The first meetings using this ordinance have already started. If you are notified about a new development proposed for your neighborhood, please let me know how this process works for you.
Committees
I am a member of the Audit Committee and the Community Corrections Committee -- which is a City/County committee dealing with programs to keep people out of prison. I also serve on a committee that approves funding for services for the homeless. For 2009, I'm newly appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
My Commitments
Your calls and emails are important to me. You hired me, and I don't forget that. Please let me know what you are thinking about City issues, and how I can make the City work better for you.
Budget impacts
The recent sale of Pfizer's former facilities on Plymouth Road have encouraged a lot of discussion about the ways Ann Arbor could adjust its revenue and expenses to deal with the loss of taxes from this property and business. Some people on Council and in the City have talked about cutting City services; some have talked about establishing an income tax. The rationale is to find a way to balance income and expenses -- which we must do.
Before we go too far down this road, we need to be really cautious. The City needs to continue to spend money on needed infrastructure improvements (our streets, sewers, and stormwater systems need to be repaired and maintained). For many years, these systems were neglected, and we're still playing catch-up. People -- the staff who do all the work -- are the most expensive part of any budget. While we want to work smart and lean, we don't want to cut things to the point that we no longer provide the services because we no longer have the staff to do the work.
That's why, I'm certain, some people are talking about increasing revenue by raising taxes. This is a discussion that we've been having for years. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Please contact me at 995-3518 or sbriere@a2gov.org.
