sweet_life

Tue, Dec 1, 2009 : 9:12 a.m.

@BobW - Who said Ann Arbor taxpayers are footing the bill for these services? The article seems to indicate that the U pays the connection fees. I assume they also pay the water and sewer bill on a regular basis just like other city residents. Is this correct?

garrisondyer

Tue, Dec 1, 2009 : 9:09 a.m.

The artist's rendition of what this complex will look like is totally dominated by purple loose strife, a horribly invasive species of pretty flower that eats up habitat space for all creatures who depend on cat tails. How depressing that in 2009 there are still people out there who are propagating it's use.

sweet_life

Tue, Dec 1, 2009 : 9:07 a.m.

@a2phiggy - yes and your logic is impeccable: if you don't live in Ann Arbor, the fact that you work here contributes nothing to the local economy - i.e. you never buy anything in a local store, you never eat at a local restaurant, you never purchase any local services. Even if all of that is correct (and your estimate of 40% of UM employees living in Ann Arbor is accurate), last time I checked, 40% of $3.2 billion was $1.28 billion - not an insubstantial amount. Face it - UM is the economic engine that runs Ann Arbor.

racerx

Tue, Dec 1, 2009 : 6:57 a.m.

DennisP-thank you so much for your thought provoking insight and, truthful synopsis! Maybe now, those UM haters can thoughtfully reflect on all that the U provides to our city. I grew up here. I remember how A2 was before the U became the prominent university that it now is. The 60's & parts of the 70's A2 was just a very small town. As the UM grew, so did the city. It's a running joke that on football Saturday's with a 100K people in the stands, the whole town goes to the game! As a former city employee, I worked on those annexation issues whereas those surrounding townships that were annexed and the vast sums that homeowners had to pay to connect to the cities utilities. For some homeowners the amounts went from a few thousand to several thousands. A2 is not all rich as the city thinks. For some homeowners it was a hardship to connect to the utilities. I personally know of some homeowners who sold their homes because they couldn't come up with those fees. Granted the UM can afford those hookup fees, however, not all can. Especially when you consider certain township islands have established neighborhoods with older residents on fixed incomes whose homes are at best 900 sq.ft. (Pittsfield Township island by Stone School/Packard/Eisenhower). These residents had to shell out over $5K to connect. And for what? To "enjoy" the services of the city? I would only hope that some of these posts here really think about all that the U provides. And Dennis P thanks for the fact that not all city residents who live here work for the U, or in the city. Another reason why the income tax suggestion would be unfair. How would you capture those who don't work here and just tax those who work at the U?

Bob W

Tue, Dec 1, 2009 : 6:18 a.m.

I agree, why should Ann Arbor taxpayers foot the bill for services when the land will not contribute one bit to the tax base? There are few ways to limit how much land the University sequesters but rejecting this request is one we can live with.

DennisP

Tue, Dec 1, 2009 : 1:50 a.m.

