A2 City News Rebecca Rhodes for the City of Ann Arbor

The Newsletter for the City of Ann Arbor, Mich. • October 2012  • Volume 6 • Number 10 Fall fun for all Events are taking place in Ann Arbor throughout October. Check out these fun ways to celebrate the season (find more events on the city’s online calendar).   On Saturday, Oct. 13, 10 a.m.– noon, meet “nature’s recyclers” at the Materials Recovery Facility Open House (4150 Platt Road). A Leslie Science & Nature Center naturalist will provide a fun, interactive program featuring a vulture and other living recyclers. An optional MRF tour is also available. This event is free, and space is limited! Preregister by calling 734.794.6000, extension 43112. Preregistered programs start at 10 and 11:30 a.m. Trick or Treat Down the River is Sunday, Oct. 21 from noon to 4 p.m. at Gallup Canoe Livery (3000 Fuller Ave., 734.794.6240). By canoe or kayak, encounter creatures along the river handing out treats and candy. Bring a bag for collecting candy. And feel free to dress up, too. Fee is $18 per boat. Pre registration is not required.  Volunteers are also needed to dress up and hand out candy during the Trick-or-Treat paddle. Interested? Visit the Volunteer 365 page on the city website, email or call 734.794.6230, extension 42510. Pumpkin-carving fun is planned for Saturday, Oct. 27, 11 am.–1 p.m., at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market (315 Detroit St.). All ages are welcome to enjoy pumpkin carving, face painting and treats from vendors. This event is free. Skate to spooky sounds at the Veterans Memorial Park Halloween Skate, 1–2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27 (2150 Jackson Road, 734.794.6235). Best-costume prizes will be awarded. General admission rates apply at this fun-for-all-ages event. Animal Haunts at the Leslie Science & Nature Center (1831 Traver Road, 734.997.1553) is a family-friendly event Saturday, Oct. 27. Enjoy a guided a hike through Black Pond woods where costumed characters bring plants and animals to life through skits and songs. Pumpkins, games, face painting, cider and more round out the evening. A shorter hike designed especially for families with children ages 5 and under is offered 4:30 to 6 p.m.; and the 7 to 9 p.m. hike is more suitable for older kids and their families. Pre registration rates are $8 per person, $30 per family; or $10/$35 at the door.   And finally … Halloween Trick-or-Treating for participating residents will take place in Ann Arbor neighborhoods between 5 and 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 31. To help keep this holiday fright free and full of fun, tips from the Ann Arbor police department are available online. Among the most basic safety guidelines — parents and guardians should supervise their trick-or-treaters, and stay in neighborhoods that are well lit and familiar. City and residents talk trash Ann Arbor residents are encouraged to lend their voices to the city’s updating process of the five-year Solid Waste Management Plan. The draft five-year update plan is posted for review online, and a printed copy is available at the Customer Service Center, on the first floor of Larcom City Hall, 301 E. Huron St. weekdays during regular business hours, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.   An advisory committee representing Ann Arbor residents, businesses, agencies and the University of Michigan, has been working with staff, City Council and city environmental commissioners over the last year to update the Solid Waste Management Plan. Once adopted, it will provide an outline of cost-effective, customer-friendly and environmentally responsible options to consider and prioritize for implementation over the next five years. There are several ways to provide your input: Take the solid waste planning survey — through Friday, Oct. 5 — either online at or by using the printed version in WasteWatcher newsletter (with a prepaid return mailer), which was delivered to all city residential addresses in September. Residents who wish to include their address with their response can be eligible in three ran

The Newsletter for the City of Ann Arbor, Mich. • September 2012  • Volume 6 • Number 9 A2 Open City Hall debuts Ann Arbor residents have a new way to share feedback with city staff and Council members with the debut of A2 Open City Hall. This new online forum will feature questions about specific projects and initiatives on a regular basis, inviting the public to give input from the convenience of their keyboards.  The first topic on A2 Open City Hall is already underway and focuses on changes residents would like to see along the South State Street Corridor. Additional topics will be launched this fall. Fire restructure proposal meetings  In March, Fire Chief Chuck Hubbard presented a fire department restructuring proposal to City Council, which would position the department to operate out of three fire stations. One station would be located on the north side of the city (Station 5), one on the south side of the city (Station 2) and one in downtown Ann Arbor (Station 1).  