And that's where, you know, that's probably what the neighbors have to do. It takes a long time. That's why it's really important to start and get it done because it's not going to get any better by just sitting around. It just takes longer the next time. Council member Malik. Hi everybody. Uh first of all, I guess just thank you for this uh great discussion tonight. Um, I put probably more time into preparing for tonight than I I normally do. Um, and I still feel like I have lots and lots of questions. So, I credit that to this conversation and it's very thoughtprovoking and I really appreciate that. Um, from my part, um, I definitely, you know, before our next meeting do want to, uh, get to the bottom of some of these questions we have asked to the group like, uh, from OSI and from our planning team.
So if if the house is non-conforming and wants to add an ADU, it may need to go in front of the zoning board of appeals to get a special permit for the nonconformity, but it does not need to get a special permit simply to be allowed to do an ADU. So a non-conforming house can apply for an ADU as well, but the nonconformity would need to be addressed by the zoning board of appeals. So how strong would the ADU we consider ADU uses as an imposed condition? How strong is that compared to the zoning bylaw? I don't think I understand the question. Does it compare with the bylaw or is it as as not to use it and use the ATU imposed conditions? If I understand correctly, Mark, I think that they will still follow what is described here as an ADU, but they will still have to follow the nonconformity go through the CBA.
Yeah, it can be. Yeah. Do other districts do something similar? I'm pretty sure a lot of them do or doing the way we're doing it. The the services like Kelly services and things like that are really expensive to pay into and the turnover is just tremendous. You never never but rarely get the same person like two days in a row. If you have somebody else four or five days in a row, you might have four or five different people in there. At least now we have some continuity. I agree. So, would these employees have the ability to unionize? It's a good question. I'm not sure. I can have a conversation with Fell about that. We can that is I mean probably I think It probably could more to the subject than I thought we all um is there any more discussion? All right. All those in favor of the motions, please say I.
So we're still deficit spending. Um we're still on a qualified uh budget and the um for the 202 actually for next year 2526 we're actually deficit spending more than uh $9 million. For the the year after that 2627 we're deficit spending more than $7 million. And so if we do not uh begin to generate any revenue uh to address that issue then we will definitely potentially be taking order. Yes. And so the idea here is to for everybody to be on the same page that we are facing this existential crisis. In addition, we constantly face the terror. That's what it is. as a board member, as somebody who's responsible to uh ensure that this district continues to move forward and that we're here to provide an education for the future kids of Alen Rock, not just the ones we have now. Uh it's always waking up to what's happening in Mexico.
I usually think the only adults made those choice and learn student important matters. It can make difference throughout the LCAP was powerful opportunity to speak up to share our ideas and help improve our education. Our voices help get a positive change and that's something I'm proud to be part of. One of the change I really like are some of the electric courses in the district offering. One time I was in B junior high because my I'm the only one in the family. My sister was in that school too. So I've been there and I'm the older brother. So in that moment I have to be the the light for them and show even if we come to the different place we always have to opportunity to share uh all experience being part of the ELA process showing me the students speak things can change we know that it's missing because we experience every day that's Why it's important for students to have voice to make sure our students to our schools giving us what we really need.
So, I think it's great that uh we would invite them to meet with some of the subgroups. I think that's the totally appropriate. Um something I've struggled with related to, you know, the comprehensive plan and stuff is what exactly goes in the plan versus what is kind of comes later. um it's kind of been described to me, you know, that the comprehensive plan is this very high level uh document so that it wouldn't get into a lot of details and that's tricky because you want it to be detailed. You want it to say exactly what you want for the next 20 to 30 years. You know, that is our vision for the city. Um and even, you know, Commissioner Graham has mentioned like incorporating things into code. Well, the comprehensive plan, it's my understanding is not code. Code would come later. So it is kind of finding that balance between what is actually appropriate for a comprehensive plan, the vision part versus what does come later.
So, it will be following these as an ADU, but like Trish explained, you will still have to go through the CBA for them to give you a allowance to make changes to a non-conforming house. And would that work as with using a special permit? So, anything in front of the ZBA would be a special permit or it's not in the paragraph. the word special permits but to say if the devel wants have a special permit does he have to go through the nonconformities part of this ADU paragraph that will be section 3.3 of the zoning bylaw because section 3.3 of the zoning bylaw is for the special permits that's it thank you We ready for a motion? Um well, let me just if if there's any other questions um online. No. Okay. Uh sure. I make a motion that if planning board approve the amendment to go to town meeting floor, amend zoning bylaw 7.6.
