Civic News Ticker

At its May 16, 2012 meeting, the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority board approved a five-year contract totaling not more than $125,000 with Ecology & Environment Inc. for rideshare and vanpool matching software. The software will be paid for using existing and anticipated federal funds, provided to the AATA through the Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality (CMAQ) program.

The software comes in the context of the AATA’s planned entrance into the vanpool services market. On Sept. 15, 2011, the AATA board authorized a contract with VPSI to provide vanpool services, and on Jan. 19, 2012, the board authorized the purchase of up to 25 vans to provide the vanpool service.

According to a staff memo accompanying the resolution, a requirement of the software is that it must be accessible through standard Internet appliances, and provide instant, accurate online ride‐matches through detailed map information presented to the end‐user. It must also integrate with social networking services such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+.

This brief was filed from the Holiday Inn Express, 600 Briarwood Circle, where the AATA board held its monthly board meeting, which it combined with a retreat. A more detailed report of the meeting will follow: [link]

At its May 16, 2012 meeting, the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority board approved revisions to the organization’s procurement manual.

According to the staff memo accompanying the resolution, revisions include: (1) changes in ethics policy to include annual disclosure requirements for board of directors, CEO, deputy CEO, senior staff and procurement staff; (2) addition of a vendor contact form as directed by the auditor, which requires a CEO or deputy CEO approval for all new vendors; (3) addition of MITN (Michigan Intergovernmental Trade Network) as a resource to maintain AATA’s current list of vendors; (4) addition of The Davis‐Bacon Act for construction projects – also a recommendation of the auditor; (5) inclusion of the AATA’s living wage policy, which was approved by the board on June 16, 2011; and (6) an increase in the small purchases threshold from $2,500 to $3,000 – as directed by the Federal Transit Administration.

The procurement manual was last revised on March 19, 2009.

This brief was filed from the Holiday Inn Express, 600 Briarwood Circle, where the AATA board held its monthly board meeting, which it combined with a retreat. A more detailed report of the meeting will follow: [link]

At its May 16, 2012 meeting, the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority board authorized a $390,000 contract with Duo‐Gard Industries Inc. to manufacture and install around 60 bus shelters and 126 benches over a three-year period. There’s an option to extend the contract twice, for a year at a time. The AATA expects to use existing and future federal and state grant funds to pay for the shelters.

This brief was filed from the Holiday Inn Express, 600 Briarwood Circle, where the AATA board held its monthly board meeting, which it combined with a retreat. A more detailed report of the meeting will follow: [link]

At its May 15, 2012 meeting, the Ypsilanti city council unanimously approved a proposed four-party agreement which establishes a process to create a new countywide transportation authority in Washtenaw County. The new authority, tentatively named the Washtenaw Area Transportation Authority, would be incorporated under Act 196 of 1986, and would replace the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority – with a broader geographic base for its governance, services and funding.

The four parties to the agreement are the AATA, the city of Ypsilanti, the city of Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County.

The Ann Arbor city council approved a version of the four-party agreement on March 5, 2012, after amending the version that the AATA had first presented. Amendments were made in several ways, and stretched over multiple meetings.

However, on May 15 the Ypsilanti council amended and approved the agreement in a way that may require reconsideration by the Ann Arbor city council – in the opinion of Ypsilanti city attorney John M. Barr. [.pdf of red-lined four-party agreement as amended by Ypsilanti city council]

The Ypsilanti council also unanimously approved, without change, the proposed articles of incorporation for the new transit authority. The Ann Arbor city council has not yet voted on the articles of incorporation. [.pdf of articles of incorporation]

The amendment to the four-party agreement, proposed by Ypsilanti councilmember Peter Murdock, had two components. Murdock’s amendment involved the transit millages currently levied by the cities of Ann Arbor (a perpetual millage authorized in the charter at 2.5 mills) and Ypsilanti (a .9879 mill tax authorized by voters in 2010).

First, Murdock’s amendment  eliminated a “municipal service charge of 1% of the annual millage,” in all sections where it appears – for Ypsilanti and for Ann Arbor. In the original four-party agreement (approved by the Ann Arbor city council), the two cities would be able to withhold the 1% municipal service charge from the millage dollars they transfered to the new countywide transit authority. The rationale, Murdock said, is that “the money should go to the new authority, not to the two cities, and that Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor should both do that.”

The second component of the amendment was specific to Ypsilanti. The following language was inserted: “… and in Ypsilanti specifically authorize the continued collection and transfer of the full Charter Transportation millage to the new Act 196 TA.”

By way of background, Ypsilanti voters approved, in 2010, a “Charter Transportation” amendment to the city charter that provides for .9879 mill of the city’s revenue to be used to pay for a purchase-of-service agreement with AATA. That part of Murdock’s amendment is intended to remove any uncertainty about that provision in the future.

The Ypsilanti council voted after hearing a presentation by AATA CEO Michael Ford, who focused on the improvements that the countywide system could bring to Ypsilanti. Ford said that AATA would consider the four-party agreement on May 16 (at its combined board meeting and retreat), and that the Washtenaw County board of commissioners would consider it in the near future.

At its May 15, 2012 meeting, the Ypsilanti city council chose Ralph A. Lange as its next city manager, pending successful completion of negotiations between Lange and a three-person negotiating committee. The council’s selection of Lange was unanimous.

Since 2008 Lange has been executive director of the Henry County (Ohio) Community Improvement Corp. Lange was chosen over Brian P. Vick, former city manager of Grosse Pointe Shores, Mich., after a second round of public interviews Monday evening.

On Friday, May 11, the number of finalists dropped from three to two, when city clerk and interim city manager Frances McMullan withdrew herself from consideration.

Lange’s previous positions included managing director of the Monroe County (Michigan) road commission, 1999-2008; city administrator and director of public safety for the city of Oregon, (Ohio), 1994-1999; and city manager of Albion. The negotiating committee consists of mayor Paul Schreiber, mayor pro tem Lois Richardson, and councilmember Brian Robb. There was no mention of salary or starting date during the May 15 council meeting.

