In memoryIn memory and honor of the passing of Eastern Michigan University Police Chief Greg O’Dell (retired Ann Arbor deputy chief), his family has requested in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the EMU Athletic Department or the Ann Arbor Police Department via the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation. 
Ann Arbor snow plow tracking available onlineNew this season, citizens will be able to view the progress of snow plows via an online city map. The City of Ann Arbor automatic vehicle location (AVL) system’s public-facing website lets users zoom in on the online city snow route map to see the real-time locations and status of snow plow activity (where the plows are right now and what they are doing). An easy-to-remember link to a range of city winter street maintenance procedures is posted online at www.a2gov.org/snow. Or click here for the direct link to the AVL snow plow Web page. The city vehicles are depicted on the map via icons indicating the type of actions underway — when and where a vehicle is actively spreading a salt-sand mix and/or when and where the plow blade is down and pushing snow. Users may hover a cursor over a vehicle icon and get a pop-up box describing the type of truck at work — such as a large vehicle (used to de-ice or plow streets) or a smaller pickup truck (typically used for clearing cul-du-sacs and tight spaces). The snow plow AVL Web page includes a step-by-step guide to using the online system as well as providing additional winter street maintenance information. City snow plows actively maintain major streets, which are indicated on the Web snow map with dark colors. Plows generally clear residential-street snow when the accumulation is over 4 inches deep. The plows then typically follow the solid waste collection schedule, starting with the route after the current collection day in order to avoid knocking over carts already at the curb. Online AVL snow plow location and activity information helps the city provide a 24/7 self-serve option to the public, addressing the most frequently asked questions, including, “Where are the street plows right now, and what are they doing?” Comments sought for Hazard Mitigation Plan 2012 updateThe City of Ann Arbor Office of Emergency Management is seeking public comment until Feb. 1, 2012, regarding the city’s Hazard Mitigation Plan update for 2012. A copy of the plan is available on the city’s website, or by clicking here (23 MB PDF). A hard copy of the plan also is available to view between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday in the City Clerk’s office, second floor, Larcom City Hall, 301 E. Huron St. Citizen comments or questions should be directed to Sergeant Ed Dreslinski via email. Comments may also be mailed to: Ann Arbor Office of Emergency Management, attention Sergeant Ed Dreslinski, 301 E. Huron, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Public comment will end Feb. 1, 2012, followed by Council consideration and adoption of the plan and any relevant modifications by the end of February. New hours for certain AAPD unitsNew hours are now in effect, as of Jan. 3, 2012, for the Ann Arbor Police Services Unit records section, detective bureau administration office, property unit and police payroll office. These units will be closed to the public on Fridays. The offices will be open to the public Mondays–Thursdays from 9 a.m.–noon and 1–4 p.m., with the exception of city government holidays. 
Christmas tree disposal reminderUndecorated Christmas trees may be dropped off — free and 24/7 — in the parking lot adjacent to the Drop-off Station at 2950 E. Ellsworth 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 details. Safety tips from AAPDNo one wants to think about being a victim of crime, however, the time to think about a robbery is before it happens. Some crime prevention measures may include keeping expensive and easily accessible household items out of plain site. If you received big-ticket items during the holidays, such as a new flat-screen television or computer, rather than just setting the boxes and packaging at the curb right away, cut up the boxes or packaging entirely, and also wait a few weeks to discard. In an effort to increase personal safety and awareness, Ann Arbor Police crime prevention specialists want to also remind citizens of actions they should take to protect themselves during the event of a crime. - Stay calm.
- Do what you're Told.
- Give it up.
- Don't fight.
- Wait to sound an Audible alarm.
After a Crime - Don't follow.
- Observe.
- Cooperate with police.
Ann Arbor Bridges project update; meeting is Jan.19The Ann Arbor Bridges reconstruction project is well underway, finishing the year with the demolition of the bridge over South State Street. Work will resume this month. Also taking place this month, on Thursday, Jan. 19, is an Ann Arbor Bridges Reconstruction Project Update Meeting. The meeting is 7–8:30 p.m. at the Ann Arbor Senior Center shelter, 1320 Baldwin Ave. 
