Archive for November, 2011

This past week, the block of Fifth Avenue south of William Street received renewed attention from city of Ann Arbor planning and development officials.

On Friday, Nov. 4, the developer of the City Place residential project filed demolition permit applications for seven addresses: 407, 411, 415, 419, 427, 433 and 437 S. Fifth Ave. The demolition permit applications will undergo flood plain review, grading review, historic review, plan review, and zoning review.

Submission of those seven demolition permit applications came after a filing with the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals earlier in the week (on Nov. 1) by owners of nearby properties. The three-point appeal challenges two decisions made by the city council and one made by the city planning manager … [Full Story]

In the meeting reports for the first three Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority board meetings since his appointment, The Chronicle has consistently misspelled the name of the newest DDA board member in the record of attendance. The correct spelling is Nader Nassif. We acknowledge the mistake here and have corrected the spelling in the meeting reports.

The Nov. 3, 2011 edition of the New York Times features an op-ed by University of Michigan associate professor of history Matthew Lassiter. Lassiter, who is author of the book, “The Silent Majority: Suburban Politics in the Sunbelt South,” offers some historical perspective on current presidential campaign politics. Writes Lassiter: “Mr. Obama’s challenge in 2012 is not the ideological fervor of Tea Party conservatives, but rather the recognition by many working-class and middle-class voters that both parties favor Wall Street over Main Street. While activist groups on the right and left compete to portray big government or big business as the enemy, the silent majority is still out there in the volatile political center, up for grabs.” [Source]

The Detroit Free Press reports that Michael Finney, former CEO of Ann Arbor SPARK, is a potential emergency manager for the city of Detroit. [Source] Detroit mayor David Bing has said the city could run out of money as early as February 2012. A recent report by the accounting firm Ernst & Young shows that Detroit will be in the red by roughly another $20 million by June, on top of its accumulated $200-million deficit. [Source]

Michigan football has produced a lot of big name coaches and players, but one of the finest men who played and coached for Michigan deserves to be a little bigger.

At last week’s homecoming game, Michigan had planned to honor one of its great alums, a man named Chalmers Elliott – which might explain why he goes by “Bump.” He was an All-American football player and a Big Ten champion coach, but earned greater fame as the athletic director at Iowa, Michigan’s opponent this weekend. Pneumonia kept the 86-year old legend from making it, however, so I’m going to honor him today.

He was born in Detroit in 1925, and served in the Marines during World War II. He returned to star for Michigan as a halfback alongside his younger brother Pete, who played quarterback. Their offense was so dazzling, seven players could touch the ball on a single play. That earned them the nickname, the Mad Magicians, plus the national title in 1947 – the same year the conference named Bump Elliott the MVP. [Full Story]

Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority board meeting (Nov. 2, 2011): At a meeting that included no business requiring a vote, the Ann Arbor DDA board began a public hearing on possible parking rate increases for the city’s public parking system.

The hearing will continue at the board’s Dec. 7 meeting, after a Nov. 14 joint working session with the Ann Arbor city council, when the two bodies will discuss proposed increases. A vote by the DDA board on the rate increases would not come until January.

Around a half dozen people spoke at the initial opportunity for public comment on the proposed rate increases, most either downtown merchants or representatives of merchant associations. They were uniformly in support of one feature of the proposal – no extension of meter enforcement past 6 p.m. Extension of enforcement hours has been actively on the table for at least two years. Based on board discussion at Wednesday’s meeting, evening enforcement could eventually be implemented – but not for the current rate increase cycle.

Those who spoke at the initial part of the hearing were generally opposed to increasing rates, but also acknowledged the financial decisions the DDA faces. And some speakers put part of the blame for that situation on the city of Ann Arbor. Under a new contract, the city of Ann Arbor now receives 17% of gross public parking revenues, which could otherwise be put back into the parking system, reducing the pressure to raise rates. Under the contract, the DDA operates the system, and is responsible for ongoing maintenance. Rates are controlled by the DDA in consultation with the city council.

The details of proposed parking rate increases were first announced towards the end of last week, most of which would be implemented starting in September 2012. Some increases would be implemented starting in February. [.pdf of DDA proposed parking rate changes]

Highlights of the changes to be enacted in September 2012 include predominantly $.10/hour increases: hourly structure parking rates would increase from $1.10/hour to $1.20/hour; hourly parking lot rates would increase from $1.30 ($1.50 after 3 hours) to $1.40 ($1.60 after 3 hours;) hourly parking meter rates would increase from $1.40/hour to $1.50/hour; monthly parking permit rates would increase from $140/month to $145/month.