Action on a site plan for a new DTE Buckler electrical substation at 984 Broadway near Canal Street was postponed by Ann Arbor planning commissioners at their May 15, 2012 meeting. City planning staff had recommended postponement to allow more time to review several outstanding issues. For example, staff has recommended that DTE seek a variance from the city’s zoning board of appeals for a 100-year detention requirement – the proposed site plan would require such a variance. The site is located within the Huron River’s 100-year floodplain.

The project also needs a variance to the 15-foot conflicting land use buffer requirements along the east side property line, adjacent to Riverside Park. DTE is requesting a variance that would allow 33 trees and 38 shrubs to be planted along the far western side of Riverside Park instead of on DTE property. The city’s park advisory commission recommended approval of that variance at its Feb. 28, 2012 meeting.

DTE is building the new Buckler substation in the utility company’s Ann Arbor service center to provide an increase in electrical power to the downtown area due to increased demand for electricity. A DTE engineer told commissioners that within a mile radius of the current Argo substation on Broadway, peak loads were 17% higher in 2001 2011 compared to 2009. He described the Buckler substation project as a $10 million investment in the city.

According to a staff memo, the project will include two 15.5-foot tall electrical transformers and related electrical equipment on raised concrete pads, and a new power delivery center (PDC) – a 630-square-foot, 12.5-foot tall steel structure. The project also will include a new six-foot tall perimeter chain link fence with one foot of barb wire and a concrete block retaining wall. The source of power will be transmitted through underground sub-transmission cables in an existing manhole and conduit system.

Because of floodplain issues, DTE has proposed to build raised transformer pads by bringing in 800 cubic yards of fill. To mitigate that impact to the floodplain, DTE plans to remove 1,155 cubic yards of earth on the MichCon site at 841 Broadway. [MichCon is a DTE subsidiary.] The proposal also calls for removing a building on the MichCon site, which will give the company an additional 55 cubic yards of ”floodplain mitigation credit.” The proposal for this MichCon portion of the project was presented in a separate agenda item, and unanimously approved by planning commissioners.

The Buckler substation project is expected to return to the planning commission at its next meeting on June 5.

This brief was filed from the second-floor council chambers of city hall at 301 E. Huron, where planning commission meetings are held. A more detailed report will follow.

A site plan for remediation of the MichCon property at 841 Broadway was unanimously approved by the Ann Arbor planning commission at its May 15, 2012 meeting. The proposal was made in conjunction with a site plan for a new DTE Buckler electrical substation on the opposite side of Broadway. Planning commissioners voted to postpone action on that site plan at the same May 15 meeting. MichCon is a subsidiary of DTE.

The MichCon site plan approval is contingent on three things: (1) obtaining variances from the city’s zoning board of appeals (ZBA) to exempt MichCon from providing a new stormwater management system; (2) obtaining a Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) permit for work within the floodplain and Huron River; and (3) indicating water main and storm sewer easements on the site plan and providing the city with legal descriptions for those easements prior to the city issuing grading permits.

The remediation site plan entails removing 1,155 cubic yards of earth on the MichCon property, including the site’s most heavily contaminated soil. The company would get another 55 cubic yards of “floodplain mitigation credit” as a result of removing a building on the site. The remediation is intended to offset impact on the Huron River floodplain that’s expected when DTE brings in 800 cubic yards of soil to build raised transformer pads at the new Buckler substation.

According to a staff memo, a ZBA variance is needed to exempt the company from building new stormwater detention systems. Because contaminated soil will remain on the site after remediation, the company has indicated that installing new detention systems would be harmful to groundwater and the Huron River. Detention systems would not be required if impervious surfaces were removed on the site. However, removing impervious surfaces would allow contaminants in the soil to leach into the Huron River and groundwater. The proposal calls for leaving the existing impervious surfaces in place to provide a cap on contaminated soils.

The MichCon remediation requires only approval of the planning commission, and does not require action by city council.

This brief was filed from the second-floor council chambers of city hall at 301 E. Huron, where planning commission meetings are held. A more detailed report will follow.

At its May 15, 2012 meeting, the Ann Arbor planning commission unanimously approved an expansion to the Wintermeyer office parking lot at 2144 and 2178 South State St., south of Stimson and east of the University of Michigan golf course. The commission also voted to approve a landscape modification on the 1.8-acre site, contingent on administrative approval of relocated plantings between the site and a home to the north.

Two two-story office buildings are currently located on the site, along with an 85-space parking lot. The parcel is zoned O (office). After the expansion, there will be a total of 101 parking spaces on the site. A maximum of 111 parking spaces are allowed for the existing office development.

Modifications to the landscaping requirements include: (1) allowing the existing landscaping islands in the parking lot to remain in their current locations; and (2) allowing existing runs of 21 and 28 continuous spaces to remain in place. Landscaping regulations limit the number of continuous parking spaces to 15.

One person – David Diephius, who owns the home to the north of the site – spoke during public commentary. He asked for a modification to the plan’s proposed plantings between a retaining wall and the parking lot. Instead, he said the owner had agreed to put fewer plantings there in exchange for larger shrubs between the wall and his home to the north. The owner, Tracy Wintermeyer, was on hand and said he agreed to that change. The landscape modification was amended accordingly, with unanimous commission approval.

This brief was filed from the second-floor council chambers of city hall at 301 E. Huron, where planning commission meetings are held. A more detailed report will follow.

At its May 15, 2012 meeting, the Ann Arbor planning commission unanimously voted to grant a temporary retail sales special exception use for Phantom Fireworks, a firm based in Youngstown, Ohio.

According to a staff report, the business is proposing to put up a 40×40-foot tent and an 8×40-foot storage pod in the parking lot of Colonial Lanes at 1950 South Industrial Highway. The tent would be set back 25 feet from South Industrial and take up 24 parking spaces on 2.96-acre site, leaving 203 parking spaces for the bowling alley and Cubs A.C. restaurant.

The northeast, two-way traffic entrance would be temporarily closed by placing four orange traffic cones and yellow tape in the parking lot. The remaining four entrances to the site would remain open. The sales tent would operate from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day of the week, with sales hours extended to midnight depending upon sales demand leading up to July 4, according to the staff report. At the planning commission’s May 15 meeting, a representative for Phantom indicated to commissioners that the intent was to sell fireworks just for the 10 days leading up to and including July 4. On July 5, the tent would come down, he said.

