Archive for November, 2010

A2: Nonprofit

Crain’s Detroit Business reports that Michael Tyson has been named CEO of the Ann Arbor-based Nonprofit Enterprise at Work (NEW). Tyson, a former JP Morgan Chase executive, replaces Neel Hajra, who is now chief operating officer and vice president for community investment at the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation. [Source]

Stadium & Main

Permanent lights are on in the Big House.

Thompson & William

Large drill in position in dirt pit – construction underway for Zaragon Place 2.

UM President’s Contract Extended

At its Nov. 18, 2010 meeting – held at the Flint campus – the University of Michigan board of regents voted unanimously to amend the employment contract of president Mary Sue Coleman by extending it two years, through July 31, 2014. Her current five-year term previously was set to expire on July 31, 2012. She was hired as the university’s first female president in 2002. The amendment does not alter her salary and benefits, which will be reviewed annually, but it does add a supplemental deferred compensation payment of $100,000 annually for this year as well as the following next three years. [At their October meeting, regents approved a 3% salary increase for Coleman, bringing her salary to $570,105. In addition, her total compensation package includes $75,000 in deferred compensation, a $100,000 retention bonus, $24,500 in retirement pay, and an additional $30,850 supplemental retirement payment.]

This brief was filed during the regents meeting at the UM Flint campus. A more detailed report will follow: [link] [Full Story]

In the Archives: “United States” Spoken Here

Editor’s note: Many who live in the U.S. are distrustful of other citizens because they speak a different language, dress in a markedly different way, or have other attributes that cause them to be perceived as “not from here.” One such group is Muslims. And anti-Muslim rhetoric reached a point recently that prompted the Ann Arbor city council to pass a resoluton calling for tolerance. In 2010 it may be anti-Muslim talk that predominates among the range of “anti” rhetoric. But around 90 years ago, it was anti-German.

“It must have dawned upon any impartial observer that German is a mighty unpopular language in this country just at present and getting no better fast,” read the June 13, 1918 Ypsilanti Record.

Fritz Metzger's restaurant at 32 North Huron in Ypsilanti (near the center of this photo) was across the street from Shaefer Hardware and the Great A&P Tea Company.

The article described a Ypsilanti-area farmer who stopped in at a downtown Ann Arbor restaurant and overheard two other customers conversing in German.

“He arose and went over to the men and suggested that they make their remarks in plain United States,” continued the article. An ensuing argument turned into a fistfight in the restaurant, and police were called. “When the officer arrived, the farmer walked up to them and said, ‘I guess I’m the man you want,’ and proceeded to explain the circumstances. Whereupon the officers decided that they were not looking for anyone and left.” [Full Story]

Urban County Finalizes Funding Model

Washtenaw Urban County executive committee meeting (Nov. 16, 2010): The final piece of a coordinated funding model that’s been in the works for more than a year fell into place on Tuesday, when the Washtenaw Urban County’s executive committee voted unanimously to join the effort.

Mary Jo Callan

At the Nov. 16 meeting of the Urban County, Mary Jo Callan, director of the city of Ann Arbor/Washtenaw County office of community development, reviewed key points of the coordinated model for funding human services. (Photo by the writer.)

Two people – Steve Dobson, past chair of the local United Way board, and community activist Lily Au – spoke to the group during public commentary, taking opposite sides of the issue. But there was little discussion among committee members before the vote. Mary Jo Callan, head of the county/city of Ann Arbor office of community development, briefly recapped a detailed presentation she’d given in September, outlining how Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County and the Urban County would join with the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation and Washtenaw United Way to coordinate their funding to local nonprofits.

The coordinated funding, managed by Callan’s staff, will give priority to programs and services addressing six key areas: housing/homelessness, aging, school-aged youth, children from birth to six, “safety net” health and food/hunger relief. In total, the five funding entities provide about $5 million annually for local human services nonprofits. The Urban County – a consortium of 11 local governments – contributes roughly $350,000 of that amount.

The committee also voted on three items related to affordable housing efforts: 1) implementing “green” construction standards for builders funded with federal HUD dollars, 2) approving a draft budget and annual request for proposals (RFP) for developers of affordable houses funded through the Urban County, and 3) making changes to the budget tracking for the Urban County’s homebuyer program. All votes were unanimous. [Full Story]

Steiner Named Head of Housing Alliance

During a presentation at the Nov. 17, 2010 Washtenaw County board of commissioner meeting, former county administrator Bob Guenzel announced that the Washtenaw Housing Alliance has hired Julie Steiner as its new executive director, effective Dec. 1. Guenzel, chair of the WHA board, told commissioners to expect a re-energized effort related to the county’s Blueprint to End Homelessness. Steiner has served as executive director of the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Washtenaw County at Alpha House, a family homeless shelter. The WHA is a coalition of more than two dozen groups working to end homelessness. Guenzel, Steiner and Ellen Schulmeister, CEO of the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County, were on hand to to accept a resolution declaring Nov. 14-20, 2010 as National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week in Washtenaw County.

