September 2011
A2 City News Resident Newsletter Article List
Electronic distribution: Thursday, September 1, 2011
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IN THIS ISSUE New city administrator update * AFSCME contract * U-M traffic-services agreement * Sept. 11 Memorial Ceremony * Green roof * Dog swim * CERT program * Parks & Rec registration * CTN's Labor Day Look Back * Fuller Road Station * MRF 16th anniversary * Vada Murray Fund event * U-M Notre Dame game volunteers * Pedestrian yard signs * Police golf outing * Trace this table * Safe Passage
* Getting noticed * Important dates
New city administrator update
City Council has approved an employment agreement for Steve Powers to serve as the next city administrator for the City of Ann Arbor. Powers will assume the city administrator role on Sept. 15.
Sept. 3 game traffic delays anticipated with new U-M traffic services agreement
The Saturday, Sept. 3 game against Western Michigan University, 3:30 p.m. kickoff, will be the first event to operate under a revised traffic control plan based on the University of Michigan’s requested services. Ann Arbor City Council recently unanimously passed the resolution requiring U-M to reimburse the city for traffic management during football games and other special events. According to the new agreement, the full range of signs and signals services previously provided by the city on game days will be reduced. (Currently, U-M does reimburse the city for police and fire public safety service costs.) See the city’s “news” Web page (www.a2gov.org/news) for more information on this new agreement.
The requested services will have police manually managing, without signals in operation, the Stadium Boulevard / Main Street intersection starting two hours before game time. All other intersections along Ann Arbor-Saline Road will operate by signals, not manually, and will operate based on the normal weekend schedule. Post game, the Ann Arbor-Saline Road will be one way, heading south to I-94, as has historically been done. The State Street corridor will operate by signals, not manually, and will operate based on the normal weekend schedule both pre and post game.
As a result of these changes, the City of Ann Arbor safety services division is reminding those attending this and any football game this season at the U-M Big House that excessive traffic delays should be expected. In comparison to what residents and visitors have previously experienced, the new traffic control plan is expected to create additional traffic congestion at major arteries and the freeway ramps. Residents and visitors are advised to find alternative routes on game days. And those attending the football game are advised to allow extra travel time.
The Notre Dame game on Sept. 10 is an exception to this traffic plan. It will have the full, historically provided pre-and-post-game services along Ann Arbor-Saline and State streets.
City to hold Sept. 11 memorial ceremony
Please join City of Ann Arbor Police and Fire Services personnel at a special ceremony to commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11. The service takes place Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011, at 8:30 until 9:15 a.m. in front of Fire Station One (111 N. Fifth Ave.). Everyone is invited to attend to remember those who lost their lives and to honor those who continue to serve our community as leaders and first responders.
Held rain or shine, the memorial service program will include remarks from Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje, Ann Arbor Fire Chief Chuck Hubbard and Ann Arbor Safety Services Administrator Barnett Jones.
During the service, Fifth Avenue between Ann Street and Huron Street will be closed to traffic.
Larcom roof goes green
True to its commitment to environmental stewardship, the City of Ann Arbor has incorporated LEED-certification criteria throughout the overall plan for the municipal center construction project. The Larcom City Hall green roof, currently being installed on the second-floor promenade, is included in the project’s LEED criteria, in the “water efficiency” category.
Once complete, the green roof will feature areas of pavers (for walking access), preplanted vegetative trays and seating areas for visitors.
Benefits of a green roof are plenty. A roof with live vegetation absorbs rain water to prevent flooding and helps insulate the building — keeping it warmer in winter and cooler in the summer. A green roof also extends the lifetime of a roof, between 100 and 200 percent, by protecting the rooftop from ultraviolet radiation, large temperature fluctuations, drying winds and punctures.
Public access to the green roof is anticipated by October 2011.
