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.

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.

Indonesian professionals visit Ann Arbor Wastewater Treatment Plant

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.