Early-voting accolades

Early voting kicked off in Michigan for the first time in 2024 ahead of the Feb. 27 Presidential Primary and was well received by Ann Arbor voters. Michigan Secretary of State reports Ann Arbor experienced the highest early-voter turnout in the state, at 2,732, followed by Detroit (2,256) and Canton Township (1,082).

Ann Arbor had six early-voting centers which were open daily: two on the University of Michigan campus and three Ann Arbor District Library locations, along with Larcom City Hall. Ann Arbor City Clerk Jacqueline Beaudry notes the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA) location was Ann Arbor?s busiest early voting site overall, with the library locations seeing highest volume on weekends and evenings.

?We learned from prior experience on campus that bringing voters access to the ballot in familiar, comfortable spaces, like UMMA and the public libraries, encourages and promotes voter turnout, participation and voter trust in the process,? Beaudry said.

The city applauds Beaudry and the city clerk?s office team for making early voting easy, convenient and accessible to all Ann Arbor voters! Find elections information on the city website, sign up for elections e-updates as they?re available, and follow the city clerk?s office on Instagram.

Pictured: Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor casts the first early-voting ballot at Larcom City Hall Feb. 17.

Curbside compost collection season resumes April 1

Beginning Monday, April 1, the City of Ann Arbor will resume seasonal curbside compost collections of compost carts, paper yard bags and bundled branches. Please note the 10-paper yard bag limit through the spring/summer season. In addition, the city now only accepts CMA-W certified manufactured compostable products in city compost carts. BPI certified products as well as items made of bamboo and palm leaf materials are no longer accepted.

For all the details on the city compost program, please visit www.a2gov.org/compost.

March bicentennial events

Here?s what?s happening in March to bring the community together in celebration of Ann Arbor?s 200th anniversary.?

March 1?31, Host a Book Drive with United Way ? United Way works to ensure families have the resources to help their children start school ready to learn and graduate prepared for success in life. Access to books is a key part of the equation, as research shows that children with access to ample reading materials have increased literacy at an earlier age and are more prepared for school at all levels. To celebrate Ann Arbor's bicentennial, United Way for Southeastern Michigan has set a goal to collect 200 books for organizations in Washtenaw county. Spanish language and bilingual (Spanish/English) books are of particularly high need! Learn more.

Saturday, March 16, 7:30?8:30 p.m., Genesis of Ann Arbor, 2309 Packard St.: Vocal Arts Ensemble of Ann Arbor Presents: Voices of Ann Arbor ? Vocal Arts Ensemble of Ann Arbor celebrates the Ann Arbor bicentennial with a concert and reception to follow featuring some of the city?s great composers and poets, past and present. From its German heritage, its locus as a stop on the Underground Railroad, and its role as a hub of ?60s protest, Ann Arbor?s musical bounty is rich indeed. Interweaving powerful choral music with percussion and the spoken word, this unique program brings to life the music of Ann Arbor?s history and the history of its music. With guests Malcolm Tulip and Michael Gould, Jennifer Goltz, Zilka Joseph, Jeff Kass and more. Get tickets!?

You can find additional event and bicentennial information at www.a2bicentennial.org. Would you like to collaborate with A2 Bicentennial on your event or do you have an event to add to the calendar? Please email [email protected].

Attend a Downtown Planning Public Workshop

Community members are invited to learn and share input as downtown planning processes are underway for future land use and transportation initiatives in Ann Arbor. Public workshops will take place Tuesday?Thursday, March 12?14, at the Ann Arbor District Library Downtown Branch to provide information and seek perspectives about both the Ann Arbor Comprehensive Plan ? updating future city land uses for the next more-than 25 years to advance affordability, sustainability and equity ? and the Downtown Area Circulation Study ? considering downtown street uses for active transportation, transit priority, event streets and two-way restoration feasibility for 5th Avenue and Division Street.

• Tuesday, March 12, 4?7:30 p.m. ? Presentation at 6 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 13, 10:30 a.m.?2 p.m.
• Thursday, March 14, 10:30 a.m.?1 p.m.
• Thursday, March 14, 4?7:30 p.m. ? Presentation at 6 p.m.

The City of Ann Arbor planning and transportation departments and the Downtown Development Authority are co-hosting the workshops. All are welcome to attend! RSVPs are appreciated, for planning purposes.?

Fiscal year 2025 budget process

The City of Ann Arbor Fiscal year 2025 begins July 1, 2024, and ends June 30, 2025. City Council members can only adopt one fiscal year at a time, even though the city plans for multi-year budgets.

Recorded budget presentations are available online via the CTN YouTube channel. All presentations and materials are posted online.

