Archive for August, 2012

Four of the seven Ann Arbor District Library board seats will be up for election on Nov. 6, and all four incumbents – Prue Rosenthal, Margaret Leary, Nancy Kaplan and Rebecca Head – have filed to run for re-election. The four-year terms begin Jan. 1, 2013. As of Aug. 9, no one else has filed for the positions, which are nonpartisan.

Library staff held an hour-long forum for potential candidates on Wednesday evening, attended by three people who are interested, or who represented others that couldn’t make the event. They included Lyn Davidge, who ran in 2010 but wasn’t elected. Also attending was Doug Jewett, who said he felt tremendously pleased with his experiences at the library. “For me, this is the center of Ann Arbor.”

Prospective AADL board candidates have until 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 14 to file to be placed on the ballot. To file, candidates must turn in an affidavit of identity to the Washtenaw County clerk’s office, along with a $100 non-refundable filing fee or a minimum of 40 valid signatures. [More details on the filing process are available on the clerk's website.]

The positions are elected by voters in Ann Arbor and portions of seven townships that are covered by the library’s district – Pittsfield, Scio, Ann Arbor, Lodi, Webster, Salem and Superior. Those are the same boundaries served by the Ann Arbor Public Schools, with the exception of Northfield Township, which is partly within the AAPS district but has its own library system.

Josie Parker, AADL’s director, moderated the forum. Four current board members attended: Rosenthal and Leary, whose terms end this year, as well as Barbara Murphy and Jan Barney Newman, whose terms run through 2014. Four other top AADL managers were also present.

The board will be key in making decisions about the future of the downtown library. Last month, trustees voted to place a $65 million, 30-year bond proposal on the Nov. 6 ballot for construction of a new downtown building. If the project is approved by voters, the board will be instrumental in determining the design and other factors.

Though it was mentioned, that project wasn’t the focus of the Aug. 8 discussion. Topics ranged from a summary of the AADL’s history to challenges that the library will face in the future.

Library staff had prepared packets of material for potential candidates, which included the library’s strategic plan from 2010-2015, the downtown building bond proposal, recent district statistics on circulation and other measures, a recent annual report and audit, policy manual and other information.

More details about the board are online. Chronicle coverage of the board’s monthly meetings can be found here.
[Full Story]

Ann Arbor Public Schools board of education regular meeting/retreat (Aug. 1, 2012): The AAPS school board met Wednesday last week at Skyline High School to take care of some regular business and to conduct its annual retreat. The retreat included board self-evaluation and goal-setting for the coming year.

After a sometimes contentious discussion about the priorities of the board, trustees decided their main focus should be on building trust and relationships among the trustees. Board trustees determined that they needed to build on their trust of each other, in order to address the strategic plan and needs of the district.

Financial goals were also a prominent theme of the board’s discussion of priorities. While there was minimal talk of zero-based budgeting – a goal set forth at their previous regular meeting – trustees spoke of improving their forecasting and having a stronger role in advocating for structural financial change.

Setting a limit on the length of future board meetings was identified as a goal, despite some initial opposition. To limit the meeting time, trustees will set parameters for presentations and discussion periods – parameters that will be discussed at their next committee of the whole (COTW) meeting.

During the regular meeting, the board was presented a biology textbook adoption plan. The board also approved the purchase of computers and scanners as a part of the district’s effort to capture test scores and analyze them quickly at the building level, and tailor instruction to students based on those test scores. [Full Story]

A resolution that would place a question on the Nov. 6 ballot, asking Ann Arbor voters to pay a 0.1 mill tax for four years to support public art was added to the city council’s Aug. 9 meeting at the very start of the session. When considered later in the meeting, the resolution was postponed until the council’s Aug. 20 meeting.

The strategy pursued by the resolution’s sponsor, Christopher Taylor (Ward 3), was to reveal the details of the proposal on Aug. 9, but to seek its immediate postponement. Voting on Aug. 20 to place the question on the ballot would allow for some public discussion before taking action on that issue, while still meeting the statutory deadline for delivering ballot … [Full Story]

Among the nominations for boards and commissions made by mayor John Hieftje at the city council’s Aug. 9 meeting was Sally Petersen to fill a vacancy on the city’s commission on disability issues. Petersen will likely be joining the Ann Arbor city council itself in November, having received more votes than incumbent Tony Derezinski in the Aug. 7 Ward 2 Democratic primary. No other candidate will be on the ballot for Ward 2 on Nov. 6.

