Monday, April 3, roll-out event for Ann Arbor e-bike program

All are invited 1 p.m. Monday, April 3, for the launch of the City of Ann Arbor’s first shared e-bike program. Join Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor, city officials and representatives from e-bike company, Spin, at the Allen Creek Berm Tunnel bend at the Huron River for brief remarks and free test rides! Test ride participants should bring their own helmets. Learn more at https://www.a2gov.org/news/pages/article.aspx?i=961.

E-bike image credit: Spin.app website.
Event area map (png image) 

Weekly seasonal compost collection resumes

The weekly, seasonal curbside collection of compostable material has resumed early in Ann Arbor, on March 27. Carts, paper yard bags and properly bundled branches may be placed at the curb for pickup. Participating residents must place their compostables at the curb before 7 a.m. on their weekly waste collection day — allowing at least 3 feet between each cart with clearance from any obstacles overhead. Carts should not be placed in lanes of travel, applying to both roads and bike lanes, instead using yard extensions or buffer zones as directed.  

In addition, residents (private contractors and landscapers excluded) can bring material to the city compost facility, 4170 Platt Road, free of charge through the close of business, Monday April 17, 2023. The standard 1 cubic yard per day for-free limit will be waived during this time. For this drop off, the facility will be open Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–4 p.m. and Saturday 7–11 a.m. After April 17, the free 1 cubic-yard limit will be reinstated.

The seasonal schedule resumed one week earlier than originally scheduled, on the heels of the winter storm debris special collections by the city and its contractor, Davey Tree Expert Company.

For a complete list of allowed compostable material, please visit www.a2gov.org/compost.

Ann Arbor Council approves step toward transition to renewable energy

The City of Ann Arbor A2ZERO goal centers on becoming carbon neutral by 2030 — and that means implementing clean, renewable energy choices to heat homes and businesses. The city took one step closer to this goal when Ann Arbor City Council approved a resolution on March 20 to empower the administrator to work with DTE, and other interested utilities, to begin initiating a responsible, careful transition to renewable energy for heat in Ann Arbor. (Read the resolution at http://a2gov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6056211&GUID=FCD3A35E-BC18-4FA3-894F-D8979C15DFA2.)

Fossil fuel gas, alone, produces more than 25% of Ann Arbor's polluting emissions, making efforts to clean this stream critical to meeting community-wide carbon neutrality goals. The city's fossil fuel gas franchise with DTE Gas is set to expire in 2027.

Learn more about this initiative at https://www.a2gov.org/news/pages/article.aspx?i=956.

Celebrate Earth Day April 23

The 2023 Earth Day celebration takes place Sunday, April 23, noon–4 p.m. at Leslie Science & Nature Center (LSNC, 1831 Traver Road)! Join this family-friendly event for hands-on activities; live entertainment; green building and commuting technologies; energy topics; water awareness; sustainable agriculture; and much more!

The Ann Arbor Earth Day Festival is a free event thanks to local donors and sponsors, like Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, Huron River Watershed Council, Legacy Land Conservancy, LSNC, in addition to the City of Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation and Office of Sustainability and Innovations.

Details and the activities schedule can be found at www.a2earthday.org.

Attend a sustainability forum

The Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations A2ZERO Sustainability Series continues! Monthly online forums each focus on a specific topic and how you can get involved. Save the dates, and join OSI and special guests by registering (for any or all forums) and find full details at https://a2gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fmqnRmqXT6SgpyKmzRSQVg#/registration.

Upcoming forums:

• Wednesday, April 26, 6 p.m.: Renewed Renewables: The Bright Future of Renewable Energy in Ann Arbor.
• Wednesday, May 31, 6 p.m.: Where do WE go from here?

Spring fire hydrant flushing to begin

The city conducts seasonal fire hydrant inspection and system maintenance each year. The 2023 hydrant flushing program is scheduled to resume Monday, April 3, and to continue through the coming months. If any changes to the starting date become necessary, updates will be shared on the city website at https://www.a2gov.org/departments/public-works/Pages/Hydrant-Flushing.aspx.

As the program nears, a map will be available online to show the current hydrant-flushing areas as well as where flushing will take place next. Find the map at https://a2-mi.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/65a888e5778e44999123a1ef60ba1980.

