The Ann Arbor City Council met in Larcom City Hall the evening Aug. 19 to discuss approval of federal grant funds for Ann Arbor urban forestry initiatives, a new rental housing project located near the University of Michigan’s North Campus and the reintroduction of the Drive SAFE (Safety, Access, Freedom, and Economy) Bills to Michigan Legislature. The bills enable Ann Arbor residents to acquire driver’s licenses and state identification cards without requiring proof of U.S. citizenship or documentation status.
In an update to the City Council, Jeffrey Pfeifer, manager of public affairs and engagement of Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority, announced that the Federal Trade Administration approved a $25 million dollar grant for the construction of zero-emission hydrogen buses.
“First … we had some exciting news happen to TheRide in relation to zero-emissions buses,” Pfeifer said. “In April, we submitted an application to the FTA for a Low (or) No (Emission) Grant application and (are) happy to announce that in early July, we heard from the FTA that we were being awarded $25 million as part of our grant application.”
Pfeifer also announced that TheRide will be expanding their service hours beginning Aug. 25, increasing the frequency of transportation at night, weekends and holidays. Weekday service hours begin at 6 a.m. and end at 11:30 p.m., and intervals between bus arrivals have shortened to 30 minutes on weekends.
“Secondly, we want to announce that TheRide is proud to continue delivering on our promises made to our voters in our 2022 millage proposal,” Pfeifer said. “Starting next Monday, Aug. 26, we will be expanding our service, basically offering more service more often.”
During public speaking time, Adam Goodman, an Ann Arbor resident in Ward 5, addressed the shortcomings of Ann Arbor’s Vision Zero plan. The plan, which was in the works for years and finally finalized in 2021, aims to eliminate pedestrian and bike fatalities from major traffic crashes by 2025. Goodman participated in the July 26 die-in protest at City Hall, calling for improved biker and pedestrian safety on Ann Arbor streets.
“It’s almost 10 years ago that we set our Vision Zero goal to eliminate fatal and serious injury crashes by 2025, and at this point, it was clear that we will fail to meet this goal,” Goodman said. “So I think it’s worth asking, what have we actually done with the last almost 10 years? Well, one thing we’ve done, we’ve made a lot of plans.”
Goodman acknowledged the positive impact of city initiatives including the Pedestrian Safety and Access Task Force 2015 report and the Vision Zero plan. However, he said he still feels limited progress has been made toward pedestrian safety in Ann Arbor.
“My question is: Most of these plans look great, but when do we get to stop planning and start doing?” Goodman said. “Because it sure seems like we spent the last 10 years in an endless cycle of plans and more plans (that) cost probably millions of dollars, with not a lot of on-the-ground improvements to actually show for it.”
Another topic of discussion at the meeting was the expansion of a free gun-lock program in Ann Arbor. Free gun locks with a no-questions-asked policy are now available at three Ann Arbor District Library locations — Downtown, Westgate and Malletts Creek. The program arose following collaboration with Andre Anderson, Ann Arbor’s chief of police, about necessary expansion of gun safety measures in Ann Arbor, according to City Councilmember Dharma Akmon, D-Ward 4.
“A key (shooting) prevention tool is locking your gun,” Akmon said. “A couple of months ago, a constituent approached me to ask if the city could offer gun locks in vending machines, much like we do for Narcan and other public health supplies. That began a conversation with Chief Anderson and his team about how we could offer free gun locks on a no-questions-asked basis.”
Mayor Christopher Taylor also announced Ann Arbor will receive a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture designated for the preservation of urban forestry as part of the Biden-Harris Inflation Reduction Act. Previous sustainability initiatives supported by the Inflation Reduction Act funds include Ann Arbor’s million-dollar purchase of solar power technology.
“Here, we as a municipal organization are going to be receiving a million dollars to support our urban forestry efforts, which are crucial to quality of life, health and pollution fighting here within the city,” Taylor said.
The City Council approved the resolution to accept these funds.
City Councilmember Lisa Disch, D-Ward 1, introduced Resolution DS-1, a rezoning proposal to approve a 131-unit housing project in Owl Creek located near the U-M North Campus. The new complex will incorporate existing infrastructure to make the construction process more efficient, according to Disch.
“I am very happy to discuss this project, which, as a public commenter already mentioned, is a housing infill project that makes use of the existing infrastructure to provide additional housing units in an efficient way,” Disch said. “This rezoning will allow us to consider a site plan that will add a 131-unit apartment building next to an existing parking lot.”
City Councilmember Chris Watson, D-Ward 2, expressed his support for the housing project. He said new rental units are not only a need in the Ann Arbor community but will help the city meet its sustainability goals.
“I’m just happy to say I’m supportive of this project because it’s infill development that provides much-needed rental units in Ward 2 on a site that was already prepared for housing,” Watson said. “In addition to the electric units, there’s (electric vehicle) parking spaces, 10 installed and 86 capable, and all around this project helps meet our city sustainability goals.”
This resolution was approved.
City Council then moved to discuss the Resolution in Support of Michigan’s Drive SAFE Bills, sponsored by City Councilmembers Erica Briggs, D-Ward 5, and Akmon. Previously introduced in 2021, the bills allow Ann Arbor residents to acquire a driver’s license or state identification card, regardless of their documentation status. Currently, 19 other states and Washington, D.C. have adopted similar legislation. Akmon spoke about the history of the bills in the state.
“The purpose of these bills is to restore Michigan’s pre-2008 practice of allowing residents to obtain a Michigan driver’s license and state ID card, regardless of their ability to demonstrate US citizenship or immigration status,” Akmon said. “It’s in our collective interest that all Michigan drivers are trained, screened, tested, made familiar with Michigan driving regulations and also have access to purchase auto insurance.”
Akmon also underlined the importance of the bill’s passage, including the reduction of hit-and-run incidents and uninsured drivers in Michigan.
“Law enforcement and other states have voiced their support for this because it allows them to focus on other important public safety issues,” Akmon said. “Far less people are found guilty of illegally driving. There’s dramatic reductions in uninsured drivers and a reduction in hit and run crashes.”
This resolution was approved unanimously.
Daily Staff Reporter Claudia Minetti can be reached at cminetti@umich.edu.
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