The site is zoned C3 (fringe commercial district), which allows certain types of temporary outdoor sales. A special exception use is needed because the proposed sales are different from items sold at the property’s permanent business. Special exception use is granted by the planning commission and does not require additional approval by the city council.

This brief was filed from the second-floor council chambers of city hall at 301 E. Huron, where planning commission meetings are held. A more detailed report will follow.

Ann Arbor planning commissioners, following advice from city staff, voted unanimously to postpone action on a request from Knight’s Market. The rezoning and site plan proposal – which would allow the neighborhood market to expand and add a bakery – was on the agenda for the commission’s May 15, 2012 meeting.

Knight’s Market is located at the northeast corner of Spring and Miller. The market’s owner, Ray Knight, also owns two separate, adjacent parcels. (Knight is perhaps best known for his family’s restaurant, Knight’s Steakhouse, located at 2324 Dexter Ave.) The grocery store is on land zoned zoned C1 (local business) and M1 (light industrial). Another parcel at 306-308 Spring St. is zoned R2A (two-family dwelling) and M1, and contains two single-family homes and part of a parking lot. The third parcel at 310 Spring St. is zoned R2A and MI, and contains the other half of the store’s parking lot. All three parcels are currently non-conforming in some way, according to a staff report, and are located in the 100-year Allen Creek floodplain.

The proposal from Knight’s involves several steps. The request calls for 306, 308 and 310 Spring to be rezoned to C1. That rezoning would allow the building at 306 Spring to be converted into a bakery, although the intent is to leave the exterior of the house intact. The rezoning would also allow for approval to build a 1,200-square-foot addition to the existing grocery store and to expand, reconfigure, and improve the existing parking lot. In addition, the plan requests that 418 Miller Ave. – the site of the existing grocery – also be rezoned to C1.

The proposed work to the parking lot includes providing three additional spaces (for a total of 17 parking spaces), a designated snow pile storage area, solid waste and recycling container storage enclosure, right-of-way screening, conflicting land use buffer, and rain gardens for storm water management. An unused curbcut on Miller Avenue would be removed and the curb and lawn extension would be restored there. A temporary storage building at 418 Miller would be removed. The house at 310 Spring would remain a single-family dwelling.

The staff report notes that a neighborhood meeting in September 2011 drew about 10 people, who raised concerns about the proposed bakery at 306 Spring, as well as possible future uses for adjacent land also owned by Knight at 314 and 422 Spring, which are not part of the current proposal. A public hearing held at the May 15 meeting drew 10 speakers, including several neighbors who praised the Knight family and their business, but expressed concerns about “commercial creep” and increased traffic. Commissioners echoed those concerns, including fears about what might happen if the ownership of the property changes hands.

City planning staff recommended postponement so that several project reviews can be completed, but indicated support for the rezoning. A date for the project to return to planning commission hasn’t been set.

This brief was filed from the second-floor council chambers of city hall at 301 E. Huron, where planning commission meetings are held. A more detailed report will follow.

The Ann Arbor park advisory commission recommended approval of a $39,575 contract with Terra-Firma Landscape Inc. for improvements to South University Park. The vote was taken at PAC’s May 15, 2012 meeting.

The project is funded by a $50,000 donation from Leslie and Michael Morris. News of their gift had been announced nearly a year ago, at PAC’s June 21, 2011 meeting. At that meeting, Leslie Morris – a former Ward 2 city councilmember – had explained how the couple had played a role decades ago in creating the park at South University Avenue and Walnut. The dynamics of the neighborhood have changed, and the park is in need of an overhaul to serve the needs of current residents.

Terra-Firma, based in Ypsilanti Township, was the lowest of 10 bids received for the work. The budget includes a 10% construction contingency of $3,958 for a total project budget of $43,533. According to a staff memo, the work includes removing trees and shrubs that are overgrown and invasive; replacing the existing basketball court ,which is in poor shape and undersized; removing the bench and kiosk; and installing three new benches located on the park’s interior along a new concrete walk that bisects the park.

A picnic table, native flowering trees and shrubs will be added to the site. Because a large play area is located in the nearby Angell Elementary School, it’s felt that a play area in the park isn’t needed.

This brief was filed from the second-floor council chambers of city hall at 301 E. Huron, where PAC meetings are held. A more detailed report will follow.

At their May 15, 2012 meeting, Ann Arbor park advisory commissioners passed a resolution recommending that the city pursue reconstruction of two tennis courts at Windemere Park, a nearly four-acre parcel on the city’s northeast side, north of Glazier Way between Green and Earhart roads. PAC had received a staff update on deteriorating conditions there at the commission’s April 17, 2012 meeting.

A letter from representatives of the Earhart Knolls Homeowners Association, as well as several speakers at the meeting, argued that the park is a focal point for the neighborhood, and that the tennis courts play an important role for the community. They urged commissioners to recommend replacement of the courts, in the same location. [.pdf of Earhart Knolls letter]

The issue of the location of the new tennis courts will be the topic of a summer meeting between parks planning staff and neighbors. The initial inclination of city staff had been to move the location of the courts within the park  to an area with soil better suited for a tennis court base. Chair of PAC, Julie Grand, described the contacts they’d received from neighbors who wanted to see the location remain the same, “some of the most civil and well-researched communication we’ve ever received.”

Cost was a consideration. The resolution approved by PAC stipulates that the additional measures – drainage, installation of a honeycomb geogrid – to stabilize the base for the tennis courts could cost as much as 10-20% more than a standard tennis court.

This brief was filed from the second-floor council chambers of city hall at 301 E. Huron, where PAC meetings are held. A more detailed report will follow.

At its May 15, 2012 meeting, the Ann Arbor park advisory commission recommended that the city council move ahead to incorporate 16 sustainability goals into the city’s master plan. [.pdf of sustainability goals]

PAC is one of several Ann Arbor advisory groups that have been working with city staff to develop a focused set of sustainability goals, drawing from more than 200 existing goals in city planning documents. The project began more than a year ago, after the city received a $95,000 grant from the Home Depot Foundation to fund a formal sustainability project.