I. Opposed for abstaining. We'll be so happy with our $20 that we have to think about all that kind of nonsense. All right. Resignations. We have any of those? We have one resignation for the end of the school year from uh the high school math teacher Ireina Lav. And we also have a retirement. Donna Fischer, who is the BCS uh social studies teacher, will be retiring at the end of this school year. I would like to thank both of them for their service. And I we wish them well. How many years has Donna been here? I for I'm not even sure. I know she told me during Washington, but that was a blur to be honest. Yeah. I think she's been here as long as more impressive. She saw kindergarten for Yeah, she's been on several great levels. Very nice. Good for her. Yeah. All right.
Uh when Manny uh Barbara was here on the interim, he wound up dealing with three fires being set by the same guy who wound up getting taken to jail and then let out a couple days later and kept on coming back. That's what we're facing. We just recently faced a break-in. somebody who decided to go and jump on the roof and uh tear the place apart again and again and again. Uh the fear there and it's very real is that we're going to wind up having a situation where somebody OD's in there falls through the roof, kills themselves. Guess what? Their parents are coming at us saying you caused this and now you have to pay us $10 million. And where's that coming from? From the kids. And so I just want to make sure you're aware as to what is the thought process that's going on for folks who are sitting at least for myself.
Thank you. Thank you, Jose. Okay, next we have Nicholas Sanchez Motan from Catella High School and he is a junior. Please welcome Nicholas. [Applause] Good evening everyone. My name is Nicholas Sanchez and I am a junior at Catella High School. I think it's really important for students to have a voice in the decisions in decisions school make uh because we are the ones who are learning here every day. We know what helps us and what doesn't. Uh when students speak up and adults actually listen, schools can do a better job on helping us succeed. To me, student voice means more than just sharing our opinion. It means being a part of the conversation. It means that we can it means that we that what we say matters and can lead to real changes. That's why the LCAP process is so important. It gives the students a chance to speak up about what we need at school and it gives schools a chance to use our ideas to make things better.
And I totally understand, you know, the desire to have guidance in the comprehensive plan for what should come later in the zoning code. So um just finding, you know, where that line is, I think is something I personally need to work on. Um, and then lastly, uh, Commissioner Dale, I really appreciate you bringing up the biodiversity metrics because it is my understanding, you know, that that is something that could be worked on all over the place, not just in Ann Arbor, but statewide, nationally. Um, I was just at the uh, Michigan Healthy Climate Conference this week and the uh, you know, push for metrics for whether it be something as big as emissions tracking or something like biodiversity that came up constantly. we need better metrics and we need it. We need them now. Um, so I really appreciate you highlighting that. Um, but that's I guess all for me at the moment.
six accessory dwelling accessory family dwelling unit um with the updated language. I'll second that. And roll call vote I and Tesman I Katherine Jersey guy and Trisha Kendall I. So um that is a supported by the planning board to go um to um town meeting. Next one on the agenda is for the um the flood plane overlay district. I know we have Becca Solomon, um, conservation agent online to help us out with this one because it's a little complex. Um, Anna, if you don't mind, I need to step out a minute. Could you Thank you. Um, so for this one, Becca, do you want to tell us a little bit about how this came about and give us some background? Uh, sure. Can you guys hear me? Okay. Yes. Yeah. Great. So, Uh the shorthand of this is that the um FEMA had to had just updated their flood plane maps for parts of the Charles River watershed which Ashlin does have a couple areas within.
Um and finally for new business, we have two more policies that are first read but we are being asked to approve. Do you have some insight into these? I sure do. We did get an email about them. All right. So, uh, we have policy Oh, one second. I I answer backwards. Okay. So, we have policy 1250. I'm actually going to do them the reverse order because that's the way my notes are and so I'm going to do 1421st, school security and safety. Um, this policy needs to be updated to align with uh this year's public act 25-1, which the Connecticut legislature passed and Governor Lamont signed in early March. The law directs all school security and safety plans must now include clear protocols for responding to in-person visits from immigration authorities, federal immigration authorities such as ICE or Homeland Security. Um, each school under the law is directed to designate an administrator to handle these interactions following guidelines laid out by the Connecticut State Department of Education and any applicable law.