Anyone who doesn't believe the prosperity and quality of life in Ann Arbor isn't directly and largely tied to the UM is both foolish and mistaken. As for employee-citizens, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that a lot of employees in AA aren't residents of the city AND vice-versa--a lot of city residents are not employed in AA. However, the UM contributes in so many ways. If you look to what makes AA attractive and why it resisted the recession better than other Michigan cities, it is the presence of a world-class university. First, the UM brings people and cultures from around the world to work and live and spend money in the city. Second, the UM never allows its properties to decay, is respectful of historical designations, and maintains gardens and parks in top condition. Third, the UM makes many of its cultural and recreational facilities available to the public at no charge or little charge. Do you enjoy the Arb in Spring? How about the Botanical Gardens? The Diag? What about the Art Museum, the History Museum, the Natural History Museum? All of those are free to anyone. Fourth, UM brings world class medical facilities available to the residents of the city. East AA Medical, the Medical Center, Briarwood Medical. Fifth, UM leases a lot of space from private enterprises. Those landlords pay property and other taxes to the city based upon the value of the structures on those properties which are not trivial given that UM always looks for the best. Without UM, their properties would be vacant, abandoned, undeveloped or worse. Sixth, the UM provides its own police force that has jurisdiction over UM facilities and which enforces criminal and traffic laws along any roads that abut UM facilities. The fines from those traffic citations and for the MANY, MANY parking violations issued daily at UM parking facilities benefit the city of AA. The UM works closely with AAFD and provides initial police response to any alarms to ensure and avoid false alarm responses. The UM has a highly expert hazardous materials response capability that can assist the AAFD in an emergency situation and the UM works closely with AAPD, Washtenaw Sheriffs, State Police, FBI and others to provide a safe environment. Sixth, UM adheres to all Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, pollution discharge laws, etc including non-point source controls for fertilizers, etc under permits the UM must, itself, obtain and maintain with federal and state agencies. The UM endeavors to restore wetlands and pays for expensive wetland restoration projects at facilities like the Arb, the Botanical Gardens, etc. which help to keep the Huron River and the groundwater systems in AA clean. Seventh, the UM athletics provide high-level college competition at cut-rate prices (exclusive of football and basketball) to the public at large. Baseball, softball, soccer, hockey, tennis, swim meets, etc, are all open to the public at low or no cost in facilities that are well-maintained, comfortable and safe. Finally, eighth and most important, UM attracts other businesses and helps startups through technology partnering all of which pay taxes. Everyone bemoans Pfizer, but Pfizer was only here at the outset because it wanted to collaborate with UM. Its decision to close its complex was unilateral and prompted by its own business problems. But, instead of having a facility that will rot and fester off of Plymouth while associated businesses close, the UM will maintain that facility at no small cost and help the area grow vibrant as it relocates growing high-tech and medical research operations to that facility by attracting more of the best researchers in the world to the city. One can go on and on. But, the reality is this. Without the UM, Ann Arbor--at best--would be an extended suburb of Detroit looking at shuttered plants or empty strip malls. Be thankful for the UM, not shortsighted.

a2phiggy

Mon, Nov 30, 2009 : 11:38 p.m.

@sweet_life: impressive numbers, but how much of that money stays in the city? i would guess that less than 40% of U staff and faculty (including the hospital) live within the city limits of Ann Arbor, challenging the logic of your argument.

sweet_life

Mon, Nov 30, 2009 : 11:13 p.m.

"I think many people over-estimate the dollars brought into Ann Arbor by the U. All you have to do is walk down South University on a July evening and you'll see what I mean." If your only measure of the economic impact of the UM on Ann Arbor is how quiet South U is when the students aren't around, you are really missing the big picture. Consider that the Ann Arbor campus employs 40,000 people with a total annual payroll and benefits of over $3.2 billion. I suggest you walk around downtown Jackson or Battle Creek any time if you want to get an idea of what Ann Arbor would be like without the U.

Thick Candy Shell

Mon, Nov 30, 2009 : 9:19 p.m.

@63Townie, Careful if you plow a City Street you can be ticketed and fined.

Vivienne Armentrout

Mon, Nov 30, 2009 : 8:55 p.m.

UM does not comply with City of Ann Arbor ordinances for their property within the city, unless they choose to. They are deemed sovereign by right of the Michigan Constitution. So the fertilizer ordinance is not applicable. However, I believe that they have their own policy committees and we will hope that they are responsible in this area.

Ryan J. Stanton

Mon, Nov 30, 2009 : 8:31 p.m.

@63Townie The city of Ann Arbor does have a phosphorus fertilizer ordinance, which calls for commercial applicators to jump through a few hoops. The county also has some tips for a healthy lawn in case you're interested.

63Townie

Mon, Nov 30, 2009 : 7:37 p.m.

"This parcel would have water, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer improvement charges based on the council-approved amounts in place at the time of active service," Does any branch of the city government monitor what kind of fertilizer UM lays down on their fields?

81wolverine

Mon, Nov 30, 2009 : 7:27 p.m.