The grant funded the job of a sustainability associate, a position held by Jamie Kidwell, who’s been the point person for this effort. Originally the effort involved four advisory commissions: park, planning, energy and environmental. More recently, the city’s housing commission and housing and human services commission were added to the effort.

The goals are fairly general, and are grouped into four main categories: climate and energy; community; land use and access; and resource management. Four public forums were held earlier this year, with speakers and public input on each of those categories. [See Chronicle coverage: “Building a Sustainable Ann Arbor,” “Sustaining Ann Arbor’s Environmental Quality,” “Land Use, Transit Factor Into Sustainability,“ and "Final Forum: What Sustains Community?"] The city also maintains a website with information on the project.

If approved, the 16 sustainability goals would be fleshed out with more detailed objectives and action items.

This brief was filed from the second-floor council chambers of city hall at 301 E. Huron, where PAC meetings are held. A more detailed report will follow.

Several additional candidates for Washtenaw County offices filed on May 15 before the 4 p.m. deadline, but several incumbents remain unchallenged in the Aug. 7 partisan primary.

Sheriff Jerry Clayton, county prosecuting attorney Brian Mackie, county clerk Larry Kestenbaum and county treasurer Catherine McClary – all incumbent Democrats – will not face primary challenges. However, all but Mackie will have a Republican opponent in the Nov. 6 general election. All of those elected positions are for four-year terms.

Running for sheriff as a Republican is Jeffrey R. Gallatin of Ann Arbor. Republican Stanley F. Watson of Ann Arbor Township has filed to run against Kestenbaum for county clerk, while Republican Marlene Chockley of South Lyon is running against McClary in the county treasurer’s race.

Two Democratic candidates, Evan Pratt and Harry Bentz have filed to run for the office of county water resources commissioner. Janis Bobrin, who has held that position for nearly 24 years, announced in March that she did not intend to run again and she endorsed Pratt in that race. The water resources commissioner is also elected to a four-year term. Eric Scheie of Ann Arbor is the only Republican who filed for that office.

Serving two-year terms are members of the Washtenaw County board of commissioners. Currently there are 11 county districts, but redistricting that was completed last year will take effect for the 2012 election, shrinking the number of districts to nine. Three of the new districts – 7, 8 and 9 – will represent Ann Arbor, down from the current four. [map of new county board districts]

For the new District 9 in Ann Arbor, incumbent Democrat Conan Smith – who currently serves as county board chair – faces no primary challenge, but will run against Republican John Floyd in November. Floyd most recently was a Republican candidate in the 2010 Ward 5 Ann Arbor city council race, losing with 21.9% of the vote to incumbent Democrat Carsten Hohnke – in a three-way race that included Newcombe Clark, who ran as an independent. In 2008 Floyd had also challenged Hohnke, but lost with 20.3% of the vote.

Incumbent Democrat Yousef Rabhi and Republican Joe Baublis are running in the new District 8 in Ann Arbor. Two Democrats – former county commissioner Christina Montague and Andy LaBarre, a former aide to Congressman John Dingell – have filed in the new District 7. David Parker is the only Republican to file in that race. The current incumbent in that district, Democrat Barbara Bergman, is not seeking re-election.

Looking at districts outside of Ann Arbor, in District 1 – covering western parts of the county – incumbent Rob Turner of Chelsea is the only Republican who filed, and will face Democrat Kent Martinez-Kratz of Chelsea in the November general election.

In District 2, Republican incumbent Dan Smith of Whitmore Lake is unchallenged in the primary, but will face Democrat Eric Borregard of Dexter in the November general election.

Redistricting has resulted in a race between two incumbents in the new District 3 – Republican Alicia Ping of Saline and Democrat Wes Prater of York Township. Neither of them face primary challenges.

In the new District 4, covering Pittsfield Township, incumbent Democrat Felicia Brabec is the only Democrat in that primary race. On the Republican side, Richard Conn is the only candidate who filed for that district. Conn recently lost a May 8 special election for that seat to Brabec for a truncated term that runs through 2012. The special election resulted from the October 2011 resignation of former commissioner Kristin Judge. The county board appointed Brabec to replace Judge at its Oct. 19, 2011 meeting.

In the new District 5, incumbent Democrat Rolland Sizemore Jr. of Ypsilanti Township will face two primary challengers: Michael White and Rick Roe, both of Ypsilanti Township. One Republican – Richard Deitering of Belleville – has entered the race for District 5.

Rounding out the county board races, in District 6 Democrat incumbent Ronnie Peterson of Ypsilanti does not face a primary challenge, but will run against Republican David H. Raaflaub of Ypsilanti in November.

Candidates who are not affiliated with a political party (independents) have until July 19, 2012 at 4 p.m. to file petitions to appear on the Nov. 6 general election ballot.

There are five county judicial races, for non-partisan six-year terms. In three of those races, only incumbents are running: J. Cedric Simpson (14th District Court), Joseph F. Burke (15th District Court) and Darlene A. O’Brien (Probate Court).

For a 22nd Circuit Court judgeship, incumbent Timothy P. Connors is challenged by Michael Woodyard. In addition, there are four candidates seeking the 22nd Circuit Court judgeship currently held by Melinda Morris, who is retiring: James A. Fink, Carol Kuhnke, Douglas G. McClure and Erane C. Washington. The non-partisan Aug. 7 primary will winnow the field down to two candidates, with those two candidates facing off on Nov. 6.

Two of the four races for Washtenaw County districts in the Michigan House of Representatives will have challenges in the Aug. 7, 2012 primary, as last-minute filings before the May 15 4 p.m. deadline added candidates to the field.

Incumbent Democrat Jeff Irwin of District 53 will face Democratic challenger Thomas Partridge on Aug. 7. Partridge, who has unsuccessfully run for various public offices in the past, is a frequent public commentary at meetings of the Ann Arbor city council, Washtenaw County board of commissioners and other public entities. Also filing for that office is Republican John Spisak, who does not face a challenge in the primary. The district represents most of Ann Arbor, and has long been a Democratic stronghold.

