36commission Ashley Hall and Rory Baker.

1:04:40We now have before us the consent

1:04:42agenda. May I have a motion please to

1:04:43approve the consent agenda moved by

1:04:45Council Member Brig. Second by council

1:04:46member uh Redina. Discussion of the

1:04:48consent agenda. I believe we have a

1:04:50staff introduction on CA6.

1:04:59We can either pull it or have the

1:05:01introduction in hold.

1:05:04Come on down. Thanks.

1:05:07Oh, sure. We'll pull it. Sorry. Thank

1:05:10you. Uh, further discussion of the

1:05:13consent agenda. Council member, uh,

1:05:15Dish.

1:05:17I'd like to

1:05:22>> Your mic perhaps is off.

1:05:24>> I've forgotten how to mute unmute my

1:05:26mic. Um yeah, I'd like to pull CA5. Um

1:05:32because it's worth talking about. Um and

1:05:35I'd like to

1:05:37just uh where's the one? Sorry. Um

1:05:43yeah, CA14. I want to say something

1:05:47about CA14 right now without pulling it

1:05:51because it's not necessary to pull it,

1:05:52but I would just like to say that um

1:05:54this is another collaboration

1:05:57between OSI and the Ann Arbor Housing

1:06:01Development Corporation.

1:06:03Uh and OSI by OSI mean the Office of

1:06:05Sustainability and Innovations.

1:06:08Uh, and this is a $5 million grant from

1:06:12the Office of Sustainability and

1:06:13Innovation to the Ann Arbor Development

1:06:16Corporation to support sustainability

1:06:18features for a six-story all-income

1:06:21eligible affordable housing building.

1:06:23That building will be located in the

1:06:25Arbor South development. And um the

1:06:28upfront costs for the sustainability

1:06:30features total 7 million because

1:06:32sustainability does not come cheap, but

1:06:34it is always worth it. And though those

1:06:37features will provide significant

1:06:39operational savings, the upfront costs

1:06:41are a challenge for the uh Ann Arbor

1:06:44Housing Development Corporation to meet.

1:06:46And I just want to mention some of them

1:06:47because they are very exciting. There is

1:06:49a high performance building envelope to

1:06:52minimize heat loss and gain. There is

1:06:55geothermal ground source heat pump uh

1:06:57heating

1:06:59which is amazing. And there is full

1:07:02building electrification.

1:07:04Um, in addition, this building will be

1:07:06solar ready to be integrated into the

1:07:08Ann Arbor sustainable energy utility,

1:07:11which is one of the options that the

1:07:12city of Ann Arbor is working on to get

1:07:15the city um out of its dependence on DTE

1:07:17and out of fossil fuels. There are

1:07:20options that the city is working on. It

1:07:21is just not true to say otherwise. Um

1:07:24and uh the funding for this um is due to

1:07:30some

1:07:31allocated funds that were not all spent.

1:07:33And so that's very exciting. And again,

1:07:35I don't think that in every city you

1:07:37find city departments working together

1:07:39to help each other. And that is what we

1:07:41see here. And I want to congratulate

1:07:43both staffs and express my endless

1:07:46gratitude for this kind of work that's

1:07:48going on here.

1:07:50>> Further discussion consent agenda.

1:07:51Council member Cornell. I just want to

1:07:53call attention to CA1 um which is a

1:07:56resolution to approve the street

1:07:57closures for the main street area

1:07:58association trick-or- treat parade. Um

1:08:01encouraging families to should this pass

1:08:04this evening, I hope it will, uh to mark

1:08:06their calendars for Sunday, October

1:08:0825th. Um festivities begin at noon. Um,

1:08:12a procession actually leaves leaves the

1:08:14downtown library at noon, so be there

1:08:16around 11:30 um, in full costume and um,

1:08:20runs until 2 p.m. There's

1:08:22trick-or-treating downtown as well as a

1:08:24silent disco, familyfriendly activities

1:08:26and giveaways and I've been told a

1:08:28spooktacularly good time. So, um, please

1:08:31come downtown, support our local

1:08:32businesses and have family fun in our in

1:08:35our downtown area.

1:08:36>> Further discussion of the consent

1:08:37agenda?

1:08:39All in favor of the consent agenda with

1:08:40the exception of CA5 and CA6.

1:08:44All opposed. The consent agenda is

1:08:46approved with the exception of CA5 and

1:08:48CA6 with 11 council members present. All

1:08:50voting in the affirmative, thus

1:08:51satisfying the eight vote requirement

1:08:53with respect to CA 9,

1:08:58CA1 13, CA14, and CA15.

1:09:04CA6 resolution to authorize a

1:09:07professional services agreement with

1:09:09Market Ventures, Inc. for Farmers Market

1:09:11Visioning and Engagement Plan uh and uh

1:09:14and accept and appropriate funds in the

1:09:16amount of $248,000.

1:09:18Moved by Council Member Griggs, second

1:09:20by Council Member Cornell. Discussion,

1:09:22please. C6, Council Member Briggs, but

1:09:24then staff introduction first.

1:09:29Uh thank you everybody for the

1:09:31opportunity. um resolution in front of

1:09:33you is for the uh revisioning of the

1:09:37farmers market. Uh the farmers market um

1:09:40did a similar thing back in 2016 um in

1:09:43which resulted in a a project that did

1:09:47not come to fruition. Um and at that

1:09:49point that project was addressing a want

1:09:53and a new addition. Um, since that time,

1:09:56one of the things that we've run into is

1:09:58we no longer have the opportunity to

1:10:00address things that we want, but really

1:10:02look at the facility and the things that

1:10:04we need. Um, since that time, uh, our

1:10:07operations changed significantly because

1:10:09of COVID and the pandemic. Um, which

1:10:11forced us to operate differently from

1:10:13there. Um, following the pandemic, um,

1:10:16we unfortunately found out that the

1:10:17foundation of the office building, um,

1:10:19was was crumbling. Um, and so we had to

1:10:22demo that as well. Um and so what we've

1:10:25realized is that we have a space that is

1:10:28um been been a very important part of

1:10:32the city for a long long time. And I

1:10:34think that what we've looked at is this

1:10:37resolution this RFP was designed to

1:10:39identify how do we ensure that the

1:10:41market and that space um remain an

1:10:44integral part of our community for time

1:10:46to come. Um the reality is is that since

1:10:502016 um lots of things have changed. Um

1:10:53this this council has changed

1:10:55significantly, the area around the

1:10:57market has changed significantly. Um

1:10:59staff has changed and how we operate has

1:11:02changed. And so I think it's really an

1:11:03opportunity and the community has

1:11:04changed and and the idea of going out

1:11:07and doing an RFP and getting market

1:11:09ventures to um as the preferred um

1:11:13consultant is because the market running

1:11:16a market designing a market is a very

1:11:19niche and unique situation. Um it is not

1:11:23like running another park. It's not like

1:11:25you know designing something else. It is

1:11:27the idea of um dealing with a a

1:11:31community um place for people to get

1:11:33food. The vendors that are there um live

1:11:36there. They make their livelihood to

1:11:38afford it and and Market Ventures um has

1:11:41the experience in doing that. they have

1:11:43the opportunity to look at not just a

1:11:45simple question to get us past um the

1:11:48the needed repairs and ADA improvements

1:11:50that are at that market and significant

1:11:52ones, but also look at how do we operate

1:11:55moving forward with a with a space that

1:11:57is um right and ready for that um that

1:12:01space to be new. So that's my

1:12:03introduction. Um Remy is here to answer

1:12:06questions as well as I am. So whatever

1:12:08we can do.

1:12:09>> Thank you, Council Member Briggs.

1:12:12Thank you. Um yeah my question was just

1:12:14you know why are we not you know since

1:12:17we had gone through a big public

1:12:18engagement process between 2014 to 2016

1:12:20why you know why were we start from

1:12:22scratch and I think you explained what

1:12:23what those differences are why that's

1:12:25important what what how the conditions

1:12:27have shifted um this is a top-notch team

1:12:31it's a great it's a great proposal um I

1:12:34just planning is is costly and I know

1:12:37parks you know parks resources are short

1:12:39right now so um I I'm

1:12:42to the degree that we can there is still

1:12:45useful information from from that

1:12:48previous public engagement time period I

1:12:49think it's really you know useful to you

1:12:52I know some of those vendors will be

1:12:53like well we did this 10 years ago so um

1:12:56I'm curious you know and building trust

1:12:57and faith in the planning processes so

1:13:00that that folks you know have feel that

1:13:02it is um worthwhile to engage and that

1:13:05we can move forward on something I think

1:13:06is important so if maybe if you could

1:13:08talk a little bit about that and you

1:13:09know this is one of our gems so it's

1:13:11it's I'm glad we're doing this.

1:13:12>> Yeah. No, of course. Um, yes. I mean, we

1:13:15we are in a position where we're

1:13:17planning as a part of what we need to do

1:13:19moving forward. Um, we we have we are

1:13:22going to utilize the information that we

1:13:23gained in 151617

1:13:26um as part of this as well as our asset

1:13:28management as well as our ADA studies.

1:13:30All the information all of these studies

1:13:31are not designed to be individual ones

1:13:33but work together as well as our our our

1:13:35last pros plan as well as our one that

1:13:37we're working on now. um you know I

1:13:39think that one of the things in regards

1:13:41to building trust um one of the things

1:13:43that we feel like sorry one um is that

1:13:47market ventures does work with vendors

1:13:50not just in their I mean they they know

1:13:52that that that circle they understand it

1:13:55um they've done stuff at Eastern Market

1:13:57they've done stuff at other places so I

1:13:59think that that is going to be a part of

1:14:00it um is is building that trust and yes

1:14:04we have a lot to do and I'd rather us

1:14:06take the opportunity to try to do this

1:14:08right and and and spend the money to get

1:14:10a good plan to figure out how we move

1:14:13ourselves forward um versus trying to

1:14:16get something done. And I think that's

1:14:18why um we believe that Mark Ventures is

1:14:21the best way to go. Um and this is the

1:14:23time to to to reimagine to vision that

1:14:25place um for something moving forward.

1:14:29Further discussion of CA6?

1:14:33All in favor? All opposed? It's

1:14:36approved. 11 council members present.

1:14:37thus satisfying the eight vote

1:14:39requirement.

1:14:43CA5 resolution to approve a professional

1:14:45services agreement with a Stantech

1:14:47Consulting Michigan uh Inc. RFP number

1:14:502639 and appropriate funding in the

1:14:52amount of $786,499.

1:14:56Moved by Council Member Dish, seconded

1:14:57by Council Member Malik. Discussion

1:14:59please of CA5. Council member Dish.

1:15:01Yeah, this is the uh this puts before us

1:15:06approving the contract for rewriting the

1:15:08city's UDC unified development code.

1:15:12This is the culmination or the beginning

1:15:14of the culmination. So, it's going to be

1:15:16a long culmination of the work on the

1:15:19comprehensive land use plan. Um this

1:15:23this work will proceed it's so exciting

1:15:25to me that I just had to share some

1:15:27details over three models. The first

1:15:29model module sorry is diagnose and that

1:15:32will take four to six months to build a

1:15:35factual and analytic basis for rewriting

1:15:38our zoning code. We the consultant will

1:15:41be looking to review our current zoning

1:15:44in relation to Michigan law and best

1:15:45practices elsewhere. They will use an

1:15:48equity scorecard to critically review

1:15:50our zoning code for places that can

1:15:51harbor inequity.

1:15:54They will at the same time concurrent

1:15:57with this in this four to six month

1:15:58period assess the development review

1:16:00process and they will produce two sets

1:16:02of recommendations which is very

1:16:04exciting. Some for immediate adoption

1:16:07hoay for immediate and others for that

1:16:09will have to be uh accomplished through

1:16:12UDC rewrite or policy change. There's a

1:16:16calibration phase which will translate

1:16:19the plan into realworld geography and

1:16:22processes which also makes me excited.

1:16:25This will involve uh a lot of review and

1:16:28public engagement and outreach 10

1:16:30planning commission work sessions just

1:16:33say goodbye to your second and fourth

1:16:36Tuesdays my friends and some number of

1:16:38city council briefings so we will not be

1:16:40left loud here. Uh and then very

1:16:43importantly public engagement pushes

1:16:45where they will bring forward clear

1:16:46choices, explain the implications of

1:16:48those choices, which is always a good

1:16:50thing to do and that's partly why we're

1:16:52here tonight. And use feedback to shape

1:16:54the ne next phase. Finally, they will

1:16:56codify all of this work. They anticipate

1:17:0024 months for those steps and 12 months

1:17:02for adoption. and I hope it's shorter,

1:17:05but the work of the 24 months or shorter

1:17:08will result in in an adoption ready

1:17:11unified development code and zoning map.

1:17:14That is to say, we will not apply it in

1:17:18pieces as we have done when we've done

1:17:20TC1 zoning. We will adopt this code and

1:17:23map following all this terrific

1:17:25engagement and all the work. So, there

1:17:28we are. Uh, if anyone has questions

1:17:30about the funding, I know that it was

1:17:31spelled out in the memo. Um, and staff

1:17:34can answer those.

1:17:35>> Further discussion?

1:17:40All in favor? All opposed? It's approved

1:17:42with 11 council members present, thus

1:17:44satisfying, all voting the affirmative,

1:17:46thus satisfying the 8 vote requirement.

1:17:48We now come to a set of public hearings.