However, before this proposal is considered further, community meetings have been scheduled in each of the city’s five wards to give citizens the opportunity to hear more about the fire restructure proposal and ask specific questions pertaining to fire suppression coverage. Please consider attending one of these forums. Tuesday, Sept. 18, 6–8 p.m., Cobblestone Farm, 2781 Packard Road. Wednesday, Sept. 19, 6–8 p.m., Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave.    Thursday, Sept. 20, 6–8 p.m., Ann Arbor District Library Downtown Branch, 343 S. Fifth Ave., conference room A.     Tuesday, Sept. 25, 6–8 p.m. Ann Arbor District Library Traverwood Branch, 3333 Traverwood Drive, program room. Wednesday, Sept. 26, 6–8 p.m., Community Television Network, 2805 S. Industrial, Suite 200. This meeting will be taped and later replayed on CTN Channel 19 and available online to view on demand.  More information about the fire restructure proposal is available on the city website.  Be street savvy The streets of Ann Arbor are again bustling with vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians as schools are back in session, and summer vacations have come to a close. Check out the rules-of-the-road reminders and resources on the city’s “walk bike drive” Web page to help ensure safe travels for all, including:  For those on foot, cross at marked crosswalks, and make sure to give motorists enough time to see you and stop. For bicyclists, ride on the road when possible — and obey the traffic signals. Use bike lanes when available. For motorists, be extra alert at crosswalks, and stop when pedestrians are present to cross. Drivers should also safely give bicyclists room on the road, ideally 3–4 feet of space. Fall/Winter registration now open Registration for Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation fall/winter classes is now open. Find the new, 56-page, color guide at Larcom City Hall, local library branches, Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation Customer Service Center (at Cobblestone Farm, 2781 Packard Road) and all parks and recreation facilities. It's also posted on the parks website as a PDF that you can view or download.  Classes include indoor swim lessons at Mack Pool, instructional skating, beginning hockey skills, yoga, cultural arts programs at the senior center and much more. The guide also features events at the canoe liveries and Leslie Science & Nature Center. Sign up is easy and convenient. Register in person, or use the online registration system. Solid waste plan update The City of Ann Arbor five-year Solid Waste Management Plan updating process is underway.  An advisory committee representing Ann Arbor residents, businesses, agencies and the University of Michigan has been working with staff, City Council, and city environmental commissioners over the last year to update the plan. Opportunities for residents to participate are now being offered as well. Take the solid waste planning survey online or use the printed version in the Was

The Newsletter for the City of Ann Arbor, Michigan                           August 2012, Volume 6, Number 8 This is a reprinted version of the original, which was e-mailed to A2 City News subscribers on Aug. 1, 2012. Further information on featured topics and current news can be found at www.a2gov.org. IN THIS ISSUE  New police chief * Park millage update * A2NonMoto blog * FRA high-speed rail grant * Police golf outing * CTN podcasts * Vote Aug. 7 * Farmers Market turns 93 * Street resurfacing * Tree-care tips * A2 social media * “Around Ann Arbor” * Dates to remember New police chief appointed Ann Arbor City Council has appointed John Seto safety services administrator and police chief. Since April 1, 2012, Seto has served in this role on an interim basis. He was originally hired with the city as a patrol officer in 1990 and was appointed deputy chief of police, operations division, in 2008.  “The internal promotion of a candidate who meets the position’s requirements of leadership, management experience, community involvement, judgment, and trustworthiness is healthy for the police department,” said Ann Arbor City Administrator Steve Powers. “I’m confident John has the experience necessary to serve our community well in this role.” Go online to read more. Park millage update At their June 19, 2012, meeting, the Ann Arbor Parks Advisory Commission unanimously passed a resolution to recommend placement of a renewal of the Park Maintenance and Capital Improvements Millage on the November 2012 election ballot. The resolution also recommends City Council reaffirm the administrative millage policies to inform voters of the manner in which it intends to oversee the administration of the millage if the proposed renewal is approved. This item has been placed on the (Thursday) Aug. 9, 2012, City Council agenda for review and approval. (The Council meeting is scheduled on a Thursday, instead of the usual Monday, due to Election Day.) The Aug. 9 City Council meeting will take place at 7 p.m. in the second floor Council chambers in Larcom City Hall (301 E. Huron St.). As with all other regular Council meetings, this meeting will be telecast live on CTN Channel 16 (Comcast Cable), or watch the meeting live online.  