Ann Arbor City Seal
*City of Ann Arbor Update: Municipal Offices Closed Feb. 2?3 due to Winter Storm Watch* "02/01/2022"

Learn More [ [link removed] ] City municipal offices and facilities will be closed Wednesday, Feb. 2, and Thursday, Feb. 3, due to the winter storm. Offices are scheduled to reopen Friday, Feb. 4. Trash and recycling curbside collections are not expected to be affected on Wednesday, Feb. 2, however, there may be delays thereafter depending on the severity of snow accumulation. For more information, please visit [link removed] [ [link removed] ]. Safety services and utilities will maintain 24-hour operations.

Your interest in updates from the City of Ann Arbor is appreciated.

Thank you,
City of Ann Arbor Communications
[email protected]?
www.a2gov.org/news [ [link removed] ] ?
Facebook [ [link removed] ]? /? Twitter [ [link removed] ]? /? LinkedIn [ [link removed] ]?

*A2 City News February 2022 Community Newsletter* "02/01/2022"

A2 City News banner [ [link removed] ]

The Newsletter for the City of Ann Arbor, Michigan ? FEBRUARY 2022? ? Volume 16 ? Number 2

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City snow plow truck [ [link removed] ]
Ann Arbor municipal offices closed Feb. 2?3 due to winter storm warning

Due to the National Weather Service Winter Storm Warning that is in effect Wednesday morning through Thursday evening, all non-emergency City of Ann Arbor government buildings, including parks and recreation facilities, will be closed from 8 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 2 until 8 a.m. Friday, Feb. 4. Safety services and utility operations will maintain 24-hour schedules throughout.

Impacts to other city operations:

* The 15th Judicial District Court will be closed from 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 2 until 8 a.m. Friday, Feb. 4. Please note that cases set on Magistrate Tamara Garwood?s dockets on Feb. 2 and Feb. 3 will be heard as scheduled via Zoom. Additionally, cases set before Judge Miriam A. Perry on Feb. 2 at 8:15 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. will be heard as scheduled via Zoom. All other scheduled events for Feb. 2 and 3 will be rescheduled by the court to later dates, and notices will be sent by mail with more information to those affected. Please check the court?s website for further information: [link removed] [ [link removed] ].
* Trash and recycling curbside collections will not be affected.
* Board and commission meetings will be cancelled this week on Wednesday and Thursday.
* Rental housing and building services inspections will be suspended on Wednesday, Feb. 2, Thursday, Feb. 3, and Friday, Feb. 4 (unless otherwise communicated on the city website and social media channels). Inspectors will be contacting homeowners and businesses who had inspections scheduled during this time and alerting them of the cancellation. Staff will be working to make other arrangements to reschedule the following week, at the customer?s convenience, or conducting the inspection virtually if able.

During the storm, the public is urged to limit travel on roadways whenever possible. The public is also encouraged to take advantage of the city's online services when possible, including payments for water bills, property taxes, parking tickets, applications for dog licenses, permits, etc. See the "services" webpage ([link removed] [ [link removed] ]) for details and also the "contact" webpage ([link removed] [ [link removed] ]) for how to reach city departments.

Please note the following snow-clearing information:

* All available public works technicians are assisting in the city?s 24-hour snow response effort. Until snow accumulation stops, snow clearing efforts are focused on clearing major roads, and residential streets will remain snow covered. Blowing snow could require re-plowing of major roads that would otherwise be clear.
* A storm of this magnitude will slow the city?s ability to meet the 24-hour removal goal. City crews will get all roadways and bike lanes clear and then work on additional clean up.
* The city understands the frustration caused when plows push snow onto extensions, driveways or sidewalks, however, this is an inevitable part of plowing operations during large snow events.
* Residents are being asked to move cars off the street. Vehicles left on the street greatly impact the ability to plow the street curb-to-curb and can pose a safety issues from narrow travel lanes. In addition, vehicles left on the streets could be blocked in by snow.
* Downtown Development Authority is offering free parking to all city residents at the Ann/Ashley parking structure Wednesday, Feb. 2, at 8 a.m.?end of day Saturday, Feb. 5. Residents must provide the attendant (in person or automated) with their city address upon exiting the structure.

The city thanks residents for their cooperation in the collective efforts to keep roadways and sidewalks safe. Please look to the city?s website, www.a2gov.org, and social media channels for any updates as needed ? Facebook ([link removed] [ [link removed] ]), Twitter ([link removed] [ [link removed] ]) and NextDoor.