The board’s meeting included the usual range of reports, including the quarterly financial numbers and parking report, and updates on the Fifth Avenue underground parking garage construction as well as the most recent development in the Nov. 8 sidewalk millage ballot proposal.

At the city council’s Oct. 17 meeting, the council passed a resolution clarifying how the millage proceeds would be used inside the DDA’s geographic district. And at the DDA’s Wednesday meeting, mayor John Hieftje gave the clearest public indication to date that he does not want to take a position on the sidewalk millage, saying that residents would have to “figure it out for themselves.”

The board also held a closed session, under the provision of the Michigan Open Meetings Act that allows such a session to discuss the meaning of legal advice contained in a written document protected under attorney-client privilege.  [Full Story]

The six candidates for seats on the AAPS board of education have been invited to a public forum tonight at Ann Arbor Open @ Mack (Nov. 3) from 7:30-9 p.m. This is the last forum scheduled before the Nov. 8 election, when voters will select two trustees, each for four-year terms. Ann Arbor Open @ Mack is located at 920 Miller Ave. [Chronicle coverage of earlier League of Women Voters forum: "Election 2011: AAPS Board Candidate Forum"]

At its Nov. 2, 2011 meeting, the Washtenaw County board of commissioners discussed modifications to the proposed 2012-2013 general fund budget – mostly focused on allocations to the Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) –  and took an initial vote authorizing the overall $97 million budget. A final vote could come at the next meeting on Nov. 16. The board later cancelled a working session that had been scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 3.

Budget discussions centered on HSHV, which faces a dramatic funding cut from its current $500,000 contract. As they did two weeks ago, supporters demonstrated in front of the county administration building prior to Wednesday’s meeting, many of them with dogs. Five people spoke during public commentary in … [Full Story]

A task force has been formed to guide a pilot training program for agribusiness jobs in Ypsilanti, including support for entrepreneurs in food-related businesses. The Washtenaw County board of commissioners voted to create the task force at its Nov. 2, 2011 meeting, but none of the 17 members to the entity have been identified.

Called ”Seeds for Change: Growing Prosperity in Ypsilanti,” the project is intended to provide job training and placement to unemployed workers interested in agricultural employment, and to offer shared commercial kitchen space and business support to local agri-business entrepreneurs, according to a staff memo. The initiative will also encourage local entities – including governments, universities, hospitals, and other partners – to buy products made from people in this program. Products … [Full Story]

At its Nov. 2, 2011 meeting, the Washtenaw County board of commissioners got a third-quarter budget update from finance staff and county administrator Verna McDaniel. The county now faces a nearly $1 million projected shortfall for the year, which will be covered by use of the county’s fund balance. That includes a projected net revenue shortfall of $363,690 and a net of $619,939 in higher-than-budgeted expenses.

Later in the meeting, the board voted unanimously to make adjustments to the 2011 budget, resulting in a net increase to the general fund budget of $619,939.

This brief was filed from the county administration building at 220 N. Main St. A more detailed report will follow: [link]

The Arts Alliance, a nonprofit based in Ann Arbor, has posted candidate responses to two questions related to the arts: 1. “What is your position on public funding for arts and culture?” and 2. “If elected, what measurable actions will you take to ensure that arts and cultural offerings survive and thrive in Washtenaw County?” School board candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot in several local school districts, as well as city council candidates in Ann Arbor, Chelsea and Milan responded to the survey. [Source]

The Livingston Daily Press & Argus reports that Ann Arbor SPARK would use $230,850 for salary and benefits for two staff members – part of the $335,880 annually that Livingston County would pay SPARK to run economic development in the county. In addition, SPARK’s contract with the county – which the Press & Argus obtained after filing a Freedom of Information Act – includes $50,380 for support from SPARK staff in Ann Arbor, $19,100 for information technology, $10,000 for marketing and recruitment, and $25,550 for office expenses. [Source]

The Ann Arbor bluegrass group Bill Bynum & Co. were featured on Detroit’s Fox TV affiliate for a “Fox Beat” segment, prior to last month’s performance at the Scarab Club in Detroit. In addition to Bynum, members include Chuck Anderson, Mary Seelhorst and John Lang. [Source]