In District 52, covering western portions of Washtenaw County, incumbent Republican Mark Ouimet is unchallenged in the primary, but will face Democrat Gretchen Driskell in the Nov. 6 general election. Driskell is currently mayor of Saline, and is also unopposed in the Aug. 7 primary.

Incumbent Democrat David Rutledge of District 54 – on the county’s east side – is unopposed in the primary, as is his Republican challenger for the general election, Bill Emmerich of Ypsilanti Township. Rutledge also is a resident of Ypsilanti Township.

There are no incumbents running in District 55, where two Democrats – Adam Zemke of Ann Arbor and Andrea Brown-Harrison of Pittsfield Township – will compete in the Aug. 7 primary. The sole Republican candidate is Owen Diaz, former mayor of Milan. Redistricting has shifted the political makeup of that district, making it more heavily Democratic. The seat is currently held by Republican Rick Olson, who is not seeking re-election.

State representatives serve two-year terms. More information about the candidates is available on the Washtenaw County elections website.

Sarah Benoit – the city of Ann Arbor’s new market manager – was introduced to the city’s park advisory commissioners at their May 15, 2012 meeting. She replaces Molly Notarianni, who resigned from that position earlier this year.

Benoit grew up in Kalamazoo and earned an undergraduate degree in urban studies & European studies from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, where she participated in a pilot farmers market on campus. After graduating, she spent a year in Ann Arbor, then moved to New York in 2010 to attend Fordham University. She received a masters degree in urban studies and completed a thesis on the role of seasons in local food education in New York City.

As Ann Arbor’s market manager, Benoit will oversee the operation of the Ann Arbor farmers market and work with the city’s public market advisory commission. She began work as market manager in the city of Ann Arbor last week.

This brief was filed from the second-floor council chambers of city hall at 301 E. Huron, where PAC meetings are held. A more detailed report will follow.

For mayor and city council partisan primaries, the field in the Ann Arbor races appears to be set – now that the 4 p.m. May 15 filing deadline has passed.

Candidates in the August primary can withdraw from a race until 4 p.m. on May 18. After that, their names can’t be removed from the Aug. 7, 2012 ballot.

In the mayor’s race, incumbent John Hieftje will be unopposed in the Aug. 7 Democratic primary. Although Tom Wall, who’s previously run against Hieftje, pulled petitions, he did not file them. Unopposed in the Republican primary will be Albert Howard, assuming the signatures on his nominating petitions are verified. Howard turned in his petitions around 3 p.m. on May 15, and the city clerk’s staff have not yet had time to determine whether he has met the criteria – 50 signatures from each of the city’s five wards for a total of 250.

In Ward 1, Sumi Kailasapathy and Eric Sturgis will contest the Democratic primary. No Republican will be running in Ward 1. Incumbent Sandi Smith, a Democrat, previously announced she would not seek re-election. Democrat Sabra Briere is the other councilmember for Ward 1. Each ward is represented by two representatives, who serve two-year terms. One of the two seats is up for election each year.

In Ward 2, incumbent Tony Derezinski and Sally Hart Petersen will contest the Democratic primary. No Republican will be running in Ward 2. Jane Lumm is the other Ward 2 councilmember, who was elected as an independent.

In Ward 3, incumbent Democrat Christopher Taylor will have an uncontested Democratic primary. Republican Albert Howard took out petitions for Ward 3 but did not file them. Democrat Stephen Kunselman is the other Ward 3 representative.

In Ward 4, incumbent Margie Teall and Jack Eaton will contest the Democratic primary. No Republican will be running in Ward 4. Democrat Marcia Higgins is the other Ward 4 councilmember.

In Ward 5, the Democratic primary will be contested by Vivienne Armentrout and Chuck Warpehoski. Incumbent Carsten Hohnke, a Democrat, announced he would not seek re-election. Republican Stuart Berry will have an uncontested primary in Ward 5. Berry and the Democratic primary winner will appear on the Nov. 6, 2012, general election ballot. Democrat Mike Anglin is the other Ward 5 councilmember.

Candidates who are not affiliated with a political party (independents) have until July 19, 2012 at 4 p.m. to file petitions to appear on the Nov. 6 general election ballot.

Assuming no independents file, and assuming no write-in candidates register, election contests in Wards 1, 2, 3 and 4  will effectively be decided in the Aug. 7 Democratic primary. That would mean that of six city races (five council seats plus the position of mayor) only two will be decided at the November polls – Ward 5 council and the position of mayor.

[For a history of partisan elections in Ann Arbor, see "Column: Ann Arbor, a One-Party Town"]

At a session on Monday, May 14, Ypsilanti city council conducted its second hour-long interviews with the two final candidates for city manager. After appointing mayor Paul Schreiber, mayor pro tem Lois Richardson, and councilmember Brian Robb to conduct negotiations with the selected candidate, the council unanimously voted to put off the decision until Tuesday night, May 15, as part of its regular council meeting.

The two finalists are Brian Ralph A. Lange, currently the executive director of the Henry County (Ohio) Improvement Corporation; and Brian P. Vick, who from 2008 until February of this year was the city manager of Grosse Pointe Shores, Mich.

On Monday, May 14, two additional candidates have filed in races for the Washtenaw County board of commissioners. One day remains before the 4 p.m. May 15 filing deadline for candidates affiliated with political parties running in the Aug. 7 primary.

John Floyd has filed as the only Republican candidate in the new District 9 so far. Incumbent Conan Smith, who serves as the current board chair, is the only Democrat so far in that race. Floyd most recently was a Republican candidate in the 2010 Ward 5 Ann Arbor city council race, losing with 21.9% of the vote to incumbent Democrat Carsten Hohnke – in a three-way race that included Newcombe Clark, who ran as an independent. In 2008 Floyd had also challenged Hohnke, but lost with 20.3% of the vote.