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Washtenaw County 2021-2022 Warming Centers [ [link removed] ]

Do you know someone in need of temporary shelter from the harsh winter weather? Please share this warming center information from the Washtenaw County Health Department and Office of Community and Economic Development. For more information and updates, visit [link removed].

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Snow and Ice Removal Diagram for Residents [ [link removed] ]
Snow and ice management reminders

Please remember, property owners are responsible for removing and/or treating snow/ice on sidewalks, crosswalk ramps and bus stops with concrete pads adjacent to their property. Thank you for working together to create a safer and more walkable community.

Residential property

Within 24-hours, any accumulation of snow greater than 1 inch must be cleared by the owner or occupant from adjacent sidewalks, concrete bus stop walks and crosswalk ramps. Any ice accumulations within 18-hours of forming must be treated with sand, salt or other substance, to prevent it from becoming slippery. The city is not responsible for clearing mailboxes of snow and/or ice.

Nonresidential property

All snow and ice which has accumulated prior to 6 a.m. on a sidewalk adjacent to property not zoned residential shall be removed by the owner or occupant by noon the same day. The owner or occupant of the property shall also remove snow and ice from walks and ramps that are at bus stops or that lead to a marked or unmarked crosswalk. Provided that when ice has so formed upon any sidewalk, walk or ramp that it cannot be removed, then the owner or occupant shall keep the same effectively sprinkled with sand, salt or other suitable substance in such manner as to prevent the ice from being dangerous, until such time as it can be removed, and then it shall be promptly removed.

Find more information about sidewalk snow and ice at [link removed] [ [link removed] ].

To report problem sidewalks or snow/ice issues on city streets, please use the A2 Fix It app on your phone or visit [link removed] [ [link removed] ].

Treating slick surfaces

While some turn to a shovel and some elbow grease chip away ice, there are many home mixtures and products on the market that promise to keep surfaces safe and dry. Here?s a look at some of the most common:

Salt can be the least expensive and most abundant material for ridding surfaces of ice, but its effectiveness drops as surfaces fall below 18 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, overuse of salt alone can pollute water supplies.

There are all kinds of non-toxic materials available for purchase, which, if you have pets, can be a good choice. Some solutions, like products containing calcium chloride (CaCl2), can melt snow at lower temperatures, is less harmful to plants and animals, but eats into metal and concrete. In addition, CaCl2 binds to water and can?t be separated, which has the potential to cause environmental impacts, such as harm to water quality.

Products that contain potassium acetate can block ice from forming at very low temperatures, are noncorrosive and biodegradable, however, these products lower oxygen levels in water and can harm fish and plants in our waterways.

Some find various brines (a solution of salt and water) to help prevent ice from sticking to surfaces. Others use ?mixtures? including salt/sand, or a bit of sugar mixed in with salt to lower the temperature at which it?s effective.

Ultimately, each de-icing option has benefits, limitations and drawbacks. Choose thoughtfully ? and use sparingly ? to effectively manage slick spots while protecting pets, wildlife and the environment.

Free sand/salt mixture for residents

The city is providing residents with up to 5 gallons of a sand/salt mixture, per visit, to help treat sidewalks. Residents need to bring their own shovel and bucket as well as load material themselves from the marked piles. Sand/salt mixture is not for contractors or landscapers.

Locations for pick-up include:


* Veterans Memorial Park.
* Gallup Park.
* Allmendinger Park.
* 721 N. Main St.
* Buhr Park.
* Burns Park.
* Leslie Park.

A map of the locations is available at www.a2gov.org/snow [ [link removed] ].


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Emergency Alert Web Icon [ [link removed] ]
Sign up for NEW emergency alerts

Get City of Ann Arbor emergency information how and when you want it. Sign up for Washtenaw County and/or City of Ann Arbor emergency messages, 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 and register their contact information to receive important Ann Arbor emergency notifications.