This brief was filed immediately after adournment of the board meeting. A more detailed account of the meeting will follow: [link] [Full Story]

County Board Fails to Eliminate Per Diem

At the Nov. 17, 2010 Washtenaw County board of commissioners meeting, a resolution was defeated that would have eliminated per diem, travel and mileage reimbursement for commissioners. A debate on the resolution, which was proposed by Leah Gunn, lasted more than an hour, with unsuccessful attempts to table it, and moments of confusion that resulted at one point in a vote reversal by commissioner Ronnie Peterson.

Three issues within the resolution were considered separately. Commissioners first voted unanimously to eliminate consideration of mileage from the resolution. A later vote to eliminate per diem payments initially passed, but Peterson then said he had intended to vote the opposite way, and the board agreed to change his vote – causing it to fail. Voting against it were Peterson, Rolland Sizemore Jr., Jessica Ping, Wes Prater, Kristin Judge and Ken Schwartz. A vote on eliminating travel expenses also failed – getting support only from Gunn, Barbara Bergman and Mark Ouimet. The resolution also included a provision to pay for newly elected commissioners to take a “Commissioner 101″ course, but Gunn withdrew that part of the resolution when it emerged that this was already standard practice.

This brief was filed immediately after the adjournment of the board meeting. A more detailed report will follow: [link] [Full Story]

Chapin Street

Construction fence in front of West Park is gone!

County Board Votes on Police Services Cost

At its Nov. 17, 2010 meeting, the Washtenaw County board of commissioners gave initial approval to a resolution that sets the cost of a police services unit (PSU) at $176,108. A PSU is the term used for a sheriff’s deputy who is hired on a contract basis to serve local townships and other municipalities. The amount includes direct costs like salary and fringe benefits, as well as indirect costs and overhead. The board is expected to take a final vote on the cost issue at its Dec. 1 meeting. They still need to decide how much the county will charge contracting municipalities per PSU – an amount that will likely be lower, offset by a county general fund contribution. For background on this issue, see Chronicle coverage: “Washtenaw Police Services: What’s It Cost?

This brief was filed during the board meeting at the county administration building. A more detailed account of the meeting will follow: [link] [Full Story]

Rackham Building

Grad Student Union (GEO) has final mass membership meeting before beginning contract negotiations next month. [photo]

Third & Huron

1:30-2 p.m. About 40 people gather to celebrate a walk across the street using the new HAWK signal. All the cars stop on the light! Cider, doughnuts, dignitaries, bikers, walkers, a stroller and a dog. And a honorary hawk, in human form. [photo] [photo]

State & Liberty

In the alley, some guys have some poor clown standing up against a brick and it looks like they’re going to shoot him. [photo] But based on the photographic documentation, there’s actually no need to call 911.

A2: Roller Derby

The Ann Arbor Derby Dimes, a women’s roller derby league, is holding a recruitment fair on Saturday, Nov. 20 from 4-6 p.m. at the Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti. The group is looking for skaters, referees and volunteers. [Source]

UM: Robots

ABC News in Australia reports that a UM team led by assistant professor Edwin Olson won the $750,000 top prize in the Multi Autonomous Ground-robotics International Challenge (MAGIC). The competition was sponsored jointly by the Australian and U.S. defense forces, according to the report. Says Olson: “The idea is that the humans can be safely far away from the danger zone and the robots do all the low-level work to gather that information.” [Source]

William & First

Westbound cyclist flies down William hill across tracks, through stop sign. Waves a “thanks” to cars at stop sign.

Urban County OKs Coordinated Funding

The executive board of the Washtenaw Urban County unanimously gave approval to a coordinated model for funding human services, collaborating with the United Way of Washtenaw, the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, the city of Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County. Together, these entities provide about $5 million annually for local human services nonprofits. The two-year pilot project will be administered by the county/city of Ann Arbor office of community development. The governing bodies for all other entities involved have already voted to approve the project, which will begin with the fiscal year starting July 1, 2011.

This brief was filed from the Urban County meeting at the Washtenaw County Learning Resource Center on Washtenaw Avenue. A more detailed report will follow: [link] [Full Story]

Ann Arbor District Library Gets Clean Audit

Ann Arbor District Library board meeting (Nov. 15, 2010): Two financial issues drew much of the focus at Monday’s AADL board meeting.

Dave Fisher

Dave Fisher of the accounting firm Rehmann Robson delivered highlights of the Ann Arbor District Library's financial audit at the AADL board's Nov. 15 meeting. (Photo by the writer.)