The commission on disability issues dates back to 1969, but has undergone several name changes since that time, including various forms of the word “handicap.” The commission was established to “promote and advocate for equal opportunities for all individuals with physical, mental and/or emotional disabilities.”

The city … [Full Story]

Nominated for reappointment to the board of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority are Sandi Smith, Roger Hewitt and Keith Orr. Those nominations were placed before the city council by mayor John Hieftje at the council’s Aug. 9, 2012 meeting.

This year’s DDA board officer elections, held  two months ago at the July 2, 2012 annual meeting, again featured abstention on some votes by board member Newcombe Clark – because the future composition of the board was not yet clear. Hieftje’s custom for many re-appointments to city boards and commissions has been to provide no public indication of his intentions on those nominations.

This brief was filed from the city council’s chambers on the second floor of city hall, located at 301 E. … [Full Story]

Ann Arbor voters will be asked on Nov. 6, 2012 to renew the parks maintenance and capital improvements millage at the rate of 1.1 mills. The vote to place the question on the Nov. 6 ballot was taken by the Ann Arbor city council at its Aug. 9 meeting. It was a unanimous vote.

The city’s park advisory commission had voted at its June 19, 2012 meeting to recommend that the council put the millage renewal on the ballot. The current 1.1 mill tax expires this year. A renewal would run from 2013-2018 and raise about $5 million next year. The recommended allocation of revenues is 70% for park maintenance activities, and 30% for park capital improvement projects. Of that allocation, up to … [Full Story]

The Ann Arbor city council has authorized a revision to its FY 2013 budget that will allow for staffing of three additional firefighters for the next two years, bringing the budgeted staffing level for firefighters from 82 to 85. The positions will be funded with a $642,294 federal grant through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER), which was announced earlier this year on May 30, 2012. The vote to accept the grant and amend the budget was taken at the council’s Aug. 9 meeting.

According to fire chief Chuck Hubbard, the city currently has three vacancies, or 79 firefighters on staff.

The $321,000 from the SAFER grant for each of the next two years will be allocated for three … [Full Story]

The text of the articles of incorporation for a possible new countywide transportation authority was re-approved for a second time by the Ann Arbor city council at its Aug. 9, 2012 meeting.

The articles of incorporation are part of a four-party agreement to establish a framework for the possible expansion of governance and service area of the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority. The four-party agreement is between the city of Ann Arbor, the city of Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County and the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority.

The most recent iteration of the Ann Arbor city council’s approval came in response to an amendment made by the Washtenaw County board of commissioners at its Aug. 1, 2012 meeting.

The county board’s amendment changed the minimum threshold of … [Full Story]

A resolution passed by the Ann Arbor city council at its Aug. 9, 2012 meeting directs staff to start negotiations with the Washtenaw County water resources commissioner to identify “opportunities for stormwater conveyance and stormwater quality improvement in the area of the Malletts Creek drainage district bounded by Ann Arbor-Saline Road upstream to I-94 and Scio Church Road.” [.jpg of partial area map]

The city council heard complaints from residents in that area during public commentary earlier this spring about localized flooding in the vicinity. The Aug. 7 primary election results from that precinct in Ward 4 were nearly decisive enough in favor of challenger Jack Eaton to win the Democratic nomination over incumbent Margie Teall – but … [Full Story]

A new industrial development district has been established for the downtown Ann Arbor property at 317 Maynard St., which sets up the opportunity for Barracuda Networks to apply for a tax abatement as it moves from its current location on Depot Street to the downtown site. The vote establishing the district was taken by the Ann Arbor city council at its Aug. 9, 2012 meeting after a public hearing. The council’s vote was unanimous.

Under Michigan’s Act 198 of 1974, the next step for that abatement, on application from Barracuda, will be for the city council to set a public hearing on the abatement. After the public hearing, the council could then grant the abatement, which is estimated to be valued at around $85,000.