Parks improvements and maintenance activities status tables are available online, by fiscal year, and list park projects funded through your support of the 2008–2013 Park Maintenance and Capital Improvements Millage. Find your path The City of the Ann Arbor has launched a blog that celebrates the culture of nonmotorized transportation within the community: walking, cycling, etc. The “A2nonmoto”blog contains posts with a wide variety of features, such as bike helmet-cam videos, photos from bicycling commuters, pedestrian photos and news from the local and wider nonmotorized worlds. The blog serves as a platform for encouragement and education about the culture of nonmotorized transportation. For more information on the blog, or how to submit your own bicycling or pedestrian photos, please email the city’s transportation office.  City receives FRA high-speed rail grant Ann Arbor City Council recently voted to accept a planning grant from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to support planning of a proposed new rail passenger station in Ann Arbor. The city, in cooperation with Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), applied to the FRA for funding under the FRA’s High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail program. The city was awarded a grant of $3.5 million to complete a comprehensive planning analysis, draft environmental documents and undertake preliminary engineering for the Ann Arbor station.   Originally identified as an element of the 2006 Ann Arbor Model for Mobility and included in the 2009 City Transportation Plan Update, this grant allows the city to continue planning for this essential component of our community’s transportation system. City sta

The Newsletter for the City of Ann Arbor, Mich. • July 2012  • Volume 6 • Number 7 Public comment sought for fire restructure plan At the City Council budget work session on March 12, a fire department restructuring proposal was presented by Fire Chief Chuck Hubbard which would position the department to operate from three fire stations: stations 1, 2 (reopened) and 5. This plan would enable four firefighters to be on duty at each of the three stations. Before this proposal is considered further, the City Administrator and Council would like to give community members the opportunity to hear more about the proposal and ask specific questions. There are a variety of options available to citizens to learn about the Fire Restructure Proposal including: View Fire Restructure Proposal presentation. Watch Chief Hubbard’s March 12 Work Session presentation to City Council via CTN’s video on Demand (use the pull-down menu at the top left of the screen to select "City Council," then scroll through the pages to find the March 12 meeting link).  Watch an interview of Chief Hubbard on CTN’s “Conversations” program which airs on Channel 19 via Video on Demand (use the pull-down menu at the top left of the screen to select "Conversations," then scroll through the pages to find the Chief Hubbard interview link).  Email your feedback, questions and comments about the proposal, with the subject line: Fire Proposal   Request a Fire Restructure Proposal presentation to be given to your neighborhood, community, or Business association by contacting Lisa Wondrash, 734.794.6152.  Website survey Please take a few minutes to complete an online survey about the City of Ann Arbor website. Feedback will be instrumental in helping the city to identify ways to improve user experiences. Thesurvey deadline is July 23. Concerts in the park The Ann Arbor Civic Band summer 2012 concert series is underway. Bring the family, bring a friend and enjoy music in the open air at the West Park band shell. Concerts are Wednesdays at 8 p.m.: July 4: Tribute to the USA July 11: Children's Concert July 18 (season finale): Big Bands Admission is free. Visit the Ann Arbor Civic Band online for more information. MDOT to host meeting for I-94 Business Loop improvements The Michigan Department of Transportation will host an open house-style meeting on Tuesday, July 10 to discuss improvements to I-94 Business Loop (BL) in Ann Arbor, between I-94 and Main Street. The meeting will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. at Abbot Elementary, 2670 Sequoia Parkway. MDOT officials will be available to answer questions about plans to convert a section of I-94 BL, between Dexter Avenue and Burwood Avenue, from four lanes to three. There will be no formal presentation given at the meeting; however, maps and project information will be on display. Construction is currently scheduled for 2014. Go online(PDF) for more information.  