Archive for August, 2010

David Cole of the Ann Arbor-based Center for Automotive Research is quoted in a Wall Street Journal article about Ford Motor Co.’s turnaround: “Ford is in a very strong position. It has brought costs way down, has a well-integrated global platform, an excellent and still-growing market share and, most important, a really good product lineup.” [Source]

Joel Goldberg

These days, lots of Ann Arbor restaurants – and even some brewpubs – are offering wine lists of reasonable quality. So why would anyone want to BYO when they eat out?

How about:

• You’re itching to try a tiny, locally-owned place – call it Jamaican Jerk Pit – whose owners can’t afford multi-thousand dollars to secure a liquor license. But you fantasize how great a cold bottle of Red Stripe might taste alongside that jerk chicken or curried goat.
• You’re feeling the economic pinch, and the wine markup at many restaurants presents a budget-busting deterrent to going out. So you eat at home, and pour a glass or two of wine. Cost: one-third of its restaurant price.
• You enjoy a restaurant’s cooking, but its wine list is particularly short and dismal. With a better beverage selection, you’d probably eat there more often.
• You squirreled away a special bottle of high-end Cabernet for a landmark birthday or anniversary. Now’s the time – and you’d like to celebrate with a meal at your favorite “special occasion” eatery, accompanied by your special occasion wine.

If any of these scenarios hits home, ponder this: though laws vary, most larger states across the country – California, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania and even Texas – allow you to legally tote along a bottle of wine when you go out to eat at a restaurant.

Here in Michigan, not so much. Except for a couple of small, largely unknown loopholes – which we’ll get to in a minute – beverage law in the GSOM (that’s Great State of Michigan) prohibits restaurant BYO. [Full Story]

A federal jury in the trial against Washtenaw County commissioner Ronnie Peterson ruled that he let an employee sexually harass seven women in rental properties he owns in Ypsilanti. According to a Detroit News report, the jury awarded the women $115,000 in damages. Peterson, who is secretary-treasurer of the Huron Valley Central Labor Council, has denied that he knew about the harrassment. The Democrat won his primary election on Tuesday for another term on the county board, and will face Republican David Raaflaub in November. [Source]

At its Aug. 5, 2010 meeting, the Ann Arbor city council approved another extension of a $3 million purchase option agreement with Village Green for the city-owned property at First and Washington. The parcel is currently used as a surface parking lot after demolition of an aging parking structure. Village Green has an approved PUD site plan on the parcel for a development called City Apartments – a combined residential building that includes 156 dwelling units and  244 public parking spaces. The council-approved extension includes a requirement that the closing on the deal take place by June 1, 2011.

This report was filed from city council chambers. A detailed report of the meeting will follow: [link]

At its Aug. 5, 2010 meeting, the Ann Arbor city council gave unanimous site plan approval to Zaragon Place 2, a proposed 14-story, 96,685-square-foot residential building located on the southwest corner of Thompson and William – now an empty lot next to Cottage Inn restaurant. The building meets the site’s D1 zoning, and is therefore a “by-right” project – no rezoning is required.

It is the first project to move forward under the city’s new A2D2 zoning regulations, and would include 99 units, 40 parking spaces on levels two and three, 40 spots for bike storage, and ground floor retail space facing William Street.  For coverage of the city planning commission’s recommendation on Zaragon Place 2, see: “Moving Ahead … [Full Story]

At its Thursday, Aug. 5, 2010 meeting, the Ann Arbor city council unanimously passed a resolution imposing a 120-day moratorium on dispensing or cultivating marijuana in the city. The moratorium comes in response to operation of dispensaries and cultivation of marijuana in the city under the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act of 2008. However, amendments made at the council table provided a grandfathering-in of existing operations, and exclusions for patients and caregivers as defined by the MMA, and was met with some applause from around 75 people who had attended the meeting in opposition to the moratorium.

