From the press release: “The bipartisan, bicameral package aims to improve and maintain roads across the state, implement numerous reforms to the Department of Transportation and establish a funding source to be used only to directly improve roads, bridges and key infrastructure. The legislation also would create a regional transit authority in Southeast Michigan.” For background see “AATA in Transition: Briefed on State’s Plans.”

Both businesses were  seeking such a permit in order to apply for a medical marijuana dispensary license. The licensing board is scheduled to meet on Jan. 31 to make recommendations on the award of dispensary licenses. The denial of the one appeal means that nine of 10 total applications will be considered by the licensing board.

The Ann Arbor city council enacted zoning and licensing requirements for medical marijuana businesses on June 20, 2011. Among the zoning regulations is a requirement that medical marijuana dispensaries can be located only in those districts zoned as D (downtown), C (commercial), or M (industrial), or in PUD districts where a retail use is permitted in the supplemental regulations.

Treecity (1712 S. State Street) is in a district zoned as O (office), while Green Planet (700 Tappan St.) is in the Casa Dominick PUD (planned unit development) district. Treecity argued that it had established a legal use of the property as a medical marijuana dispensary before the enactment of the city’s zoning ordinance, and should be allowed to continue that non-conforming use within the district zoned for office use.

However the nine-member ZBA ruled against Treecity. The ZBA did not find that Treecity had previously established a legal use of the property as a medical marijuana dispensary. Of the six members of the board who were present at the meeting, Treecity’s appeal garnered support only from Sabra Briere, who also serves on the medical marijuana license board and the Ann Arbor city council. [.pdf of Treecity staff report including appeal]

For the other appeal, Green Planet noted that the supplemental regulations in the existing PUD allow for “grocery, prepared food and beverage sales, including retail sales of non-food items typically associated with groceries and food preparation.” On that basis, Green Planet argued that the PUD meets the zoning condition that says dispensaries are allowed in “PUD districts where retail is permitted in the supplemental regulations.”

The city had denied the zoning compliance permit based on the idea that medical marijuana preparations were not “typically associated with groceries and food preparation.” But the ZBA’s vote to overturn the city staff decision was unanimous among the six board members present. [.pdf of Green Planet staff report including appeal] More coverage: [link]

If approved by the city council, the $982,333 contract would be awarded to RMD Holdings of Chesterfield, Michigan. That amount includes a $893,030 base bid plus a 10% contingency of $89,303. It was the lowest of four bids received for the project, which will focus on the fenced ballparks at Veterans Memorial Park, West Park and Southeast Area Park. Originally, the city had intended to include fields at Allmendinger Park as well, but bids came in higher than expected and that work was eliminated from the project.

The renovations have been in the works for more than two years. At PAC’s September 2010 meeting, commissioner David Barrett gave a report on the condition of the city’s ballparks after personally surveying them. There are 26 fields owned by the city, and 28 at Ann Arbor public schools. [.pdf file of Barrett's ballpark report] According to a staff memo accompanying the Jan. 24 resolution, no major restoration work has been done on the fields in more than 10 years.

Staff from Ann Arbor Rec & Ed, a unit of the public school system, will work with city staff on this project – Rec & Ed programs are the primary users of these fields. Construction will likely begin in mid-August of 2012, with fields ready for use again in early spring of 2013. Red & Ed plans to cancel its fall season to accommodate the project.

Funding will be drawn from three sources: (1) $250,000 from the approved FY 2012 parks maintenance and capital improvements millage budget; (2) $64,000 from an unobligated remaining fund balance in the expired park repair and restoration millage; and (3) $668,333 from the unobligated fund balance of the existing parks maintenance and capital improvements millage.

This brief was filed from the second-floor council chambers of city hall, located at 301 E. Huron. A more detailed report will follow: [link]

The plan calls for signing a 25-year lease on 100,000 square feet, with base rent of $27.25 per rentable square foot per year, increasing 5% every five years. The base lease covers expenses related to the land, site work, design and management fees, and a part of the building construction. Operating costs would be an additional expense. The site is expected to be ready by the winter of 2014.

The brief was filed from the colloquium room at UM’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business, where the regents meeting was held this month. A more detailed report will follow.

Head Start director Patricia Horne McGee and senior management assistant Lovida Roach (who is Horne McGee’s second-in-command) were placed on administrative leave on Tuesday, Dec. 13. Roach was put on leave in the morning, while Horne McGee was put on leave around 5:30 p.m. the same day, according to Diane Heidt, the county’s human resources and labor relations director. Cassandra Sheriff, site director for the Ypsilanti Head Start location, is acting as interim director.

Heidt said an investigation has been underway since early October, in response to allegations that required the human resources staff to act. Heidt could not provide additional details, saying the investigation is a personnel matter and very sensitive, given that it relates to the Head Start program. She expects the investigation to wrap up in early January. At that time, either the two women will return to their jobs, or other action will be taken, Heidt said.

Horne McGee, who was hired to lead Washtenaw Head Start in 1999, is one of about 20 appointed department heads at the county, overseeing an annual budget of about $4.8 million for a program that serves more than 500 children throughout the county. Heidt said it’s rare for a department head to be put on administrative leave.

In response to a query from The Chronicle, Heidt said the allegations and subsequent investigation are in no way related to a transition underway to relinquish the county’s management of the local Head Start program. “Not one bit – I can be very clear on that,” she said.

The county board voted less than a month ago to approve a budget that eliminates funding for Head Start in 2013, as part of cuts in a two-year budget that faced a $17.5 million deficit. It was a controversial decision – one that Horne McGee vigorously opposed – that will set in motion the severing of ties between the federal program and the county, which has administered it locally for 46 years. [For additional Chronicle coverage, see: "Options Weighed for Washtenaw Head Start" and "Head Start Advocates Make Emotional Plea"]