Title
Resolution Directing Periodic Cleanups of City of Ann Arbor’s Downtown
Memorandum
This resolution solidifies the City Council policy direction that the cleaning and maintenance of downtown is to be effected by municipal employees.
The Downtown Development Authority (DDA), working in collaboration with City staff, has been working on developing a DDA funded downtown service team program, which is anticipated to include cleaning, maintenance, and other placemaking-related services (the “Program”). It is expected that the Program will take a minimum of twelve months to develop.
Staff
Reviewed by: Milton Dohoney Jr., City Administrator
Maura Thomson, DDA Executive Director
Monica Boote, Human Resources & Labor Relations Director
Marti Praschan, Financial Services Area Administrator & CFO
Body
Whereas, Public sector workers provide essential services that sustain the health, safety, and quality of life of our community, and their experience and institutional knowledge are critical to effective local governance;
Whereas, Organized labor plays a vital role in ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions, and a stable workforce, and should be meaningfully included as a partner in decisions that affect public employees and the services they deliver;
Whereas, Engaging frontline public workers and their unions in planning and implementation leads to better outcomes, improved accountability, and more efficient use of public resources;
Whereas, Council acknowledges and is grateful for the work of City Administration and DDA to date, especially their early inclusion of AFSCME representatives in conversations and visioning of a new Downtown Service Team;
Whereas, Maintaining work within the public sector helps preserve high-quality jobs with family-sustaining wages and benefits, strengthening the local economy and supporting middle-class households;
Whereas, The use of local public employees ensures that taxpayer dollars are reinvested in the community, rather than diverted to out-of-area contractors, CEO salaries or corporate profits;
Whereas, Prioritizing locally based workers and services, whenever feasible, enhances responsiveness, continuity, and public trust in government operations; and
Whereas, A commitment to keeping public work public reflects the community’s values of fairness, transparency, and responsible stewardship of public funds;
RESOLVED, The City Administrator is directed to provide periodic and supplemental cleanings of the downtown by City employees, under the direction of the Public Works Unit, along with any required budget amendment, if necessary, while the DDA is developing its Program;
RESOLVED, The City Council thanks the DDA for its initiative to develop and fund the Program and requests that the Program be performed by City employees;
RESOLVED, The City Administrator is authorized to take all appropriate actions to implement this resolution
Sponsored by: Mayor Taylor and Councilmembers Radina, Eyer, Harrison and Cornell