For information about the Ann Arbor City Council and issues currently before it, visit www.a2gov.org/agenda, or call the Ann Arbor city clerk at 994–2725. If you want to see changes made in any city law, rule, or procedure, call your council representatives. To learn who your representatives are, see the ward map and the list of current council members in this section, or check www.a2gov.org.
City council adopts the city’s annual budget and determines city laws and policies. It has eleven members: two from each of the city’s five wards, plus the mayor. Ward representatives are paid $15,450/year. They serve staggered two-year terms: one seat in each ward is filled in a partisan election each Nov.
Regular city council meetings are the first and third Mon. at 7 p.m. in the council chambers on the second floor of City Hall. The agendas for council meetings and notices of public hearings are published in the Ann Arbor News the Sun. before each meeting and at www.a2gov.org/agenda the Wed. before the meeting. The public is notified about special and working sessions, which are conducted as needed. All meetings and working sessions are open to the public. Regular meetings and some special sessions are broadcast live on the city’s Community Television Network and repeated twice each week; see www.a2ctn.org for the replay times.
The Democratic and Republican party caucuses meet together the Sun. before scheduled council meetings at 7 p.m. in the council chambers. Caucus meetings are open to the public and provide a better forum than council meetings for citizens who want to talk directly with council members.
Ten three-minute slots are available for public comment at the beginning of each regular council meeting. Sign-up for speaking slots begins at 8 a.m. on the day of the meeting, with priority given to those persons wishing to speak on agenda items (994–2725). After 1 p.m. slots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Speakers must identify their topic when they sign up, and are not permitted to sign up for others or grant time to another speaker. At the end of each meeting, members of the public may address council without signing up in advance. No public comment is allowed at working sessions.
Public hearings are conducted on many proposed council actions. Anyone can speak without advance notice for up to three minutes. The public is notified as for council meetings (see above).
Persons with disabilities are encouraged to participate in public meetings. Accommodation, including sign-language interpreters, may be arranged by contacting the city clerk’s office, 100 N. Fifth Ave., second floor (994-2725, jbeaudry@a2gov.org). Requests must be made at least 24 hours before meeting times.
Mayor, City Hall, third floor. 994–2766. The mayor, elected in a partisan election every two years, presides over city council and is a voting member. Democrat John Hieftje (pronounced “Heef-tya”) was elected to a fourth term in November 2006. The mayor leads council in setting policy and approving the budget; nominates members of boards and commissions, subject to confirmation by city council; has the power to veto most council actions; has certain police powers in emergencies; and acts as ceremonial head of the city. The mayor's annual salary is $41,200.
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