1:17:50Public hearings are opportunities for

1:17:51members of the public to speak to

1:17:53council and the community about the

1:17:55specific subject matter of the public

1:17:56hearing. To speak at a public hearing,

1:17:58you need not have signed up in advance,

1:18:00but your speech must relate to the

1:18:03specific subject matter of the public

1:18:05hearing. That is to say, the specific

1:18:07item on the agenda to which the public

1:18:09hearing relates. Speakers in all

1:18:11instances will have 3 minutes in which

1:18:12to speak. So, please pay close attention

1:18:15to the time. Our clerk or the time clock

1:18:17will notify you when 30 seconds are

1:18:19remaining and when your time has

1:18:20expired. When your time is expired,

1:18:22please conclude your remarks and seed

1:18:24the floor. Public hearing number one, an

1:18:26ordinance to amend chapter 55 zoning

1:18:29reszoning of 1.19 acres from TWWP

1:18:31Township District to O office District

1:18:342080 South State Street resoning. Is

1:18:37there anyone in house who would like to

1:18:38speak at this public hearing [snorts]

1:18:49evening? Um, I just want to uh express

1:18:53my objection to uh to this being

1:18:56reszoned as office rather than as TC1.

1:19:01This is very close to uh to a TC1 area.

1:19:06It would make a lot more sense for it to

1:19:07be TC1. Thank you.

1:19:09>> Thank you. [applause]

1:19:11Is there anyone else in house who would

1:19:13like to speak at this public hearing?

1:19:20Is there anyone online who'd like to

1:19:21speak at this public hearing?

1:19:30Mayor, I don't have any callers online

1:19:31for this hearing.

1:19:45Seeing no one, this public hearing is

1:19:46closed. Public hearing number two, an

1:19:48ordinance to amend section 2413 rate

1:19:50schedules to chapter 35 sustainable

1:19:52energy utility of title 2 utilities and

1:19:55services of the code of the city of Ann

1:19:57Arbor. Is there anyone in house who

1:19:59would like to speak at this public

1:20:00hearing?

1:20:10Guess just me again. Um I think I I

1:20:14think that this is a good step. We need

1:20:17to keep uh uh and we need to keep

1:20:20listening to what the experts are uh uh

1:20:23in the city staff are telling us about

1:20:26uh electric utilities both by about

1:20:29municipal electricity and uh and the SCU

1:20:34and this is what we're do uh what we're

1:20:36doing here. So I support it.

1:20:38>> Thank you.

1:20:40Is there anyone else who would like to

1:20:41speak at this public hearing?

1:20:47Is there anyone on uh online who would

1:20:48like to speak at this public hearing?

1:20:55>> Louis Vasquez, do you have a comment? Go

1:20:58ahead.

1:20:59>> Yes. Thank you. Uh greetings, mayor and

1:21:02councel. Um, I'd like to speak in

1:21:04support of uh this uh change to the

1:21:08ordinance um expanding or giving the

1:21:12city the the SEU the ability to expand

1:21:16rates to uh many other households in the

1:21:21city of Ann Arbor. And just to

1:21:23reiterate, uh, the SEU, the sustainable

1:21:27ed energy utility, which was voted on

1:21:31overwhelmingly in the city of Ann Arbor

1:21:33just a couple of years ago, is our best

1:21:36chance to get out from under the thumb

1:21:40of DTE

1:21:42and is the SEU is precisely the reason

1:21:45why I will be voting no on proposal E.

1:21:48Thank you for your time.

1:21:51>> [applause]

1:21:52>> Thank you,

1:22:00>> Mayor. I don't have any other callers

1:22:01online with their hands up.

1:22:14Seeing no one, this public hearing is

1:22:15closed. We have before us the regular

1:22:16meeting minutes of September 22, 2026.

1:22:19May I have a motion, please, to approve

1:22:20these minutes. Moved by Council Member

1:22:21Watson, seconded by Council Member Dish.

1:22:22Discussion, please, of the minutes.

1:22:27All in favor? All opposed? The minutes

1:22:30are approved. B1, an ordinance to amend

1:22:32chapter 55, zoning, reszoning of 1.199

1:22:35acres from TWWP Township District to O

1:22:38office District 2080 South State Street

1:22:41Reszoning. Moved by Council Member Dish,

1:22:44seconded by Council Member IR.

1:22:47Discussion, please, of B1.

1:22:53All in favor? All opposed? It is

1:22:57approved. B2, an ordinance to amend

1:22:59section 2413, rate schedules to chapter

1:23:0235, sustainable energy utility of title

1:23:042, utilities and services of the code of

1:23:06the city of Ann Arbor. Moved by council

1:23:07member uh Cornell, second by council

1:23:09member Dish. Discussion please, of B2.

1:23:16Thank you, Councilman Dish.

1:23:19>> Yeah, just for folks who uh Thank you

1:23:22very much for commenter Vasquez, but

1:23:25just a few more details in case folks

1:23:27aren't up on this. Um the pilot for the

1:23:31sustainable energy utility is being

1:23:33developed in the Bryant community which

1:23:35is located in South Ann Arbor, southeast

1:23:37whatever. Yes, Ann Arbor. Um and uh it

1:23:42is a very it is a national example of

1:23:45creating a lowincome fully all-electric

1:23:49sustainable community. Um right now the

1:23:53SEU is funded on a considerable amount

1:23:55of grant money and uh there are 80

1:23:59households already served or in the

1:24:01queue to be served. The grant money that

1:24:04we currently have could serve up to a

1:24:06hundred households and the staff is

1:24:08actively searching for more grant funds

1:24:12to um offer service to other eligible

1:24:14customers. What this um amendment would

1:24:18would make possible would be for the uh

1:24:21this grant money to be used to to serve

1:24:25income eligible people outside the

1:24:27Bryant community. just um if there are

1:24:30not enough folks who are signing up

1:24:32right away in the Bryant community, but

1:24:34what is happening there is as people see

1:24:36what is happening to their neighbors

1:24:38homes, the uh draining of basements and

1:24:42just amazing work that goes well beyond

1:24:45what you might think of sustainability,

1:24:46but what is sustainability if your

1:24:48housing was built in the 50s quickly and

1:24:50not to last? All that work is being

1:24:53done. It is being done through grant

1:24:55money and uh it is it it has a snowball

1:24:58effect and it's quite beautiful. But we

1:25:00want to make we want to cast the widest

1:25:02net possible for now and uh move on next

1:25:05year to a thousand more households at um

1:25:08actually slightly different rates but

1:25:10all all good and well in the broad city.

1:25:13So that's what this is for and I'm very

1:25:15happy to support it.

1:25:17>> Council member Adena.

1:25:19Uh thank you, mayor, and thank you,

1:25:20Council Member Dish, for uh laying out

1:25:22all the the positives of this. Um as a

1:25:25resident of the Bryant neighborhood who

1:25:26is seeing solar panels go up throughout

1:25:28my neighborhood um on homes, um seeing

1:25:32the real benefits that people are

1:25:34experiencing from uh reduced costs of

1:25:37their DTE bills, from being able to

1:25:39support um uh completely renewable

1:25:41energy sources in their homes. Um and

1:25:44and frankly the the incredible work

1:25:46that's being done by our SEU. Um I'm

1:25:49just really excited to see this finally

1:25:51be ready to go out into other

1:25:53neighborhoods and for other people to be

1:25:54able to sign up and experience this. And

1:25:56so um I am just incredibly excited for

1:25:58this next step and uh and am looking

1:26:00forward to what's next. Further

1:26:03discussion.

1:26:05Uh, I'd like to uh e echo my colleagues

1:26:07comments on the uh on the uh the

1:26:10proposed uh expansion of the SCU this

1:26:12year. As folks know, we rolled out a

1:26:14pilot in our Bryant neighborhood, and

1:26:15I'm so grateful to uh the folks who have

1:26:18uh our first adopters in Bryant, uh the

1:26:20residents on the ground, the folks who

1:26:22have uh worked with the neighbors to

1:26:23envision a uh utility that works for

1:26:26them. uh doubly uh grateful for the uh

1:26:30initiative of staff to look beyond the

1:26:33Bryant neighborhood as opportunity

1:26:34presents this year uh to get the SEU

1:26:37started outside of our Bryant

1:26:39neighborhood. Uh next year we are

1:26:40looking to expand the SEU to uh to a

1:26:43thousand homes throughout the city

1:26:45providing 100% renewable reliable and

1:26:47affordable energy first in first out

1:26:49electricity from the city. Uh I'm

1:26:51grateful for uh you know community

1:26:54support of the SCU, the council support

1:26:56of the SEU and crucially uh the

1:26:58expertise uh of you know of staff who

1:27:01have worked extremely hard from

1:27:02inception to now. Um of course the

1:27:04office of OSI uh Dr. Staltz and uh and

1:27:07director Lensky whose expertise in this

1:27:09area getting the SCU up off the ground

1:27:11has been uh has been crucial and vital.

1:27:14Further discussion?

1:27:17All in favor? All opposed? It is

1:27:20approved.

1:27:25C1, an ordinance to amend chapter 55

1:27:28zoning resoning of.17 acres from R4C

1:27:30multif family dwelling to D1 downtown

1:27:33core Midtown character and secondary

1:27:35street the dean 2 resoning 548 South 5th

1:27:38Avenue moved by council member Cornell

1:27:41second by council member Aman.

1:27:42Discussion please of C1 council member

1:27:44Dish.

1:27:46This resoning will add an additional,

1:27:48that is to say, a tenth parcel at 548

1:27:52South 5th to the dean which is located

1:27:55at 558 South Fifth. As you can guess,

1:27:57they are adjoining

1:27:59uh 558 South Fifth has already been

1:28:02reszoned by C uh by the planning

1:28:05commission and city council to D1

1:28:07Midtown Character Overlay and

1:28:09conditions. This tenth parcel enables

1:28:12the dean to enhance the design of the

1:28:14project by squaring off the site. Um

1:28:17allowing for one access point on Fourth

1:28:20Street, eliminating a curb cut, which is

1:28:21always good for bicyclists and walkers,

1:28:23and to have a more active street front

1:28:25on Madison, which is good for us all

1:28:27because it is much more interesting to

1:28:28walk in uh along active uses. Um, this

1:28:33resoning will allow the Dean site to be

1:28:35increased to almost 50,000 square feet

1:28:38and allow the development of a 15-story

1:28:40residential building with approximately

1:28:42240 market rate apartments. These are

1:28:45always helpful to reduce the um supply

1:28:49crunch that is really motortored by the

1:28:53university's increasingly

1:28:55record-breaking enrollments um which we

1:28:58are not unhappy about, but they do place

1:29:00us in a housing crunch. Um the staff

1:29:03report spells out the details of the way

1:29:04that this proposal fits all the six

1:29:06points necessary to justify resoning. So

1:29:09I will allude to that and not go over

1:29:11them to bore you.

1:29:13Um the proposed resoning fits the com

1:29:16the comprehensive land use plan

1:29:18recommendation for upzoning this area

1:29:20from exclusively multif family

1:29:22residential use at mid-range density to

1:29:25the hub future land use category. Um and

1:29:29but the reason why we have a condition

1:29:31here is that D1 and Midtown character

1:29:33which is currently in the code does not

1:29:35have setback provisions for when it is

1:29:38an infill project that abuts a higher

1:29:40resident higher density residential

1:29:42non-down neighborhood. In other words,

1:29:44this is a new project. This is the kind

1:29:46of project we're looking for. It's

1:29:48infill um and it adjoins a residential

1:29:50neighborhood. and so they needed to

1:29:52propose an appropriate setback because

1:29:55the code doesn't have an appropriate uh

1:29:57provision for that. So, uh it is in

1:30:02short an excellent addition to a very

1:30:05well-located and um project that brings

1:30:08us a lot of housing units and thank you

1:30:11for considering it.

1:30:13>> Further discussion?

1:30:17All in favor? All opposed? It is

1:30:20approved. C2, an ordinance to add

1:30:22chapter 98, glue trap ban of title

1:30:25seven, business and trades of the code

1:30:27of the city of Ann Arbor. Moved by

1:30:28council member Gazi Edwin, second by

1:30:30council member Briggs. Discussion,

1:30:31please of C2. Council member Gazi Edwin.

1:30:35>> Uh, thank you, mayor. Um, I am proud to

1:30:38bring forward this ordinance. I would

1:30:39like to thank specifically attorney John

1:30:41Riser for all his hard work um and his

1:30:44careful attention to this issue. I would

1:30:47also like to thank W3 resident and Jeff

1:30:49Zik and people for the ethical treatment

1:30:51of animals for contacting me about this

1:30:53issue. We've heard a lot from those

1:30:56who've come to speak in support of it.

1:30:58Thank you for your work with wildlife

1:31:01animals and on this issue. Um you know

1:31:04as we've heard here today, glue traps

1:31:06are among the most inhumane forms of

1:31:08animal control. These devices are also

1:31:11indiscriminate. They can trap birds,

1:31:13squirrels, bats, reptiles, and even

1:31:15companion animals regardless of what

1:31:18species the user intended to catch. And

1:31:20this is also a public health issue. This

1:31:23ordinance does not prevent residents or

1:31:25businesses from addressing a pest

1:31:27problem. It requires them to use methods

1:31:30that do not leave an animal stuck and

1:31:32suffering for an extended period. Major

1:31:34retailers have already stopped selling

1:31:36glue traps. Several cities have

1:31:38prohibited them. and Congressman Tedlu

1:31:41introduced federal legislation in 2024

1:31:43to ban their sale and use nationwide.

1:31:46How we treat animals, including animals

1:31:49we may consider pests, reflects our

1:31:51values as a community. When a product

1:31:53causes prolonged suffering, harms

1:31:56unintended wildlife, and is discouraged

1:31:58by federal public health authorities,

1:32:01we should no longer permit its sale or

1:32:03use in Ann Arbor. I appreciate the work

1:32:06of staff and my co-sponsors and I would

1:32:08like to ask my colleagues to support

1:32:10this ordinance tonight. Thank you.

1:32:12>> Further discussion. Council member

1:32:14Cornell.

