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 we

A2 Open City Hall debuts

Fire restructure proposal meetings 

• Tuesday, Sept. 18, 6–8 p.m., Cobblestone Farm, 2781 Packard Road.
• Wednesday, Sept. 19, 6–8 p.m., Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave.   
• Thursday, Sept. 20, 6–8 p.m., Ann Arbor District Library Downtown Branch, 343 S. Fifth Ave., conference room A.    
• Tuesday, Sept. 25, 6–8 p.m. Ann Arbor District Library Traverwood Branch, 3333 Traverwood Drive, program room.
• Wednesday, Sept. 26, 6–8 p.m., Community Television Network, 2805 S. Industrial, Suite 200. This meeting will be taped and later replayed on CTN Channel 19 and available online to 

Public comment sought for fire restructure plan

• View Fire Restructure Proposal presentation.
• Watch Chief Hubbard’s March 12 Work Session presentation to City Council via CTN’s video on Demand (use the pull-down menu at the top left of the screen to select "City Council," then scroll through the pages to find the March 12 meeting link). 
• Watch an interview of Chief Hubbard on CTN’s “Conversations” program which airs on Channel 19 via Video on Demand (use the pull-down menu at the top left of the screen to select "Conversations," then scroll through the pages to find the Chief Hubbard interview link). 
• Email your feedback, questions and comments about the proposal, with the subject line: Fire Proposal  
• Request a Fire Restructure Proposal presentation to be given to your neighborhood, community, or Business association by contacting Lisa Wondrash, 734.794.6152. 

Website survey

Concerts in the park

Fiscal year 2012 budget approved

AAPD welcomes new officers

Historic District Commission Awards

Visitor parking

City administrator presents proposed FY 2013 budget to City Council

• Planned reductions in police and fire staffing are eliminated.
• A police recruit program will supplement sworn officers and assist with public safety concerns in downtown. 
• Park mowing will move from the current 19-day cycle to a 14-day cycle. Seasonal park monitors will be added.
• Street repair and resurfacing work will be at an all-time high.

• View the city administrator’s PowerPoint presentation to Council (PDF). 
• Watch the April 16 budget presentation to City Councilonline.     
• Download a complete copy ofthe FY 2013 Budget Message to Council and the Draft Budget Book (PDF). 
• Watch City Administrator Steve Powers live on CTN’s “Conversations” program on May 7 at 4:30 p.m. Citizens are encouraged to call in live during the program with FY 2013 budget-related questions: Call the studio at 734.794.6155 or email questions in advance.

Fiscal year 2021 budget process underway

Interim safety services administrator/police chief named

Fire services news

FY 2013 budget work sessions scheduled

• February–March: Council work sessions are scheduled to evaluate service area budget requests. 
• April: In accordance with City Charter, the City Administrator's Recommended FY 2013 Budget is submitted to City Council on or before April 15, 2012.
• May: City Council, with at least seven affirmative votes, must adopt the budget no later than its second meeting in May.

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In memory

Ann Arbor snow plow tracking available online