On Thursday, City Council will officially introduce the Ann Arbor Human Rights Commission’s January report on reforming community-police relations, as well as hold a third public hearing to approve the controversial Woodbury Apartments project off Nixon Road and M-14.
Additionally, the body will consider approvals for more than $3 million in equipment purchases and professional service contracts.
Police reform
Following the 2014 shooting of Ann Arbor resident Aura Rosser by David Ried, an Ann Arbor police officer, the Ann Arbor Human Rights Commission — which is appointed by the council — wrote a comprehensive proposal to restructure community oversight over the Ann Arbor Police Department. The Washtenaw County prosecutor’s office declined to press charges against Ried in the shooting.
The report was first forwarded to the council in January. A resolution urging the council to approve and implement the report’s recommendations will be introduced during Thursday’s meeting.
The commission proposed a police review board composed of City Council and mayoral appointees to monitor complaints against the police department and the expansion of crisis-intervention and alternative dispute resolution capabilities for the AAPD.
Woodbury Apartments
The Woodbury Apartments Project is a 53.61 acre, 282-unit apartment project slated to be built near the intersection of Nixon Road and the M-14 freeway. The project has been unpopular with nearby residents wary of environmental damage and increased traffic, causing the proposal’s approval by City Council to be postponed three times since September 2015, most recently on January 19.
During a January meeting, the council agreed to allow the developer to modify its plan to ease concerns by reducing the number of planned units and increasing the amount of open space and parkland. Eight affirmative votes from the council are required to reach final approval.
Contracts and equipment purchases
Also pending approval are four separate professional service contracts, totaling $1.345 million. This includes a $538,076 contract to the architectural firm of OHM advisors for the redesign of the intersection between Nixon, Green and Dhu Varren roads south of M-23, a $283,500 contract to Liquiforce Services for sewer construction along East Huron Street, a $350,318 contract to CB&I Environmental Infrastructure for organic waste management and a $172,615 contract to Burton and Associates to evaluate the city’s pricing and offerings for stormwater services.
City Council will also consider purchasing 17 separate pieces of heavy equipment, ranging from heavy construction machinery, police vehicles and garbage trucks, for a total cost of $1.715 million.