October 2012 - A2 City News

            

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 random drawings for a $50 gift certificate to a local restaurant or grocery store, iTunes or Ann Arbor Canoe Liveries.
Public forums are planned for Thursday, Oct. 18, 6:30–8:30 p.m. at the Ann Arbor District Library Traverwood  Branch, 3333 Traverwood Drive (at Huron Parkway); and Tuesday, Oct. 30, 6:30–8:30 p.m. at Community Television Network, 2805 S. Industrial (between Stadium and Eisenhower). The draft Solid Waste Management Plan presentation and discussion group summaries will be taped for replay on CTN.
Or please send your comments, by Nov. 30, 2012, to Solid Waste Coordinator Tom McMurtrie, 734.794.6430, extension 43707.

Find out about roundabouts
Did you know modern roundabouts can have multiple advantages over signalized intersections? Go online to find out how best to navigate Ann Arbor’s roundabouts and for other safety tips.

Street-safety reminders
Check out the rules-of-the-road reminders and resources on the city’s “walk bike drive” Web page, www.a2gov.org/walkbikedrive, 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.

Nov. 6 Election Day reminders
The State General Election is Tuesday, Nov. 6, when polls will be open 7 a.m.–8 p.m. Visit the elections Web page for the list of candidates, two City of Ann Arbor ballot proposals and polling places.  
Residents who need to register to vote must do so by Tuesday, Oct. 9 at the City Clerk’s office, second floor of Larcom City Hall; the Washtenaw County Clerk’s office; at any Secretary of State branch office; or by mailing in a voter registration application (postmarked by Oct. 9) to: Ann Arbor City Clerk, PO Box 8647, Ann Arbor, MI 48107. Please note, the City Clerk’s office is closed on Fridays through Oct. 19 as staff prepares for the election. However, absentee ballot applications and/or voted ballots may be dropped off in the north atrium entrance in the Clerk’s office ballot box, faxed to 734.994.8296 or emailed. Staff will respond to calls (734.794.6140) and emails on the Monday following each closure.

A closer look at the Nov. 6 City of Ann Arbor ballot proposals
In addition to the mayoral and Council candidates, Ann Arbor voters will be asked to consider two City of Ann Arbor proposals on the Nov. 6 Election Day ballot.
Proposal A is the Park Maintenance and Capital Improvements Millage Renewal. On Aug. 9, 2012, Ann Arbor City Council voted unanimously to place on the Tuesday, Nov. 6 ballot a renewal of the city’s parks maintenance and capital improvements millage at the rate of 1.1 mills. City Council also voted unanimously to reaffirm the policies for the administration of the Park Maintenance and Capital Improvements Millage. Between 60 percent and 80 percent of the annual millage funds support city park maintenance activities. Park maintenance activities include forestry and horticulture, natural area preservation, park operations, park equipment repairs and recreation facility maintenance. Between 20 percent and 40 percent of the annual millage funds are designated for city park capital improvements in the following areas: active parks; forestry and horticulture; historic preservation; neighborhood parks and urban plazas; pathways, trails, boardwalks, greenways and the Huron River watershed; recreation facilities; and park equipment acquisitions. This millage renewal proposes 1.10 mills and estimates total revenue in the first year of the millage of $5,052,000. The estimated annual cost to a household in the first year of the millage renewal, based on a mean taxable value of $108,600, is expected to be $119.46, or slightly less than $10 per month. The current cost to a household for the expiring millage based on a mean taxable value of $108,600 is $119.13. Additional information, fact sheets, FAQs, administrative policies and millage project status tables are available online.  Or, if you have questions regarding the millage, please email the parks staff. The Wednesday, Oct. 10 episode of Conversations on Ann Arbor Community Television Network will also feature Parks and Recreation Services Manager Colin Smith sharing facts about this ballot proposal. Watch this episode on Channel 19 on Comcast Cable or streamed on the Web.
Proposal B is the Art in Public Places Millage. On Monday, Aug. 20, 2012, City Council voted unanimously to place on the Nov. 6 ballot a proposal for a publically funded Art in Public Places Millage at the rate of  0.10 mills. The new Art in Public Places Millage would be used to fund a range of art initiatives in Ann Arbor, including permanent installations; temporary art events; performance art; and exhibitions. The proposed millage would replace the existing funding mechanism for public art. The city’s Public Art Charter would be amended to replace the current funding from capital improvement projects (1 percent from street, sewer, bridge, parking lot construction) with the new art in public places millage funding. The city would still be able to use the remaining balance of capital improvement funds set aside for public art purposes. The new millage of one-tenth (0.10) mill, if approved, is expected to raise approximately $459,273 during the first year. For a household in the City of Ann Arbor with a mean taxable value of $108,600, the one-tenth (0.10) mill would add a tax of $10.97 per year, or 91 cents per month.
To see how these proposals will appear on the Nov. 6 ballot, please visit the elections page on the city website.