At … [Full Story]

A resolution that would have placed a question on the Nov. 6, 2012 ballot – asking Ann Arbor voters if they would like to amend the city charter’s clause on parkland protections – was voted down by the city council at its Aug. 9 meeting. The question had been postponed from its July 16, 2012 meeting.

The resolution received four votes of support – from Marcia Higgins (Ward 4), Mike Anglin (Ward 5), Jane Lumm (Ward 2) and Stephen Kunselman (Ward 3). Sabra Briere (Ward 1), who had co-sponsored the original resolution, did not vote for it. So the vote on the 11-member body was 4-7.

The version of the charter amendment considered by the council on July 16 was [added language ... [Full Story]

A rezoning request that would allow for expansion of Knight’s Market was given initial approval at the Ann Arbor city council’s Aug. 9 meeting.

The 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 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 … [Full Story]

Responding to a phone call from The Chronicle, Marsha Chamberlin, chair of the Ann Arbor public art commission, reported that a city council resolution about a millage to support public art might be discussed at the council’s Aug. 9 meeting. [It was, in fact, subsequently added to the agenda.]

Chamberlin’s understanding of the proposal is for a question to be placed on the Nov. 6 ballot, asking voters to pay a 0.1 mill tax to support public art – which would replace Ann Arbor’s current funding strategy for the public art program.

In place since 2007, the city’s Percent for Art program requires that 1% of the budget for any capital improvement project be set aside for public art – up … [Full Story]

At a special meeting of Ann Arbor’s park advisory commission on Aug. 8, commissioners voted unanimously against recommending to the city council that it place a ballot question before citizens in November that would amend the city charter’s language about protections for city parkland.

The charter amendment would require that certain long-term leasing arrangements on city parkland for non-park and non-recreational use be subject to a voter referendum. In 2008, voters had already approved a charter amendment that subjects any sale of parkland to a popular vote. The resolution will be considered on Aug. 9 by the city council at a rare Thursday council meeting, due to the primary election that fell on Tuesday, the day following the council’s scheduled regular meeting. The council had postponed … [Full Story]

Responding to a telephoned query from The Chronicle, Washtenaw County clerk’s staff explained a disparity between result totals indicated on the county’s website for countywide races in the Aug. 7 election primary, compared with the actual totals that can be obtained by performing the arithmetic sums of precinct results. For example, the total indicated  on the election result website for 22nd circuit court judge candidate Jim Fink is 13,208, but the sum of the Fink column on the webpage is actually 11,717. All candidates totals, including those for Carol Kuhnke, Doug McClure and Erane Washington, show similar disparities.

According to the clerk’s staff, the disparity was due to a problem with merging the data for in-person ballots and absentee ballots for precincts in Ypsilanti … [Full Story]

Washtenaw County board of commissioners meeting (Aug. 1, 2012): In a move that extends the approval process for a countywide public transportation system, commissioners amended the articles of incorporation for a new transit authority then ultimately approved that document and a related four-party agreement on a 6-4 vote.

Because the articles were amended, they will need to be reconsidered by the other three parties in the agreement: the city councils of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, and the board of the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, which is spearheading this effort. Those governing bodies are expected to take up the issue at meetings later this month. It will be on the Ann Arbor city council agenda for its Aug. 9 meeting.

Before the county board’s Aug. 1 vote, about a dozen people spoke during a public hearing on the issue, the majority of them in support of the agreement and of expanded public transit in general.

Although amendments had been considered and voted down at the board’s July 11 meeting, on Aug. 1 Rob Turner proposed a new amendment to the articles of incorporation. The original draft stipulated that a two-thirds majority of the new authority’s board would be required to amend the articles of incorporation. Turner’s amendment would have stipulated that a unanimous vote by the new authority’s board would be needed to make such changes. Leah Gunn offered a compromise – a four-fifths majority, or 12 of the new authority’s 15 board members. That amendment to Turner’s amendment passed on a 6-4 vote, with dissent from Turner, Conan Smith, Felicia Brabec and Wes Prater. The vote on the amended amendment itself – requiring the four-fifths majority – passed unanimously.