To register, visit www.washtenaw.org/alerts [ [link removed] ] and select the emergency alerts you would like to receive and the method you would like to receive them. Follow the below sign-up instructions:


* Visit: www.washtenaw.org/alerts [ [link removed] ].
* Create an account, setting up a username and password.
* Usernames must be a minimum of four acceptable characters, which include uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, period, dash (-), underscore (_) and at symbol (@). No other characters or symbols are permitted at this time.
* Password must be eight to 64 characters long and contain at least one letter and one number. Special characters are permitted but limited to ! @ # $ % ^ & * ( ).
* Select a security question and enter its answer.
* Enter a registration email address: This address is used to send temporary passwords, if you forget your credentials.
* Accept the terms of use by checking the box.
* Click ?create your account.?
* After creating your user name and password, you?ll be brought to a page where you can complete your profile. This is where you enter your personal information, including first name, last name and registration email.
* Next, you will select how you want to receive alerts. Options may include SMS text messages, email, mobile phones, landlines or a mobile application for Android and iOS devices. The order you set these contact paths will be the order the alert system will contact you in the event of an emergency.
* You can download the Everbridge mobile app and search ?Washtenaw citizens? to either create an account or log in to your existing account.
* You can register as an individual or business. Use your company name for first and last name if registering a business.
* Enter any locations you care about. Alerts are sent based on a geographical location on a map. Insert up to five addresses for which you want to receive an alert if the location is affected by an incident or upcoming event.

IMPORTANT ? If the address you provided is not in the database of known addresses for our jurisdiction, you will be presented with other options to add your address into this system, including: selection from a list of suggested addresses, or dropping a pin to select your location on the map (Microsoft Silverlight plug-in is required). You will not receive any location-based alerts if you do not provide a complete address.


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Hupy, Postema, Smith, Borneman
City salutes retiring leaders

This winter, the City of Ann Arbor is bidding thanks and farewell to some of its most valued employees. Four city leaders, with a combined tenure of nearly 110 years, are retiring after careers ? and community ? well served.

Craig Hupy started with the city in 1986 as a civil engineer, later also serving in the roles of utility field superintendent, systems planning manager and field operations services manager before being promoted to public services area administrator, where he?s served since 2012. Hupy retires Feb. 11, when current Water Treatment Services Manager Brian Steglitz will become the area administrator on an interim basis.

Stephen Postema has been a dedicated city servant since his appointment to Ann Arbor City Attorney in 2003. He has served all of his nearly 19 years with the city in this leadership position, and also was a city election commissioner. Chief Deputy City Attorney Kevin McDonald will become the interim city attorney upon Postema?s retirement. An announcement of City Council appointment for a new city attorney is expected in the coming months.

In January, Colin Smith concluded his more-than 25-year career with the city, with the last 14 years of which as parks and recreation services manager. Smith is lauded for nurturing a leading municipal parks and recreation system, thereby leaving a legacy that will positively impact generations of parks users. Deputy Manager Josh Landefeld is currently serving in the interim role.

Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation will soon be missing another longtime leader. Dave Borneman, parks and recreation deputy manager, Natural Area Preservation (NAP), will be retiring this month. Starting with the city in November 1993 as NAP coordinator, at the time under the parks forestry division, Borneman was promoted to manager in 2001, and then to his current position, where he?s served since 2013.

Recruitment efforts have been ongoing to fill all of these positions. Please join the city in extending appreciation and congratulations to each of these devoted professionals.

"Pictured:?top left, Craig Hupy; top right, Stephen Postema; bottom left, Colin Smith; bottom right, Dave Borneman"


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BPI Compost Bag [ [link removed] ]
Winter curbside compost

The City of Ann Arbor winter curbside compost cart service will continue the week of Feb. 7, 2022. Residents will have their compost cart serviced on their regular curbside service day that week. Regular weekly compost pickups will begin again early April 2022.

Food scraps/waste, including meat and bones, are required to be in Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) certified or paper grocery bags to prevent material from freezing to the cart. Best practice is to double bag food scraps in the winter (a BPI and paper bag).

Thank you for helping to make this pilot program a success! Lean more at [link removed] [ [link removed] ].


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Quality Water Matters logo [ [link removed] ]
Quality Water Matters

The February issue of Quality Water Matters includes an overview of the processes and treatments are utilized to ensure safe drinking water as well as the most recent PFOS/PFOA and 1,4-dioxane concentration data. Read QWM at [link removed] [ [link removed] ]. (PDF)


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City online budget guide logo [ [link removed] ]
Annual budget process begins

The below fiscal year 2023 recorded budget presentations will be available by the following dates via CTN?s YouTube channel at [link removed] [ [link removed] ]. All presentations and materials will be available on the city website at [link removed] [ [link removed] ]. Fiscal year 2023 begins on July 1, 2022, and ends June 30, 2023.