Sculpture lighting installedThe lights are permanently installed now on the sculpture in the Ann Arbor Municipal Center plaza. The water feature will be activated in the spring. Protect water meters and pipes from freezingRemember to bundle up your water meter and pipes to keep them from freezing during extreme cold spells. The following precautions can help prevent frozen meters, burst pipes, water damage, and avoid plumbing and meter replacement costs: Insulate water pipes in crawl spaces; apply heat tape to the entire pipe in an unheated area (according to manufacturer recommendations); add insulation between the outside wall and meter; set up a space heater near the meter; or simply leave the utility closet door open to circulate indoor heat. Residents may choose to allow a tiny trickle of water to run through one faucet to keep the water lines moving during a cold snap. If leaving town, you may call the Customer Service Center at 734.794.6333 to have the water turned off.  | In this issue: In memory of Chief Greg O’Dell * Online snow plow tracking * Hazard mitigation plan 2012 update * AAPD units new hours * Christmas tree disposal * Safety tips * Ann Arbor Bridges project * Sculpture lighting installed * Protect water meters and pipes from freezing * Crosswalk ordinance; new crossing beacons * Grants for skate park and canoe livery * Sustainable Ann Arbor Series * January dates to remember 
Council revises pedestrian crosswalk ordinance; new crossing beacons planned for Plymouth RoadLast month, Ann Arbor City Council approved revisions to the city’s crosswalk ordinance, replacing the concept of requiring a vehicle to stop for a pedestrian “approaching or within” a marked crosswalk with requiring a vehicle to stop for a pedestrian standing “at the curb” as well as “within the crosswalk. The revised ordinance allows drivers to proceed after stopping once the pedestrian has safely cleared the roadway in the direction the vehicle is traveling; but an existing code remains in effect requiring that a vehicle is not permitted to pass another vehicle stopped at a crosswalk. These codes, together, maximize safety for pedestrians and provide clear sightlines while reducing unnecessary delays for vehicles. At the same City Council session, city staff was authorized to install four new rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFB) along Plymouth Road at Georgetown Boulevard, Traver Village, Beal and Bishop streets and another RRFB at the intersection of South Seventh and Washington streets. These RRFBs are pedestrian-activated devices that initiate flashing yellow lights at overhead and curbside crosswalk signs, which alert drivers to be alert and stop for pedestrians when present at the curb or in the roadway crosswalk direction the vehicle is traveling. The RRFBs are anticipated to be installed over the winter and to become functional in spring 2012. 
Grants received for skatepark and canoe livery improvementsOn Dec. 7, the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) Board of Trustees recommended to Michigan Legislature to award two grants to the City of Ann Arbor. One is a $300,000 grant to develop an in-ground concrete skate park at Veterans Memorial Park, and the other is a $300,000 grant to develop Gallup Park Livery to include barrier-free access, energy improvements, barrier-free docks for boating and fishing, a patio area, along with updates to the livery building and trail improvements. Both grants were awarded the maximum available funding for a project. The recommendations go to the Michigan Legislature for their review and to go through the appropriations process. The Legislature will then forward a bill to the Governor for his approval. City staff will begin working with members of the Friends of the Ann Arbor Skatepark to develop an RFP for the design and construction. In addition to the $300,000 MNRTF grant, the Friends of the Ann Arbor Skatepark have raised over $100,000 to date, and the Washtenaw County Parks Commission has pledged $400,000 in matching funds to bring over $800,000 in funds currently available for the construction of the skatepark. City staff is also working on finalizing design plans for the Gallup Canoe Liveryimprovements and looking forward to moving the project ahead in the near future. "These grants will assist in the development of a new recreational amenity and significant improvements to a heavily used and much loved facility," said Colin Smith, manager of City of Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation Services. "The amenities improve Ann Arbor's park system and recreational offerings. The work of the MNRTF staff and board, along with the Friends of the Ann Arbor Skate Park, Washtenaw County Parks Commission, and city staff is greatly appreciated." More details will be available in the coming months. Sustainable Ann Arbor series kicks off this monthThe City of Ann Arbor is collaborating with the Ann Arbor District Library to host a “Sustainable Ann Arbor” discussion series. This series will bring the public together with University of Michigan faculty, representatives from community organizations and city commissioners and staff to discuss local sustainability concepts and efforts — past, present and future. Each of the four planned forums will be held at 7 p.m. at the Ann Arbor District Library downtown branch (343 S. Fifth Ave.) on the second Thursday of the month January through April 2012. The series is organized around four theme areas and will include short presentations followed by a question and answer session. Jan. 12 — Resource Management, including regional planning, natural areas, waste reduction, recycling, compost, urban forestry, water and air quality. Feb. 9 — Land Use and Access, including transportation designs, infrastructure, land uses, built environments, and public spaces. March 8 — Climate and Energy, including an overview of Ann Arbor’s climate action plan, climate impacts, renewable and alternative energy, energy efficiency and conservation. April 12 — Community, including housing, public safety, recreation, outreach, civic engagement, and stewardship of community resources. These forums are part of the City of Ann Arbor’s sustainability framework project; and discussions will help guide the city’s sustainability planning efforts. Ann Arbor’s current sustainability framework efforts are funded by the Home Depot Foundation. 
January dates to rememberHappy New Year! The following list highlights just some of the city meetings and events taking place in January. - West Park storm water project update meeting is Monday, Jan. 9.
- South University Park public meeting is Tuesday, Jan. 10.
- City government offices will be closed on Monday, Jan. 16 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. There will not be a delay in trash or recycling collection.
- The City Council Work Session will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 17, due to the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday.
- An update meeting for the Ann Arbor Bridges reconstruction project is Thursday, Jan. 19.
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