The legal basis of the moratorium rests partly on construal of marijuana cultivation and dispensing as a land use not expressly allowed in the city’s … [Full Story]

At its Aug. 5, 2010 meeting, the Ann Arbor city council gave a first-reading approval to an ordinance change “prohibiting storage of furniture not intended or designed for outdoor use on exterior balconies, porches, decks …” For enactment, the change would require approval at a second reading before the council, which will take place in early September.

In spring 2010 an Eastern Michigan University student died in a house fire on State Street, which was suspected to have been accelerated by a porch couch. And since then, there have been renewed calls for consideration of a porch couch ban. Council discussions on the topic in 2004-05 did not result in enactment of such a ban.

This brief was filed from city hall. … [Full Story]

The Repasts, Present & Future website publishes a Q&A with the youngest volunteer at Selma Cafe, Jesse (JD) Rubin: “My favorite food is a tie between my mom’s homemade macaroni and cheese that she makes with a mustard and bread crumb topping ( I think it’s better then Zingerman’s!) and a little thing I had in Whytheville, Virginia, home of the world’s largest pencil and scissors. It was a hot-dog pizza. A white hot-dog bun made Texas toast style with tomato sauce and mozzarella and cheddar cheese with olives and mushrooms. I’m sure to most Selma goers it probably sounds horrible, but while I am a foodie I’m still a thirteen year old boy.” [Source]

In an article on the aftermath of Kalamazoo River’s recent oil spill, the Detroit News interviews Allen Burton, a UM professor of limnology, who fears the long-term effects could be significant. He explains that the contamination of lower-dwelling organisms, such as crayfish, and their environment directly impacts fish higher up the food chain. Because of oil contamination, small creatures that usually live in sediment are replaced by worms and midges. Says Burton: “Worms and midges will tend to accumulate contaminants in their tissue and then pass it on to the fish that are eating them. Most of the fish advisories we’ve had in the Great Lakes go back to toxicity in the sediments.” [Source]

The Detroit Free Press reports on Toyota’s unexpected first-quarter profit of $2.2 billion. A year earlier, the company lost $850 million, likely due to the wave of recalls late last year. Toyota attributes the turnaround to cutting costs. Jeffrey Liker, a UM industrial engineering professor and author of “The Toyota Way,” told the Free Press: “They formed an emergency profit committee in the midst of the recession. They committed to reducing their break-even so that they could be profitable even at 70% of capacity.” [Source]

The Detroit News reports on the ongoing trial against Washtenaw County commissioner Ronnie Peterson. Peterson is accused of condoning the actions of Glenn Johnson, an Ypsilanti rental agent. Johnson allegedly harassed six female tenants at Peterson’s Ypsilanti rental properties, allowing them to stay in their home in exchange for sex. Peterson’s Ann Arbor attorney, Donald Ferris, dismisses the charges, saying, “It would have stopped if [Peterson] had been told, because he would have done something about it.” [Source]

The Detroit News reports that former UM cornerback Boubacar Cissoko has been sentenced to anywhere from 19 months to 15 years in prison. Cissoko admitted in June to stealing money from people in Ann Arbor and from a cab driver in Ypsilanti. Having violated team rules, Cissoko was kicked off the team in October, an event he cites as the reason for his crimes. “All I wanted to do was just play football, and then I couldn’t do it,” Cissoko explained to Judge Archie Brown of the Washtenaw Circuit Court. “But, no excuses, your honor. I take responsibility for what I did. It was wrong.” [Source]

Howard Lovy, who writes for Xconomy.com and has on occasion written pieces for The Ann Arbor Chronicle, takes an Xconomical look back at his first encounter with Rick Snyder. Snyder was the winner of Tuesday’s primary election for the Republican nomination for the governorship of Michigan. On his first day at Synder-led Ardesta, back in 2001, Lovy writes, ” … I’m shown my new desk, a colleague tells me that Snyder will run for governor of Michigan one day.” [Source]

Ann Arbor Planning Commission meeting (July 20, 2010): Parking is a frequent topic for planning commissioners, though often tangentially, as it relates to specific developments. The issue was brought up more directly at their July 20 meeting, when Susan Pollay – executive director of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority – made a guest appearance.