Buhr Park Pool goes to the dogs
Special arrangements after Buhr Park Outdoor Pool closes for the season to allow your best four-footed friends to enjoy a day at the pool. The annual dog swim at Buhr Park Pool (2751 Packard Road) is planned for Wednesday, Sept 7, 3 to 8 p.m.; Thursday, Sept. 8, 3 to 8 p.m.; and Saturday, Sept 10, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Preregistration is required by calling 734.794.6234. Fee (one dog): $7.50/$6 resident discount; second dog: $3.75/$3 resident discount. Call today, as this popular event fills up quickly.
CERT Program accepting applications
The Ann Arbor Police Department’s Office of Emergency Management, in conjunction with the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services Division, is accepting applications for the Washtenaw County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training program.
The CERT Program educates residents about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact Washtenaw County and trains participants in basic disaster response skills. The course is a combination of classroom sessions and hands-on training in scene assessment, fire safety, emergency medical response, team organization, disaster medical operations, and light search and rescue. The course also provides information on topics including local threats, hazards, county and city emergency management initiatives and incident command and terrorism.
The training course is held every Tuesday Sept. 27 to Nov. 8, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Attendance at all classes is required for certificate completion.
The deadline to apply to participate in CERT is 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9. Learn more about the CERT program online: www.a2gov.org/police (“getting involved” link).
Fall registration now open
Registration for Ann Arbor parks and recreation fall/winter classes is now open. The new, 64-page color guide can be found around the city of Ann Arbor including Larcom City Hall, Ann Arbor District Library branches, Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation Customer Service Center (2781 Packard Road at Cobblestone Farm) and all parks and recreation facilities. It's also posted on the parks website, www.a2gov.org/parks, as a PDF that can be viewed or downloaded.
In addition to registering in person, you can also use our online registration system, linked on www.a2gov.org/parks.
Classes include American Red Cross swim lessons, instructional skating, beginning hockey skills, yoga, Zumba and much more. The guide also features events at the canoe liveries, Leslie Science & Nature Center and golf outings at Huron Hills and Leslie Park such as the Fall Scramble, Longest Hardest Day of Golf and the annual Chili Open.
CTN's Labor Day look back
It’s a walk back through time on CTN’s A2TV Channel 17 on Labor Day, as we look back at some of Ann Arbor’s oldies, but goodies. On Monday, Sept. 5, it’s a day of programming from the past — starting with a 9 a.m. Labor Day Workout from the late Tomas Chavez, Ann Arbor’s longtime workout king. At 10:30 a.m., it’s “CTN’s Greatest Hits from 1986-87,” followed by Ann Arbor comedian OJ Anderson’s “Face Aerobics.” At 12:35 p.m. on Labor Day, CTN brings viewers “Dating Tips with Delores Peek,” sage advice dished out in story form.
Ann Arbor’s German roots will be explored in Dave Chappell’s “Cabbage Town” at 11 a.m. Labor Day; and at 4 p.m., it’s the best of “Saturday Morning Live,” sketches produced by Ann Arbor kids in the 1980s. Be sure to tune in to CTN’s A2TV Channel 17 and celebrate the labor of love from these old-time Ann Arbor producers. It will definitely be a blast from the past!
Rail project at Fuller Road Station receives federal funding
The Federal Railroad Administration has announced it is releasing $2.8 million in investment funding for the preliminary Ann Arbor train station planning. This funding will allow the City of Ann Arbor to begin the engineering and environmental documentation required to design and construct a high-speed rail station, which is part of the Fuller Road Station, a new “intermodal transportation” facility. The federal dollars will fund the rail project’s drop-off areas, as well as the rail platform, rail work, including track, switches and signals.
The high-speed rail will serve the Chicago-to-Detroit rail line. The old Ann Arbor Amtrak station is currently the busiest station in Michigan. But unlike the current station, this project will include a passing track that will allow more than one train to serve the station at a time, enhancing performance and reliability.
Along with the high-speed rail, Fuller Road Station will incorporate automobile, pedestrian, transit and intercity bus connectivity access. Fuller Road Station will be located in the vicinity of the parking lot on the south side of Fuller Road, just east of East Medical Center Drive and Maiden Lane.
