December 2011 - A2 City News

The Newsletter for the City of Ann Arbor, Mich. • December 2011 • Volume 5 • Number 12 Ann Arbor Bridges project underway (pictured above, Michigan Department of Transportation Director Kirk Steudle addresses the crowd at the Ann Arbor Bridges groundbreaking event) The groundbreaking ceremony for the Ann Arbor Bridges Project took place on Monday, Nov. 21, 2011, by the bridge overpass on South State Street. Celebrating the federal TIGER II grant support for the Ann Arbor Bridges Reconstruction Project, Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje was joined by Michigan Congressman John Dingel, Michigan Department of Transportation Director Kirk Steudle, and Federal Highway Administration, Regional Administrator Russell Jorgensen. Follow construction project updates and traffic impacts atwww.annarborbridges.org. Building services and parking referees return to Larcom City Hall Visitors to the Ann Arbor Municipal Center will see many signs that construction has neared completion. The pedestrian bridge in the Ann Arbor Municipal Center plaza opened to the public on Nov. 2. The bridge spans through the plaza’s rain garden on the building’s south side. The Herbert Dreiseitl-designed water feature sculpture, which integrates storm water reuse from the site, is situated adjacent to the rain garden and bridge. At this time, the water feature has not been turned on, but when in operation, it will allow water to travel down a path heading back into the rain garden. The water path is shallow and has movable parts that visitors can use to adjust the flow of the water. The north parking lot (entrance on Ann Street) opened Nov. 1 to serve short-term visitors to Larcom City Hall and/or the Ann Arbor Justice Center and features half-hour parking meters. In addition, the north entrance to the Larcom City Hall atrium is open, providing access directly from the new north parking lot and the street parking on Ann Street. The new entrance is a convenient entryway to City Hall, and can serve as an easily accessible walkthrough to the neighboring Justice Center, on the south (Huron Street) side of the municipal center site. With the expansion of onsite parking, the city’s building services and the parking referees divisions have returned to Larcom City Hall. The parking referee offices have relocated back to the fifth floor of City Hall. Building services is now located on the first floor of City Hall. Winter taxes due Winter property taxes are due this month. Taxes may be paid online, by mail, at the City of Ann Arbor Customer Service Center (now located on the first floor of Larcom City Hall at 301 E. Huron St.) or at several local banks. TCF Bank, Bank of Ann Arbor, Michigan Commerce Bank, Fidelity Bank, Citizens Bank and Ann Arbor State Bank will accept tax payments in December only. Online payments can also be made.   Due to the holiday, payments will be accepted through Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012, without penalty. Go online to the treasury page of the city website for more information, including how property taxes are calculated. Kids: Talk to Santa live on CTN! He’s making a list, he’s checking it twice … and just in time, kids (naughty or nice) can share their holiday wishes and questions directly with Santa himself.Community Television Network A2TV, Public Access Channel 17 (on Comcast Cable), will telecast the Santa Satellite Network LIVE from Santa’s home in the North Pole Thursday, Dec. 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. An annual tradition, boys and girls are invited to watch and call in to the CTN studio hotline at 734.794.6155 to talk with Santa, Mrs. Claus and their helpful elf, Audrey. (Kids, ask your parents before making the call.)  Encore presentations of "Santa Live" will be telecast Christmas Day, Sunday, Dec. 25 on Channel 17 (Comcast Cable) at 7 a.m., 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.  For more information about CTN, visit the website or call CTN at 734.794.6150. For additional CTN news, follow onTwitter or become a fan on Facebook. Close of curbside compost/yard waste collection The seasonal curbside pickups of yard waste and compostable materials will end for the season on Friday, Dec. 16, 2011. Ann Arbor’s compost collection is extended into December to provide additional time to collect fall leaves and other yard debris. Residents should put these materials in paper lawn bags or compost carts or tie brush into bundles and place on their lawn extensions near the curb, as described atwww.a2gov.org/compost.  The city’s curbside compost collection service will resume Monday, April 2, 2012. For 24-hour information on the city’s solid waste services, please call  99.GREEN (734.994.7336) or consult the city’s website atwww.a2gov.org/recycle. Details on the city’s fall leaf-management programs are posted at www.a2gov.org/leaves. Christmas tree disposal While many residents are just beginning to deck their halls for the holidays, others, like those heading out of town for the season, may already be wondering what to do with their Christmas trees before they leave. Undecorated Christmas trees may be dropped off — free and 24/7 — in the parking lot adjacent to the Drop-off Station at 2950 E. Ellsworth Thursday, Dec. 15 through Tuesday, Jan. 31. Please note that curbside collection of Christmas trees was discontinued as of last season. Therefore, residents should plan to dispose of their trees either outside of the Drop-off Station during the posted collection timeframe; or residents may cut and tie their trees into bundles and reserve for the beginning of compost-collection season, the first Monday in April. Go online for additional details. Give the gift of recreation What’s fun, healthy and would make a great gift? Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation gift certificates! A table will be set up at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market (315 Detroit Street) to sell this unique gift on the following days:Saturday, Dec. 3; Wednesday, Dec. 7; Saturday, Dec. 10; Wednesday, Dec. 14; Saturday, Dec. 17; and Wednesday, Dec. 21. Gift certificates can be easily redeemed for a variety of activities including golf,swimming, ice skating, hockey,canoeing/kayaking and more. While you’re at the Farmers Market, be sure to pick up the latest parks and recreation brochures and the 2011 – 2012 fall/winter Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation Activities Guide. Can’t make it to the market? Call the parks and recreation customer service office, and order gift certificate in any amount. The number to call, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., is 734.794.6230. The gift certificate will be mailed to you. Have a happy — and healthy — holiday season, from Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation! Single stream recycling, one year later Over the last year, Ann Arbor’s recycling rates have increased by 24 percent, and trash tonnages have been reduced by 10 percent. In July 2010, the City of Ann Arbor’s recycling system underwent a transformation to a single-stream operation, and other enhancements were made. Now, the city is looking back over the first year of the upgraded recycling program. Go online to learn more details about recycling — then and now — in Ann Arbor. In this issue: Ann Arbor Bridges project * Building services and parking referees to Larcom City Hall *  Santa Live on CTN Dec. 8 * Compost collection ends Dec. 16 * Christmas tree disposal * Parks and recreation gifts certificates on sale now * Single-stream recycling recap * Winter parks and rec fun * Snow removal in A2 * Holiday safety tips * HUD Sustainable Community Grant * West Park tennis courts * Kudos * December calendar Winter parks and rec fun From swimming to skating — indoors and out — there are activities for all to enjoy this month in the Ann Arbor parks.Click here (PDF) for an overview of the parks December schedule, including school-break open skating times. Snow-removal resources and reminders Want to know — from the warmth and comfort of your home — if specific neighborhood streets have been de-iced or plowed? When there is a significant snow event in Ann Arbor, with 4 or more inches of accumulated snow, the city activates a Web page that posts the status of plow activity to clear the streets. For up-to-date snow information, please visit the general city snow page,www.a2gov.org/snow. Sign up for an automatic email announcement whenever the snow plow Web page is activated. Click on the red envelope in the corner of the “snow” Web page at www.a2gov.org/snow. In addition, the city is dependent upon its citizens for providing sidewalk snow removal. The city reminds property owners or occupants that: Immediately after the accumulation of ice, sidewalks must be treated with sand, salt or other substance to prevent it from being slippery and the ice removed within 24 hours after accumulation. Within 24 hours after the end of each accumulation of snow greater than 1 inch, the owner or occupant of every residentially zoned property must remove the accumulation from the adjacent public sidewalk and ramps leading to a crosswalk. The accumulation may be from any source including precipitation and drifting. Holiday safety tips Among the stacks of wrapped presents, festive candles and dry Christmas tree needles, an elevated risk for fires exists during the holidays. Ann Arbor fire services is providing safety tips to keep in mind to help keep the season merry. Washtenaw County earns Sustainable Community Grant (pictured above, holding check, is HUD Midwest Regional Administrator Antonio Riley, left, and City of Ann Arbor Councilman Tony Derezinski, right; leaders from throughout the county look on) Today, 64 percent of the residents in Washtenaw County live in the urban core which runs from Ann Arbor to Ypsilanti, connected by Washtenaw Avenue. This corridor is the busiest road in the county, yet few housing options presently exist directly on the corridor, with mostly low-density neighborhoods in their place. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently announced a $3,000,000 grant will be awarded to Washtenaw County for the Washtenaw County Sustainable Community project. The goal of this project is to remove barriers and create a coordinated approach to affordable and energy-efficient housing, as well as to connect these affordable housing options to job centers and healthy food via an enhanced multimodal transportation corridor. The City of Ann Arbor and several other agencies and municipalities will work together on this initiative. Read more about the grant on the HUD website.  