Dave Fisher of the accounting firm Rehmann Robson was on hand to review the district’s financial audit for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2010. He described the library as in solid financial shape, especially in relationship to other entities in Michigan that rely on property tax revenues. The library has no long-term debt and its fund balance is strong, he said. But he added a cautionary note that like other taxpayer-funded entities, the library would likely be grappling with a continued drop in property tax revenues in future years.

Property tax revenues emerged again in a discussion during the director’s report. AADL director Josie Parker drew attention to a Nov. 15 column published in The Ann Arbor Chronicle regarding the ongoing negotiations between the city of Ann Arbor and the Downtown Development Authority. The column pointed out an issue that Parker has been tracking as well: the potential for tax increment financing funds captured by the DDA from public entities, including the AADL, to be used to offset a parking fund deficit caused by striking a new parking deal with the city. The board ultimately passed a resolution at Monday’s meeting, directing Parker to seek legal counsel on the issue.

Board member Ed Surovell said he wanted to make sure the board was defending their right to collect taxes, and that they’re being as responsible as possible to the citizens of the district. “I think this is dead serious business,” he said. “The appropriation and misappropriation of tax revenues is the lifeblood not just of this library, but of a democracy.”

Also during her director’s report, Parker described the results of a site review by staff of the Michigan Commission for the Blind, which manages the federal program that the Washtenaw Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled @ AADL is part of. The review, conducted every two years, is the first one since the AADL took over management of the WLBPD from the county, a transition that occurred in early 2009. AADL received several commendations for its approach to providing WLBPD services.

At the end of the meeting, outgoing board member Carola Stearns – who lost her seat in the Nov. 2 election to challenger Nancy Kaplan – gave a poignant speech, thanking the library staff and her colleagues on the board. In connection with a possible downtown building project, she urged the board to explore alternative funding sources, beyond paying for the project solely with taxpayer funds. [Full Story]

Time to Expand Greenbelt Boundary?

Ann Arbor greenbelt advisory commission meeting (Nov. 10, 2010): At this month’s meeting, commissioners unanimously approved forming a subcommittee to explore possible changes to the existing boundary of the greenbelt district. Led by GAC vice chair Dan Ezekiel, the group will look for ways to protect properties that might be appropriate for the greenbelt, but that lie just outside of the current district. A similar effort in 2007 resulted in bumping out the boundary by a mile.

Lisa Gottlieb

Lisa Gottlieb, organizer of the Selma Cafe, made a presentation with her husband, Jeff McCabe, at the Nov. 10 meeting of the Ann Arbor greenbelt advisory commission. (Photos by the writer.)

Noting that this was the second time they’d looked at the issue, GAC chair Jennifer S. Hall suggested exploring other ways that the greenbelt program might achieve the same result, but that wouldn’t involve regularly moving the program’s fixed boundary.

Another theme of the meeting was local food. Two local food advocates – Lisa Gottlieb and Jeff McCabe – gave a presentation about their work raising money to fund construction of hoop houses at local farms. Gottlieb and McCabe host the weekly Selma Cafe, a breakfast gathering every Friday morning at their home that regularly draws more than 120 people. Commissioner Dan Ezekiel praised their work, and GAC chair Jennifer S. Hall expressed the hope that they could find ways to work together in the future.

Also during Wednesday’s meeting, commissioners voted to recommend an agreement with Webster Township, which is offering to contribute $50,000 to the purchase of development rights for the 146-acre Whitney farm. The city council has already agreed to pay $707,122 toward that purchase.

Greenbelt program manager Ginny Trocchio reported that the city has closed on the 51-acre Gould property, adjacent to the recently protected 286-acre Braun farm – both farms are located in Ann Arbor Township. The Braun acquisition bumped the greenbelt program over the 2,000-acre mark, she said – about 2,200 acres are now part of the greenbelt. The Brauns have agreed to open their property for a celebration in the coming months.

In other action, GAC voted unanimously to set public commentary rules in alignment with other city boards and commissions. And Hall noted that two vacancies will be opening up next year on GAC – she encouraged local residents who might be interested in serving on the commission to attend some of their meetings, or talk to their city councilmember about their interest.

The commission also got an update from city treasurer Matt Horning, who was responding to questions that commissioners had raised regarding a drop in investment income on the latest year-end financial statement. [Full Story]

AADL to Seek Legal Counsel on Parking Deal

The board of the Ann Arbor District Library passed a resolution at its Nov. 15, 2010 meeting directing AADL director Josie Parker, in conjunction with the board’s treasurer and finance committee, to consult with legal counsel about the city of Ann Arbor-Downtown Development Authority parking agreement, and to seek a legal opinion about how funds are being allocated that would otherwise be coming to the library.

At issue is the potential for tax increment financing funds captured by the DDA from public entities, including the AADL, to be used to offset a parking fund deficit caused by striking a new parking deal with the city. Noting that she has been aware of this issue, Parker cited a Nov. 15 column by Chronicle editor Dave Askins in discussing the topic with board members.