Why is it helpful to know when hydrant flushing is happening in your neighborhood? On occasion during the hydrant-flushing process, the water in area homes may have an orange or rusty appearance. The discolored water does not pose a health or safety risk, but the water can cause stains to laundry. If water appears discolored, please run the cold water for several minutes to clear your lines. Do not run the hot water, as rusty water may get into the hot water tank, requiring the tank to then be drained, per the manufacturer’s instructions. You should also flush your toilets once or twice. The water should run clear within a few minutes. The iron sediment in the water main being disturbed by the hydrant flushing causes the discoloration. Temporary laundry coloration caused by this sediment can be removed by using a product called “Rover.”

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the hydrant-flushing process, visit https://www.a2gov.org/departments/public-works/Pages/Hydrant-Flushing.aspx or contact the City of Ann Arbor Customer Service Center at 734.794.6320.

Severe-weather safety

Michigan just observed Severe Weather Awareness Week in Michigan at the end of March, apt put a special focus on preparedness. According to the Michigan Committee for Severe Weather Awareness, tornadoes can occur any time of year, but they are especially common in our state during the late spring and early summer months. One of nature’s most violent storms, tornadoes can devastate homes and property in just seconds.

Know the tornado-hazard terms

Don’t wait to learn about tornadoes and how to stay safe in the event of severe weather.

A tornado watch means tornadoes are possible, be prepared to quickly take shelter if conditions are upgraded to a warning or if you see signs of a tornado approaching. During a watch, remain alert, watch the sky for approaching storms, and stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio or television for updates.

A tornado warning means a tornado has been sighted or detected in the area by weather radar. When a warning is issued, take shelter immediately.

Be prepared

Find out more about tornadoes — including how to be prepared and react quickly — on the tornadoes page of the Department of Homeland Security official website, https://www.ready.gov/tornadoes. Also, review this information sheet to learn how to be prepared for a tornado https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2020-03/tornado-information-sheet.pdf (PDF).

Timing is also right, as we enter the seasons of potentially dangerous weather patterns, to make sure you’re on the list to receive emergency alerts. If you haven’t already recently, sign up for Washtenaw County and/or City of Ann Arbor emergency messages, powered by Everbridge, which can be received via text, phone and/or email. All residents, businesses, those with loved ones in A2 and those who work in the city must take action in order to receive important, local emergency notifications. For answers to frequently asked questions about the emergency notification system, visit https://member.everbridge.net/454514914099298/faq. And to register for the type(s) of emergency alerts you would like to receive and the method you would like to receive them — or to find out if you’re already on the list — at www.washtenaw.org/alerts.

The City of Ann Arbor conducts routine testing of the outdoor warning sirens March–October at 1 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month. Learn more at https://www.a2gov.org/departments/fire/emergency-management/Pages/Alert-Systems.aspx.

Two-year budget planning process

The city’s two-year budget planning process is underway for years 2024/2025. Recorded budget presentations are now available for the pubic to watch via the CTN YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/ctnannarbor. Presentations include:

• March 6, 2023: City Administrator Area, Finance, Police, Fire, Courts, Community Services.
• March 13, 2023: Ann Arbor Housing Commission.
• March 20, 2023: Public Services, City Attorney’s Office, DDA.

Budget timeline

April: In accordance with City Charter, the city administrator's recommended fiscal year 2024 budget is submitted to City Council on April 17, 2023. City Council members can only adopt one fiscal year at a time even though the city plans for multi-year budgets.

May: City Council, with at least seven affirmative votes, must adopt the budget no later than its second meeting in May (May 15).

Fiscal year 2024 begins July 1, 2023, and ends June 30, 2024. City Council members can only adopt one fiscal year at a time, even though the city plans for multi-year budgets. All presentations and materials are available on the budget website at https://www.a2gov.org/departments/finance-admin-services/financial-reporting/budget-guide/Pages/BudgetPublicProcess.aspx.

Ann Arbor Water news

2022 water quality report

The Ann Arbor 2022 Annual Water Quality Report is now available at https://www.a2gov.org/departments/water-treatment/Documents/2022%20Water%20Quality%20Report%20Final%20Draft.pdf (PDF). This report explains where Ann Arbor drinking water comes from; what is in it; and how the city keeps it safe.

Ann Arbor water continues to produce better quality water than state and federal regulations require; and the city is proud to deliver customers award-winning drinking water.

Stay informed about Ann Arbor water by signing up for the monthly newsletter and other updates. Visit

Ann Arbor Water meets proposed EPA regulations on PFAS in drinking water

On March 14, 2023, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released proposed drinking water regulations for PFAS. The proposed rule would hold utilities to an even higher standard of water quality than Michigan's existing PFAS regulations, as it contains lower maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for PFOS and PFOA and includes a hazard index to track four compounds as a mixture (PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS, and GenX also known as HFPO-DA). It will be several years before utilities will have to meet these proposed rules. The good news is Ann Arbor already meets EPA's proposed PFAS regulations and produces water that is protective of public health. All of the PFAS compounds included in the proposed rule are consistently undetectable in Ann Arbor's finished drinking water or below the EPA's proposed practical quantitation limits.