Learn about the Washtenaw County Sustainable Community Project by clicking here (opens new document). West Park tennis courts update The paving of the West Park tennis courts is being delayed until spring 2012 due to rainy weather this fall. The construction will resume as soon as weather permits next spring. In the meantime, the tennis courts atVeterans Memorial Park were recently rebuilt and are available for use. Questions? Please contact Park Planner Amy Kuras at 734.794.6000, extension 42590. Kudos Ann Arbor has recently been recognized in the following ways: For the fourth year in a row, the City of Ann Arbor has been recognized by e.Republic’s Center for Digital Government and Digital Communities magazine for its use of technology to create a seamless environment between local government and citizens. The annual survey focused on results achieved by cities, via the use of technology, in operating efficiencies and realizing strategic objectives despite current fiscal constraints. The City of Ann Arbor is listed at No. 5 in the 2011 Digital Cities Survey rankings (in the 75,000 to 124,999 population category). Learn about the initiatives that helped Ann Arbor earn Digital-city status on the city’s website.  USAA and Military.com have named Ann Arbor in their 2011 list of Best Places for Military Retirement: Second Careers. Among the factors earning Ann Arbor this recognition are its: employment opportunities and sectors that align with military skills sets, and the overall jobs climate based on unemployment rate and number of small businesses; proximity to a military base and a VA hospital or clinic, base amenities and state taxation on military pensions; and general quality of life and pocketbook issues, such as affordability, housing costs, crime rate, sales taxes and climate. Ann Arbor is being touted as the No. 1 “smartest big city” according to a list issued bybizjournals.com. Ann Arbor; Cambridge, Mass.; and Berkeley, Calif., hold the top three places in the analysis of educational attainment in 269 communities with more than 100,000 residents. Seventy-two percent of all adults (25 or older) hold bachelor's degrees in Ann Arbor. December dates to remember City of Ann Arbor government offices will be closed at the following times during the holidays. Have a safe and peaceful season. Fridays, Dec. 23 and Dec. 30: City government offices close at noon. No delay in trash/recycling collection. Mondays, Dec. 26, 2011, and Jan. 2, 2012: Christmas New Year’s Day observed — City government offices are closed. There is no trash or recycling collection on these holiday Mondays. Pickups resume one day later, Tuesday through Saturday. Visit www.a2gov.org/calendar for other important December dates. A2 City News Web Page *City Council *Contact Us *Meeting Agendas  *News/Announcements *Road/Lane Closures A2 City News is emailed to newsletter subscribers by the City of Ann Arbor. Please share comments via email or call 734.794.6110, extension 41105.

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November 2011 A2 City News

The Newsletter for the City of Ann Arbor, Mich. • November 2011 • Volume 5 • Number 11 Election Day reminders Tuesday, Nov. 8 is the City General Election to elect City of Ann Arbor Council candidates in all five wards. Three City of Ann Arbor Charter amendment proposals will also appear on this ballot, including the renewal of the Streets Repair and Resurfacing Millage, the Sidewalk Repair Millage and an amendment to restructure the Ann Arbor City Employees Retirement Board of Trustees. City of Ann Arbor polling locations will be in operation from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Polling place locations, candidates and millage information is available on the city’s election website at www.a2gov.org/elections; and for Election Day tips, click here. You can also find out your exact polling location by visiting the Michigan Votes online voter information center atwww.michigan.gov/vote. For residents voting via absentee ballot, the City Clerk’s office, on the second floor of Larcom City Hall, will be open on Saturday, Nov. 5, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., for voters to pick up or turn in their absentee ballots. To learn more about the candidates running for City Council, be sure to tune in to the League of Women Voters Candidate Forums. All debates are being  rebroadcast on Community Television Network CitiTV Channel 19 until the Nov. 8 election. Check the CTN website for replay dates and times, or watch online at CitiTV Video on Demand. http://a2cititv.pegcentral.com Ann Arbor Municipal Center updates Additional signs of progress around the Ann Arbor Municipal Center site are scheduled to take place in early November. The north parking lot (entrance on Ann Street) is expected to open during the first week in November. The lot will feature parking meters and will serve short-term visitors to Larcom City Hall and/or the Ann Arbor Justice Center. During the same timeframe, the north entrance to