1:32:16>> I want to thank you, Council Member Gazi

1:32:19Edwin, for your leadership on this and

1:32:21the hard work that you've done. And I

1:32:24think I was really stunned today to

1:32:26receive emails that said, "Well, I'll

1:32:28just go to Pittsfield and buy my glue

1:32:29traps." And so I I sincerely hope that

1:32:32folks who um had that frame of mind

1:32:36listened to our speakers tonight um who

1:32:39spoke passionately and eloquently about

1:32:41the cruelty of these traps. Um and we'll

1:32:44reconsider. It is true that enforcement

1:32:46of an ordinance of this type is

1:32:48difficult, but my interest in supporting

1:32:50it was just to raise awareness of how

1:32:53awful this method of pest control and

1:32:55is, especially in terms of unintended

1:32:58consequences. um animals that we enjoy

1:33:00and invite into our yards um and want to

1:33:03actually have and have beneficial um

1:33:05ecological and environmental benefits to

1:33:07our gardens and are just frankly pretty

1:33:10to look at and listen to when we're

1:33:12talking about small birds. Um and so so

1:33:14I hope that if nothing else this raises

1:33:16awareness of of the cruelty of this

1:33:18method and um those who reached out to

1:33:22proudly say that they thought it was a

1:33:23terrible idea might sleep on it and

1:33:25reconsider. Thank you,

1:33:27>> Council Member Briggs.

1:33:30Thank you. I would just like to echo my

1:33:32my thanks to Council Member Gazi Edwin

1:33:34and to our speakers this evening. Um

1:33:36really powerful um comments that you

1:33:39provided. Um and thank you for

1:33:40advocating for some of the most

1:33:42vulnerable in our community that can't

1:33:43speak um for themselves. So, you know, I

1:33:47think every you know comments um

1:33:49comments tonight were good. I don't I

1:33:51don't need to repeat them. Um simply to

1:33:54um encourage uh our residents to and and

1:33:59residents of other communities to

1:34:00recognize that humane alternatives

1:34:03exist, including live traps that allow

1:34:06folks uh allow uh animals to be um

1:34:09safely and humanely relocated to another

1:34:12location um when they are causing a

1:34:14disturbance. Um they exist. Um I use

1:34:18them at home and never had an issue with

1:34:20it. And um so happy to support this ban

1:34:25on on glue traps um and encourage

1:34:28everybody to to really rethink uh their

1:34:31future purchases.

1:34:33>> Further discussion. Council member

1:34:34Malik.

1:34:36>> Thank you, Mayor. Uh I spent a good deal

1:34:39of time thinking this over and looking

1:34:42into other cities that have considered

1:34:44similar ordinances to the one before us

1:34:46tonight. [snorts] On the one hand, I

1:34:48agree that glue traps are pretty

1:34:50terrible. Public commenters tonight said

1:34:52it better than I could have. On the

1:34:55other hand, banning them at the city

1:34:57level presents obvious workarounds. As

1:35:00was said, people can simply buy them

1:35:01across the border in Pittsfield Township

1:35:03or order them online. To me, this felt

1:35:06like an example of the wrong level of

1:35:08government trying to solve a problem.

1:35:10This issue seems far better suited to

1:35:12action at the state level where the

1:35:14policy would be both more consistent and

1:35:16more effective. I'm also a bit uneasy

1:35:20about banning something and enforcing it

1:35:22with fines. However, I was reassured to

1:35:24learn that enforcement of this ordinance

1:35:25would be complaint-based rather than

1:35:27proactive.

1:35:29However, all of that left me weighing a

1:35:31ban that might be only partially

1:35:33effective and only passively enforced.

1:35:36At that point, I wondered what value

1:35:38there was in adding this ordinance to

1:35:40the books. But ultimately, I recognize

1:35:43that prohibiting the sale of these traps

1:35:45would still prevent at least some people

1:35:47from using them, even if workarounds

1:35:49like purchasing them online remain

1:35:51available. And I agree with my uh

1:35:53colleague, Council Member Cornell, who

1:35:54mentioned that raising the awareness

1:35:56tonight is also extremely valuable. All

1:35:58of that seemed worth it to me. So, I

1:36:00will be voting in favor of it tonight,

1:36:02and I look forward to the conversation

1:36:03in advance of second reading. Thank you.

1:36:06>> Further discussion?

1:36:10Uh, I'd like to echo uh echo thanks to

1:36:12council member Gazi Edwin uh for uh for

1:36:15uh leading this initiative. The city of

1:36:17Ann Arbor has uh over the course of

1:36:19years uh promoted uh animal welfare,

1:36:22animal safety um through a number of

1:36:24different measures working with folks at

1:36:26PETA, the Humane Society here in Valley

1:36:27and other residents uh who um who

1:36:30understand that we have uh an obligation

1:36:32to the natural world to uh and that um

1:36:35we as a municipal uh organization though

1:36:38uh imperfect and and and not exactly

1:36:40omnipotent do have a role to play. And

1:36:42so I'm grateful that we uh have this

1:36:44consideration before us and we'll move

1:36:45forward to second reading I suspect and

1:36:47I anticipate passage there as well.

1:36:50Further discussion.

1:36:52All in favor? All opposed? It is

1:36:55approved and we'll move on to second

1:36:56reading. C3, an ordinance to add chapter

1:36:5999 commercial vehicle markings of title

1:37:027 of the code of the city of Ann Arbor.

1:37:04Moved by council member Ay, seconded by

1:37:05council member Malik. Discussion please

1:37:08of C3. Council member.

1:37:10>> Thank you.

1:37:12Thank you, mayor. Um, okay. So, I'm

1:37:14bringing forward this ordinance because

1:37:15I think it addresses a pretty

1:37:17straightforward issue uh of public

1:37:19safety, work site security and

1:37:21accountability. Um, [snorts] as folks

1:37:24may have noted, we have a tremendous

1:37:25amount of construction work happening in

1:37:27this city

1:37:29and uh both on public and private

1:37:32property. And when a commercial vehicle

1:37:34is being used as part of that work, it's

1:37:36really important that we have a basic

1:37:37way to identify the business responsible

1:37:41uh for it. Um it's important to

1:37:43underscore here what we're talking about

1:37:45with this ordinance. This does not apply

1:37:47to someone's personal vehicle uh simply

1:37:50because they happen to use it for work.

1:37:52Personal vehicles are specifically

1:37:54excluded as are government and

1:37:56educational vehicles, taxis, ride share

1:37:58vehicles, and vehicles used for

1:38:00recreational or religious purposes.

1:38:02There are some very practical reasons

1:38:04for requiring these business vehicles to

1:38:06be identified. If there's a safety issue

1:38:09at a work site, property damage, illegal

1:38:12dumping, or some other problem involving

1:38:15a commercial vehicle, residents and city

1:38:17staff should be able to identify the

1:38:19company involved immediately. It

1:38:21shouldn't require someone to get a

1:38:22license plate number and then call the

1:38:24police and use law enforcement resources

1:38:26to figure out the business that's

1:38:28responsible. It also helps with work

1:38:31site security, particularly on larger

1:38:33construction sites where there may be

1:38:35multiple contractors and subcontractors

1:38:37coming and going. Clearly marked

1:38:39vehicles make it easier to identify who

1:38:41legitimately belongs on that site. And

1:38:44there's a contractor accountability

1:38:45component. Many established contractors

1:38:47already identify their businesses on

1:38:49their trucks and vans. They want

1:38:51customers to know who they are, and

1:38:52their vehicles are often part of how

1:38:54they advertise their business. An

1:38:56unmarked vehicle doesn't necessarily

1:38:57mean someone is doing anything wrong,

1:38:59but when there's a problem, it makes

1:39:00accountability much more difficult.

1:39:04This is a very modest requirement. We're

1:39:06not requiring new licensing or

1:39:08registration system. We're not requiring

1:39:10an expensive vehicle wrap or permanent

1:39:13lettering for a small business.

1:39:15Something as simple as an inexpensive

1:39:17removable magnetic sign can meet the

1:39:19requirement as long as the business name

1:39:20is displayed on both sides and meets the

1:39:22basic visibility standards. Ultimately,

1:39:25the principle here is pretty simple. If

1:39:27a business owns or leases a vehicle and

1:39:29is using that vehicle to perform

1:39:31construction or service work in Ann

1:39:32Arbor, there should be a basic way for

1:39:35the public in the city to identify the

1:39:36business responsible for it. I think

1:39:38that's a reasonable and relatively

1:39:40lowcost requirement that provides

1:39:42meaningful benefits for public safety,

1:39:45for work site security, and

1:39:46accountability. And I hope my colleagues

1:39:48will support it.

1:39:49>> Further discussion?

1:39:52Cer Briggs.

1:39:57>> [clears throat]

1:39:58>> Thanks to council member er for um uh

1:40:01the work that you're trying to do on

1:40:02this ordinance. I appreciate sort of the

1:40:05um the conditions and the that you've

1:40:07laid out and the the issues that you're

1:40:09trying to address with this and um we

1:40:11spoke a little bit earlier around this

1:40:14and um I as you know I am struggling a

1:40:18bit on this uh on this ordinance um and

1:40:22that's because I think we need to weigh

1:40:24the benefits of any new ordinance with

1:40:27the potential unintended consequences.

1:40:29And so for me, the piece that I'm

1:40:31struggling with is um the definition

1:40:34around um who this would apply to. So a

1:40:37commercial vehicle is is defined as any

1:40:39vehicle owned, leased, or rented by a

1:40:41business entity and used for public or

1:40:44private construction work or the

1:40:45provision of any other service work. And

1:40:47so we know that many of the folks who

1:40:50work in our community cannot afford to

1:40:52live in our community. And so, um,

1:40:57I anticipate there are a lot of

1:40:59commercial vehicles that are coming onto

1:41:01the streets of Ann Arbor, um, every day

1:41:04and and leaving to go back to their

1:41:06their own home communities or, you know,

1:41:09interacting with Ann Arbor and

1:41:10interacting with a lot of different

1:41:11communities. And so I'm concerned with

1:41:13Ann Arbor having um different

1:41:17um, regulations than our surrounding

1:41:20communities or other communities in the

1:41:22state broadly. And so I appreciate um

1:41:26the feedback that you know there are

1:41:29there are inexpensive alternatives in

1:41:31terms of you know getting a magnetic um

1:41:35uh temporary

1:41:38[snorts]

1:41:39thing lacking the word sign that is the

1:41:43word I'm looking for uh to a fixedear

1:41:45vehicle. Um but uh all for example all

1:41:50Ford pickup trucks are aluminum um these

1:41:52days and the most uh uh the highest

1:41:56selling vehicle um pickup truck now on

1:41:59on the planet is the F-150. And so you

1:42:02know a magnetic sign won't aix to them.

1:42:05Um and so there's just some practical

1:42:06difficulties with this ordinance and

1:42:09with the folks that I anticipate having

1:42:11to to comply with this. um and our

1:42:14community is um very attentive to uh

1:42:19what's happening around them. So I can

1:42:20imagine a lot of folks getting calls on

1:42:23this

1:42:24>> further discussion

1:42:35council than Briggs.

1:42:36>> Okay. [laughter] So, I would just I

1:42:38would just say there are other types of

1:42:40um decals that can be used for Yeah.

1:42:44>> Yeah. Um all of which cost less than

1:42:46than $100. So, um I really Yeah. I I I

1:42:51don't see this as a hardship, but thank

1:42:54you,

1:42:54>> Council Riggs.

1:42:55>> Yeah. Um

1:42:58I'm going to sit with this through first

1:43:00reading to second reading. Um get some

1:43:02feedback from folks who are using these

1:43:04vehicles. Um, I've reached out some

1:43:06different contractors that I know to get

1:43:08some feedback. Um, currently I'm leaning

1:43:11against supporting this for the reasons

1:43:12I stated, but um,

1:43:16recognize there's benefit in having it

1:43:18moved from first to second reading given

1:43:20the work that you've put in.

1:43:21>> I'm sorry, did I interrupt you? My

1:43:23apologies,

1:43:24>> Council Member Adena.

1:43:27>> Uh, thank you, Mayor. Uh, I I want to

1:43:29thank sponsors for bringing this

1:43:30forward. Um uh you know I think that

1:43:33there's also the additional benefit of

1:43:35um you know recognizing that recognizing

1:43:39that in in some places we've heard of

1:43:41you know also incidents when folks are

1:43:44pretending to be uh service providers

1:43:47when they're coming into neighborhoods

1:43:48and um presenting themselves as a

1:43:51utility or um uh somebody who's coming

1:43:55to sell something in a neighborhood and

1:43:58um and

1:44:00scamming and taking advantage of

1:44:02residents. And this is something else

1:44:04that would be, you know, if if AT&T is

1:44:07in your neighborhood, um, more than

1:44:09likely they are driving a a corporate

1:44:11owned vehicle. And so it's another

1:44:13potential opportunity for residents to

1:44:16to know when somebody pulls up in an

1:44:18unmarked vehicle that um that they're

1:44:20they're not being taken advantage of.

1:44:22Obviously those things can be created

1:44:25for a relatively low cost but creating

1:44:27that additional step of verification I

1:44:29think is important. Um I do have you

1:44:32know one one of the things that this

1:44:34does not include is um you know because

1:44:38of the exemption on personal vehicles it

1:44:39does not include things like food

1:44:41delivery services or like uh or parcel

1:44:45delivery services like Amazon um that

1:44:47are increasingly requiring their

1:44:49contracted employees to use their own

1:44:50vehicles. Um I don't know necessarily

1:44:53how to get around that problem. Um but

1:44:55it's something that I think is also

1:44:56worth noting is that um you know

1:44:58probably the commercial vehicle that

1:45:00folks are most frequently coming into

1:45:02contact with would not be covered under

1:45:03this. But um I will be supporting it

1:45:05tonight.