Fall golf events
Don’t miss the final golf events of the season coming to nationally acclaimed Leslie Park Golf Course, 2120 Traver Road. Register today! Call the course at 734.794.6245 or go online for details.
Fall Scramble: Sunday, Oct. 14, 8:30 a.m., $150 per team. This three-person shoot-out scramble includes greens fee, golf cart, lunch, prizes and a potential $1,000 skins pot! Bring your "A” game, and be ready to score! Pre registration is required.
NEW! Michigan vs. Michigan State Golf Scramble: Saturday, Oct. 20, 8 a.m. shotgun start, $80 per team. This spirit-filled, two-person scramble will take the college rivalry to a new field (on the course). The 18-holes event includes great prizes, fun times and a little inter-school razzing.
Chili Open: Sunday, Oct. 28, 9:30 a.m., $80 per team. Say good bye to fall in this fun two-person scramble all while battling the cold weather. The event includes 18 holes, a continental breakfast, prizes, chili and chili dogs.  (This will be your last chance to play holes 10, 11 and 13 as you know them!)
In this issue: Fall events * Solid Waste Management Plan * Roundabouts * Street-safety reminders * Election Day reminders * City of Ann Arbor ballot proposals * Fall golf events * Urban and Community Forest Management Plan * A2 Open City Hall * Leaf-disposal options * 15th District Court Sobriety Court program * Allmendinger Park mural * ReImagine Washtenaw * Ypsilanti River Day * Washtenaw County Clean-up Day * Dates to remember

Speak for the trees

The City of Ann Arbor is in the process of developing the community’s first Urban and Community Forest Management Plan. A meeting to present and receive input on the draft recommendations will take place Wednesday, Oct. 3, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Cobblestone Farm (2781 Packard Road). Recommendations were developed through the plan’s prior public-outreach efforts, and additional input is now being sought to further ensure consistency with the values and needs of the community.
The publicly managed urban forest provides $4.6 million in benefits, including stormwater runoff reductions, improved water quality and lower energy costs. The Urban and Community Forest Management Plan will help the city maintain a sustainable urban forest and effectively manage it as a community asset.
Those unable to attend the public meeting can provide comments on the draft recommendations online in two ways: through the new A2 Open City Hall forum and via a survey.   
More information on the Urban and Community Forest Management Plan is available on the project Web page. Here, you may also sign up to receive e-notifications about the process directly to your email. Questions or input can also be directed to Kerry Gray, urban forest and natural resource planning coordinator, at 734.794.6430, extension 43703.

New topics await your input on A2 Open City Hall

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 recently featured a question about recommended South State Street Corridor improvements.
The city now invites the public to give input — from the convenience of their keyboards — on two additional topics: the urban and community forest management planning, as noted in the article above, and the fire department restructure proposal. Please logon and share your input.
Stay tuned for additional topics in the coming months.

Leaf-disposal options

Autumn has arrived, and it’s time to think about managing those leaves. Options include mulching leaves on site, and collecting leaves in paper lawn bags and compost carts to leave at the curb for weekly pickup. Or take advantage of free bulk leaf drop off at the Ann Arbor Compost Center. Please remember that the city no longer picks up loose leaves raked to the street.
And did you know, your past-its-prime pumpkin and decorative cornstalks can go in your compost cart or paper yard waste bag (up to 50 pounds per bag) for curbside pickup.
15th District Court is awarded grants for Sobriety Court program

The 15th District Court has been awarded a $70,000 Michigan Drug Court Program grant and a $25,000 Office of Highway Safety Planning grant by the State Court Administrative Office of the Michigan Supreme Court. Grant funds will be used to continue 15th District Court Judge Joseph F. Burke’s Sobriety Court program, which was established in 2004 by retired Judge Julie A. Creal.
The goals of the team-based, selective Sobriety Court program are to proactively enhance community safety by assisting persons who need and would benefit from intensive court supervision, with emphasis on rehabilitation. With the support and cooperation of all district court judges in Washtenaw County, the 15th District Court Sobriety Court, located in the City of Ann Arbor, accepts case referrals from all district courts in the county. Sobriety Court team members include the Ann Arbor Police Department, the University of Michigan Department of Public Safety, local substance abuse treatment non-profit organization Dawn Farm Inc., Model Cities Legal Services Inc., the Ann Arbor City Attorney’s Office and the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office.
The services that are used to accomplish these goals include outpatient and inpatient drug and alcohol treatment, based on participant need; mental health services provided by Washtenaw Community Health Organization Project Outreach; drug and alcohol testing by Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry L. Clayton’s Office of Community Corrections; and ancillary services including education services, life skills, employment assistance and other support services.