* Feb. 14: City Administrator Area, Finance, Police, Fire, Courts, Community Services.
* Feb. 28: Pension, Ann Arbor Housing Commission, SmartZone/LDFA.
* March 14: Public Services, City Attorney?s Office, DDA.
* March 28: Other FY23 budget, as needed.

Budget timeline:

April: In accordance with City Charter, the city administrator's recommended fiscal year 2023 budget is submitted to City Council on April 18, 2022. 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 16).

Budget-related feedback or comments are encouraged and may be submitted via email to [email protected].


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rescue [ [link removed] ]
Feb. 9 public meeting announced, survey open for American Rescue Plan Act funding

Ann Arbor will receive one-time funding of $24 million from Congress? passage of the federal American Rescue Plan Act. This allocation will be used to fund eligible projects within the city, as an effort to recover from the impacts of COVID-19.

The city has been engaging the community since January as part of the process to identify which projects will receive funding, with informational videos, a series of online/Zoom Q&A sessions ? including an upcoming Q&A session 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 9, via Zoom ? and a community-input survey, which launched Jan. 28, available at [link removed] [ [link removed] ]. Please join the Feb. 9 meeting to ask any questions about potential projects, and complete the online survey to let decision-makers know which projects you would recommend to be funded.

A recommendation will be made to Ann Arbor City Council who, in March, will determine how to spend the $24 million.

Visit [link removed] [ [link removed] ] for meeting access details, project information and to subscribe for email updates. Questions? Contact [email protected] or 734.794.6435.


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Ann Arbor Citizens Academy logo [ [link removed] ]
Get to know A2 ? Sign up today!

Do you want an inside look at your local Ann Arbor city government? To learn about both long-term planning and day-to-day operations? To hear directly from city leadership? Sign up to attend the 2022 Ann Arbor Community Academy (A2CA)! The free, weekly program is for adults in the community and takes place 6:30?8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, March 2?April 27.

Sessions will be held online via Zoom, with an option for an in-person tour, limited in size, with signup on a first-come, first-served basis. More information on how to opt into an in-person tour will be provided after signup.

The deadline to complete the signup form is Friday, Feb. 18. Find details and the signup form at [link removed] [ [link removed] ].


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A2Zero [ [link removed] ]
Sustainability forum series

The last Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m., join the Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations for the A2ZERO Sustainability Series! Each online forum will focus on a specific topic and will include how you can get involved, led by city staff and guest speakers from other government groups, non-profits, local businesses and more.


* Jan. 26 ? Everyday Electrification: A Pathway to Kicking Fossil Fuels in Your Home or Business.
* Feb. 23 ? Sustainable Food & Food Access: What We Eat and How We Get It.
* March 30 ? The Circular Economy of Soil: Environmental Impacts of Soil from Earth, to Plants, and Back Again.
* April 27 ? Air Quality Monitoring: Keeping an Eye on Ann Arbor's Air.
* May 25 ? A2ZERO and Me: A Resident's Guide to Sustainability Participation.

Register today for any or all of these events at [link removed] [ [link removed] ].


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Presidents Day
Presidents Day

Ann Arbor municipal offices will be closed on Presidents Day, Monday, Feb. 21. Trash/recycling collection will continue as regularly scheduled, with no planned delays.


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CTN February [ [link removed] ]
Spotlight on CTN

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

Adventures in Parenthood ? Detective Carlos Fossati with OK2SAY explains this 24/7 tip line dedicated to student safety: [link removed] [ [link removed] ].

CTN's Public Access Phase 1 Reopening Details: [link removed] [ [link removed] ].

FYI ? Melisa Tasker with the Washtenaw CARES Team shares how a recent millage has created mental health services for the entire county; learn how to take advantage of Ann Arbor?s winter compost program; and explore the county parks through annual family-friendly activities: [link removed] [ [link removed] ].

FYI ? Drew Hopper of Knuckle Sandwich Studios gives details on creating his Amazon Prime Original series, Organized Crime Paranormal; Washtenaw County?s Ice Carving Festival; and Ann Arbor Public Schools tackles robotics: [link removed] [ [link removed] ].

Ward Talk ? Guest Mayor Christopher Taylor: [link removed] [ [link removed] ].


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A2 City News is emailed monthly to newsletter subscribers [ [link removed] ]?from the City of Ann Arbor [ [link removed] ].

Please share comments or questions about this publication via email <[email protected]>.




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This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: City of Ann Arbor, MI ?301 E. Huron St. ? Ann Arbor, MI 48104 ? 734.794.6000 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]