One problem with this soccer complex is that there isn't enough parking for spectators. So, people end up parking at the Woodland Plaza shopping center across the road, taking away parking spots from potential customers of the businesses in that center. That's not right. U-M must address parking for this soccer complex so that local businesses (who pay Ann Arbor property taxes) don't suffer from events nearby which don't benefit them.

Ryan J. Stanton

Mon, Nov 30, 2009 : 7:25 p.m.

@Josh Budde Here's the CTN Channel 16 schedule for this week. Yes, the Planning Commission meeting will be aired live. http://www.a2gov.org/government/city_administration/communicationsoffice/ctn/meetingplace/Documents/Ch16November2909.pdf

63Townie

Mon, Nov 30, 2009 : 7:22 p.m.

Josh, you must not pay Ann Arbor taxes. "So what" you say? Well, my taxes go up every year, and my city services are cut every year. My subdivision (in the city) plows our cul-de-sacs because if left to the city, residents get stranded depending on when the snowfall occurs. I think many people over-estimate the dollars brought into Ann Arbor by the U. All you have to do is walk down South University on a July evening and you'll see what I mean.

Basic Bob

Mon, Nov 30, 2009 : 7:21 p.m.

U-M has already purchased the land and developed the soccer complex. They host both men's and womens's varsity games on the competition field (for FREE!), although with portable toilets and concessions. Neither the city or the township are *required* to provide utilites, and in fact U-M is paying fees for the connection and usage. So I'm not sure what this costs Ann Arbor property owners. Pittsfield will not dispute the annexation as part of a 1974 boundary agreement. My understanding is that the long-term plan is for the city to annex all of the township islands inside the city. They make annexation a condition for utility connection to provide an incentive for homeowners to pay the higher city property tax. Which in this case is *zero*.

Josh Budde

Mon, Nov 30, 2009 : 7:19 p.m.

@63Townie-perhaps the residents should ask the township to do their job and maintain the road? Or if they're unhappy with the situation in regards to the utilities and road they could petition the city to annex the space like the University is doing with the tennis complex.

63Townie

Mon, Nov 30, 2009 : 7:16 p.m.

@ Josh Budde, I'd also like to point out there's a township island near my house with a nearly impassible dirt road. There are three houses on that island, but the city will not improve the road through the island even though city utilities abound. If we're going to annex one island for the UM's benefit, lets annex the others for the benefit of residents as well.

Josh Budde

Mon, Nov 30, 2009 : 7:15 p.m.

So what..you want the U to stop expanding and paying Ann Arbor residents? Ann Arbor is defined by the University. Without the U's budget buoying up the city (regardless of tax status) the city would unrecognizable.

63Townie

Mon, Nov 30, 2009 : 7:10 p.m.

What is the acreage inside the city limit UM has purchased in the past decade? I don't know, but my point is Ann arbor's tax base is shrinking, not growing. People are moving out and UM is moving in. The more land UM buys up, the more comes off our tax base and is left to the residents to supplement. I'm tired of seeing my tax dollars support greenspace outside the city and non-taxable land inside. Let's just re-name Ann Arbor "The University of Ann Arbor". That would be more fitting.

Josh Budde

Mon, Nov 30, 2009 : 6:59 p.m.

Does anyone know if this will be broadcast on Community Television? @63Townie-all those services currently run down the street. It is an island inside the city limits-this isn't a case of the University 'annexing property and adding it to the city simply so they can get utilities'. This is a case of the University pointing out a valid complaint that property it owns is not receiving services it should.

63Townie

Mon, Nov 30, 2009 : 6:47 p.m.

I don't know about anybody else, but I'm tired of "The U" annexing property and adding it to the city simply so they can get utilities. If this property belongs to Pittsfield township, even though it may be an island, it's up to Pittsfield Township to supply the utilities. It's time Ann Arbor stop cowtowing to the University by allowing them buy up yet antother chunk of real estate, demanding utilities along with police and fire support, and not pay a lick of taxes. To let this practice continue would be irresponsible to say the least. Ann Arbor taxpayers need to stand up to this demand and say" "No more."