Community and artist collaborate for Allmendinger Park mural

Allmendinger Park will soon be home to a very unique and collaborative art mural. Artist Mary Thiefels’ "Nourishing Healthy Seeds,” a multimedia mural installed onto the pillars of the park’s shelter, will be unveiled at a family event later this month.
The mural, consisting of colorful layers of painted areas along with tile and glass mosaic sections, has a particularly special meaning to the Allmendinger Park neighbors: its design features contributions from the community. More than 60 self portraits were painted this past spring by Slauson Middle School eighth graders, and will serve as the primary figures in the mosaic. The portraits will be surrounded by more than 100 donated mementos from the area residents. Each item collected was accompanied by a description of the “found object;” and those descriptions will be posted online at a later date.
The 8-acre Allmendinger Park is located on Pauline between Hutchins and Edgewood. Visit the mural project Web page for the unveiling-event information, once available, and for additional images and details.

ReImagine Washtenaw

Head east out of downtown Ann Arbor along Washtenaw Avenue, and you’re sure to notice some construction activity. Across from Whole Foods Market, groundbreaking has begun on Arbor Hills Crossing, a 90,000 square-foot retail and professional office development. The project includes new and wider sidewalks, a traffic signal and pedestrian crossing at Platt Road, and a new Ann Arbor Transit Authority Transit Super Stop. Continue further east, and you’ll notice the Michigan Department of Transportation has begun a major traffic operations and nonmotorized project at US-23, which includes construction of nonmotorized paths on both sides of Washtenaw Avenue, providing a way for pedestrians and bicyclists safe travel under the highway overpass. This activity is all part of the ReImagine Washtenaw initiative.
ReImagine Washtenaw is a multi-jurisdictional, land-use planning and public transit initiative. Its focus is to transform the corridor from mainly automobile use, to a safe, multimodal, public transit-enhanced corridor, with new, high-quality mixed-use development, enhanced transit service and amenities. These efforts will also result in a corridor with sense of “place.”
Professional staff planners and elected officials from the cities of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti and Pittsfield and Ypsilanti townships have been leading this effort. Additional partners, including the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, Michigan Department of Transportation, Washtenaw County, Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Washtenaw Area Transportation Study, are also collaborating to take the county’s most congested and auto-centric road, and turn it in to a high-functioning, multi-modal corridor.
For more information, visit the ReImagine Washtenaw website.

Ypsilanti River Day

Ypsilanti Parks and the Ann Arbor Canoe Liveries together are presenting the second annual Ypsilanti River Day. On Sunday, Oct. 7, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., canoes and single and double kayaks will be available to rent at Frog Island Park to take a journey down the Huron River into Ford Lake. A van will pick up at a designated location on the hour to bring you back to Frog Island Park. Boat fees are $15–$25. Last launch is at 3 p.m., and last pick up is at 4 p.m. Go online for more information.
Washtenaw County Clean-up Day

Get organized, and get ready to do some fall cleaning. Saturday, Oct. 27, 9 a.m.–2 p.m., is the annual Washtenaw County Clean-up Day. The event takes place at Eastern Michigan University Rynearson Stadium parking lot, 799 N. Hewitt Road in Ypsilanti. Safely dispose of unwanted household items, including recyclables, scrap metal, electronics, appliances, cleaning supplies, motor oil, oil-based paints, furniture and more. This program is free; a $10 donation per car is suggested and is required for disposal of select items. Call for details, 734.222.3827, or go online. This event is for county residents only; no businesses please.

Dates to remember

Among the MANY public meetings/events taking place in October, here are some of the highlights (please go online for details and a complete list):
City Clerk’s office remains closed on Fridays through Oct. 19.
No closures or interruption in city services on Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 8. City offices and the 15th District Court are open. No delays in trash/recycling/compost collection.
Tuesday, Oct. 9 is the last day to register to vote in the State General Election.
And much, much more, including Halloween and other seasonal events!
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