1:45:07Further discussion.

1:45:10Uh I'd like to express gratitude to

1:45:12council member er for uh taking the

1:45:13initiative on this uh on this proposal.

1:45:16This is a uh a useful uh consumer

1:45:20protection provision. uh it will enable

1:45:22uh folks to understand who is doing work

1:45:24in their community um and to be part of

1:45:26the solution uh in the event that uh

1:45:28some of that work is um is uh is a skew.

1:45:34Further discussion all in favor I'm

1:45:36sorry council member Cornell my

1:45:38apologies

1:45:40I have a practical question I think just

1:45:42and I I will raise this to staff

1:45:44afterward because I do intend to support

1:45:46it tonight to go to second reading. Um,

1:45:49my understanding is this just requires

1:45:51the company name to be is that correct?

1:45:53Do you just the company name? I'm

1:45:55thinking about like in Home Alone when

1:45:58like they smack their own decal on the

1:46:00car to go rob the like you could put

1:46:02whatever you want on it. So I how will I

1:46:04guess I'm really curious is how the

1:46:06information will be verified if it's

1:46:08just on the honor system or if

1:46:10additional information was considered

1:46:11and I'm happy to ask that of staff but

1:46:13just so that my colleagues know the sort

1:46:14of thing that I'm thinking about

1:46:21further discussion

1:46:23all in favor opposed it is approved on

1:46:26first reading we'll come back to second

1:46:28reading DC1 resolution directing the

1:46:30city administrator to develop

1:46:31recommendations regarding veterans

1:46:32Memorial Park. Moved by Council Member

1:46:34Medina. Second by Council Member Watson.

1:46:37Discuss. Uh Malak Matson.

1:46:40Watson. It is uh

1:46:43second by Watson. Uh DC1. Uh we do have

1:46:46a staff introduction.

1:46:52>> Hello again. Um it's kind of the same

1:46:56story as the last one. Um, you know, uh,

1:46:59Vets Memorial Park, um, is a wonderful

1:47:02facility that has has served this

1:47:04community for a long, long time. Um, as

1:47:06we've talked about, um, different points

1:47:08in front of you, uh, we've done the

1:47:10asset management, we've done the ADA

1:47:11study. Um, it's interesting both, um,

1:47:14the Farmers Market and Veterans Memorial

1:47:16are two of our highest, um, ranking, um,

1:47:20amongst the challenges for ADA and the

1:47:22needs on on the assessment. Um and then

1:47:25in addition to having um some needs at

1:47:28Veterans Memorial Park to address uh it

1:47:31was also hit by a tornado this year um

1:47:33which added to it. And so you know

1:47:35[snorts] as I mentioned earlier our job

1:47:38is ask the big questions. Our job is to

1:47:40try to get it right moving forward for

1:47:42the future generations. And we believe

1:47:44that, you know, kind of taking this this

1:47:47moment in time due to the the act the

1:47:49mother nature on this facility, it is

1:47:52the right time to ask the question about

1:47:55what is Vets Park? Um, how is it used

1:47:58within the community? Um, we know that

1:48:01there is a demand out there for for the

1:48:03the features that are there. Um, but I

1:48:05think it's important for us to really

1:48:07take this moment and not try to rush to

1:48:09a solution because whatever solution is

1:48:12there is going to be significant. Um,

1:48:15we're doing everything we can with

1:48:16insurance from the the tornado and

1:48:18working through a variety of different

1:48:19things, but um, these are old systems.

1:48:23Um, recreational trends have changed.

1:48:26Um, we've had demands in different ways.

1:48:29People are doing things differently. And

1:48:31I think it's just the it's another time

1:48:33in which we need to ask the question of

1:48:35how do we move ourselves forward in a

1:48:37park system that is so important to our

1:48:40community? Um and we want to make sure

1:48:41that future generations have that and I

1:48:43think take I I appreciate the

1:48:45opportunity um for you to ask us to ask

1:48:49those questions. So um that's where

1:48:52we're at. Um that's how we got here. Um

1:48:54in front of you is us taking the

1:48:56opportunity to pause knowing that it's

1:48:58going to impact some people. Um, and so

1:49:01I can answer any questions.

1:49:03>> Further discussion. Thank you, uh,

1:49:06Councelor Briggs, then Cornell.

1:49:08>> Yeah, thank you. I know this is this is

1:49:10tough. Um, as you mentioned, tornado

1:49:13plus exist pre-existing issues. Um, know

1:49:16we we've talked about this being $8

1:49:18million um of of costs. Um, and you

1:49:22know, only a portion of that is covered

1:49:23by insurance. Um,

1:49:26we also know that this is a a fixture of

1:49:29the fifth ward, a really important

1:49:31community asset and park um for the

1:49:32entire community. Um, and so we want to

1:49:35get as many of those elements back up

1:49:37and and running as quickly as possible.

1:49:39Um, I appreciate that community

1:49:40conversations have already started with

1:49:42the skating community. Um, for those who

1:49:44are not skaters, um, of which

1:49:46I would I skate, but I am not a skater.

1:49:49Um [gasps and laughter]

1:49:50I I was not aware that um that private

1:49:54equity has come in and purchased um the

1:49:57ice cube and has uh and that has had a

1:50:01profound impact um on not only our own

1:50:04facility but surrounding comm facilities

1:50:06and other communities means that fees

1:50:08have increased. Um skating costs are are

1:50:11you know are escalating. Uh folks are

1:50:14being charged, families are being

1:50:15charged to for um teams are being

1:50:18charged for renting the lockers. Um it's

1:50:21just, you know, it's it's a really sad

1:50:23condition um in terms of uh the

1:50:25privatization of this. And so, um,

1:50:28really, uh, appreciate, uh, the

1:50:30amendments that were made around, um,

1:50:32working to get through this in public

1:50:34engagement process as quickly as we can

1:50:36because we know that, um, that it's it's

1:50:39it's really challenging to have one of

1:50:41to have our ICE arena down for yet

1:50:43another season. And if we're looking

1:50:45towards the future, it may take some

1:50:46time to um to build something that the

1:50:49community can really um really truly

1:50:52serves the needs of our community. So,

1:50:53um, thank you for your work on this. Um,

1:50:55and look forward to engaging.

1:50:58>> Council member Cornell.

1:51:01>> Thank you. And thanks to my W 5

1:51:04colleague for addressing some of the

1:51:05things that I wanted to bring up. Um,

1:51:07and thank you to staff. It was about

1:51:09107,000 degrees when we toured vets and

1:51:12um were in um the sun and outside and

1:51:15you were very generous with your time

1:51:17and your expertise. Um, I think what

1:51:20really struck me that day was on such a

1:51:22really hot day, how many people were

1:51:23enjoying the pool and how the diversity

1:51:25of people in the pool age- wise, um,

1:51:28just everything. And so, um, I thank so

1:51:31much for doing that. I also wanted to

1:51:33call out, um, some of the real

1:51:35thoughtfulness that you've put in with

1:51:36not just replacing what is there now

1:51:38with the money that was afforded, um,

1:51:40through our insurance claims from

1:51:41tornado damage, but um, small things

1:51:43like um, we've been asked by

1:51:45constituents, why are there still trees

1:51:47down? And the answer is because we're

1:51:48looking to reclaim that wood and create

1:51:51infrastructure within the park itself.

1:51:52So reuse of of some of the damage, which

1:51:55I thought was really novel. Um, and I I

1:51:58also want to thank you for your slower

1:51:59approach and helping and spending the

1:52:01time to help us understand that to make

1:52:02sure that we're using tax dollars wisely

1:52:04that serve the entire community. I I for

1:52:07one was not aware that um our current

1:52:09ICE facility um facilities, I should

1:52:12say, are not ADA compliant. And so

1:52:14obviously that is something we want to

1:52:16address um and is really important for

1:52:18us to address and I'm not sure how much

1:52:19the broader community knows about that.

1:52:21Um, one of the things that I had asked

1:52:24for clarification on and u amended from

1:52:26the initial draft of that to what is

1:52:28before us tonight is just confirmation

1:52:31that the operations in the northern part

1:52:32of Vets Memorial Park including um

1:52:35recreational softball and baseball will

1:52:38resume in the spring when repairs

1:52:39resulting from the tornado will be

1:52:41complete and um pool operations will

1:52:44continue and will be completed at that

1:52:45time too. I think that those are two

1:52:47important community amenities that we

1:52:49are able to move forward um and bring

1:52:52back online um quickly while we also

1:52:55thoughtfully contemplate what's next. Um

1:52:58and and I know that the approach also as

1:53:00council member Briggs um indicated will

1:53:03include a lot of stakeholder engagement,

1:53:05community engagement, and I think that's

1:53:07really important for us as a council to

1:53:08understand what is most valuable versus

1:53:11just replacing what's there and making

1:53:13it um ADA compliant. um what is most

1:53:16valuable to our community and how do we

1:53:17help make that facility when we have the

1:53:19opportunity to to to meet the most needs

1:53:21possible. So, I have no doubt that you

1:53:24will lead continue to lead a thoughtful

1:53:26process and I really appreciate it. This

1:53:27is a great asset to work five. Thank

1:53:29you,

1:53:30>> Council Member Red.

1:53:32>> Uh thank you, Mayor Taylor. And uh so,

1:53:34first and foremost, thanks to staff for

1:53:36providing the important background um

1:53:38and for helping to draft this resolution

1:53:40with us. Um you know, led by council

1:53:42members Cornell and Briggs. Um, the

1:53:45sponsors of this resolution had the

1:53:46opportunity, as was mentioned, to tour

1:53:48Vets Park this summer, uh, to see some

1:53:51of the damage from the storm. Um, I

1:53:53won't go into too much because council

1:53:54member Cornell covered a lot of it, but

1:53:56um, what we realized is that not only do

1:53:59we have an opportunity here to um, to

1:54:02rebuild what we have at Vets Park, but

1:54:04we have an opportunity really to think

1:54:06about the future needs of Vets Park and

1:54:09real really the the modern needs, the

1:54:11today's needs of Vets Park because we

1:54:13know that that what we have there, the

1:54:14amenities that we have there, while

1:54:16while popular, we're not necessarily

1:54:17meeting the demands that we currently

1:54:19have. Um, and so I I'm really grateful

1:54:22to my W five colleagues and to staff for

1:54:24highlighting this, for having

1:54:25conversations with some of the community

1:54:27groups that are using the park

1:54:28regularly, um, and for identifying that

1:54:31while the storm presented us with some

1:54:33real hardships and costs and and

1:54:35challenges, um, that it also is

1:54:37presenting us with this opportunity to

1:54:39think bigger and to think about what the

1:54:41future of Vets Park could look like, um,

1:54:43so that it can better serve our

1:54:44community going forward. And so, I just

1:54:46want to thank everyone for being

1:54:47involved in this. I'm excited to support

1:54:49this and and to see what comes out of

1:54:50it. Thanks.

1:54:53Further discussion.

1:54:57All in favor? All opposed? Thank you.

1:55:00It's approved.

1:55:02DC2 resolution to approve the purchase

1:55:04of real property located at 2725

1:55:06Kimberly Road for $197,000

1:55:08plus costs not to exceed $20,000. Moved

1:55:11by Council Member Gazy Edin, second by

1:55:14Council Member Adena. Discussion,

1:55:16please, of DC2.

1:55:20All in favor? All opposed. It is

1:55:23approved with 11 council members

1:55:24present. All voting in the affirmative,

1:55:26thus satisfying the 8 vote requirement

1:55:28DC3 resolution to appoint Karen Duro and

1:55:30Octavia Smith to the Independent

1:55:32Community Police Oversight Commission.

1:55:33Moved by Council Member

1:55:36Harrison, seconded by Council Member

1:55:37Guzy Edwin. Discussion, please of DC3.

1:55:42All in favor? All opposed? It is

1:55:44approved with 11 council members

1:55:46present. All voting in the affirmative,

1:55:48thus satisfying the seven vote

1:55:49requirement DC4. Resolution regarding

1:55:51proposal E. Moved by Council Member

1:55:54Cornell. Seconded by Council Member

1:55:56Dish. Discussion please, of DC4.

1:56:05Council member Dish.

1:56:09Okay. Um, I'd like to start off by

1:56:12saying I would like to be added to this

1:56:14resolution, please. Um, and I'd like to

1:56:19answer a couple of things that came up

1:56:20in public comment. I'd like to thank

1:56:22everyone who came tonight. It is

1:56:24marvelous to see so many people here.

1:56:26It's great to have so much energy in

1:56:28this room.

1:56:30Um, so one question was why was excuse

1:56:33me, why was there no mention of cost of

1:56:35the cost savings that municipalization

1:56:37achieves in Chelsea, Michigan in the

1:56:40energy pathways report from 2023? And

1:56:43one of the reasons is that Chelsea's

1:56:45case isn't comparable to Ann Arbor.

1:56:48Chelsea's MUN was established 128 years

1:56:51ago in 1898. It started up without the

1:56:54burden of having to take on debt to sue,

1:56:56acquire, upgrade uh to sue to acquire,

1:57:00upgrade, and run outdated equipment. So

1:57:03the energy pathways report made it clear

1:57:05that savings achieved by municipalizing

1:57:07in Ann Arbor would not be realized until

1:57:09debt was paid off. And so that means

1:57:11that there isn't an immediate reduction

1:57:14in rates. The sustainable energy utility

1:57:17and a publiclyowned municipal electric

1:57:20utility can support each other. The

1:57:23sustainable energy utility cannot take

1:57:25this city all the way to its carbon

1:57:27neutrality goals. Staff at the Office of

1:57:29Sustainability and Innovation, which has

1:57:31nothing to do with Vichy, France, have

1:57:33been upfront about this.