Turner felt his original amendment offered safeguards for smaller communities. It’s possible for communities to decide to join the new transit authority, only to have the articles of incorporation – the “rules of the game” – changed after they’ve joined, he said. If his amendment had been approved, Turner said he would have supported the four-party agreement and articles of incorporation. He said it no longer seemed like a countywide authority – it seemed like an Ann Arbor system that others could join. That saddened him, he said.

Joining Turner in his final vote against the overall agreement and articles of incorporation were Alicia Ping, Wes Prater and Dan Smith. Rolland Sizemore Jr. was absent.

A range of other items were on the Aug. 1 agenda. Commissioners suspended the county’s use of Construction Unity Board (CUB) agreements, responding to a change in state law. They also gave final approval to a change in the county’s accommodations ordinance, exempting bed & breakfasts, cottages and individuals who occasionally lease out rooms from the 5% accommodations tax. And addressing a need for veterans, the board authorized the county clerk to offer photo IDs that can be used to redeem discounts offered at local businesses.

On an 8-2 vote, commissioners also approved a brownfield financing plan for a $39 million residential development at 618 S. Main St. in Ann Arbor. Before the board’s vote, both Felicia Brabec and Yousef Rabhi praised the development, but said they were voting against it because of concerns about affordability. They did not feel that most young professionals would be able to afford living there, and stressed the importance of having more affordable housing in the downtown area.

The board also heard a report from the county treasurer, and got a second-quarter financial update from staff. Commissioners then approved a $1,263,994 mid-year adjustment to its 2012 general fund budget, bringing the 2012 general fund budget to $101,162,770.

In one of the least controversial items of the meeting, commissioners passed a resolution commending the Washtenaw Community Concert Band – formerly the Ypsilanti Community Band – on its 35th season. Dan Smith, who plays the trumpet, is a member of that group. [Full Story]

When sitting Democratic councilmembers Sandi Smith (Ward 1) and Carsten Hohnke (Ward 5) announced in the spring they would not be seeking third terms, it was clear that the 11-member Ann Arbor city council would be joined by at least two new members in November.

When Sally Petersen challenged Tony Derezinski (Ward 2), and Jack Eaton challenged Margie Teall (Ward 4) in the Democratic primary, the number of possible new councilmembers rose to four.

And when Albert Howard filed successfully in mid-summer as an independent candidate for mayor, challenging sitting Democratic mayor John Hieftje, it meant a turnover on the council of potentially five members – because the mayor is a member of the council.

Yesterday’s Aug. 7 primary election results helped clarify the council’s future makeup. Petersen defeated Derezinski by a 55-45 percentage split, and Eaton came within a whisker (18 votes) of beating Teall.

In the Ward 5 Democratic primary, Chuck Warpehoski polled 56.5% to Vivienne Armentrout’s 43.5% to win a place on the ballot in November next to Republican Stuart Berry. And in Ward 1, 58% of Democrats chose Sumi Kailasapathy compared to 42% who preferred Eric Sturgis.

In Ward 3, Christopher Taylor was not challenged in the Democratic primary, and does not face a partisan opponent in November. The lack of a partisan opponent applies to wards 1, 2 and 4 as well.

So after the Nov. 6 general election, the council will likely include new members Sumi Kailasapathy, Sally Petersen, either Chuck Warpehoski or Stuart Berry, and possibly Albert Howard instead of John Hieftje.

After the break, we provide a statistical breakdown of the election and some colored maps to illustrate the results. [Full Story]

Early unofficial returns from the District 7 Washtenaw County board of commissioners race for the Democratic nomination – between Andy LaBarre and Christina Montague – show LaBarre with a total of 1,399 (64.2%) votes, compared to 779 (35.8%) for Montague – which reflects a total of 12 out of 18 precincts informally reported.

Of the nine districts on the newly redistricted county board, this is the only race that’s contested in the primary. The winner of the District 7 Democratic primary will face Republican David Parker in November. Parker is unopposed in the primary.

This brief will be updated as additional precinct totals are known. Check the Washtenaw County clerk’s election results website for definitive, but still unofficial results.

