June 2012 - A2 CIty News A2 City News

The Newsletter for the City of Ann Arbor, Mich. • June 2012 • Volume 6 • Number 6 Fiscal year 2012 budget approved On May 21, 2012, Ann Arbor City Council adopted the fiscal year 2013 budget after many hours of deliberation and discussion. The City of Ann Arbor fiscal year 2013 runs July 1, 2012, until June 30, 2013. Although the adopted budget was very similar to the city administrator’s recommended budget, it did include amendments that made minor adjustments to the human services, housing commission and District Court budgets. In addition, direction was given to increase fire staff if additional revenue from the state is obtained via fire protection grants. A more extensive description of the key highlights included in the budget can be found on page one of the draft budget book. To view the May 21 meeting in its entirety, visit CTN’s Video on Demand. AAPD welcomes new officers Ann Arbor police services held a swearing-in ceremony on May 11 to welcome five new police officers (pictured above). City Council’s recently adopted fiscal year 2013 budget, which begins on July 1, 2012, will include one additional full-time police officer position and the hiring of five part-time officers for a new recruit program. Historic District Commission Awards The City of Ann Arbor Planning and Development Services Unit together with the Ann Arbor Historic District Commission will present the 2012 Historic District Commission Awards on Monday, June 4 during the introduction portion of the City Council meeting. Certificates will be awarded for preservation, rehabilitation, lifetime achievement, special merit and two centennial awards — all in honor of National Preservation Month in June. Go online for a complete list of this year’s honorees. Visitor parking Are you planning to visit Ann Arbor Larcom City Hall or the Ann Arbor Justice Center? There are now three additional short-term, metered parking spaces on the southeast (Huron Street) side of the municipal center site, which is located at 301 E. Huron St. These new spaces are especially convenient for after-hours visitors to the site. Just cross the bridge through the municipal center plaza to reach either buildings’ entrance. The science of road construction After nearly six weeks of construction, Huron Parkway, between Hubbard and Fuller, is now complete, and the road is reopened. Still, with plenty of other road projects underway, here is some insight into road construction planning in the City of Ann Arbor. Prioritization When choosing which roads will be reconstructed, the city first calculates the best return on investment, to make sure street millage money is invested in the most economical way. This includes taking into account the condition of the city's utilities. For example, it is prudent to repair water and sewer lines ahead of street resurfacing projects, so the streets do not have to be opened again shortly after the reconstruction. If a water main is identified to need replacement, the city adjusts road project priorities to minimize the overall expenditure. Detours When it comes to rerouting traffic due to construction activities, the detour options are admittedly limited. A street map of Ann Arbor will clearly show the general "wheel and spoke" shape of the city’s road system, with some areas in a grid pattern. As a result of this configuration, there are few substitute routes capable of providing convenient detours. Perhaps the best route to take when construction project “season” approaches is to know the facts. Be sure to subscribe to receive road and lane closure email updates. In addition, some of the larger-scale projects may have their own, specific subscription topics. See a complete topic list on the city website at www.a2gov.org/subscribe. Updates may also be posted to the City of Ann Arbor Facebook and Twitterpages.      Go online for more information on the city’s annual street resurfacing program. CTN open house