Visit the Fuller Road Station page on the city website for more information (www.a2gov.org/government/Pages/Fuller.aspx).
Trace this table
For decades, a large table was a fixture outside of City Council chambers on the second floor of Larcom City Hall. Recently, this sturdy table was refinished and has found a new home in the conference room in the city's Customer Service Center on the first floor.
The city would like to find out the origin of this table. Its craftsmanship places it as constructed circa the 1880s, and it was probably used in an earlier city building. If you have any (more certain) insight into this table's history, please contact the city’s Customer Service Center, customerservice@a2gov.org.
City, AFSCME successfully negotiate labor contract
Within eight weeks of its labor agreement expiring, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 369 and the City of Ann Arbor successfully negotiated a new labor contract for AFSCME employees. Union membership ratified the agreement Aug. 23, and City Council is considering approval of the terms of the contract at their next meeting (for details on the outcome of this meeting, visit the city’s legislative information center: a2gov.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx).
With 230 members, AFSCME is the largest among the city’s eight unions.
Help MRF celebrate sweet 16
Join the Material Recovery Facility’s 16th anniversary celebration Saturday, Sept. 10, 10 a.m. until noon. Festivities will include a tour, anniversary cake and a craft, creating party favors from Scrap Box materials. Come see the new single-stream facility. Drop-in visitors are welcome.
Since its opening in 1995, the MRF has processed approximately 603,000 tons of recyclables. The MRF is located at 4150 Platt Road near East Ellsworth. The facility hosts free open houses, monthly from September through June, to give the public a chance to tour the municipal recycling operations and to participate in featured activities. (Learn more about recycling in Ann Arbor and the MRF before you visit by watching Community Television Network’s feature presentation linked at www.a2gov.org/mrf.)
Individuals and families may drop in during the open house hours; groups of five or more are asked to pre-register. Weekday prearranged MRF tours are also available for groups of 15 or more. For more information, including the 2011-2012 event schedule, visit the MRF online, www.a2gov.org/mrf, or call the MRF tour coordinator at 734.794.6000 extension 43112, or send an e-mail to nstone@a2gov.org.
Event to raise funds for cancer research
The Vada Murray Fund for Cancer Research fundraising dinner is Sunday, Sept. 11, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. This non-profit organization, through the University of Michigan Health System, is in honor of, and named for, Officer Vada Murray, a 20-year veteran of the Ann Arbor Police Department and former U-M football player (1986-90), who lost his battle with cancer last spring.
The fundraising dinner will take place at the former Pfizer building, 2800 Plymouth Road, building 18. Tickets, which may also be purchased at the door, are $10 per person or $30 for a family of four (each additional person is $10). Included in the ticket price is a dinner, silent auction, autograph session, DJ, kids activities and more; and 100 percent of proceeds go directly to the cancer research fund. Writer/commentator John U. Bacon will serve as the master of ceremonies. Please go to the event website for ticket information and details: www.vadamurray.com.
U-M seeking volunteers for game against Notre Dame
The University of Michigan athletic department and the division of student affairs are seeking 350 volunteers to serve as “community ambassadors” for the first night football game at the Big House, Saturday, Sept. 10.
The ambassador program will provide community volunteers an opportunity to enhance the fan experience. Responsibilities will range from providing helpful information to get around town to arranging assistance for a fan’s special needs. Volunteers will be scheduled in pairs for a four-hour shift between the hours of noon and 1 a.m. and will also provide an extra set of eyes and ears to report health and safety concerns.
In order to be considered for the position, volunteers must be at least 18 years of age, participate in a two-hour training session and have a personal cell phone for use on game day. To apply as a community ambassador, please send an e-mail to utl-ambassador@umich.edu.