1:57:35If the city had a great deal of excess

1:57:37cash, it might make sense to move

1:57:40forward with both together right now.

1:57:43The city does not have a great deal of

1:57:45excess cash. The public voted on the

1:57:48sustainable energy utility last year and

1:57:51the city is moving forward with it.

1:57:53Solar and battery installation has been

1:57:55providing relief to some of Ann Arbor's

1:57:58lowest earning households on their

1:58:00electricity bills for several months

1:58:02now. Moving forward with the SEU first

1:58:06may lower the cost of acquiring DTE's

1:58:08assets in the future if that is a path

1:58:11that the city decides to take because

1:58:13DTE will likely have to upgrade its grid

1:58:16in response to the SEU's expansion. So

1:58:19this order of things makes sense. Um I

1:58:22am really confused though by the many of

1:58:26the comments that were made about what

1:58:28the amendment will and will not

1:58:29authorize and I express this as genuine

1:58:32confusion. I am not faking it. Believe

1:58:34me, I am getting old and very confused

1:58:38um every day. So the word shall is used

1:58:43to express what is mandatory.

1:58:46And this paragraph in the amendment that

1:58:49Prop E makes to the city charter uses

1:58:53the word shall a couple of times in ways

1:58:56that seem to me to

1:59:01raise a red flag. So I'll just read it

1:59:02very quickly because I think I'm in

1:59:04running out of time. The board shall

1:59:05have all the powers shall have all the

1:59:08powers and duties possessed by the city

1:59:11to construct, acquire, expand, operate,

1:59:15study and maintain the utility system.

1:59:18There are some other shells and other

1:59:19people can bring those up if they want.

1:59:21I must be misinterpreting.

1:59:23>> Council member Readina

1:59:28>> maybe. Uh thank you, mayor. Uh during my

1:59:31time on council, I believe I have

1:59:33supported every effort to advance the

1:59:35cause of public power that has come to

1:59:36this table, including most recently

1:59:38being on the losing side of a vote to

1:59:40advance a phase 2 feasibility study,

1:59:42which I continue to believe is the

1:59:44appropriate next step for the city to

1:59:46take in exploring this question and

1:59:48empowering council and the public with

1:59:49the necessary information to make an

1:59:51informed decision on the path forward.

1:59:53If proposal E was simply a question of

1:59:55obligating the city to take this next

1:59:57step, I would have endorsed it.

1:59:59Unfortunately, it is not and I still do

2:00:02have very real concerns with proposal E.

2:00:04That said, I did not support initial

2:00:06language in this resolution encouraging

2:00:08a no vote on Prop E. I do not believe it

2:00:11is appropriate for a government body in

2:00:12its official capacity to encourage

2:00:14residents to vote in a specific way.

2:00:16That's something that each of us in our

2:00:18individual capacities have the power and

2:00:20choice to do. But it is not something

2:00:22that I believe that government should do

2:00:24and it is not something we have done in

2:00:25the past even when council members were

2:00:27unanimous in their opposition to

2:00:28proposals in the past. So I would like

2:00:31to thank the sponsors. I think there was

2:00:32some confusion about this because it was

2:00:34a late change. I would like to thank the

2:00:36sponsors of this resolution for

2:00:37continuing to work on this this

2:00:38resolution over the weekend and removing

2:00:40that language from the resolution

2:00:41tonight. It is not included despite some

2:00:43of the comments that we heard. Uh I do

2:00:46however believe it is not only

2:00:48appropriate but responsible for council

2:00:50to provide residents with information

2:00:51about the hard realities, perspective

2:00:53trade-offs and potential risks to the

2:00:55city posed by questions presented to

2:00:58them. More information empowers voters

2:01:00to make more informed decisions. I know

2:01:02that supporters of Propy dispute some of

2:01:04the content in this resolution

2:01:06potentially around differing legal

2:01:07opinions about what this proposal

2:01:09actually requires, some of which my

2:01:11colleague was starting to get into.

2:01:13However, this resolution language has

2:01:14been reviewed by our city attorneys, and

2:01:16I trust their review and analysis. I

2:01:19also did initially have some concern

2:01:21with pre-authorizing a legal challenge

2:01:23before the vote, another question that

2:01:24we've heard about tonight. It is a

2:01:26question that I I do believe could have

2:01:28waited, but the reality is that it is

2:01:30still a very there is still a very real

2:01:33lingering question, one that was raised

2:01:35by the Michigan Attorney General's

2:01:36office about whether this proposal has

2:01:38followed the appropriate process in

2:01:40order to take authority reserved in the

2:01:42charter for the elected city council and

2:01:44granting it to another board. The answer

2:01:46to that legal question, which the AG's

2:01:48office raised but did not answer, could

2:01:51have much broader future implications

2:01:53beyond this ballot proposal. I do not

2:01:55know what the answer to that question

2:01:56will be, but I do believe it is a

2:01:58question that the city needs to resolve

2:02:00and that council has an obligation to

2:02:02answer on behalf of residents who may

2:02:03bring other ballot questions in the

2:02:05future. For those reasons, despite my

2:02:08frustration with DTE, my opposition to

2:02:10utility monopolies, and my demonstrated

2:02:12support for publicly owned utilities in

2:02:14the past at this at this table, I will

2:02:17be supporting this resolution tonight.

2:02:20>> Council member Briggs.

2:02:24Yeah. So, I'd like to thank everyone who

2:02:26came to speak at council tonight, caring

2:02:29enough to show up and share your view

2:02:30about what you believe is a testament to

2:02:32both your character and your conviction.

2:02:36I heard your frustration and your

2:02:37passion. We live in a time when we're

2:02:39being encouraged from the top levels of

2:02:41government to divide, create camps of us

2:02:45versus them. We also live in a time when

2:02:48trust in government, even local

2:02:49government, is plummeting. But here we

2:02:51are. We're neighbors. We're people who

2:02:53care deeply about our energy future.

2:02:56And it appears that we're all a big fan

2:02:58of local government, the staff that

2:03:01serve our communities and the amazing

2:03:02work that they do to serve us. And we

2:03:05believe that public power is great. I'm

2:03:08proud that the Anner Sustainable Energy

2:03:09Utility, which voters approved in

2:03:11November of 24, is the first new

2:03:13municipal energy utility created in over

2:03:15a 100red years and is now a member of

2:03:17the Michigan Municipal Energy

2:03:18Association. We're doing innovative work

2:03:21in Ann Arbor and it's great to see it

2:03:23being recognized so widely across the

2:03:24United States and serving as a

2:03:26replicable model in Michigan. We also

2:03:29agree that DTE has shameful practices.

2:03:31DTE is one of the dirtiest utilities in

2:03:34the nation and there's no excuse for the

2:03:36poor perform for their poor performance

2:03:38or the pace of transition of their of

2:03:41their energy transition. We have nearby

2:03:43examples of NIPCO in Indiana that

2:03:46demonstrate that investorowned utilities

2:03:48can successfully transition quickly to

2:03:50wind and solar and that rank high in

2:03:52customer satisfaction. I hope that DT

2:03:56execs are listening to this and seeing

2:03:58movement in two of their largest

2:04:01communities in their service area trying

2:04:03to leave.

2:04:05I understand that the writers of this

2:04:07ordinance intended it to be clear and

2:04:09not create conflicts with our charter.

2:04:11I'm glad that the authors intend for the

2:04:13acquisition of DTE to go back to voters.

2:04:16However, the plain language reads

2:04:18otherwise. As the speaker noted, the

2:04:21voters of Ann Arbor generally vote

2:04:22overwhelmingly in favor of green

2:04:25initiatives. If this ballot initiative

2:04:28passes by a twothirds majority, there is

2:04:30a real question about whether it needs

2:04:32to go back to voters. I encourage those

2:04:35who haven't read, and I know many of you

2:04:38have, haven't read the ordinance, to

2:04:41tune into the abundant use of the word

2:04:44shall, which is a legal word to compel

2:04:47action.

2:04:48Regardless of your personal view on

2:04:50this, there is a legal standard that

2:04:54folks 10 years from now may not have the

2:04:58same commitment to.

2:05:00Council member Dish just read one of

2:05:02those those provisions that that we find

2:05:05concerning.

2:05:06It's important for our community to

2:05:08understand that this is this is not a

2:05:10small step. This is not a study. This is

2:05:13a significant undertaking that poses

2:05:15significant financial risk to the city

2:05:17if we were to create a new municipal

2:05:18electric utility by condemnation.

2:05:21There's a reason many of Annab's most

2:05:23prominent and respected environmental

2:05:24and climate leaders have joined together

2:05:26to urge residents to vote no on proposal

2:05:29E. You can learn about their concerns,

2:05:31ones that I share at sustainable a2.org.

2:05:35It's also important for voters to know

2:05:37that county Democratic Party did not

2:05:39endorse this proposal.

2:05:40>> Council member,

2:05:41>> despite previously supporting the

2:05:42concept of public power, I encourage

2:05:45voters to vote no.

2:05:47>> Council member Harrison.

2:05:54>> Thank you, Mayor.

2:05:57Thank you to everyone who has reached

2:05:59out. I do share residents frustrations

2:06:02with DTE. Families deserve reliable

2:06:05electricity and affordable bills and I

2:06:08understand why people want greater

2:06:09control over their energy future.

2:06:12I have serious concerns about proposal

2:06:14E. The word shall matters. It it is in a

2:06:18directive. It ordinarily means something

2:06:21is required. In legal language, it

2:06:23generally creates a mandatory duty. This

2:06:26proposal says council shall establish a

2:06:28municipal electric electric utility and

2:06:32shall authorize borrowing recommended by

2:06:34the board in accordance with our

2:06:36existing charter. We need clarity about

2:06:38whether council could decline borrowing.

2:06:41It uh considers financially um

2:06:44irresponsible.

2:06:47Council retains authority over budgets

2:06:49and approval of rates and acquiring DTE

2:06:51system would require another public

2:06:53vote. Still, the proposed board would

2:06:55have substantial contracting and

2:06:58property powers. Overturning its

2:07:00operational decision decisions would

2:07:02require eight council votes. I am

2:07:05concerned about staff time, funding,

2:07:07legal obligations, and accountability.

2:07:09An eventual acquisition would bring

2:07:11additional questions about litigation,

2:07:14infrastructure repairs, and operational

2:07:16costs. Residents deserve clear answers

2:07:19about those potential burdens. My

2:07:21responsibil my responsibility for public

2:07:23dollars requires me to consider the

2:07:25needs already before us. Affordable and

2:07:27subsidized housing, food security and

2:07:30food insecurity, mental health services

2:07:32and community organizations supporting

2:07:34vulnerable residents and workers. These

2:07:37commitments have guided my work on

2:07:38council. I worry about obligations that

2:07:41could make it harder to meet them. I

2:07:43also believe in the progress we are

2:07:45making with uh the sustainable energy

2:07:48utility. During my campaign for

2:07:50re-election, I did speak about I spoke

2:07:52about the SEU and I will continue using

2:07:54my platform to speak speak about it,

2:07:57explain it, and support it. It is a

2:07:59community-owned M municipal utility

2:08:02providing optional supplemental

2:08:03renewable energy. Its acceptance as the

2:08:06Michigan Municipal Electric

2:08:08Association's 41st members 41st member

2:08:12is encouraging. It does not replace DTE

2:08:15citywide, but it gives us practical ways

2:08:17to expand public power. I will also

2:08:19continue using my voice to express

2:08:21concerns about proposal E. I can make

2:08:23those concerns known, answer residents

2:08:26questions, and encourage voters to

2:08:27examine the financial and legal

2:08:29implications before making their

2:08:30decision. Although I consider supporting

2:08:33this resolution after the removal of the

2:08:35resolved clause, I do remain concerned

2:08:37about council taking an official stand

2:08:38as a governing body governing body

2:08:41against a legitimate citizen initiative

2:08:43that does not infringe on anyone's civil

2:08:45or human rights.

2:08:47Residents gathered the required

2:08:49signatures. Those signatures were

2:08:50validated and the proposal was certified

2:08:52for the ballot. I believe we should

2:08:54respect the work residents did to bring

2:08:56this quest bring this question before

2:08:58voters. I can fulfill my responsibility

2:09:01to speak honestly about the risks while

2:09:04respecting that process. For those

2:09:06reasons, I cannot um support this

2:09:09resolution this evening and we'll be

2:09:10putting no counil member.

2:09:15[applause]

2:09:22>> Thank you. Um thank you to everyone for

2:09:25coming tonight. Um, I want to be clear

2:09:27from the outset. I support public power.

2:09:30I grew up in Lancing with the Board of

2:09:31Water and Light and public power to me

2:09:34is normal. Um, if we were building Ann

2:09:36Arbor from scratch today, I would choose

2:09:38municipal power. After years of high

2:09:40rates and absolutely abysmal,

2:09:42unacceptable reliability from DTE. I

2:09:45understand why so many residents want an

2:09:47alternative. I do, too. But we aren't

2:09:50starting from scratch. Taking DTE's

2:09:52system into public ownership would be an

2:09:54enormous legal, financial, and

2:09:55operational undertaking, I voted to

2:09:58study municipalization further, and I

2:10:00would do so again.

2:10:03But before putting mandates into our

2:10:05charter, we need to understand what

2:10:07we're committing ourselves to. Proposal

2:10:09E says, as others have pointed out,

2:10:11council shall establish a municipal

2:10:14electric utility. It also says the board

2:10:16shall recommend and council shall

2:10:19authorize borrowing. Shall is mandatory.

2:10:23That takes away council's responsibility

2:10:25to exercise its own judgment about

2:10:27whether that borrowing is appropriate.