the Larcom City Hall atrium is scheduled to open, providing access directly from the new north parking lot and the street parking on Ann Street. The new entrance will be a convenient entryway to City Hall, and may serve as a convenient walkthrough to the neighboring Justice Center, on the south (Huron Street) side of the municipal center site. With the expansion of onsite parking, the city’s building services and the parking referees office will then return to Larcom City Hall during the second week of November. The parking referee office will relocate back to City Hall, on the fifth floor, on Tuesday, Nov. 15. Referee sessions will be cancelled on that day to accommodate the moving of staff. Building services will open at 8 a.m. on the first floor of Larcom City Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 15. Building service’s last day of business at the South Industrial office will be Monday, Nov. 14. Ann Arbor Bridges project The Ann Arbor Bridges project will be gearing up in November. A public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 9, 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Pioneer High School, cafeteria annex, 601 W. Stadium Boulevard. At this meeting, information will be shared about the East Stadium bridges reconstruction project, including construction schedule, funding, project impacts, planned detour routes, what to expect during construction, etc. Please also note the following project milestones kicking off in November 2011. East Stadium Boulevard will be closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic on Monday, Nov. 28, 2011. South Street will be closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic Monday, Nov. 28 to Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011 East Stadium Boulevard reopens to traffic November 2012 Project completion and final restoration: May 30, 2013 Use these resources to stay connected about construction impacts and detours, progress and more. Use these resources to stay connected about construction impacts and detours, progress and more. Visit the Ann Arbor Bridges website  Follow project updates on Twitter Become a fan on Facebook Graffiti Ordinance enforcement increases Beginning on Nov. 1, 2011, the City of Ann Arbor Community Standards Unit will dedicate staff to graffiti enforcement. The dedicated enforcement is in response to the recent increase in graffiti incidences.  In 2009, City Council passed an ordinance to strengthen the language in the city’s Graffiti Ordinance (Chapter 106 Nuisances, Section 9.6) for removing graffiti on private property. (To read the ordinance, visit the City Code data online, and search “graffiti.”) The appearance of graffiti detracts from Ann Arbor’s aesthetic appeal, can decrease property values and has a negative impact on the sense of safety and security for residents and visitors. As stated in the ordinance, “graffiti” constitutes: a public nuisance and means any mark or marks on any surface or structure made without the prior permission of the property owner and made in any manner, including but not limited to, writing, inscribing, drawing, tagging, sketching, spray-painting, painting, etching, scratching, carving, engraving, scraping, or attaching. Per the Graffiti Ordinance, property owners are required to remove graffiti within seven calendar days after notice from the city. If the owner does not remove the graffiti, then the city may remove the graffiti and bill the property owner for the work. Removal of the graffiti may be by means of actual physical removal or covering the graffiti over with paint or similar substance applied to the structure. The Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority has allocated funds to subsidize the cost of graffiti-removal products for downtown businesses and building owners in 2011. If any graffiti remains on the property beyond the time indicated in a notice, then the City may remove the graffiti or have it removed in any reasonable manner. The costs to the City for removal and administration shall be charged to the owner and, if not paid, assessed against the property in accordance with section 1:292 of Chapter 13 of this Code. A violation of this sub section is NOT a civil infraction or misdemeanor for the property owner. In addition, the ordinance also addresses the consequence faced by the person responsible for doing the graffiti, stating that: No person shall apply graffiti to any surface or structure. A violation of this subsection shall be a misdemeanor punishable by one or more of the following: Community service that is as relevant and appropriate to the violation as possible; Restitution; A fine of not more than $500.00 plus costs. For more on the dedicated enforcement, please click here.  