City Guide

City Council and Mayor

For information about the Ann Arbor City Council and issues currently before it, see a2gov.org/agenda, or call the Ann Arbor city clerk at (734) 794-6140. If you want to see changes made in any city law, rule or procedure, call your council representatives. To learn who they are, see a2gov.org/departments/city-council/Pages/Home.aspx

City council adopts the city's annual budget and determines city laws and policies. It has 11 members: 2 from each of the city's 5 wards, plus the mayor. Ward representatives are paid $16,231.76/year. Council members are elected to staggered 4-year terms: 1 seat in each ward is filled in a partisan election every even-year November (see Elections). Ann Arbor has not elected a Republican officeholder since 2003, so the August Democratic primary (see Elections) almost always decides the council's membership. Currently, the council is made up of 10 Democrats and 1 independent.

Regular city council meetings are held the 1st & 3rd Mon. at 7 p.m. in the council chambers, 2nd floor of City Hall. Agendas for council meetings and notices of public hearings are posted at a2gov.org/agenda. Special and working sessions, open to the public, are conducted as needed; notice is posted in City Hall and at a2gov.legistar.com/calendar. Public comment time is available at all meetings, and all meetings are broadcast live on the city's Community Television Network. See a2gov.org/ctn for replay times or to view meetings live online or via video on demand.

Ten 3-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. the day of the meeting; call (734) 794-6140) to sign up. Members of the public may address council the end of each meeting. Persons with disabilities can arrange accommodations, including sign-language interpreters, by contacting the city clerk's office, 301 E. Huron, 2nd floor (734-794-6140, a2gov.org/departments/city-clerk/Pages/default.aspx). Requests must be made at least two business days before meeting times.

Mayor, Larcom City Hall, 3rd floor. (734) 794-6161. The mayor, elected in a partisan election every 4 years, presides over city council and is a voting member; 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.

Related Topics:

• WARDS
• Community Television Network (CTN)
• Ann Arbor News (MLive Media Group)

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