Ann Arbor City Council confirms new appointments to DDA and expanded transit authority board
The Ann Arbor City Council unanimously confirmed the appointment of Underground Printing co-owner Rishi Narayan to the Downtown Development Authority board.
Narayan replaces Leah Gunn, who had served on the DDA board for many years until stepping down recently.
Narayan will serve a three-year term through Aug. 18, 2016.
Mayor John Hieftje said he's particularly happy to have nominated to the DDA board two entrepreneurs who are in their 30s are care a lot about the future of Ann Arbor. "If you take a look around at city boards, it's unavoidable — they tend to be older residents of the city, people who have more time," he said. "So I'm happy to get people at a younger age involved."
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
There still are two vacant seats on the DDA board. Hieftje said Monday night he's nominating Al McWilliams, president of Quack!Media on Main Street, to replace Newcombe Clark.
"He's on Main Street. I heard good reviews of him down there," Hieftje said. "He's also another entrepreneur and someone who has a cutting-edge business. He wants to make downtown a place that can attract the talented people he needs to run his business."
Hieftje said when he became mayor over a decade ago, there were developers on the DDA board and he has made a point of replacing them with small business owners.
As with most boards and commissions in Ann Arbor, the mayor nominates prospective appointees. It takes at least six votes from council to confirm the appointments.
Council Members Stephen Kunselman and Christopher Taylor, both 3rd Ward Democrats, were absent Monday night, so the vote was 9-0.
The council also voted 9-0 to appoint Ann Arbor resident Jack Bernard to a vacant seat on the newly expanded Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority board.
The makeup of the transit authority recently changed to include Ypsilanti. The board was expanded from seven to nine members, giving Ypsilanti one seat and Ann Arbor one more seat.
The city of Ypsilanti already appointed Gillian Ream as its representative, and Bernard now will fill the additional Ann Arbor seat.
Bernard is an attorney for the University of Michigan and a lecturer. Legally blind, he is chairman of the U-M Council for Disability Concerns.
"He's very highly regarded," Hieftje said. "And he has a disability himself. He's a bus rider. He depends on the bus and doesn't drive."
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.
Comments
poetreviewer
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 11:27 p.m.
Does he have other qualifications, like Urban Planning, Landscape Designing, statistical demographic knowledge? Just curious and hoping so, otherwise I don't get it.
Tom Whitaker
Thu, Aug 22, 2013 : 2:58 a.m.
Agreed. The DDA is not supposed to be the chamber of commerce or some other business association. We have plenty of those already. Other downtown interests besides business include housing, churches, transportation, government (federal, county, city, courts), schools, libraries, museums, non-profits, historic preservation, and (hopefully someday), parks and recreation.
RUKiddingMe
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 2:50 p.m.
Is membership on this board a paid position?
Ryan J. Stanton
Thu, Aug 22, 2013 : 6:32 p.m.
No, these are volunteers.
truenorth
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 11:59 a.m.
Rishi is a fantastic young man and we have used his company several times for church and charitable events and they are topnotch! Great choice by the Mayor
The Eyes of Justice Team
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 4:41 a.m.
Well looks like the mayor found a new drinking buddy ....
Brad
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 9:41 p.m.
Looks like the mayor will be needing a long-term replacement for Mr. Nassif.
TryingToBeObjective
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 9:37 p.m.
Not sure who you talked to (maybe 2 people?), but even if Narayan got "good reviews" personally, his business is poor quality. Plenty of complaints from schools and local businesses that won't use Underground due to poor quality and multiple mistakes. But I guess if you're looking for someone who owns a poor quality business, you found your guy Hieftje. I shop local, but refuse to order anything Underground prints. It's cheap to buy because those "talented people" he employs cut corners. Perfect for the DDA.
annarboral
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 7:39 p.m.
The unelected DDA will continue to manage their slush fund to support the mayor. The DDA needs to be eliminated so that any funding decision has to be voted up or down by city council. Then, at the least, we'll know who to hold accountable for those decisions.
interesteda2
Fri, Aug 23, 2013 : 1:23 a.m.
Johnnya2; The DDA has been in existence since 1982, 31 years not "nearly 50". Yes, we can vote out city council but cannot vote out the DDA. The DDA is in charge of a large amount of revenue with no direct citizen oversight. These unelected officials who are not responsible to the citizens decide how a large amount of money is spent and decide what direction downtown will take; can you say underground garage and conference center?
johnnya2
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 8:59 p.m.
Let it go, the DDA is LEGAL and has been in existence for nearly 50 years. The process is very similar to how the SCOTUS or the presidents cabinet works. President (mayor) nominates) and Senate (council vote). EVERY member of council was elected, so if the MAJORITY no longer want them in office, they have the right to vote them out.
Steve Bean
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 7:28 p.m.
"And he has a disability himself. He's a bus rider." I don't think that came out the way the mayor meant. "He wants to make downtown a place that can attract the talented people he needs to run his business." Maybe that one did. If so, I'd prefer he nominate people who are thinking beyond their own personal benefit.
johnnya2
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 8:56 p.m.
It came out just fine, it is you who is not using proper grammar and punctuation to make a controversy where none exists.