2:10:29The proposal also transfers significant

2:10:31authority from council to this new

2:10:32board, including over contracts and

2:10:34property acquisition. These are serious

2:10:37fiscal questions. Acquiring DTE system

2:10:39could cost hundreds of millions of

2:10:41dollars or more. And while public

2:10:43ownership eliminates private

2:10:44shareholders, if we borrow hundreds of

2:10:46millions to acquire the system, we will

2:10:48still be paying returns to private

2:10:51investors through interest on that debt.

2:10:54Acquisition would also remove DTE

2:10:56property from the tax roles. For the Ann

2:10:58Arbor public schools alone, the

2:11:00projected loss is approximately $140

2:11:02million over 30 years. Our schools

2:11:05continue to face financial financial

2:11:07challenges and we have to account for

2:11:09that. This resolution also directs our

2:11:11city attorney to challenge proposal E at

2:11:13the appropriate time. If there is

2:11:16genuine legal tension over something

2:11:17that we're putting into our charter, as

2:11:19there is here, we should all want a

2:11:22definitive answer, supporters included.

2:11:25None of this is a defense of DTE. DTE's

2:11:28reliability has been abysmal. Its rates

2:11:31have continued to rise and Ann Arbor

2:11:33residents have every reason to demand

2:11:35better. And we are doing something about

2:11:38it. We've created the SEU. We are also

2:11:41fighting DTE in our rate cases.

2:11:44Interventions have helped produce more

2:11:46than one hundreds of millions or more

2:11:49than 1 billion in avoided costs for

2:11:51rateayers. We should keep using every

2:11:53tool available to reduce our dependence

2:11:56on DTE and hold it accountable. Finally,

2:12:00although the clause urging citizens to

2:12:02vote no was removed, council does have

2:12:04every right to weigh in. If a

2:12:06citizen-led initiative sought to take

2:12:07away abortion rights, I have a hard time

2:12:10believing most in this room would argue

2:12:11that elected officials should remain

2:12:13silent simply because citizens put it on

2:12:16the ballot. I believe in public power

2:12:18and continued study of full

2:12:20municipalization, but good government

2:12:22means understanding the costs,

2:12:24obligations, and consequences before we

2:12:26put them into our charter. And we don't

2:12:28have those answers on this question

2:12:30right now. Council member Malik.

2:12:37>> Thank you, Mayor.

2:12:38I struggled with this item tonight.

2:12:41In particular, I struggled with the

2:12:43discussion around Proposition E and the

2:12:45distinction between this November's

2:12:47specific ballot measure and the much

2:12:49broader question of municipal power.

2:12:52I've observed that when both supporters

2:12:54and opponents talk about the ballot

2:12:56proposal, the conversation often shifts

2:12:59immediately to the larger debate about

2:13:01municipal power, leaving Proposition E

2:13:04itself largely unexamined. For me, this

2:13:07is frustrating and makes it harder to

2:13:09debate the actual merits of the measure

2:13:11on the ballot itself.

2:13:13What these conversations have revealed

2:13:14to me is that this ballot initiative is

2:13:16largely inseparable from the larger

2:13:19question of municipalization.

2:13:21In both conversation and practice, the

2:13:23two blur together. Yes, this ballot

2:13:25initiative is only about establishing a

2:13:27utility board and is sometimes pitched

2:13:29as low risk. But as my colleagues have

2:13:32said, a charter amendment, no matter how

2:13:34big or small, is and should be taken

2:13:36quite seriously. And more importantly,

2:13:39if Prop E is passed in November, it

2:13:41would initiate the much broader

2:13:43municipalization process.

2:13:46I continue to grapple with the lack of

2:13:48clear information about what

2:13:50municipalization would look like, both

2:13:52in practice and in the numbers. One

2:13:55point that stood out to me while

2:13:56reviewing this resolution is that DT

2:13:58Electric is the city's largest property

2:14:00taxpayer today. I can confirm they do

2:14:03actually pay property taxes as their

2:14:05parcels and payment history are all

2:14:07publicly listed in full on BSNA online.

2:14:10In 2026 alone, DTE will pay $8.5 million

2:14:14to all taxing jurisdictions just from

2:14:17their real and personal property within

2:14:19the city's boundaries.

2:14:21This includes 3 million this year,

2:14:22nearly 3 million this year just to AAPS

2:14:25and another 2 million just to the city.

2:14:28This is real money our schools, roads,

2:14:30libraries, parks, and infrastructure

2:14:32rely on. If the city were to purchase

2:14:35DTE Electric's assets through

2:14:36municipalization, all of DTE Electric's

2:14:39current and real personal property would

2:14:41likely become taxexempt public property.

2:14:45The city would remove one of its most

2:14:46significant contributors to local

2:14:48property tax revenue.

2:14:51Using DT Electric's 2026 taxable value,

2:14:54holding tax rates steady, and applying a

2:14:57conservative 3% annual increase over 30

2:14:59years, the city and local institutions

2:15:02would forego approximately $45 million

2:15:05in total tax revenue over 30 years. But

2:15:08more important than this specific number

2:15:10is the fact that you can't find it or

2:15:12anything like it anywhere. And by that,

2:15:15I mean the phase 1 study did not account

2:15:17for this major factor in its rough

2:15:18estimates. A public commenter earlier

2:15:21also pointed out additional omissions.

2:15:23Last year, I voted in favor of a phase 2

2:15:26study precisely to examine questions

2:15:28like these and to produce the numbers we

2:15:30need. As someone who strives to have

2:15:32solid information before moving ahead on

2:15:34any major decision, I feel the same

2:15:36responsibility here. For that reason, I

2:15:39will be voting in favor of this revised

2:15:41resolution tonight since it provides and

2:15:43highlights some of this important

2:15:44information like the foregone tax

2:15:46revenue. I'm broadly supportive of a

2:15:49municipalization and am no fan of DTE.

2:15:52But to me, municipalization is also

2:15:54extremely risky and a risk I'm not

2:15:56willing to take without crucial

2:15:57information that both the public and I

2:15:59need to fully evaluate an issue as

2:16:01consequential as municipalization, one

2:16:03that will shape our city's future for

2:16:05decades to come. Thank you,

2:16:07>> Council Member Gazy Edwin.

2:16:10>> Thank you, Mayor. Uh, first I want to be

2:16:13clear, I and we are not supporters of

2:16:15DTE. We are aware that we have some of

2:16:18the highest rates in the nation with

2:16:19some of the most unreliable service.

2:16:22After the 2023 ice storm, I authored and

2:16:24we unanimously passed a resolution

2:16:27calling for automatic outage credits,

2:16:29compensation for outage losses, and

2:16:31rates tied to reliability,

2:16:32affordability, equity, and pollution

2:16:35reduction. We also encouraged the city

2:16:37to continue its intervention in the

2:16:38rateayer cases. We reaffirm that

2:16:41commitment in May 2026 with passage of

2:16:44another resolution.

2:16:46I support public power in principle and

2:16:49I believe if it were possible, a phase 2

2:16:51study would be an appropriate next step.

2:16:53To clarify, when I voted no on funding

2:16:56that study, our social service

2:16:58organizations were in a dire position

2:17:00because of federal cuts affecting our

2:17:02most vulnerable residents. The

2:17:04government has limited resources and

2:17:06climate action matters, but so does

2:17:08food, shelter, healthcare, and safety.

2:17:11At that moment, I believed we needed to

2:17:13prioritize those immediate needs. That

2:17:15vote reflected my priorities at the

2:17:17time. Proposal E goes beyond another

2:17:20study. It would require council to

2:17:22establish a municipal electric utility

2:17:25and give a new board authority to enter

2:17:27contracts and acquire property in the

2:17:29city's name. Council would need eight

2:17:31votes to overturn its operational

2:17:33decisions. As my colleagues have spoken

2:17:35to tonight, the borrowing provision uses

2:17:38shall in some instances twice. The board

2:17:41shall recommend and the council shall

2:17:43authorize the borrowing of money. In

2:17:45legal drafting, shall generally

2:17:47expresses a mandatory duty. That raises

2:17:49a serious question about whether council

2:17:51could say no. That authority should be

2:17:54explicit.

2:17:56Furthermore, if the city pursued

2:17:57condemnation to acquire DT's assets, we

2:18:00would have to place hundreds of millions

2:18:02of dollars or potentially more in escrow

2:18:05before collecting utility revenue. Where

2:18:07would that money come from? And how

2:18:10would we cover the financing costs while

2:18:12it sits there? Without another funding

2:18:14source, those costs could fall on

2:18:16taxpayers through higher taxes or cuts

2:18:18to service. I personally know I cannot

2:18:21afford a substantial tax increase and I

2:18:23believe many other residents cannot

2:18:25either.

2:18:26It is also disputed whether voters would

2:18:28receive another vote before acquisition.

2:18:31But ambiguity in our charter is itself a

2:18:34serious concern. Our charter should

2:18:37clearly state who has authority to

2:18:39borrow money, what safeguards protect

2:18:41taxpayers, and whether voters get

2:18:44another vote for acquisition. Questions

2:18:46of this magnitude should not be left

2:18:49open to competing interpretations.

2:18:52I respect the residents who organized

2:18:54this petition and all of you who came

2:18:56here tonight. My responsibility,

2:18:59however, is to explain honestly the

2:19:02risks I see, even if doing so is

2:19:04politically unpopular.

2:19:06We can continue holding DTE accountable.

2:19:10I want public power pursued with clear

2:19:13safeguards, a credible financial plan,

2:19:15and meaningful public oversight.

2:19:17Proposal E does not give me that

2:19:19confidence. And for those reasons, I

2:19:21will vote yes on this resolution

2:19:22tonight.

2:19:23>> Council member Cornell.

2:19:27>> Yeah. Thank you to my colleagues. the

2:19:29the concerns that they have voiced uh at

2:19:31the table tonight are exactly why I will

2:19:33be supporting this um especially our

2:19:35city attorney's um attention towards

2:19:38fighting what what is and preparing to

2:19:40fight what is an inevitable legal

2:19:42battle. This is a complex issue and

2:19:45hearing and seeing it presented as

2:19:46binary. Either you support immunity or

2:19:49you support DTE or just issue bonds. Our

2:19:52gross oversimplifications of what will

2:19:55be a decadesl long fight that will cost

2:19:57this city a lot of money. Our voter

2:19:59approved and groundbreaking SEU is up

2:20:02and running right now. It is a clear

2:20:05path to a clean energy future. When

2:20:08establishing the SEU, Ann Arbor voters

2:20:10approved a transparent step toward

2:20:12renewable, reliable, affordable power in

2:20:15the city. And yet what I'm hearing is

2:20:18that we want green energy and again in a

2:20:21binary uh presentation, but we're going

2:20:23to buy a dirty energy grid. Investing in

2:20:27past technology versus our future. That

2:20:30doesn't sit right with me.

2:20:32Many supporters of public power have

2:20:34been saying that this will not cost the

2:20:36city anything and doesn't actually

2:20:38change anything. However, it changes the

2:20:41city's charter. The ambiguous language

2:20:43in the proposed charter amendment seems

2:20:45to give, and as colleagues have said,

2:20:48especially through the uh verbose use of

2:20:50the word shall, the proposed MEU board

2:20:52power to spend money, issue bonds, and

2:20:55permanently alter the city's charter

2:20:57that goes far beyond commissioning a

2:20:59second feasibility study. The proposed

2:21:02amendment arguably cancels council's

2:21:04majority vote requirement regarding

2:21:07passing an ordinance to establish the

2:21:09utility. Again the shall language

2:21:13should we move towards condemnation the

2:21:15state will require the city to put

2:21:17escrow money to move forward with the

2:21:19purchase of DTE's energy. I know council

2:21:21member Gazi Edwin stated that what will

2:21:24we cut to afford that? We have heard

2:21:28repeatedly at my time at this table and

2:21:30and certainly before that our parks, our

2:21:33our social services, our transportation

2:21:35safety are all areas where we are

2:21:38already seeing and as a community

2:21:42suffering is is the wrong word, but

2:21:44certainly feeling negative effects of

2:21:46unfulfilled needs and moving forward

2:21:49with this will we will need money for

2:21:52this. Something will have to be cut. And

2:21:55so I think as voters consider this,

2:21:58considering what we're willing to give

2:22:00up and what what how we're going to

2:22:02reshift our priorities is is something

2:22:04that that I think is an important

2:22:06calculus and and part of the decision-m

2:22:08and again whether or not we want to

2:22:10acquire infrastructure that we know is

2:22:14failing and is dirty. Why would we move

2:22:17backward?

2:22:18>> Council member Watson.

2:22:24Um, I heard and felt the resident

2:22:26comments on this issue. Uh, thank you to

2:22:29those who came out tonight.

2:22:31In March of 2025, I voted for the

2:22:33resolution to approve a contract to

2:22:35complete an electric grid asset

2:22:37valuation and municipalization study.

2:22:41Had that resolution passed, the

2:22:43resolution we are considering tonight

2:22:44would not have been necessary. I'm

2:22:46sponsoring this resolution precisely

2:22:49because without a feasibility study, we

2:22:51don't have clear information for Ann

2:22:53Arbor voters on the cost of acquiring

2:22:55DTE's assets. We also can't guarantee a

2:22:58funding source for the ensuing legal

2:23:00battle with DTE. In considering

2:23:02tonight's resolution, I wanted to read a

2:23:04few clauses from the past resolution

2:23:06entitled Resolution to authorize city

2:23:09staff to perform the preliminary work

2:23:11necessary to put the question of the

2:23:14acquisition of DTE Electric Company's

2:23:16assets to a vote of the people and

2:23:19prepare for litigation should the voters

2:23:21authorize such acquisition because they

2:23:24inform my vote tonight. That resolution

2:23:26failed in conjunction with the grid

2:23:28asset study that I supported. The most

2:23:31relevant clauses are as follows. The

2:23:34city attorney's office has conducted

2:23:36research on the expenditure and legal

2:23:37fees incurred by other municipalities

2:23:39seeking to acquire the assets of their

2:23:42electric utilities and has found that

2:23:44Winter Park, Florida spent 10 million

2:23:46between 2001 and 2004 and Boulder,

2:23:49Colorado spent 30 million between 2011

2:23:52and 2020, suggesting that the city would

2:23:54need resources of not less than 3

2:23:57million per year to carry out the

2:23:59necessary legal proceedings.