Managing leaves in A2 As a reminder, the city does not collect leaves raked into the streets. Instead, residents should dispose of leaves using the weekly compost (bag or cart) pickups, April through the end of November. Other options include mulching the leaves directly into the turf; or try at-home composting. In addition, residents may drop off leaves, free of charge, at the Compost Center, 4150 Platt Road, open Monday through Friday (non holidays) 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., through Dec. 31. Details are available on the website, www.a2gov.org/leaves. CTN Philo Festival Award winners Ann Arbor Community Television Network and its community producers have won several awards at this year’s Philo T. Farnsworth Festival of Media Arts Awards. The Philo Awards is hosted annually by the Central States Alliance for Community Media. CTN took home 15 first place Philos and 12 finalist (second place) Philos, along with two Excellence Awards. In addition, CTN also received an additional 13 nominations for Excellence Awards. The Philo Festival of Media Arts, a presentation of the Central States Region of the Alliance for Community Media, was held  Saturday, Oct.8 on the campus of Northern Kentucky University. The City of Ann Arbor congratulates CTN and especially the list of winners and finalists, whichcan be viewed by clicking here. In this issue: Election Day * Ann Arbor Municipal Center updates * Ann Arbor Bridges * Graffiti ordinance enforcement * Managing leaves in A2 * CTN Philo Festival award winners * New mobile website for construction /building professionals * City hosts Indonesian professionals * PACE promotes energy efficiency * Buhr Park Outdoor Ice Arena is open * Deck the halls with Volunteer 365 * Dates to remember New mobile website for construction/building professionals The City of Ann Arbor Planning and Development Services Unit, together with its information technology staff, are pleased to announce the debut of a mobile website for  construction and building customers. A mobile website refers to the use of Internet-connected applications, or browser-based access to the Internet from a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet computer, connected to a wireless network. This new site enables people to use their smartphones to access building records and general planning and development information as well as to schedule and obtain inspection results and plan review status. This service is a complement to the eTRAKiT system that currently allows users to access this same information from a website and through its interactive voice response system for phones. The mobile site, which will eventually be this URL http://etrakit.a2gov.org/mobile, will go live mid November. This feature will allow customers greater access to construction and building information to a user base that does a great deal of their work in the field and on location. City hosts Indonesian professionals (pictured above: visiting Indonesian professionals tour the wastewater treatment plant) The City of Ann Arbor was selected by the International City/County Management Association as a 2011 host community for the International Professional Fellows Program on creating more sustainable communities. This exchange program is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and residents of other countries. Ann Arbor hosted two professional fellows from Indonesia Sept. 29 through Oct. 14. The program fellows, with city staff and other community entities, focused on climate change, energy and sustainability in the context of local government management. Other areas of interest included transportation, municipal water management and land-use planning. This ICMA program was paid for through the support of the Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. PACE promotes energy efficiency Ann Arbor City Council has unanimously supported the establishment of a Property Assessed Clean Energy Program (PACE). The approved PACE program will provide special assessments for energy projects installed on commercial properties. Electronic files of the resolution to establish, the referenced report and an application package are available online at www.a2energy.org or can be requested via e-mail. The establishment of a PACE program allows the city to raise capital to use for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects on commercial properties located within Ann Arbor city limits. The availability of PACE funding supports economic stimulation creates jobs and reduces operating costs for business owners. The properties pay for the energy projects through the use of a voluntary special assessment. This approach provides more attractive financing to property owners by offering fixed interest rates and a longer repayment period than offered through traditional financing. Commercial properties — defined as any property that is not a single family home, duplex or certain townhouses — may apply for energy projects such as heating and air conditioning equipment, lighting, system controls, insulation and weather sealing, cool roofs, windows and doors, geothermal systems, energy star appliances and solar photovoltaic systems. Projects may range in size from $10,000 to $350,000. PACE is a joint program with the City of Ann Arbor and Clean Energy Coalition. Commercial property owners inquiring about the PACE program and application process/qualifications should contact Energy Program Coordinator Wendy Barrott at 734.794.6430, extension 43714. Buhr Park outdoor ice arena is open Dust off your skates … Buhr Park Outdoor Ice Arena is open for the season! The rink has a cooled subfloor that maintains the ice even when it’s over 50 