Why the Ann Arbor City Council's transition will look different this year
A recent change in Michigan election law is creating an unusual transition for the Ann Arbor City Council this November, affecting when newly elected officials take office and how the council is expected to conduct its upcoming meetings.
The state law change means newly elected city officials cannot begin their terms until Dec. 1, while the terms of some current elected officials are scheduled to expire Nov. 13.
As a result, council terms of reelected officials are expected to be temporarily extended to cover the changeover period and no substantive business is expected at the second regularly scheduled council meeting in November.
What to expect at upcoming City Council meetings
Thursday, Nov. 5 — Final regular meeting before the transition
The City Council is expected to consider a resolution that would extend the term of Mayor Pro Tem Travis Radina until the newly seated council selects a mayor pro tem at its first meeting, in December.
Extending Radina's service as mayor pro tem would ensure continuity of leadership during the transition, when the city will temporarily be without a sitting mayor. Under Section 4.3(b) of the City Charter, the mayor pro tem assumes the duties and powers of the mayor when the mayor’s office is vacant.
The resolution is also expected to extend the current terms of two incumbent councilmembers, Cynthia Harrison (Ward 1) and Jenn Cornell (Ward 5), who won reelection Nov. 3 and whose terms would otherwise expire Nov. 13. This will allow Harrison and Cornell to continue representing their constituents and participating in city government activities until their new terms begin Dec. 1.
The proposed extensions would be made under Section 12.4(d) of the Ann Arbor City Charter, which allows elected officials, with City Council's consent, to continue serving provisionally after their terms expire until their successors assume office.
Monday, Nov. 16 — Second regular meeting of November; no substantive business
City Council plans to convene at its regularly scheduled time of 7 p.m. in Council Chambers at Larcom City Hall, 301 E. Huron St.
A quorum is possible because of the planned extensions for returning councilmembers. However, the council is not expected to consider or vote on substantive business during the meeting.
The meeting will be held to fulfill the requirement in Section 4.4(a) of the City Charter that Council hold at least two regular meetings each month.
Tuesday, Dec. 1 — New terms begin
The terms of the newly elected mayor and councilmembers will begin at noon Dec. 1, in accordance with Michigan Public Act 17 of 2026. Provisional terms for reelected councilmembers will end and council will return to its regular operations.
Monday, Dec. 7 — First regular meeting of the new council
The newly elected councilmembers will participate in their first meeting on Dec. 7. Council will hold a vote for mayor pro tem as required by Section 4.3(a) of the City Charter.
Why is the transition different this year?
Under the city's existing charter, officials elected in November 2022 began serving Nov. 14, 2022, and their four-year terms expire Nov. 13, 2026.
However, Michigan Public Act 17 of 2026 changed when newly elected municipal officials can take office. The law was intended to provide additional time to canvass and certify election results and conduct any necessary recounts or audits before newly elected officials take office. Under the new law, terms cannot begin before noon on the first day of the month following the election. For officials elected Nov. 3, 2026, that date is Dec. 1.
This creates a temporary gap between the expiration of existing terms and the beginning of new ones.
Ann Arbor voters approved Proposal D in the Nov. 3 election, amending the City Charter to change when newly elected city officials begin their terms. Under the amendment, the terms of officials elected after 2026 will begin at noon on the first Monday of the month following the regular city election.
The Proposal D amendment brings Ann Arbor’s charter into alignment with state law for future elections. Because it applies to officials elected after 2026, however, the city still needs temporary arrangements for this November's transition.
Meeting plans subject to council action
The November meeting plans remain subject to City Council action, including approval of the proposed term extensions at the Nov. 5 meeting, and do not account for the potential for special council sessions to be called.
City Council meeting agendas, supporting materials and participation information are available through Legistar.
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Media Contact:
Steve Kilar, Communications Director, skilar@a2gov.org