Update at midnight: With all but one precinct counted, results now show LaBarre with a total of 2,198 (65.4%) votes, compared to 1,158 (34.4%) for Montague. [Full Story]

Unofficial returns from the Washtenaw County water resources commissioner race for the Democratic nomination – between Evan Pratt and Harry Bentz – show Pratt with a total of 11,862 (73%) votes, compared to 4,298 (26.5%) for Bentz, with all precincts reporting. Percents don’t total 100 due to a small number of write-in votes.

Pratt will face Republican Eric Scheie in the Nov. 6 general election.

Check the Washtenaw County clerk’s election results website for definitive, but still unofficial results.

Early unofficial returns from the Ward 5 city council race for the Democratic nomination – between Jack Eaton and incumbent Margie Teall – show Eaton with a total of 325 (40.1%) votes, compared to 469 (59%) for Teall – which reflects a total of 6 out of 9 precincts informally reported.

The August 2010 primary was also contested by Teall and Eaton – and Teall won that race 1448 (69.08%) to 642 (30.63%)

This brief will be updated as additional precinct totals are known. Check the Washtenaw County clerk’s election results website for definitive, but still unofficial results.

Update at 11 p.m. Results now show Eaton with a total of 446 (43%) votes, compared to 587 (57%) for Teall – which reflects a total of 7 out of 9 precincts informally reported.

Update at 11:44 p.m. Complete unofficial results show Eaton with a total of 848 (49.5%) votes, compared to 866 (50.5%) for Teall – which reflects a total of 9 out of 9 precincts informally reported. That’s a difference of just 18 votes. [Full Story]

Early unofficial returns from the 2012 Ward 5 city council race for the Democratic nomination – between Eric Sturgis and Sumi Kailasapathy – show Kailasapathy with a total of 477 (53%) votes, compared to 423 (47%) for Sturgis – which reflects a total of 7 out of 10 precincts informally reported.

The August 2010 race was contested between Kailasapathy and Sandi Smith, which was won by Smith 1,004 (55%) to 833 (45%)

This brief will be updated as additional precinct totals are known. Check the Washtenaw County clerk’s election results website for definitive, but still unofficial results.

Updated 10:23 p.m.: Current informal results show Kailasapathy with a total of 674 (55%) votes, compared to 554 (45%) for Sturgis – which reflects a total of 9 out of 10 precincts informally reported.

Updated 11:40 p.m.: Complete informal results show Kailasapathy with a total of 863 (57.8%) votes, compared to 628 (42%) for Sturgis – which reflects a total of 10 out of 10 precincts unofficially reported. [Full Story]

Early unofficial returns from the 2012 Washtenaw County 22nd circuit court race – contested by Jim Fink, Carol Kuhnke, Doug McClure and Erane Washington – show Fink with a total of 3,556 (39%) votes, compared to 3,020 (33%) for Kuhnke and 997 (11%) for McClure, and 1,437 (16%) for Washington – which reflects a total of 45 out of 139 precincts informally reported.

The geographic distribution of support for the four candidates is likely to vary widely across Washtenaw County, so initial  results may not give a clear read on the final outcome. The top two vote getters will appear on the Nov. 6 ballot.

This brief will be updated as additional precinct totals are known. Check the Washtenaw County clerk’s election results … [Full Story]

Early unofficial returns from the Ward 5 city council race for the Democratic nomination – between Sally Petersen and Tony Derezinski – showDerezinski with a total of 593 (44%) votes, compared to 756 (56%) for Petersen – which reflects a total of 4 out of 9 precincts informally reported.

This brief will be updated as additional precinct totals are known. Check the Washtenaw County clerk’s election results website for definitive, but still unofficial results.

Update at 11:19 p.m.: Current results show Derezinski with a total of 798 (43.5%) votes, compared to 1035 (56.5%) for Petersen – which reflects a total of 8 out of 9 precincts informally reported.

Update at 11:34 p.m.: Complete provisional results show Derezinski with a total of 938 (44.7%) votes, compared to 1160 (55.2%) for Petersen – which reflects a total of 9 out of 9 precincts informally reported. [Full Story]