degrees outside. Activities include pubic ice skating and drop-in hockey. The facility has a heated lobby, restrooms and locker rooms. Skate sharpening and rentals are available. Season passes are available for individuals and for families. The first Funky Frosty Friday at Buhr Park is Friday, Nov. 4 during general skate (7:15 to 8:45 p.m.). The theme is Peace & Love Skate: Dress like you’re spending the weekend at Woodstock, and skate to the sounds of the late ‘60s. To learn more about Buhr Park Outdoor Ice Arena or to inquire about renting the ice for skating or hockey events/parties, call 734.794.6234 or go online. Deck the halls with Volunteer 365 The weekend after Thanksgiving, join the Volunteer 365 program to help decorate two city facilities — work off some of that turkey and pumpkin pie and make your heart stronger, too. Volunteer efforts will transform the Ann Arbor Farmers Market and the Senior Center with a winter wonderland theme. First, on Saturday, Nov. 26, 3:30 – 6:30 p.m., a corps of Give 365 volunteers will decorate the Farmers Market (315 Detroit St.) The seasonal treatment will spruce up the market for shoppers and vendors, alike. Then, on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2 – 6 p.m., the Ann Arbor Senior Center will get the winter-wonderland treatment from 365 volunteers, adding extra cheer for local seniors to enjoy. Go online for more details about Volunteer 365and to learn about other opportunities. Orregister to help by e-mailing, or calling 734.794.6230, extension 42510. Dates to remember Among the many public meetings/events taking place in November, including those featured in articles this month, here are some of the highlights. Go online for a more-complete list. The City Clerk’s office will be open Saturday, Nov. 5, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., for absentee ballots. The General City Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8 (www.a2gov.org/elections). The Ann Arbor Bridges replacement project public meeting is 7 – 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 9. Due to the election, the City Council meeting will take place on Thursday, Nov. 10. Friday, Nov. 11, city government offices will be closed in observance of Veterans Day. However, there will be no interruption in trash/recycling/compost collection. And Thursday and Friday, Nov. 24 and 25, city government offices will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday. There will be no collection of trash/ recycling/compost on Thursday the 24th, and a one-day delay will instead occur, Friday and Saturday. * A2 City News Web Page * City Council * Contact Us * Meeting Agendas * News/Announcements * Road/Lane Closures * A2 City News is e-mailed to newsletter subscribers by the City of Ann Arbor. Please share comments via e-mail or call 734.794.6110, extension 41105.

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October 2011 A2 City News

The Newsletter for the City of Ann Arbor, Michigan           *      October 2011           *      Volume 5      *      Number 10 Introducing, A2's new city administrator Ann Arbor, “meet” new City Administrator Steve Powers on an upcoming edition of Community Television Network’s Conversations program. Powers, who began with the city in mid September, most recently served with Marquette County. This episode of Conversations airs on CitiTV 19 on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 6:30 p.m. Or, through Oct. 25, catch replays Monday through Friday at 10:30 a.m., 6:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 6:30 p.m. CTN programming can also be viewed online viaVideo on Demand. Simply search for the episode(s) you wish to view. Programs are available online 24 to 48 hours after they premiere. Making strides toward financial transparency The City of Ann Arbor recently launchedA2OpenBook, an interactive website designed to increase financial transparency. All city expenses and revenue are disclosed in a simple and easy-to-use format, giving direct access to see how the city is spending tax dollars, fees and other city revenue. Every 24 hours, the city’s financial data downloads directly from its financial database to the A2OpenBook website. City expenditure and revenue information, dated July 1, 2010, to the present, can be browsed in a variety of ways including: Vendor (search by alphabetical list or expense amounts) Expense type (choose from more than 300 categories such as utilities, materials and supplies or travel) Service Area/Service Unit Fund (choose among all budgeted funds) The Citizen Guide to Finance and Budget is another online resource to increase transparency and help educate taxpayers about the city’s budget process. Together, A2OpenBook and the budget guide are intended to help citizens better understand the ongoing efforts to maintain a balanced budget while also balancing service needs and expectations. Please contact the City of Ann Arbor finance department with feedback or suggested content additions to further enhance the usefulness of these resources. 