Help make your neighborhood more walk friendly
Ann Arbor residents are invited to display a yard sign (1 ½ feet by 2 feet), reminding drivers to stop for pedestrians. The city’s alternative transportation program is making the signs available to publicize last year’s change to the city’s pedestrian safety ordinance, requiring drivers to stop for pedestrians approaching or within crosswalks.
The law states that motorists must stop and yield the right of way to any pedestrian approaching or within a crosswalk, and the fine for not stopping is $100 and two points on your license. For their own safety and by law, pedestrians should not step into a crosswalk if an approaching vehicle is too close to stop, and pedestrians attempting to navigate a street at any point other than a crosswalk must yield to vehicles in the road.
Informational materials are being distributed, and more details are posted online at www.a2gov.org/WalkBikeDrive.
Yard signs are available for the public to borrow and display throughout the fall. The program aims to rotate signs throughout the city, so that as many motorists as possible see them. To ensure signs are placed according to city regulations, a sheet of rules and guidelines will be distributed with the signs.
If you’re interested in borrowing signs for yourself and neighbors, please contact Parrish Bergquist to schedule a loan period: pbergquist@a2gov.org.
20th annual Police Golf Outing: Register today!
Please participate in the 20th annual Ann Arbor Police Department Charity Golf Outing Friday, Oct. 7. By doing so, you will help raise money for The Jason Zogaib Memorial Fund and The Vada Murray Fund for Cancer Research. Officers Jason Zogaib and Vada Murray proudly served the Ann Arbor Police Department 10 and 21 years, respectively. In March 2009, Zogaib passed away following a two‐year battle with leukemia, leaving behind his wife and two young children. Murray, a nonsmoker from a nonsmoking family, succumbed to lung cancer in April 2011, leaving his wife, son and two daughters behind.
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 at www.a2gov.org/news, or contact Officer Chris Foerg, 517.673.8274 / CFoerg@a2gov.org or Officer Katie Nucci, 734.330.5175 / KNucci@a2gov.org.
Getting noticed
Ann Arbor has recently been recognized in the following ways …
· Fifteenth District Court Chief Judge Elizabeth Hines has been elected to the National Center for State Courts Board of Directors.
· Community Television Network has placed as a finalist in two categories in the 26th annual NATOA Government Programming Awards. The awards ceremony is in September, when it will be announced if CTN received first, second or third place. CTN is up for awards in the public safety category for “Think Bike Safety First!” produced by CTN's Tim Nagae; and in the Excellence in Public Access Programming category for "CTN: A Year in Public Access," produced by CTN public/education staff and community producers (edited by Zachary Demers and Alysha Schlundt-Bodien).
· Forbes.com has placed Ann Arbor in its top 20 list of Geekiest Cities.
High-rise lighting reminder
Ann Arbor again joins other cities in helping migrating birds have a “Safe Passage” during seasonal migrations. From the middle of August through the end of October, migrating birds are flying over Ann Arbor on their way south from their northern breeding grounds. These birds are at risk of dying when they become confused at night by lighted windows of tall buildings. On clear nights, birds navigate by the stars, but on cloudy and foggy nights, they attempt to navigate using the lights of tall buildings. Birds either crash into lit windows or endlessly circle buildings until they are exhausted.
Please ask occupants on floors five and above of your building to join the “Safe Passage” effort by pulling the drapes or closing the shades on windows in lit rooms between 11 p.m. and dawn. (These actions may help save energy, too.) For details, please see “safe passage" online: www.washtenawaudubon.org.
Important dates
Larcom City Hall offices and the 15th District Court will be closed on Monday, Sept. 5 for the Labor Day holiday, and resume normal business hours on Tuesday, Sept. 6. In addition, there will be no trash, recycling or compost collection services in the City of Ann Arbor on Labor Day Monday. The normal Monday pickups will occur on Tuesday, and the rest of the collections will occur one day later throughout the week. The normal Friday routes will be serviced on Saturday, Sept. 10, this week only.
For other dates to note for September, visit the online events calendar, www.a2gov.org/calendar, and the Tree Town Log city meetings and events calendar.