In the new District 4, covering Pittsfield Township, incumbent Democrat Felicia Brabec has now filed and is the only Democrat so far in that primary race. On the Republican side, Richard Conn is the only candidate who’s filed for that district to date. Conn recently lost a May 8 special election for that seat to Brabec for a truncated term that runs through 2012. The special election resulted from the October 2011 resignation of former  commissioner Kristin Judge. The county board appointed Brabec to replace Judge at its Oct. 19, 2011 meeting.

Washtenaw County commissioners serve two-year terms. Currently there are 11 county districts, but redistricting that was completed last year will take effect for the 2012 election, shrinking the number of districts to nine. Three of the new districts – 7, 8 and 9 – will represent Ann Arbor, down from the current four. [map of new county board districts]

Candidates for other county races are unchanged from The Chronicle’s previous report.

With two days remaining before the filing deadline for candidates in the Aug. 7, 2012 primary election, several incumbents remain unchallenged so far for Washtenaw County offices. The filing deadline for candidates affiliated with political parties is Tuesday, May 15 at 4 p.m.

Sheriff Jerry Clayton, county prosecuting attorney Brian Mackie and county clerk Larry Kestenbaum – all incumbent Democrats – were the only candidates to have filed by the end of the day on Friday, May 11. No candidates have filed yet for the office of county treasurer – including incumbent Democrat Catherine McClary. According to the county clerk’s office, McClary has picked up the paperwork to file but has not yet turned it in. All of those elected positions are for four-year terms.

Two Democratic candidates – Evan Pratt and Harry Bentz – have filed to run for the office of county water resources commissioner. Janis Bobrin, who has held that position for nearly 24 years, announced in March that she did not intend to run again and she endorsed Pratt in that race. The water resources commissioner is also elected to a four-year term. No Republicans have filed yet for that race.

Serving two-year terms are members of the Washtenaw County board of commissioners. Currently there are 11 county districts, but redistricting that was completed last year will take effect for the 2012 election, shrinking the number of districts to nine. Three of the new districts – 7, 8 and 9 – will represent Ann Arbor, down from the current four. [map of new county board districts]

For the new District 9 in Ann Arbor, incumbent Democrat Conan Smith – who currently serves as county board chair – is the only candidate who has filed. Incumbent Democrat Yousef Rabhi and Republican Joe Baublis have filed in the new District 8 in Ann Arbor. Two Democrats – former county commissioner Christina Montague and Andy LaBarre, a former aide to Congressman John Dingell – have filed in the new District 7. The current incumbent in that district, Democrat Barbara Bergman, has said she will not seek re-election.

In three of the other new districts, only incumbents have filed: Republican Dan Smith of Whitmore Lake (District 2), Republican Alicia Ping of Saline (District 3) and Democrat Ronnie Peterson of Ypsilanti (District 6). In District 1, incumbent Rob Turner of Chelsea is the only Republican who has filed, but two Democrats – Eric Borregard of Dexter and Kent Martinez-Kratz of Chelsea – have entered the race.

In the new District 4, covering Pittsfield Township, only Republican Richard Conn has filed. Conn recently lost a May 8 special election for that seat to incumbent Democrat Felicia Brabec for a truncated term that runs through 2012. Brabec has indicated that she’ll seek re-election for the regular term, and is expected to file before the May 15 deadline. The special election stemmed from the October 2011 resignation of former  commissioner Kristin Judge. The county board appointed Brabec to replace Judge at its Oct. 19, 2011 meeting.

Rounding out the county board races, three candidates have filed in the new District 5: Incumbent Democrat Rolland Sizemore Jr. of Ypsilanti Township; Democrat challenger Michael White, also of Ypsilanti Township; and Republican Richard Deitering of Belleville.

There are five county judicial races, for non-partisan six-year terms. In three of those races, only incumbents have filed: J. Cedric Simpson (14th District Court), Joseph F. Burke (15th District Court) and Darlene A. O’Brien (Probate Court).

For a 22nd Circuit Court judgeship, incumbent Timothy P. Connors is challenged by Michael Woodyard. In addition, there are four candidates seeking the 22nd Circuit Court judgeship currently held by Melinda Morris, who is retiring: James A. Fink, Carol Kuhnke, Douglas G. McClure and Erane C. Washington. The non-partisan Aug. 7 primary will winnow the field down to two candidates, with those two candidates facing off on Nov. 6.

As of late afternoon on Wednesday, May 9, a total of 15 petitions have been pulled for Ann Arbor city council and mayoral races. Five candidates have now filed their petitions and had them verified.

A new name added early this week was Eric Sturgis, who has pulled petitions to join Sumi Kailasapathy in the Democratic primary for Ward 1. Incumbent Sandi Smith has announced she won’t be seeking re-election.

Kailasapathy, who lost the 2010 Democratic primary to Smith, filed her nominating petitions on May 7 and the city clerk’s office verified signatures the following day. Sturgis will have until May 15 at 4 p.m. to file nominating petitions with at least 100 signatures of Ward 1 residents.

In 2004, then 18-year-old Sturgis filed petitions to run for Scio Township trustee, but withdrew his candidacy under pressure from fellow Democrats, according to a May 30, 2004 Ann Arbor News article. Sturgis was also an unsuccessful candidate in the 2005 Ann Arbor Public Schools board of trustee elections – he withdrew after the deadline for removing his name from the ballot.

In Ward 2, incumbent Democrat Tony Derezinski and challenger Sally Hart Petersen have both filed their nominating petitions and had their signatures verified – Derezinski on May 1 and Petersen on May 9.

In Ward 3, incumbent Democrat Christopher Taylor filed his nominating signatures on April 30 and the city clerk’s office verified them on May 1. In Ward 3, Albert Howard has taken out petitions for city councilmember as a Republican; he has also taken out petitions to run for mayor. By state election law, if petitions are submitted for both positions and verified, Howard would need to withdraw from one of those races, or else be disqualified from running in either race.

In Ward 4, incumbent Democrat Margie Teall has taken out petitions, but not yet filed them. Taking out petitions puts incumbents under no obligation to file – as demonstrated by Democrat Carsten Hohnke, who announced on April 21 that he would not be seeking re-election to his Ward 5 seat after taking out petitions on Feb. 27. In Ward 4, Democratic challenger Jack Eaton, who lost the Democratic primary to Teall in 2010, filed his petitions on April 30 and had them verified by the city clerk’s office on May 2.