9/11 memorial event City of Ann Arbor police and fire services commemorated the 10th anniversary of 9/11 with a special ceremony. Dozens of people attended to remember those who lost their lives on this date and to honor the men and women who continue to serve our community and country. Photos, clockwise, beginning top left: Safety Services Area Administrator Chief Barnett Jones at the podium; flag is raised; members of the Skyline High School choir Parks improvements slated to begin While it seems activity in the parks would begin to slow down this time of year, at several area parks, improvement activities are underway.  Renovations to the Veterans Memorial Park locker rooms, used by pool guests and hockey teams alike, are just being completed, including new flooring, lockers, fixtures (sinks and toilets), lighting, ventilation and painting. Up next at Vets, a new pool shade structure with solar panels is being added to provide electricity for the arena. Construction begins this month. West Park is currently undergoing a total reconstruction of its tennis courts and shuffle board court. Construction should be complete this fall, weather permitting. The courts are currently closed. Other parks slated for renovations include Island Park’s Greek Revival Shelter; Winewood Thaler Park; Beckley Park; and Hunt Park. Halloween safety and fun Halloween Trick-or-Treating in Ann Arbor neighborhoods, for participating residents, will take place between 5 and 8 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 31. While this holiday is meant to be full of fun, it can also bring about some (avoidable) frights. The most basic safety precautions are for parents and guardians to supervise their trick-or-treaters, and to stay in neighborhoods that are well-lit and familiar. More tips are available online to help keep your Halloween safe … But what about the fun? Never fear. Check out these holiday spooktacular events (see more events throughout October on the online calendar). Trick or Treat Down the River (pictured above) is Sunday, Oct. 16 from noon to 4 p.m. at Gallup Canoe Livery, 3000 Fuller Ave. By canoe or kayak, you will encounter creatures along the river handing out treats and candy. Feel free to dress up, too. Fee is $22 per boat. Pre registration is not required; and all ages are welcome. Bring a bag for collecting candy. Go online for details or call 734.794.6240.  Skate to spooky sounds at the Veterans Memorial Park Halloween Skate, Saturday, Oct. 29. Vets is located at 2150 Jackson Road. Best-costume prizes will be awarded. General admission rates apply at this fun-for-all-ages event. Go online for details or call 734.794.6235.  Animal Haunts at the Leslie Science & Nature Center ( 1831 Traver Road) is a family-friendly event Saturday, Oct. 22. 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 five and under is offered between 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. Call for details, 734.997.1553, or go online.  Adults 50 and better are invited to a Halloween Party Monday, Oct. 31 at the Ann Arbor Senior Center (1320 Baldwin Ave.). Reservations are required. Please call 734.796.6250 at least one week in advance of the event date. DDA State of the Downtown Report The Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority encompasses all or part of 66 blocks, is approximately 271 acres, and is home to approximately 1,200 businesses, a great number of entertainment and educational venues, and approximately 2,800 Ann Arbor residents. Learn more about the DDA and some of its most recent impacts on downtown Ann Arbor in the DDA State of the Downtown report. Where to find ... the Customer Service Center Just a reminder … The city’s customer service and payment center is now located on the first floor of Larcom City Hall, 301 E. Huron St. Parking options include at meters along Ann Street. Customer service can also be reached at 734.794.6320, orvia e-mail. IN THIS ISSUE: new city administrator * A2OpenBook * 9/11 memorial event * parks improvements * halloween * DDA report * customer service location * leaf-management * East Stadium bridges * sculpture unveiling * police golf outing * street and sidewalk millages * dates Leaf-management options Autumn is upon us, and the city is reminding residents/property owners of leaf-management options. Ann Arborites can choose to mulch their leaves on site, set paper bags and compost carts of leaves at the curb for weekly pickup; or residents can take advantage of free bulk leaf drop-off locations. Please remember that the city no longer picks up loose leaves raked to the street. More information is provided online about weekly compostables pickups, leaf mulching, home composting and free bulk leaf drop off at the Compost Center, 4150 Platt Road. Go towww.a2gov.org/leaves for details. East Stadium bridges project The East Stadium bridges reconstruction project will break ground this month, launching major construction work to replace the two aged bridges, just to the south of the University of Michigan football stadium. The project will also include staircase construction and walkways for pedestrians and new lighting. A groundbreaking ceremony for the East Stadium bridges project will be scheduled for mid October, with Congressman John Dingell and other dignitaries in attendance. More information will be shared once an event time and date are set. In the meantime, discover each of the ways to stay informed about the project — detours, progress and more: Visit the Ann Arbor Bridges website.  