The entrance to Liberty Square parking structure on East Washington Street, between Division and State. Parking contracts between the DDA and developers include permits for spaces in this structure. (Photo by the writer.)

Pollay was on hand to describe and answer questions about a DDA proposal for a payment-in-lieu-of-parking program, known as a PILOP. The planning commission won’t be acting on the proposal, which sets out options for developers to meet the city’s parking requirements for new buildings. But Pollay was asking for feedback, before crafting a resolution that council will likely consider later this year. The proposal that Pollay presented would have developers pay for parking permits, plus a monthly surcharge. Some commissioners voiced preference for taking payments from developers to support the parking system, but not including parking permits as part of the deal.

Commissioners also approved a site plan for a drive-thru pharmacy at the Kroger on South Maple, and as well as rezoning for the Ann Arbor Guest House, a proposed residence on Dhu Varren Road for people with relatives in the hospital.

And while they initially seemed poised to approve revisions to their bylaws, commissioners ultimately postponed that vote, hoping to bring someone from the city attorney’s staff to an upcoming meeting to answer questions about some of the proposed changes. [Full Story]

As John Splitt walked in to greet me at the Espresso Royale on State Street, his familiarity with the shop and street was immediately apparent.

John Splitt holds the commemorative plaque he received last month as outgoing chair of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development board. It's fashioned from earth retention lumber from the underground parking structure currently under construction along Fifth Avenue.

Splitt strolled into the cafe, having walked from his dry-cleaning business, Gold Bond Cleaners. “It’s located on Maynard Street, just on the other side of the arcade,” he said, motioning toward Nickels Arcade, a covered passage connecting Maynard and State.

State Street holds a special significance for Splitt as the gateway to his community involvement. In 2004, Splitt joined the board of the State Street Area Association, an experience he described as an educational process, that “opens your eyes to some of the larger downtown issues.” Once on the association’s board, his interest in community service continued, and in 2006 he was appointed to the board of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority (DDA). [Full Story]

MGoBlue, UM’s athletic department website, has a post that gives details behind the university’s decision to promote the much-anticipated hockey match between UM and Michigan State as “The Big Chill at the Big House,” to be held Jan. 28, 2011 Dec. 11, 2010 at Michigan Stadium. While “The Big Chill” succeeds at incorporating the stadium’s nickname and describing the anticipated hockey match, ultimately it is a nod to the 1983 film, which tells the story of seven UM graduates who reconnect via their shared college friend’s funeral and which often references the University of Michigan. Lawrence Kasdan, the screenwriter and UM graduate, says the film’s title, “refers to the experience of going … [Full Story]

The Ann Arbor city council’s Aug. 5 agenda includes an item naming Bob Guenzel as a nominee to serve on the Downtown Development Authority board. Guenzel retired as Washtenaw County administrator in May 2010. The agenda item does not indicate which of two DDA board members Guenzel’s appointment would replace: Jennifer S. Hall or John Splitt. Terms for both Hall and Splitt expired on July 31, but both have both told mayor John Hieftje that they would be willing to serve another term.  Guenzel’s nomination would need to be confirmed by the city council at its Aug. 16 meeting.

Applicants for Washtenaw County government jobs will no longer have to indicate on their application whether they’ve been convicted of a felony. The county board of commissioners at their Aug. 4, 2010 meeting voted to remove the so-called “felony box” from application forms. The resolution originally changed the county’s policy to eliminate background checks for certain positions. However, some commissioners raised concerns about that change, and it was deleted from the resolution before the vote. The county will continue to do background checks for anyone who receives a conditional offer of employment.

This report, filed just after the board meeting adjourned, will be followed by a detailed article. [link]

At their Aug. 4, 2010 meeting, the Washtenaw County board of commissioners tabled two resolutions related to resurrecting a land bank that they had dissolved earlier this year. The land bank is a tool used to help the county deal with foreclosed and blighted properties. Some commissioners had voiced concerns over issues of governance, control and liability for the county – the majority of the board voted to table the resolutions, citing the need for more time to gather information about reforming the land bank.

This report, filed just after the board meeting adjourned, will be followed by a detailed article: [link]