In Ward 5, three candidates have taken out petitions to fill Hohnke’s seat – Republican Stuart Berry, as well as Democrats Vivienne Armentrout and Chuck Warpehoski. No one has filed petitions yet for that race.

In the mayor’s race, none of the candidates who’ve taken out petitions – incumbent Democrat John Hieftje, Democrat Tom Wall and Republican Albert Howard – have filed them

For the Aug. 7 primary, the filing deadline for city council candidates with party affiliations is May 15 at 4 p.m. For independent candidates in the Nov. 6 general election, the filing deadline is July 19 at 4 p.m. More information about the filing process is available on the city clerk’s elections website.

Only two of 11 Washtenaw County commissioners – board chair Conan Smith and Barbara Bergman – showed up for a Wednesday morning policy task force meeting on animal control issues, so the meeting was canceled. Smith had convened the meeting as the first of six for commissioners to discuss a range of policy issues, including identifying the county’s state-mandated animal control services, selecting the non-mandated services the board would like to offer, and identifying the revenue sources available to fund those services.

It’s part of a broader process that began last year when the county board – as part of developing the 2012-2013 budget – decided to cut funding for animal control services, which it has handled through a contract with the Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV). A current contract with the HSHV expires at the end of 2012, and the county plans to issue a request for proposals (RFP) later this year to solicit bids for the next contract.

At its Feb. 15 meeting, the county board passed a resolution creating two entities – a policy task force and a work group –  to work through issues related to animal control services. The work group, led by sheriff Jerry Clayton, is tasked with developing a methodology to determine the cost of providing animal control services. The work group includes representatives from HSHV, the county, and other municipalities that have animal control ordinances.

The task force was created for county commissioners to develop a policy that would guide the work group. Commissioners had set a May 15 deadline for an initial report from the task force, but it now seems unlikely that they’ll meet that goal. Smith had set a schedule for the task force sessions at the last board meeting, on May 2. He now says he plans to call each commissioner individually to find out why they couldn’t attend Wednesday’s meeting, and based on those conversations they’ll determine how to proceed. He said it’d unlikely another task force meeting will be scheduled prior to the next board meeting on Wednesday, May 16.

In addition to board task force members Smith and Bergman, about 10 others appeared for the Wednesday morning meeting, including three members of the Ann Arbor-based Dispute Resolution Center, who had been asked to facilitate the discussion. Also present were three people affiliated with the Humane Society of Huron Valley, and deputy county clerk Peter Simms.

Five other meeting dates had been scheduled for the policy task force, all on Wednesdays from 8-10 a.m. at the county’s Learning Resource Center, 4135 Washtenaw Ave.: May 9, May 23, June 13, July 25, Aug. 22 and Sept. 12.

With results reported from six of the seven precincts in the city of Ypsilanti, voters overwhelmingly rejected two major proposals on the May 8 ballot: A city income tax, and a millage to pay off debt for the Water Street parcel. The proposed city income tax was voted down with 1,313 no votes (68%) to 625 yes votes (32%) from six precincts. The proposed Water Street millage failed 1,291 (67%) to 644 (33%).

At Aubree’s in Depot Town, volunteers who worked for SCIT (Stop City Income Tax) appeared more interested in the pizza provided by SCIT than in additional voting results, which as early as 9 p.m. were clearly in their favor. Peter Fletcher, spokesperson for SCIT, was not available for comment on Tuesday evening.

A bit north, at the Corner Brewery, a smaller crowd of those who had worked for the proposals included Ypsilanti city councilmember Peter Murdock, mayor Paul Schreiber, and Beth Bashert, chair of the campaign to pass both proposals.

Bashert said she was “very disappointed, but the voters have spoken, and they want solutions not based on increasing revenue. In the next couple of years council will have to make choices.” She said the question of trying again was “not relevant now. The voters have spoken.” She described the campaign as “fantastic, with the support of all key leaders.”

When asked “What’s next?” Schreiber answered: “The budget – we have to make cuts. The last thing I want is an emergency manager in Ypsilanti. We have to continue the trend of the last 10 years of cutting. There will be staff cuts; we’re looking at the fire department.”

Ypsilanti city council is scheduled to begin discussion of the 2012-2013 budget on Thursday evening, May 10. Schreiber said he also expects on Thursday to announce the candidate for city manager. With the clear result from the election, and new city manager in place, Ypsilanti will begin to make difficult decisions, he said.

Updated after initial publication: With all precincts reporting, the income tax was defeated by 1,808 votes against (64.39%) to 1,000 in favor (35.61%). The Water Street millage was rejected with 1,786 votes against (63.67%) to 1,019 votes in favor (36.33%).

 

In the May 8 election against Republican Richard Conn, Democrat incumbent Felicia Brabec won the Washtenaw County board of commissioners seat for District 7, to represent Pittsfield Township on the 11-member county board. Brabec received 934 votes (60.1%) compared to 610 votes (39.25%) for Conn. There were 10 write-in votes. Of the 10 precincts in Pittsfield Township, Brabec received a majority of votes in all but one – precinct 8.

This was the only election for the county board, for a term that will run through the end of 2012. (County commissioners typically serve two-year terms.) The unusual timing of the race stems from the October 2011 resignation of former District 7 commissioner Kristin Judge. The board appointed Brabec to replace Judge at its Oct. 19, 2011 meeting. Brabec had been encouraged by Judge to apply for the vacancy, and was one of two people interviewed for the position. [See Chronicle coverage: "County Board Meets District 7 Candidates"]

Shortly after polls closed, unofficial absentee voter counts for the Ann Arbor Public School technology bond ballot question show 1,003 voting yes against 743 no. That works out to 57.45% in favor.

Absentee voters were collected into three separate counting boards. The total absentee voter count includes absentee voting totals across all precincts in in the city. So the outcome among absent voters is a strong indicator of voter sentiment city-wide.