Follow project updates on Twitter.  Become a fan on Facebook.  Subscribe to receive updates right to your e-mail inbox. Municipal center sculpture unveiling The Ann Arbor Public Art Commission invites the public to the ceremony and dedication of the major public art installation at the Ann Arbor Municipal Center, 301 E. Huron, on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011, at 7 p.m. The event will welcome the artist of the installation, Herbert Dreiseitl, for the dedication and the lighting of the newly completed work. The sculpture was commissioned as part of the city’s new municipal center, which includes the Justice Center and Larcom City Hall building. It will serve as a centerpiece of the LEED Gold facility, featuring storm water collection and retention systems. Storm water collected from the facility will cascade over the sculpture; adjacent to the sculpture is a path that incorporates moving water into a rain garden at the front of the building. Go online for more information on the municipal center and the special LEED-certification features. Oct. 7 Police Charity Golf Outing The 20th annual Ann Arbor Police Department Charity Golf Outing (PDF) is Friday, Oct. 7. This event raises money for The Jason Zogaib Memorial Fund and The Vada Murray Fund for Cancer Research.  The four‐person scramble event takes place at Leslie Park Golf Course, 2120 Traver Road, with a 9 a.m. shotgun start. The fee of $85 per person includes: 18 holes of golf (including cart); lunch at the turn; catered dinner; raffle; prizes; and games. Non golfers are welcome to attend at $20 per person. More information, including the registration form, is available online (PDF), or contact Officer Chris Foerg, 517.673.8274 or Officer Katie Nucci, 734.330.5175. Street and sidewalk millage proposals on November ballot Two millages concerning street, bridge and sidewalk resurfacing and reconstruction will be on the Nov. 8 City General Election ballot: Proposal 1 Ann Arbor City Charter Amendment Tax for Street and Bridge Resurfacing and Reconstruction; and Proposal 2 Ann Arbor City Charter Amendment Tax for Street and Bridge Resurfacing and Reconstruction and For Sidewalk Repairs (note: adoption of proposal 2 is conditioned upon adoption at this election of Proposal 1).  Three meetings will take place in October for the public to review and discuss the two ballot proposals: Tuesday, Oct. 11, 7 - 8:30 p.m. Cobblestone Farm, 2781 Packard Road Wednesday, Oct. 12, 7 - 8:30 p.m. Clague Media Center, 2616 Nixon Road Tuesday, Oct. 18, 7 - 8:30 p.m. Forsythe Media Center, 1655 Newport Road In addition, Homayoon Pirooz of the city’s project management services unit (engineering department) will appear on Community Television Network’s Conversations series to discuss these ballot items. This episode airs on CitiTV Channel 19 Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1 and 2 at 6:30 p.m., and the following Monday through Friday at 10:30 a.m., 6:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.. If you have questions or feedback and cannot attend the public meetings, please e-mail City of Ann Arbor project management services or call 734.794.6410, extension 0. The City of Ann Arbor maintains approximately 200 miles of residential streets, 100 miles of major streets and 13 bridges. Because of the frequent changes in local temperatures, area roads experience severe freeze-and-thaw cycles that greatly impact their life span. Many city roads need new asphalt surfacing after 15 to 20 years, and require complete reconstruction after 30 years. The city’s current street reconstruction millageexpires this year. The annual levy amount paid by household is based on the taxable value of the property, which is approximately half of the market value of a home. The 2011 levy amount for a property with an average market value of $214,000 is $213.40 because the 2-mill rate has been rolled back over five years to 1.9944 mills. If a new street millage is approved at the Nov. 8 election, this same household will pay $214.00 in 2012 because the millage rate would be increased to the full 2 mills. By operation of law, the 2-mill rate may be rolled back in subsequent years during the five years the millage would be in effect. If you are not yet registered to vote, the deadline to register is Tuesday, Oct. 11 in order to be able to vote in the November election. More dates to remember Among the many public meetings/events taking place in October, including those featured in articles this month, here are some of the highlights. Go online for a more-complete list.  Buhr Park outdoor skating arena opens for the season on Saturday, Oct. 29.  Several Halloween/autumn-inspired events are taking place through Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation.  And Oct. 31 trick-or-treating times for participating residents is 5 – 8 p.m. * A2 City News Web Page * City Council * Contact Us * Meeting Agendas * News/Announcements * Road/Lane Closures *  A2 City News is e-mailed to newsletter subscribers by the City of Ann Arbor.  Please share comments via e-mail or call 734.794.6110, extension 41105