ANN ARBOR, MI — Ann Arbor’s quest to set up an unarmed crisis response program as an alternative to armed police — now in year four of planning — has hit another snag.
Federal stimulus funds the city set aside in 2022 for the program’s launch must be spent by the end of 2024, but the city still isn’t ready to roll it out.
Facing a federal deadline to use or lose the pandemic-recovery funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, City Council voted 10-0 Monday, July 1, to follow City Administrator Milton Dohoney’s recommendation to reallocate the unspent $3.4 million.
Instead of unarmed response, the money now is slated to go to five other initiatives.
That includes $2 million for a Barton Dam embankment project, $500,000 for a city emergency operations center, $400,000 for Bicentennial Park improvements, nearly $400,000 to buy a second ambulance for the fire department and $100,000 for domestic violence survivor support through SafeHouse.
“We are fully committed to getting to an unarmed response program here in the city and unfortunately it is moving slower than we all would like, but we will get there,” said Council Member Travis Radina, D-3rd Ward.
Council first directed the city’s administration in 2021 to develop an unarmed response program using non-police professionals to handle certain 911 calls, including mental health crises that are non-violent and non-criminal. The move came amid growing national concerns about repeated police shootings and killings of American civilians.
Council in 2022 allocated $3.5 million for unarmed response from the city’s $24 million pot of federal stimulus funds. The city spent over $100,000 conducting public engagement with the help of Public Sector Consultants, finding community support for the initiative.
But after two unsuccessful requests for proposals, the city has yet to find a third-party operator for the program with which it’s comfortable, leaving $3.4 million unspent.
Ann Arbor explains why it rejected group’s unarmed crisis response plan
It became apparent the city would be unable to efficiently and effectively spend or contractually commit the remaining funds for unarmed response by the end of the year, officials said.
Dohoney said his administration knows there’s still broad support to make it happen eventually.
“At present, though we are back to square one, the commitment of the city has not waned at all as it relates to trying to find a solution for unarmed response,” he said.
The city has started researching various options in depth to determine if there’s an adaptable model worthy of replication in Ann Arbor or if there’s a need to go with a “from scratch” approach, Dohoney said.
“We are in communication with programs in various cities,” he said. “We have plans to visit a few of those later in the summer with the intent of bringing before City Council at some point a model worthy of consideration.”
City officials explained why the bulk of the funds are being reallocated for Barton Dam, saying seepage is occurring at the base of the dam embankment on the Huron River and there are spots where sand is being lost and drains designed to relieve water pressure have failed.
Federal regulators have determined there’s a risk of dam failure, Dohoney said, noting the project to address it is estimated to cost about $12 million.
Council Member Jenn Cornell, D-5th Ward, expressed mixed feelings about the reallocation, saying the initial intended use of the stimulus funds didn’t seem to align very well with some of the priorities being talked about.
“I’m just wondering why we aren’t committing more to supportive housing or services within our affordable housing communities,” she said.
Council Member Cynthia Harrison, D-1st Ward, said she’s disappointed the plan to use the stimulus funds for unarmed response fell through.
“However, it is important to be thoughtful and strategic to ensure that unarmed crisis response succeeds in Ann Arbor and that is going to take time,” she said.
In the meantime, the community is benefitting from initiatives put in place in 2023, including a driving equality ordinance limiting contact between police and drivers and the Rising Hope for Housing program, which helps reduce recidivism through trauma-informed supportive services, Harrison said.
The city also has been working on a number of other harm-reduction initiatives, she said, mentioning funding for youth programs, substance abuse counseling, eviction prevention and other housing and shelter programs.
“Let’s not forget the deflection efforts through our own Supportive Connections program,” she added, mentioning a program that provides social services to assist people from becoming involved or re-involved with the criminal legal system.
It’s imperative to establish a strong foundation for unarmed crisis response to succeed in Ann Arbor and she’s grateful council is still committed to that, she said.
Mayor Christopher Taylor said the unarmed response program the city eventually will get off the ground will require funding and he sees the city’s marijuana tax revenue and rebate money from a county mental health millage as suitable sources.
“But that, I think, is a larger conversation for another day,” he said.
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