June 2011

June 2011 A 2 City News Resident Newsletter Article List Electronic distribution: Friday, June 3, 2011 2012 budget approved After countless hours discussing and meeting, on Tuesday, May 31, City Council adopted the City of Ann Arbor’s fiscal year 2012 budget, which runs from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012. As the organization has become leaner and more efficient, balancing recurring expenses with revenue has become increasingly challenging and nearly impossible to achieve without further staff reductions. The adopted budget was very similar to the City Administrator’s recommended budget, but did include a few adjustments, including a one-time use of general fund reserve in the amount of $90,804 for Parks athletic field mowing and maintenance; a one-time use of general fund reserve in the amount of $85,600 to support human services programs; and a one-time use of general fund for the City Clerk’s office to support city elections. In addition, a new DDA parking agreement was finalized, which establishes an ongoing payment to the city from the Parking System of 17 percent of revenues and gives the DDA the authority to implement parking fees. While most of this revenue was anticipated within the City Administrator’s recommended budget, it could not be counted on until this agreement was approved by Council May 31. The approved budget also includes the following city personnel reductions: · While Police patrol officers are maintained, four occupied police positions and three civilian staff positions will be eliminated on July 1. · In Fire services, three occupied firefighter positions will be eliminated on July 1, but a plan is being developed to keep all existing fire stations open. If you did not attend the meeting or watch it live online or on CTN Comcast Channel 16, you can view the meeting via CTN’s video on demand at . Budget information and resources are available via the online Citizen Budget Resource Guide . Evening Farmers Markets begin Do you want to avoid the market’s Saturday hustle and bustle, but find it difficult to swing by on a Wednesday morning? A new option has just been launched that makes the market’s varied and local offerings even more accessible. Now through the end of September, the Ann Arbor Farmers Market will also be open Wednesday evenings, 4:30 until 8:30 p.m. Stop by for groceries or a delicious supper from one of the many food cart vendors, or stroll by after dinner to pick up dessert and enjoy live music! Plus, all of the shops in Kerrytown will be staying open until 8 p.m. Larcom City Hall construction updates The entire work plan for the Ann Arbor Municipal Center site, which includes the Justice Center facility and Larcom City Hall building, was initiated by the need to find a new location for the 15 th District Court, as the lease with Washtenaw County was expiring and was non renewable. In addition, Municipal Center work plans were based on the need to terminate all of the city’s downtown leases and move city staff into the municipal center site. As another step toward accomplishing this goal, the below city service unit relocations are taking place. Lobby signage in Larcom City Hall has been updated as well as contact information on the city’s website. Community services administration staff has moved from the seventh floor of the City Center building to the first floor of the City Center building. This summer, the CSA administration and the Customer Service Center staff will move to the first floor of Larcom City Hall once renovations are completed. Public services administration staff has moved from the seventh floor of the City Center building to their permanent location at Larcom City Hall, sixth floor, where they are now open for business. City of Ann Arbor human resources staff has moved from the seventh floor of the City Center building to the sixth floor of Larcom City Hall. Lobby signage in Larcom City Hall has been updated as well as contact information on the city’s website. Green Fair is Friday, June 10 Main Street will be closed to vehicles, but open for pedestrians, during the 11 th annual Mayor’s Green Fair 6 to 9 p.m. on Ann Arbor’s Main Street. The event includes free entertainment and over 100 exhibits with environmental information, hands-on youth activities, Clean Energy Expo, green commuting options, Bike Fest, WasteKnot business partners, walking tours and more. Go to the Green Fair website for more information. Free Paddling Passports available for area freshmen Ninth grade students can go paddling on the Huron River in Ann Arbor for free this season, thanks to a new program announced jointly by the Professional Paddlesports Association and the City of Ann Arbor canoe liveries. Called the Ninth Grade Paddle Pass, the program allows students to register and receive a passport that will get them up to 10 free paddling trips (also with other participating outfitters across the U.S.). Ann Arbor Canoe Liveries Supervisor Cheryl Saam, who sits on PPA’s board of directors, said the program is designed to get kids out on the water, enjoying nature. To register for the program and for further details, visit . A teacher or administrator must also verify the registration and return it to the PPA. The trade association will send qualifying students a passport good for up to 10 free paddling trips, either at the same location or at 10 different participating outfitters. Freshmen may choose canoes or kayaks. Usage restrictions apply and may vary by location; including, at the Ann Arbor Canoe Liveries, the Paddle Pass cannot be used over the July Fourth holiday, and an adult must accompany the ninth graders. City of Ann Arbor Argo and Gallup canoe liveries offer stillwater paddling, river trips and