2:24:01And then further the resolve clause is

2:24:03that the city administrator is directed

2:24:05to identify a funding source which may

2:24:07be in the form of a millillage to

2:24:08support the significant expense the city

2:24:10would incur in connection with legal

2:24:12proceedings to acquire the necessary DTE

2:24:15assets should the voters authorize initi

2:24:18initiation of such acquisition and

2:24:21resolved that the city attorney as

2:24:22supported by appropriate staff and

2:24:24outside legal council is directed to

2:24:26perform the preliminary work necessary

2:24:28in parallel with any phase 2 study to

2:24:30evaluate the phase 2 feasibility study

2:24:33valuation methodologies for purposes of

2:24:36recommending an appropriate method

2:24:38methodology and valuation should the

2:24:41city proceed with the DT the acquisition

2:24:43of DTE assets and prepare recommended

2:24:45ballot language sufficient to allow the

2:24:48required voter authorization to initiate

2:24:50such acquisition under the acquisition

2:24:52act and to secure funding

2:24:54and to prepare for the possibility of

2:24:56future ballot proposals and litigation

2:24:58related to the acquisition of DTE

2:25:00assets.

2:25:01So in this pre previous case, I was

2:25:03comfortable with the city attorney doing

2:25:05work to draft ballot language and

2:25:07prepare litigation against DTE even

2:25:10before the feasibility study was

2:25:11finished. I was also comfortable with

2:25:13the attorney's office outlining a path

2:25:15to municipalization and scoping the cost

2:25:17of litigation before a ballot initiative

2:25:19had been passed. It is the [snorts] same

2:25:21city attorney's office that vetted the

2:25:23language in today's resolution and that

2:25:25I trust to uphold the city charter.

2:25:28My track record shows that I favor

2:25:29providing objective information to

2:25:32residents about the costs for and

2:25:33pathways to municipalization. And I

2:25:36believe resolution DC4 tonight outlines

2:25:38the area's proposal E falls short.

2:25:43>> Further discussion.

2:25:51Um,

2:25:53investorowned utilities exist for

2:25:55shareholder benefit and public utilities

2:25:59exist for public benefit and our

2:26:02community would be vastly better off if

2:26:06we had a long-standing public utility

2:26:09like other cities do in Michigan. That's

2:26:13simply true. Our community is also far

2:26:17better off for the initiative that you

2:26:20all have shown today and have shown over

2:26:22the course of years in investigating the

2:26:24concept of public power. As my

2:26:27colleagues have described, as you know,

2:26:29as members of the public know, we have

2:26:32uh infrastructure in our city from the

2:26:36investor own utility that has been

2:26:38substandard for years, service that has

2:26:40been substandard for years, rates that

2:26:41have been too high for years. And your

2:26:44advocacy has shown a light on that and

2:26:47has resulted in the utility making

2:26:50substantial, needed, and still

2:26:53inadequate investment.

2:26:56I supported and worked hard to

2:26:58accomplish the phase 2 study for the

2:27:01purpose of presenting to the public a

2:27:04complete and candid question

2:27:08complete with

2:27:10costs complete with potential

2:27:13possibilities.

2:27:16That phase 2 study failed and we're here

2:27:18today.

2:27:23The citizens who worked incredibly hard

2:27:26to put proposal E on the ballot, I

2:27:28believe, are asking all the right

2:27:30questions, vital

2:27:32questions.

2:27:34But the answer contemplated by proposal

2:27:37E, advanced by proposal E, potentially

2:27:39obligated by proposal E,

2:27:43upends

2:27:45our form of government,

2:27:47vests in this board

2:27:52authority that is present now in

2:27:54council. the power to acquire, the p

2:27:57power to hire, the power to contract.

2:28:04The creation of a municipal utility

2:28:08presented simply in the ballot question

2:28:12would carry substantial costs. And it's

2:28:15important that voters understand those

2:28:18costs. The condemnation of DTE's assets

2:28:21in their current form, hundreds of

2:28:23millions of dollars. The improvement of

2:28:26those assets, hundreds of millions of

2:28:28dollars. The litigation associated with

2:28:30that project, tens of millions of

2:28:33dollars. The purchase of DTE's

2:28:36unjust

2:28:38but existing perpetual profits interest

2:28:41to serve the city through the franchise,

2:28:43hundreds of millions of dollars. Folks

2:28:46need to understand that we because of

2:28:50our responsibility

2:28:52to the municipal organization which

2:28:54serves the people need to be part of

2:28:55communicating that. I understand that

2:28:58this is an uncommon step for the body

2:29:02but this is an uncommon circumstance.

2:29:06The bottom line here is that we need to

2:29:09talk about the reality of this case

2:29:12and I think that proposal E accomplishes

2:29:14that goal. That is the intent of us.

2:29:17That is the intent of its drafters and I

2:29:19believe that is uh and I believe that

2:29:22that is the result. It's my hope

2:29:27because proposal E would uh would upend

2:29:31our form of government. It's my hope

2:29:33that the the voters look another

2:29:35direction. It's my hope also that after

2:29:38that that we continue to have the

2:29:41conversation about the promise and

2:29:44possibility of public power and that we

2:29:46are able over the course of time to put

2:29:49a full complete and candid question to

2:29:51the voters about the costs associated

2:29:54which are considerable

2:29:58and the benefits which may be as well.

2:30:04city's committed to its climate goals.

2:30:07We're working hard to accomplish again

2:30:08within our resources a

2:30:12reliance upon reality, an emphasis on

2:30:14reality.

2:30:17That's just life and life is imperfect.

2:30:21We do our best with what we have.

2:30:23>> You know, I'm sorry,

2:30:28sir.

2:30:28>> Obviously, you know, I took obviously

2:30:30you know I took nothing from DTE.

2:30:35Further discussion.

2:30:38Roll call poll vote, please. Starting

2:30:40with council member Gaziedwin.

2:30:42>> Council member Gazi Edwin.

2:30:43>> Yes.

2:30:45>> Mayor Taylor.

2:30:46>> Yes.

2:30:46>> Council er

2:30:47>> Yes.

2:30:48>> Council Aman.

2:30:49>> Yes.

2:30:50>> Council Briggs.

2:30:51>> Yes.

2:30:51>> Council Cornell.

2:30:52>> Yes.

2:30:53>> Council Dish.

2:30:54>> Yes.

2:30:54>> Council Harrison.

2:30:56>> No.

2:30:57>> Council Watson?

2:30:58>> Yes.

2:30:59>> Council Malik?

2:31:00>> Yes.

2:31:01>> Council Roina?

2:31:02>> Yes. Motion carries.

2:31:04>> DC5, resolution to approve the purchase

2:31:06of Green Belt District Land and

2:31:07appropriate $766,517

2:31:11for purchase of fee title to the James

2:31:13R. Geisel property. Moved by Council

2:31:15Member Malik, SECONDED BY [applause]

2:31:21SIR. Thank you. Seconded by Council

2:31:24Member Gazi. Discussion, please of DC5.

2:31:27Council member Malik.

2:31:30>> Thank you, Mayor. This resolution

2:31:32approves the purchase of a 15 acre

2:31:35parcel with a house on the property

2:31:37located in Salem Township outside of the

2:31:39city and it would represent the green

2:31:41belt program's third buy, protect, sell

2:31:44project. It is listed on the open

2:31:46market, hence the quick addition to

2:31:48tonight's agenda for the quick movement

2:31:51of the purchase should we approve it.

2:31:54Washington County is one of only a few

2:31:55counties in Michigan that have actually

2:31:57grown in the number of farms between the

2:31:59last two USDA agriculture censuses. And

2:32:03among that small group, Washington saw

2:32:05the largest increase in farms. While

2:32:08food producing farms have been and still

2:32:10are declining across Michigan and the

2:32:12United States, Washington County is

2:32:14defying that trend. Several factors

2:32:17contribute to this, including our

2:32:19region's strong farmers markets,

2:32:20including Ann Arbors, Argus Farmtop,

2:32:23which pioneered the farmtop model,

2:32:25supporting local growers, and the Ann

2:32:28Arbor Green Belt program, now listed,

2:32:30are now in its 23rd year. Within the

2:32:33Green Belt District, the millillage has

2:32:35helped protect more than 8,000 acres of

2:32:37working farmland in open space in our

2:32:39county.

2:32:41By protect cell remains a relatively new

2:32:43tool, but it is a powerful one and one

2:32:46I'm excited to see us consider again

2:32:48tonight. In addition to continuing the

2:32:51core mission of preserving farmland and

2:32:53open space, by protect cell also allows

2:32:56us to directly address farmland access

2:32:58and affordability within the Ann Arbor

2:33:00Green Belt District. These efforts taken

2:33:03together help ensure a protected

2:33:05environment, guard against future

2:33:07sprawl, strengthen our local food

2:33:09system, and create meaningful

2:33:11opportunities for young and beginning

2:33:13farmers. Some of the most consistent

2:33:15feedback we've received on the buy

2:33:17protect sell strategy is that properties

2:33:19around 15 acres with a house on the

2:33:22property are both attainable and will

2:33:24lead to the highest likelihood of

2:33:26long-term success for a young or

2:33:27beginning farmer. If you recall, this

2:33:30property is exactly that, 15 acres with

2:33:33a home on the property. As a quick

2:33:36update on where our first two by protect

2:33:38cell properties stand a few years on,

2:33:40the first is now an active farm with its

2:33:42bounty of cut flowers and mixed

2:33:44vegetables sold at our farmers market.

2:33:47The second is thriving as well, focusing

2:33:49on native nursery stock production and

2:33:51native landscaping. I think these are

2:33:54wonderful additions to our community and

2:33:55I can't wait to see what unfolds on this

2:33:57third parcel in due course should we

2:33:59approve tonight and it's my

2:34:01understanding that staff is uh still

2:34:03around if anyone has any questions.

2:34:05Thank you.

2:34:06Further discussion.

2:34:12All in favor? All opposed. It's approved

2:34:16with 11 council members present. All

2:34:17voting the affirmative thus satisfying

2:34:18the eight vote requirement. We now have

2:34:21before us the clerk's report of

2:34:22communicate I'm sorry. Uh do we have the

2:34:24pleasure of a close session today?

2:34:25>> No. Thank you, mayor.

2:34:27>> We have before us the clerk's report of

2:34:28communications, petitions and referrals.

2:34:30May have a motion, please, to approve

2:34:31the clerk's report. Moved by Council

2:34:32Member Cornell, seconded by Council

2:34:34Member

2:34:37Malik. Discussion, please, of the

2:34:39clerk's report.

2:34:41All in favor? All opposed. The clerk's

2:34:44report is approved. Do we have the

2:34:46pleasure of a

2:34:50uh do we have communications today from

2:34:51council from uh the city attorney?

2:34:54>> No, thank you, mayor.

2:34:55>> All right. Uh I think I asked about a

2:34:58closed session. I think we don't

2:35:00>> I did. Did I ask that?

2:35:02>> All right. Carry on. Uh we have now

2:35:05public comment overflow. Public comment

2:35:07overflow of course is uh for folks who

2:35:09signed up at public com for public

2:35:10comment at the outset of our meeting for

2:35:13whom there was regrettably no time to uh

2:35:15no time to hear. Uh folks uh who speak

2:35:19at public comment will have two minutes

2:35:20in which to speak. So please pay close

2:35:22attention to the time. Our clerk or the

2:35:24time clock will notify you when 30

2:35:26seconds are remaining and when your time

2:35:27is expired. When your time is expired,

2:35:29please conclude your remarks and seed

2:35:31the floor. Our next speaker is Julie

2:35:35Kobilars. My apologies.

2:35:37>> Hi, thank you so much for passing the

2:35:41glue ban. Um,

2:35:44this is a glue trap. Don't worry, I'll

2:35:46come back to this at the end, but in the

2:35:47meantime, I just wanted everyone to make

2:35:49a mental note of what their Friday

2:35:50evening plans are. My name is Julie

2:35:53Kovalars, also known as Mousetales

2:35:55Online. I'm a local wildlife rehabber

2:35:57who s serves our community by taking in

2:35:59injured wildlife. For 5 years, I've been

2:36:02creating content for my six, seven, uh,

2:36:05million subscribers about humane pest

2:36:08control. I've seen some horrific

2:36:10situations. I've seen newborns stuck on

2:36:12the glue next to their mothers who just

2:36:14gave birth to them. Um, nice chewing off

2:36:16limbs, endangered birds stuck, and uh,

2:36:19I've heard the terrified shrieks of

2:36:21animals under shelving of public

2:36:23businesses. Um, and remove glue traps

2:36:26from cats, dogs, and children's hair.

2:36:29But um banning blue traps does not mean

2:36:31we need to let rodents run free in our

2:36:33spaces. I think that's important for

2:36:35people to know. My goals are both to

2:36:37decrease suffering and to help people

2:36:39keep healthy boundaries with their local

2:36:40wildlife. I [snorts] believed as the big

2:36:43brain humans that we are that we have

2:36:44the knowledge and resources to

2:36:47find more humane and effective

2:36:49alternatives to pest control. Um many

2:36:52developed countries have done away with

2:36:53glue traps. UK, Germany, Australia,

2:36:56India, Scandinavia. It won't impact

2:36:58anybody's ability to keep mice out of

2:37:01their homes with as long as they have

2:37:02the right tools and knowledge to do so.