I'll speak for myself. I'm not sure if you guys are also stressed about that, but I am. Um, and it's that's what's happening right now as we're talking about this very important asset. And so, while I appreciate the work as I I appreciate the work that's being done by everybody here, I am very very appreciative of the work that's being done. I also am cognizant and I want to be be incredibly clear that uh we are uh uh facing these situation this crisis and so um and so thank you all for being here. I now at this point I'd love to hear from my colleagues so we can you know continue to have this conversation. Okay. Um Trusty Kina do you have anything to say? Yes. Go ahead. Anybody else does? I've seen I'll go after Trusty on the letter. He's going to go after you.
There are still things that we need. Some students need more help with mental health, homework, or other resources. These are the kinds of things LCAP can fix if we speak up and share what we're experiencing. Being part of the LCAP process has helped me see how school decisions are made and it makes me feel more confident about about speaking up and not just for myself but for others but other students too. When school listens to students, we all win. Thank you so much. Thank you, Nicholas. And last but not least, we have Leah Garcia. Leah is from Kennedy High School and she is a junior. Welcome, [Applause] Hi everyone. Thank you so much for being here. Thank you so much for caring honestly for taking the time out of your day to come here and learn more about things you might have never known. Well, first of all, I want to tell you that I came to my LCAP meeting genuinely had no idea about the demographic of our school.
Like I said earlier, I really appreciate this conversation tonight. Um, and I really value being on the environmental commission. And with that, uh, just noticing it is 8:15. Uh, I'll hand it back to you, Chair Curtis. Any other comments on this topic or should we move on to the next topic on the agenda? Commissioner Graham, one last one. Okay. Thank you, Commissioner Malik. Maybe you can come to our meeting. Uh, state law requires the comprehensive plan. It underpins sets the parameters of makes the code that we write legal. It's required by state law. If it doesn't say somewhere in there that we're going to protect natural features as part of all projects in the city, that won't happen. Uh things have been going the wrong direction the last couple years and I can go back to January 23 and tell you exactly how they've been going the wrong direction about this matter.
Um, and because those were updated, the first thing that had to happen is that our existing flood plane bylaw needed to be revised to refer to the most recent um squares on those maps that they were showing. And then the second thing that's happening is that they're updating the minimum requirements for these overlay districts to basically require clarify things and then also um be a little bit more stringent on what's permitted and what's not permitted in flood plane. Um mostly to protect residents. Um if you put a bunch of structures in something the flood plane level rises um and that's the big concern there. So all of this is meant to help protect people from that. Um so I know um Peter before me on some previous meetings went over in more detail the changes that were put in. Um I know Alvaro was there as well.
Staff under the new policy are directed to request identification, review any warrants presented, and consult with legal counsel before responding. Um if outside personnel, immigration personnel approach other employees, uh other personnel must direct the immigration authorities to be designated administrator for any requests involving school access or information. We are updating both the policy and the accompanying administrative regulation to comply with the the new law. Policy 1250, visitors in schools. Um both policy and the accompanying administrative regulation are being updated uh for the same reason as policy 1420. Um, the policy and regulation add a new paragraph with guidance for how to handle visits from federal immigration authorities and clarifies that school officials can direct visitors to refrain from engaging with students and/or staff unless doing so is approved by the school and consistent with the purpose of the visit. Because the law that led to these revisions of the policy directs superintendent to designate the point person at each school no later than April 1st, 2025.
Go ahead. All right. Um, thank you so much administration community members for coming together. Um, you know, I want to give a shout out, you know, to my colleague here, um, Andres Cantero, who, um, I was able to sit with last year, you know, and, um, we've been giving a lot of time, you know, and I'm glad we're here, like where we were at and having conversations of demolishing was breaking my heart. So, I'm happy to be here, you know, we've grown from where we were at to where we're at now. Um, and the possibilities of partnerships, right? Um I look forward to hopefully and you know if my colleagues um support this adding it to our list um and I'm forgetting the name of our firm right now. We have Gilmore Realy realy property. Yes. So adding that um so definitely putting a pause right in any demolition talks like not going in that direction but going in the direction of how we can possibly save this building.
I came here and I found out the large percentage of our school is minority. How many students really need help? How many students could fall through the cracks without a moment's notice? And I want to tell you that throughout the LCAP meetings that I've attended, I've met so many new people and so many people who are working so hard to help every single student. And not only are these just promises, these aren't just words that come out of our mouth saying, "We promise you the best future. We promise you we're going to do everything we can." That these words, these things that we promise are really in action. In at Kennedy specifically, the money that LCAP sends to our schools through LCFF goes directly to our IB program, the international balorate, where students like me and like our ambassador Kton are able to expand our knowledge through research, writing 4,000word papers, being ready for college, like exploring topics that really interest us.