2011 water quality report Wonder what’s in your drinking water? Check the annual City of Ann Arbor Water Quality Report to find out! Grand opening of Library Lane Parking Structure On Thursday, July 12, a grand opening party will take place 5–8 p.m. for the Library Lane Parking Structure, 319 S. Fifth Ave. Hosted by the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority, there will be cake, music and a fabulous collection of vintage cars on display, a preview of the Rolling Sculpture Car Show. Bring along something for the parking structure time capsule (which has a 12-inch diameter). Visit the DDA online for details. Transportation survey The Washtenaw Area Transportation Study is beginning development of the 2040 long-range transportation plan for Washtenaw County. To help inform this process, WATS is inviting feedback via the Community  Values Survey. The Community Values Survey is available now through the end of July. West Park construction In 2010, various improvements were made to West Park, including band shell seat

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

The Newsletter for the City of Ann Arbor, Mich. • May 2012  • Volume 6 • Number 5 City administrator presents proposed FY 2013 budget to City Council On April 16, City Administrator Steve Powers presented his recommended Fiscal Year 2013 budget. City Council will consider the proposal during the next few weeks and vote on May 21. Budget overview The FY 2013 budget is the second year of a two-year budget plan. While the city administrator’s proposed budget is similar to the spending plan approved by City Council last year, adjustments were made to respond to current City Council priorities and community needs. Among the highlights: Planned reductions in police and fire staffing are eliminated. A police recruit program will supplement sworn officers and assist with public safety concerns in downtown.  Park mowing will move from the current 19-day cycle to a 14-day cycle. Seasonal park monitors will be added. Street repair and resurfacing work will be at an all-time high. These investments in services and infrastructure do not compromise the city’s financial policies. During the past several years, City Council provided the policy discipline to manage through a very difficult economic environment. The city administrator’s proposed FY 2013 budget recommends the same fiscal discipline in the coming fiscal year. Recurring expenditures are funded by recurring revenues. The proposed budget maintains reserves as a cushion for future economic and state legislative changes, such as the elimination of the personal property tax. For more information The following resources are available to learn more about the FY 2013 proposed budget: View the city administrator’s PowerPoint presentation to Council (PDF).  Watch the April 16 budget presentation to City Councilonline.      Download a complete copy ofthe FY 2013 Budget Message to Council and the Draft Budget Book (PDF).  Watch City Administrator Steve Powers live on CTN’s “Conversations” program on May 7 at 4:30 p.m. Citizens are encouraged to call in live during the program with FY 2013 budget-related questions: Call the studio at 734.794.6155 or email questions in advance. Next steps City Council Regular Meeting: FY 2013 budget and fee public hearing scheduled for May 7 at Larcom City Hall, Council chambers, second floor, 301 E. Huron St., at 7 p.m. Council Work Session: FY 2013 Budget Discussion scheduled on May 14 at Larcom City Hall, Council chambers, second floor, 301 E. Huron St. at 7 p.m. City Council Regular Meeting: City Council consideration of city administrator's recommended FY 2013 budget on May 21 at Larcom City Hall, Council chambers, second floor, 301 E. Huron St. at 7 p.m. City administration thanks you for your time and interest in the operation of your city. Public comment sought for fire services restructure plan At the City Council budget work session on March 12, a fire department restructuring proposal was presented by Fire Chief Chuck Hubbard, which would position the department to operate from three fire stations: stations 1, 2 (reopened) and 5. This plan would enable four firefighters to be on duty at each of the three stations. Before this proposal is considered further, the city administrator and Council would like to give members from the community the opportunity to hear more about the proposal and ask specific questions. There are a variety of options available to citizens to learn about the Fire Restructure Proposal including: View Fire Restructure Proposal PowerPoint presentation (PDF). Watch Chief Hubbard’s March 12 work session presentation to City Council via CTN’s Video on Demand.  Watch an interview of Chief Hubbard on CTN’s “Conversations” program, which airs on Comcast Channel 19 or isavailable via Video on Demand. Send your feedback, questions and comments about the proposal with the subject line: Fire Proposal.  Request a Fire Restructure Proposal presentation be given to your neighborhood, comm