2:37:04There are so many live and quick kill

2:37:07traps that are superior to glue, but

2:37:09ultimately traps only manage a symptom.

2:37:11And the real goal is to locate and close

2:37:14the entry points that they use to get

2:37:16into our spaces. Um, I would love to

2:37:18offer the city my knowledge and

2:37:20expertise to create a campaign that arms

2:37:22locals with everything they need to know

2:37:23to combat the rodent issues. These are

2:37:25the things that anyone can do to and

2:37:27prevent the problem from occurring in

2:37:29the beginning. Um, back to my hand here.

2:37:31I asked you to note your uh plans for

2:37:33Friday. If you became stuck at the

2:37:35beginning of my speech, only on Friday

2:37:37would you finally starve to death and

2:37:39find relief from the trap. So, um,

2:37:43just think about this on Friday and

2:37:45thank you. Thank you so much for passing

2:37:46this. I appreciate it. I'm here for you.

2:37:48I This is what I do. So, thank you so

2:37:51much.

2:37:51>> Thank you.

2:37:52>> Our next speaker is Eric Avonich.

2:38:04Mayor, the speaker is on Zoom. Eric

2:38:06Avanich, go ahead.

2:38:08Thank you. Good evening. My name is Eric

2:38:09Avonich and I'm calling from the third

2:38:11ward. I'm here to speak on item DC4, the

2:38:14resolution regarding proposal E. Since

2:38:17my comments were placed after your vote,

2:38:19I'd like to start by thanking you for

2:38:20passing it. Proposal E is a case where

2:38:23the details have huge implications for

2:38:25our city's future and financial health.

2:38:28It's easy for voters to form a false

2:38:30impression of it given the widespread

2:38:32frustration with DTE, which I share, and

2:38:35the appealing but problematic promise of

2:38:37sustainable energy at virtually no cost

2:38:39to Ann Arbor households. So, here are a

2:38:42few key facts I'd like every Ann Arbor

2:38:44resident to hear. Proposal E goes well

2:38:47beyond forming a board. It empowers that

2:38:50board in surprising ways, in unheard of

2:38:53ways. It gives the board, and I quote,

2:38:56all the powers and duties possessed by

2:38:59the city," unquote. It empowers the

2:39:02board to make contracts and acquire

2:39:04property. That means the board can spend

2:39:06our money all on its own, unbound by our

2:39:09city budget. And our voters need to

2:39:12understand these details. And that's why

2:39:14I'm grateful to the council as a whole

2:39:16for passing DC4. It helps create the

2:39:18conditions for these incredibly

2:39:20important details to get a full hearing

2:39:22with the public and by the public. Thank

2:39:25you.

2:39:26>> Thank you. Our next speaker is Christian

2:39:28Barrett.

2:39:38All right. Good evening, council. I am

2:39:40disappointed to see you support this

2:39:42resolution regarding proposal E. This

2:39:44issue really matters to me because the

2:39:46decisions we make today will have

2:39:47lasting impacts for us many years from

2:39:49now. The climate problem we face today

2:39:52is catastrophic. If even Ann Arbor can't

2:39:54do something big that seriously

2:39:56addresses this crisis, I think we're all

2:39:58doomed.

2:39:59It is also really disappointing that you

2:40:01do that you continue to act as though

2:40:03proposal E does things it does not.

2:40:05Shall do something is different than

2:40:07shall recommend or shall authorize,

2:40:09which is what our proposal says. What

2:40:11Prop E does is give a board the same

2:40:14powers any public power board has,

2:40:16nothing more. You have not addressed

2:40:18that reality head-on, instead choosing

2:40:19to make it seem like something

2:40:21mystifying. Proposal E was written by an

2:40:23expert in the field, the former chair of

2:40:25the public power board in Traverse City

2:40:27and a municipalization attorney. The

2:40:29[snorts] SEU, on the other hand, is

2:40:31great and it leaves most anites without

2:40:33any defense against DTE. We need public

2:40:36power and you need to let the people

2:40:38speak. Even if proposal E allocated any

2:40:42funds, which it does not, might they be

2:40:44worth allocating? Even if this provision

2:40:47uh measure, even if this proven measure

2:40:49to tackle climate change were expensive,

2:40:51which it's not, might that be worth it?

2:40:54Might our future be worth it? I think

2:40:57you should let the citizens decide that.

2:40:59Thank you.

2:41:00>> Thank you. [applause] Our next speaker

2:41:02is Kathy Griswalt.

2:41:08Good evening. I frequent the farmers

2:41:11market like most of you and a couple of

2:41:13the vendors have asked me to deliver a

2:41:15message. They usually get up at 3:00

2:41:18a.m. Come to the market, get ready, and

2:41:22they have been without

2:41:25toilet facilities for almost 3 years.

2:41:28There is a single throne there. However,

2:41:32that only accommodates one person. 3

2:41:35years waiting for toilets and the

2:41:38response is a consultant to reimagine.

2:41:42Could we please get a bathroom facility

2:41:46for our vendors so that at 6 a.m. they

2:41:49have a bathroom Kerry town it doesn't

2:41:52open yet. Okay. Uh number two on a happy

2:41:55note A2 Safe Transport. We had a soft

2:41:58launch in the spring. We're going to

2:42:01have an official launch October 19th in

2:42:05the city hall lobby at 6:00 a.m. I want

2:42:08to invite all of you. There will be many

2:42:10charts with information and ways to

2:42:14improve pedestrian safety and reduce it

2:42:16from our all-time high.

2:42:20Uh, one of the things that we're going

2:42:22to do is look at crosswalk lighting.

2:42:28Proper crosswalk and intersection

2:42:30lighting can reduce nighttime pedestrian

2:42:32injury crashes by up to 42%. And total

2:42:36nighttime intersection crashes by 33 to

2:42:4038%. Per the Federal Highway

2:42:42Administration. So why aren't we

2:42:45lighting our crosswalks? I don't know.

2:42:49But again today I get an email from

2:42:53someone who

2:42:54>> Hold on. Hold on.

2:42:57Mr. Vanich, I think you are still on the

2:42:59line. Miss Griswell, my apologies.

2:43:02Please continue.

2:43:02>> Hold on. Okay, I'd like to hold on. Yes.

2:43:06A very bad bike accident at Packard and

2:43:09Arch.

2:43:11No light. They can't tell exactly what

2:43:13happened. Please illuminate our

2:43:15crosswalks.

2:43:17>> Thank you. Our next speaker is Edward

2:43:19Vetti.

2:43:27My name is Edward Vmedi. I live in the

2:43:29fourth ward. Um

2:43:32it was June and the transportation

2:43:34commission had a meeting. Um it's now

2:43:38October and we're just getting the

2:43:39minutes for this meeting published to

2:43:41city council.

2:43:43I've complained. I've cajolled.

2:43:46I've encouraged the city to hire staff

2:43:48to handle uh boards and commissions

2:43:51which they did. Uh, and still it takes

2:43:54more than 100 days for one of our more

2:43:57important boards to get their minutes

2:43:58recorded at city council. I don't know

2:44:01why this is happening. I don't know how

2:44:04this is happening. It's entirely

2:44:06possible that there's some good reason

2:44:07that delays got stacked on top of

2:44:10delays, what have you. Um but um if

2:44:15we're going to be spending this much of

2:44:17the city's energy on having boards and

2:44:18commissions and having citizens spend

2:44:21their time uh getting to discuss the

2:44:25important matters of the day that are

2:44:27too big for council to handle as a

2:44:28whole. Uh it's critically important that

2:44:31the minutes that they they produce be

2:44:34complete and accurate and enough for

2:44:38citizens like myself who can't go to all

2:44:39the meetings to refer to and make use

2:44:42of. And the fact that they're so long

2:44:45delayed, more than 100 days,

2:44:48we were just starting the summer game in

2:44:49June and now it's over. Um

2:44:53I I just I can't understand it. I can't

2:44:56defend it. Thank you.

2:44:57>> Thank you. Our next speaker is Blaine

2:45:00Coleman.

2:45:13We are in the midst of a genocide

2:45:16against the Palestinian people and

2:45:17against Lebanon. Paid for by your tax

2:45:20dollars. you, the Ann Arbor City

2:45:23Council, by your political support for

2:45:27Israel.

2:45:28Your mayor publicly read a prayer for

2:45:31the state of Israel. This city council

2:45:34has

2:45:36for over 40 years stonewalled any

2:45:41resolution

2:45:42against aid to Israel.

2:45:47City Council, however, is enthusiastic

2:45:52about protecting mice and rats and

2:45:55rodents.

2:45:56Well, of course they should be

2:45:58protected, but good God, how can you go

2:46:0140ome years

2:46:04stonewalling

2:46:06any resolution that would protect the

2:46:08Palestinian people

2:46:11from massacres by Israel? Massacres paid

2:46:14for with your tax dollars and

2:46:18facilitated by your political support to

2:46:21Israel. How on earth

2:46:25can you be that inhuman?

2:46:29Approve the resolution.

2:46:32Again, approve the resolution against

2:46:36military aid to Israel

2:46:39and stop valuing rodents more highly

2:46:43than the Palestinian people. What the

2:46:46hell is wrong with you? Approve the

2:46:49resolution against military aid to

2:46:52Israel. Do your part to stop this

2:46:55genocide. The great majority of

2:46:58Americans are against this genocide. The

2:47:01great majority of your voters are

2:47:03against this genocide.

2:47:06Just get with it and approve the

2:47:09resolution against military aid to

2:47:12Israel.

2:47:14>> Thank you. Our next speaker is Julia

2:47:17Good.

2:47:17>> [applause]

2:47:18>> Thank you. Thank you.

2:47:22Thank you.

2:47:23>> Hi, I'm Julia Good. I'm a I was a former

2:47:26commissioner on the renters commission

2:47:27and on the zoning board of appeals. I'm

2:47:30really disappointed with the vote today

2:47:33uh regarding Prop E. Uh thank you,

2:47:37Council Member Harrison. Um it it feels

2:47:41really disingenuous to hear you all say

2:47:43that you're support change and you

2:47:46support municipal power yet we've not

2:47:48moved ahead with the phase 2. You're

2:47:51attacking A2P2 and this Prop E. Um when

2:47:55the renters commission two years ago

2:47:57wrote council outlining all our concerns

2:48:00that renters specifically face when

2:48:03there's blackouts, how renters cannot

2:48:06get generators and solar panels. the I'm

2:48:09in the old west side. It's now loaded.

2:48:11Every other house has solar panels or

2:48:13generators. I can't do that as a tenant.

2:48:15I don't have the option to opt out. The

2:48:18SCU is great, but it's probably not

2:48:20going to help in my lifetime. And it's

2:48:23not going to take us all the way there,

2:48:25whereas municipal power could take us

2:48:27all the way there. Um, I

2:48:31really [laughter] was a little

2:48:33concerned, Mayor Taylor, when you talked

2:48:36about somehow Prop E was gonna undermine

2:48:39government as we know. I really was

2:48:41expecting and hearing other

2:48:44administrators

2:48:45in our current federal government

2:48:47saying, "Oh my god, it's socialism."

2:48:51You believe in change or you don't?

2:48:56It's time for change.

2:49:00>> Thank you.

2:49:02>> Our next speaker is Pria.

2:49:07>> Pria Akanyami,

2:49:16Pria Ekini.

2:49:22Our next speaker is Jeremy Haley.

2:49:27Jeremy Haley. Ah,

2:49:39>> good evening everyone. Jeremy Haley,

2:49:41Ipsy Township.

2:49:43It's nice that you can support banning

2:49:46glue traps

2:49:48and stuff, but I came here sometime in

2:49:51the

2:49:53recent past to ask you support a

2:49:54resolution

2:49:56for U of M Los Alamos data center not to

2:49:59come into Ipsy Township.

2:50:02It's coming in right on the here on you

2:50:04know heron river on the banks there.

2:50:07Concordia. They bought the property.

2:50:08That's the same amount of property that

2:50:10they have right on the banks in Ipsy

2:50:12Township.

2:50:14Would you support it coming into

2:50:18where the Concordia property is?

2:50:21What I'm asking is that you reach out of

2:50:24the bubble that you're in and reach out

2:50:27to another community and to help support

2:50:30them.

2:50:32Your new mayor that's coming in soon. He

2:50:35was at one of the Ipsy Township meetings

2:50:38supporting

2:50:40not having Los Alamos U of M data center

2:50:45in Ipsy Township.

2:50:47Is that going to change when he comes in

2:50:50or are you guys going to start whistling

2:50:51a different tune? Are you going to start

2:50:53whistling one now?

2:50:55That's all I'm asking is reach out to

2:50:58another community and support them

2:51:00because you wouldn't you want another

2:51:02community to reach out if you want to

2:51:03support. We're all in this thing

2:51:06together.

2:51:07And yes, that data center with Los

2:51:10Alamos is a tier one level threat in the

2:51:13community.

2:51:15If you're all happy,

2:51:18I'm not. I live near within a mile of

2:51:20that place that's going to be set up

2:51:23that could have a terrorist threat.

2:51:26We don't know what kind of

2:51:30mechanism is going to be in place for

2:51:33surveillance, security,

2:51:35drones all over surveilling what's going

2:51:38on. I'm asking for the support of this

2:51:42council. Thank you.

2:51:44>> Thank you.

2:51:46[applause] May I have a motion to

2:51:47adjurnn, please? Moved by council

2:51:49Cornell, second by council member Aman.

2:51:50Discussion. All in favor? Opposed? We're

2:51:53adjourned.

2:51:54>> And our city council is a sh