The technology bond ballot proposal was for AAPS to issue a total of $45,855,000 general obligation bonds to pay for acquiring and installing instructional technology and technology infrastructure. The estimated tax rate that would be required to service the debt on the bonds is 0.48 mill (or $0.48 per $1,000 of a property’s taxable value.) The estimated annual average millage rate required to retire the bonds of this issue is 0.51 mills.

The count boards did their work in the basement of city hall and concluded the counting around 8:15 p.m. after polls closed at 8 p.m. For complete election results check the Washtenaw County clerk’s election results website.

Added after initial publication: With all precincts reporting, the tech bond proposal won with around 70% of the vote.

At its May 7, 2012 meeting, the Ann Arbor city council confirmed the nomination of Ingrid Ault to the city’s park advisory commission. Ault – executive director of the nonprofit Think Local First – replaces Gwen Nystuen, who served two three-year terms on the commission starting in 2006. Service on the commission is limited to six continuous years at a time – but an additional appointment can be made after a three-year pause.

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

At its May 7, 2012 meeting, the Ann Arbor city council approved two change orders totaling $46,238 to resolve all remaining issues related to a lawsuit that CMA Design/Build Inc. had filed against the city in connection with the construction of hangars at the Ann Arbor municipal airport.

The original contract was approved by the city council on May 5, 2008 for $2.390 million, of which $1.101 million was for the local share. Because CMA failed to complete the project, Ann Arbor terminated the contract and CMA’s bonding company, North American Specialty Insurance Co., finished up the work. CMA filed suit against the city; and one of CMA’s subcontractors filed suit against CMA. Claims by CMA involved costs it incurred due to stop work orders issued by Pittsfield Township (where the airport is located) over jurisdictional questions between the city and the township.

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

After a public hearing held at its May 7, 2012 meeting, the Ann Arbor city council delayed a tax abatement for Sakti3 – a battery technology spinoff from the University of Michigan. Sakti3 is led by UM professor Ann Marie Sastry. The postponement – until the council’s next meeting – came at the request of Marcia Higgins (Ward 4), who wanted the matter referred first to the council’s budget committee. Comments around the council table suggest that when it comes back on May 21, there’ll be support for the abatement.

According to the staff memo accompanying the resolution, the abatement would be on $151,433 of real property improvements and $1,374,861 of new personal property. According to a memo from city financial staff, the value of the tax incentive to Sakti3 over three years totals $36,000. The council had voted to set the public hearing on the tax abatement at its previous meeting, on April 16, 2012.

Reasons given in the staff memo for the abatement include the need for Sakti3 to expand and add new equipment for the continually changing alternative energy business and the expected addition of five new employees due to the firm’s expansion. The memo concludes that the retention and expansion of such operations is consistent with the economic development goals of the city of Ann Arbor and of Ann Arbor SPARK.

Previously, the council voted on March 21, 2011 to set a public hearing on the establishment of the industrial development district under which Sakti3 is applying for an abatement. And on April 4, 2011, the city council approved the establishment of that district.

The city is prohibited by state statute from abating taxes on any more than 5% of the total state equalized value of property in the city. Responding to an emailed query, city of Ann Arbor chief financial officer Tom Crawford wrote to The Chronicle that total SEV for the city for 2012 stands at $5,294,974,640, and the total SEV of abated property in 2012 is $8,935,974. That works out to 0.169% – well under 5%.

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

At its May 7, 2012 meeting, the Ann Arbor city council approved the city’s third five-year agreement since 2002 with Waste Management of Michigan – to dispose of the city’s trash in the Woodland Meadows landfill in Wayne, Michigan. For years 11 through 15 of the contract (2012 through 2017) the rates are as follows: $12.99/ton; $13.28/ton; $13.57/ton; $13.87/ton; and $14.18/ton. The increases reflect a 2.3% escalator. Responding to an emailed query from The Chronicle, city of Ann Arbor solid waste manager Tom McMurtrie explained that those rates don’t include the additional transfer charge of $12.12 a ton, paid to ReCommunity, which operates the city’s materials recover facility (MRF) and transfer station.

According to the staff memo accompanying the resolution, the city disposes of 62,000 tons of trash in the Woodland Meadows landfill per year. The city’s street sweepings and seasonal wastewater treatment sludge are also disposed there.

In 2002, the city council first approved the five-year contract and then approved a five-year extension in 2007.

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

At its May 7, 2012 meeting, the Ann Arbor city council approved the use of $150,000 for a public art project in the lobby of the new municipal building called the Justice Center – located on the northeast corner of Huron Street and Fifth Avenue in downtown Ann Arbor. The money will pay for a sculpture called “Radius” by Ed Carpenter of Portland, Oregon. The resolution passed over dissent from Jane Lumm (Ward 2) and Stephen Kunselman (Ward 3).

The Justice Center, a new building next to city hall, houses the 15th District Court and the Ann Arbor police department. Previously council had postponed the approval of public art funds at its April 2, 2012 meeting.

Because it houses the district court, the building features airport-style security measures at the entrance, and visitors must surrender electronic devices like cameras and cellphones to be locked in cubicles during their visit to the building. Concern about accessibility by the public to the public art was the subject of councilmember deliberations that led to the postponement on April 2.

The council expressed interest in using the delay to explore the possibility of moving the security screening to a point well past the entrance in the interior of the building. The visibility of the proposed sculpture from outside the building was also a point of discussion at the April 2 as well as at the May 7 meeting.

At its Jan. 25, 2012 meeting, the Ann Arbor public art commission had unanimously recommended selecting Carpenter for the $150,000 project. A task force had recommended the selection of Carpenter’s proposal from three finalists.

Carpenter plans to create a hanging sculpture of dichroic glass, aluminum, stainless steel and lighting, including LED spot and flood lighting. Among the reasons for recommending Radius, the task force cited the sculpture’s metaphor: That the activities in the Justice Center have a “rippling” effect throughout the community, which echoes the water sculpture by Herbert Dreiseitl that’s located in the plaza outside the building.

Ann Arbor’s public art funds come from the application of the city’s Percent for Art ordinance, which requires that 1% of all capital projects (up to a limit of $250,000) be set aside for public art.

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