river-based programming to the greater Ann Arbor area. For details, call 734.794.6240 or visit the canoe liveries website . Ann Arbor’s finest are honored Now in its fifth year, the annual City of Ann Arbor Police Services Awards Ceremony recognizes and honors the individuals who serve and protect our city. The 2011 event took place in May and was sponsored by Cueter Chrysler Jeep Dodge, with coordination assistance through the A2Y Area Chamber of Commerce. Former University of Michigan Football Head Coach Lloyd Car was the guest speaker. You can watch the awards ceremony at your convenience at CitiTV 19’s online Video-On-Demand service @ Click here to read more about the outstanding service and dedication of the Ann Arbor police department . Roadwork in A2 Several construction projects are going on in Ann Arbor this season. Included is the South Fifth Avenue water main project, which will replace the existing water main with a new 12-inch main between Liberty Street and through the intersection of Washington Street. In addition to the new water main installation, water main testing and road restoration will also take place. This project is expected to last through the end of June 2011. Keep up to date with other road projects and event-related closures and detours by visiting — and subscribing to updates from — the city’s road and lane closures Web page . Water and sewer emergency reporting process With the onslaught of recent storms, some citizens may have experienced a sanitary sewer backup and need more information about reporting such an issue to the City of Ann Arbor. Sanitary sewer backup and water main breaks are handled by the City of Ann Arbor’s field services unit. If you witness or experience any of these issues, please go online to the water emergencies Web page for assistance information and reporting process instructions. More plastics accepted for recycling Local gardeners and yard-work aficionados may be glad to learn that clean plastic flower pots and many plant trays can now be recycled in curbside collection carts. Thanks to the upgrade to the City of Ann Arbor’s single-stream recycling facility, plastic gardening containers include clean plastic pots used for holding plants, shrubs and trees; clean trays that hold flats of plants (but please discard the flimsy plant “cell packs”); and clean hanging planters (with the hangers removed and discarded). In order to be recycled, garden trays and plastic flower pots need to free of dirt and debris and be sturdy, not crushed, in order to be mechanically separated from papers during the automated sorting process at the Materials Recovery Facility. Dirt and debris left on recyclables cause contamination in the sorting process and also in the material to be remanufactured. (See also the MRF video posted on Community Television Network’s Video on Demand). An expanded range of plastic bottles, tubs, deli-trays and cup-shapes may now also be put into recycling carts. For 24-hour information on Ann Arbor’s recycling and other solid waste services, call 99-GREEN (734.994.7336) or consult the city’s recycling website . For information on plastic recycling options beyond what is offered through the city’s recycling program, a list of drop-off or mail-back programs for specific materials is compiled by Washtenaw County and posted online. West Park Grand Opening event City of Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation together with Ann Arbor Rec & Ed invite you to the West Park Grand Opening on Father’s Day Sunday, June 19 from noon to 4 p.m. This special event will have something for everyone. Activities will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, guided tours, sculpture unveiling, sports activities sponsored by Ann Arbor Rec & Ed, which will include kick ball, hula hoops and basketball. The Ann Arbor fire and police departments will also make a visit. Purchase delicious treats from local food carts, watch the volunteer recognition ceremony and enjoy music from the Ann Arbor Civic Band. There will also be tree plantings and a raffle drawing. West Park is located close to downtown between Miller and Huron streets, and Chapin and Seventh streets. Come out to join the fun and to see all the new features added to this city gem. Grant to help introduce kids to golf Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation, together with Huron Hills Golf Course, was recently awarded a $12,000 grant by the National Recreation and Park Association to pilot the new SNAG (Starting New at Golf) G-Ball program. Ann Arbor was one of 15 agencies in the U.S. chosen to pilot the SNAG G-Ball program in 2011. G-Ball is golf’s version of T-ball. It can be used at any age, but is targeted toward young children as young as 5 years old. The program is conducted by parent-coaches in recreation centers, on sports fields and in other public open spaces. G-Ball is an activity-based program that focuses on progressive and developmental play in a non-competitive format. The SNAG G-Ball Grant program was made possible by Player Development Products LLC. Huron Hills Golf Course, the only facility to earn the grant in the Midwest region, will offer a SNAG program during the month of July. This will be a great opportunity for young children to learn about the game of golf. Modified equipment allows for faster learning, better technique, more fun and greater activity while learning skills. For more information, visit the city’s golf website , and

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June 2011 is an episode from A2 City News by Rebecca Rhodes for the City of Ann Arbor.

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This episode was published on Jun 13, 2011.

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