This brief was filed soon after the library board’s meeting adjourned. A more detailed report will follow: [link] [Full Story]

Argo Embankment Bypass Approved

At its Nov. 15, 2010 meeting, the Ann Arbor city council approved a $1,168,170 bypass around the Argo dam that will take the place of the current headrace, which is separated from the Huron River by an earthen embankment. The bypass will eliminate the portage currently required by canoeists. It would also allow the city to comply with the consent order the city has with the state of Michigan that requires the city to address the repair of toe drains in the embankment.

The funding will come partly from $300,000 that had been reserved for dam maintenance from the city’s drinking water fund. There is a proviso that if additional funds external to the city can be identified – for example, from the county – they’ll be applied first to reduce the need to use the $300,000 reserved from the drinking water fund. Carsten Hohnke (Ward 5) was the lone voice of dissent, based on the funding to be drawn from the drinking water fund.

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

Compost Outsourcing Postponed

At its Nov. 15, 2010 meeting, the Ann Arbor city council postponed to Dec. 6 a decision on a proposal to approve a contract with WeCare Organics to operate the city’s composting facility, which is not to exceed $200,000 annually. The city council had received a presentation at a work session on the proposal on Nov. 8.

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

Dreiseitl Art Gets Final Council OK

At its Nov. 15, 2010 meeting, the Ann Arbor city council approved $553,320 for fabrication of a piece of exterior art that had been commissioned from Herbert Dreiseitl for the new municipal center. Dissenting votes were cast by Sabra Briere, Stephen Kunselman and Marcia Higgins. Quinn Evans Architects will act as the general contractor to complete the work’s fabrication. The authorization for the design, at a cost of $111,400, was given council’s Dec. 21, 2009 meeting.

The city’s public art commission had originally commissioned three pieces of art from Dreiseitl, but the two interior pieces were not approved by the commission. The project budget for the three pieces was $750,000. According to the city, the total cost for the single exterior water sculpture will come to $741,720.

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

Ann Arbor Approves Court Furniture

At its Nov. 15, 2010 meeting, the Ann Arbor city council approved a $36,000 revision to the current FY 2011 budget to allow for the purchase of furniture for the 15th District court, which will be housed in the new municipal center that is nearing completion next to the Larcom building. The initial request had been postponed at the council’s Oct. 18 meeting, when councilmembers had closely questioned the court administrator, Keith Zeisloft, over a request for up to $160,000 worth of furniture. The council again delayed action at its Nov. 4 meeting.

The memo provided by Zeisloft for Monday’s meeting, which resulted in the council’s approval of the expenditure, itemized $37,573 worth of refurbished furniture and $33,947 worth of new furniture. The authorization for the refurbished furniture will come to the council at a later date.

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

Dam Maintenance Won’t Tap Water Fund

At its Nov. 15, 2010 meeting, the Ann Arbor city council approved a resolution that would end the payment for the repairs, maintenance and insurance of Argo and Geddes dams from the city’s drinking water fund. The shift in dam activity funding will be effective with the start of fiscal year 2012, which is July 1, 2011.

An amendment to the original resolution, however, had the impact of leaving intact a previously budgeted $300,000 from the water utility fund for possible construction of a bypass around the Argo dam.

Previous history of the city’s discussions of shifting the maintenance funding from the city’s drinking water utility fund is included in Chronicle coverage: “PAC Recommends Argo Dam Bypass

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

Skyline High School

Skyline High School National Honor Society induction. About 1/4 of the juniors are represented. Nearly as many speeches as a graduation.

Ann Arbor Delays Medical Marijuana Law

At its Nov. 15, 2010 meeting, the Ann Arbor city council postponed to its Dec. 20 meeting a change to its zoning ordinances that would regulate medical marijuana dispensaries. The council also extended a moratorium on the use of facilities for dispensing or cultivating marijuana for 60 days – until Jan. 31, 2011. The decision to postpone came after a public hearing on the zoning regulations, which will now be held open until Dec. 20. The new zoning was previously given initial approval by the council at its Oct. 18, 2010 meeting.

Among other restrictions, the proposed zoning regulations include a provision that medical marijuana dispensaries can only be located in zoning districts classified as D (downtown), C (business), or M (industrial), or in PUD districts where retail is permitted in the supplemental regulations. Also, medical marijuana cultivation facilities would only be located in C (business), M (industrial), RE (research), or ORL (office/research) districts.

The council is also planning to consider initial approval of a requirement at its Dec. 6 meeting that medical marijuana dispensaries be subject to licensing requirements. The licensing requirements would then come before the council at its Dec. 20 meeting for final approval – at the same time the medical marijuana zoning is considered for final approval.

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