Budget timeline:

• March 11, 2024: City Council Work Session FY25 Budget Planning
• April: In accordance with City Charter, the city administrator's recommended fiscal year 2025 budget is submitted to City Council in April. 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, will vote to adopt the budget at its meeting on May 20.

Budget-related feedback or comments are encouraged and may be submitted via email to [email protected]. Other budget documents will be posted when available.

Public services year in review

The 2023 year in review for the City of Ann Arbor Public Services Area is now available. This area of the city includes engineering, public works, systems planning, drinking water treatment, water resource recovery and stormwater, and the review provides a year-to-date status of operating and capital budgets, summarizes major grants received, describes several significant initiatives that are underway, and features a timeline of milestone events.

Sign up to attend the Ann Arbor Community Academy

The Ann Arbor Community Academy (A2CA) is returning for its seventh year to provide a closeup look at local government. The popular program, free and open to community members 18 years of age and older, will again be conducted with a hybrid approach. Weekly sessions will be held either online or in person, 6:30?8:30 p.m. throughout April and May. In-person tours will take place on select Tuesdays. More information on how to opt into an in-person tour will be provided to participants after signup. Tour groups will be limited to a small number of participants, on a first-come basis. Sign up online through Wednesday, March 20, 2024. More information about the program and next steps will be provided to those who sign up once planning is complete.

Seasonal siren testing resumes

The first test of the city?s warning siren system for 2024 will take place Tuesday, March 12. The City of Ann Arbor has 22 siren locations throughout city limits. Testing of these sirens takes place on the second Tuesday of the month, March through October, at 1 p.m. The tests consist of one minute of steady wailing.

For more information, visit the siren testing page of the city website.

Bicycle-friendly business recognition

Ann Arbor Larcom City Hall has been recognized for demonstrating "commitment towards building a more welcoming atmosphere for bicycling employees, customers and the community" with a silver-level award from the League of American Bicyclists!

Mayors? Monarch Pledge

Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor has signed the National Wildlife Federation Mayors? Monarch Pledge for conservation efforts across our community to protect these important pollinators. Other heads of local government are also being urged to take the pledge to protect monarchs before March 31! Learn more about this national effort and how A2 is supporting all pollinators.

Provide a safe passage for birds

From the middle of March through the end of May, and again mid-August through the end of October, migrating birds fly over Ann Arbor during spring and fall migrations. On clear nights, birds navigate by the stars; but at dawn or on cloudy and foggy nights, they attempt to navigate using the lights of tall buildings, putting them at risk of hitting these lit windows. They either crash going full speed, or they endlessly circle the building until they drop to the ground, exhausted and vulnerable to predators and other dangers.

Ann Arbor joins other cities in helping migrating birds have a safe passage. Occupants of buildings on floors five and above are asked to help prevent these needless deaths by pulling the drapes or closing the shades on windows in lit rooms between 11 p.m. and dawn. Learn more.

CTN highlights

Check out Ann Arbor Community Television Network's (CTN) wide range of programs available to watch online now.

CTN Sports 2024 ? Saline at Huron Girls Basketball, Feb. 20.?

CTN Sports 2024? Dexter at Pioneer Girls Basketball, Feb. 16.?

CTN Sports 2024 ? Huron @ Pioneer Boys Basketball, Feb. 13.?

CTN Sports ? Skyline @ Huron Boys Basketball, Feb. 9.?

CTN Sports? Pioneer @ Skyline Girls Basketball, Feb. 6.?

Adventures In Parenthood ? Gago Center for Fertility.?

FYI? Ezra Korycinski, director of PTD?s production Loving Lives, shares the story of a failing radio soap opera in 1948 as art and life intersect; Hunt for the Yeti; and the Bryant Community Center.?

FYI ? Joe Lange, energy analyst with the City of Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations, gives an update on the Solarize Program; Motawi Tileworks; and the Ice Carving Festival.?

FYI? Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation Recreation Supervisor Brittany Patton tell us how to get involved in the Snow Match program; OPAF First Clinics; and step back in time with the Ann Arbor District Library Letterpress.?

Ann Arbor Inclusive? Eliot Carter of DNWML on assistive technology for people with disabilities.?

Let?s Watch with the Ann Arbor Film Festival ? Filmmaker Adam Sekuler discusses his history as an artist and the film Really Good Friends, on view at the 62nd Ann Arbor Film Festival.?

Let?s Watch with the Ann Arbor Film Festival ? Visual/lens-based Artist and Curator Laura Gibson brings the exhibition, Dope Women in Media: Honoring the Women in Film in Metro Detroit, to the Ann Arbor Art Center.?

Senior Moments ? Pittsfield Township Public Safety Community Coordinator Ritchie Coleman shares important tips on how to avoid being a victim of identity theft and fraud (Part I).?