Ann Arbor Water is well positioned to meet these regulations today because of work and investments we made in 2018-2019 to replace the media in water treatment plant filters with optimal granular activated carbon (GAC) for PFAS removal. The city also continues to regenerate its media every three years to meet its own internal water quality goals that hold a higher standard than regulations require.

Ann Arbor Water staff takes public health very seriously. The new proposed rule confirms the actions the city has previously taken for PFAS removal are protective of public health. For more information, see EPA's fact sheet on the proposed PFAS regulations, at https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2023-03/Fact%20Sheet_PFAS_NPWDR_Final_3.14.23.pdf (PDF). The city PFAS website will continue to be updated as more information becomes available, at www.a2gov.org/PFAS.

Save the date! Water treatment plant open house is May 6

The Drinking Water Treatment Plant (919 Sunset Road) will hold its annual open house Saturday, May 6. This is a family-friendly event with lots of activities for kids, held outdoors, rain or shine. Tours will be capped at 15 participants, so please register for tours in advance at https://www.a2gov.org/pages/calendar.aspx.

Fix the roads!

It's a common question around the city, “How do you pick which roads get fixed?” The City of Ann Arbor uses a data-driven process to choose which roads to repair and how to repair them. Watch this brief video to learn how the process works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj03dUMT9ng.

For more information, visit https://www.a2gov.org/departments/engineering/Pages/Street-Selection.aspx.

Do your part for work zone safety

Spring has arrived, and an increase in orange construction barrels on local roadways and throughout the state will follow. To urge motorists nationwide to use extra caution and follow construction zone laws, the 2023 National Work Zone Awareness Week is April 17–21. This year's theme is "You play a role in work zone safety. Work with us."

Statistics from the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse show in 2020, there
were 774 fatal crashes in work zones resulting in 857 deaths. In addition, 117 roadway workers were killed in work zones. Most of these fatalities were motorists, passengers and pedestrians, further demonstrating the far-reaching importance of work zone safety. Everyone plays a role, together, in getting themselves, their passengers, passersby and roadway workers home safely.

The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration provides the following tips for all motorists to take to heart.

• Obey road crews and signs.
• Slow down and observe speed limits.
• Move over when passing work crews and official vehicles parked on the shoulder (it’s the law in Michigan, http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?2017-SB-0477).
• Avoid distractions.
• Watch for sudden stoppages.
• Watch for large vehicles.
• Plan ahead. Build in extra time to reach your destination. Find a route that will avoid work zones altogether. Visit the city’s “road and lane closures” webpage at www.a2gov.org/roads https://www.a2gov.org/departments/engineering/traffic/Pages/Road-and-Lane-Closure.aspx for updates about planned road work and traffic control plans. While there, you can even subscribe to receive email or mobile alerts.

Learn more about National Work Zone Awareness Week at http://www.nwzaw.org/.

CTN highlights

Check out CTN’s wide range of programs available to watch online now!

Ann Arbor Bicentennial Bump: https://youtu.be/eCYlD8L3HdU.

Ann Arbor Inclusive — AbleVu helps people of all abilities by getting a detailed preview of a local business’s accessibility features with their access virtual walk-through tours, and accessibility checklists: https://youtu.be/e5NBObKckAU.

Ann Arbor Water — The World Beneath Your Feet: https://youtu.be/97l-H7Q__X4.

Around Ann Arbor — The Ann Arbor Arts Center: https://youtu.be/Th9jsS6wgHA.

Around Ann Arbor — The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition Winner: https://youtu.be/CplGVXa3g8k.

Around Ann Arbor — The “Can you Dig It” Campaign: https://youtu.be/owY6lgVofEk.

Around Ann Arbor — Garett’s Space: https://youtu.be/AfBeRvCcsRM.

CTN Sports — Top Plays of the Winter 2022 Season: https://youtu.be/PdTp2SB5NiY.

CTN Sports — Adrian @ Pioneer Boys Basketball Feb. 28, 2023: https://youtu.be/W0OGhMECcRQ.

Senior Moments — Laura McAndrew from Washtenaw Community College: https://youtu.be/gqax2PoHgWk.

Ward Talk — Jenn Cornell, Councilmember 5th Ward: https://youtu.be/WxVWdgo5OVI.