After a controversial discussion Monday night, Ann Arbor City Council approved aresolution that directs the city attorney to make public a 2019 city memo on whether city council has the authority to dissolve the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority.
The original resolution, sponsored by City Council Members Anne Bannisterfrom the first ward and Kathy Griswold from the second ward, was amended to redact any privileged information included in the confidential document that was sent to city council by the city attorney. Mayor Christopher Taylor and Council MemberJulie Grand from third ward voted against the resolution. Mayor Taylor explains why he’s against releasing the document.
Mayor Christopher Taylor: If attorneys are always looking over their shoulder wondering whether their memos, the advice that they give is going to be released to the public, that is going to alter the nature of the communication.
The memo also includes information on what the process and effects of dissolving the DDA would be. Council members who voted in favor of the resolution say they don’t want the DDA to be dissolved, they just want more transparency in city government. A second resolution that called to dissolve the DDA was withdrawn by Bannister and Griswold.
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— Jorge Avellan is a reporter for 89.1 WEMU News. Contact him at 734.487.3363 or email him javellan@emich.edu
