Cheers to National Drinking Water Week

Join the celebration of National Drinking Water Week (NDWW)! The Ann Arbor Water Treatment Plant will host in-person tours, providing drinking water information and other activities, Saturday, May 7. Advance registration is required. To sign up for a 45-minute time slot, visit https://www.a2gov.org/pages/calendar.aspx, go to May 7, and click the ?sign up" button next to your desired time on May 7. The event will be held outdoors, rain or shine.

The city treats and delivers drinking water to more than 125,000 customers. Learn more about NDWW, as well as Huron River Day May 15 and the Ann Arbor water system as a whole, in the latest issue of Quality Water Matters, at https://www.a2gov.org/departments/water-treatment/Documents/quality_water_matters_newsletter_may_2022.pdf (PDF).

Huron River Day event returns for all to enjoy Sunday, May 15

Enjoy the beautiful Huron River with free, family-friendly river activities during the Huron River Day festival at Gallup Park, 3000 Fuller Road in Ann Arbor, Sunday, May 15, noon?4 p.m. For just $5, you can paddle a boat (canoe or kayak), try stand-up paddle boarding (SUP), listen to live music and eat delicious, local food ? all while learning about the Huron River. Fun, river-themed exhibits and children?s activities, fishing, studying river critters with the Huron River Watershed Council, live animals from the Leslie Science & Nature Center and squirting water with the Dirt Doctor.

The program kicks off with a full lineup of LIVE local music and opening remarks from Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner Evan Pratt. Many of the musicians will perform songs that celebrate the Huron River.

Tasty treats will be available for purchase from a variety of local food trucks. Parking is available in Gallup Park, but if you ride your bike to the festival, and use the bike corral, your boat rental will be free.

Gallup Park activities, noon?4 p.m.:

• Educational and fun river exhibits.
• Children?s scavenger hunt with cool prizes.
• Paddle a boat with $5 canoe and kayak rentals.
• Try stand-up paddle boarding (SUP).
• Classic wooden boat demonstration.
• Dirt Doctor water squirting to learn how to keep our waterways clean.
• Live music under a tent adjacent to the river.
• Kids activities (prizes for participants).
• Live animals from the Leslie Science & Nature Center.
• Purchase delicious local food provided by food trucks.
• Fishing fun ? poles, bait and instruction included.
• River critters with the Huron River Watershed Council.

For more information about Huron River Day ? including the musical acts scheduled to perform and the list of food trucks that will be on site ? call 734.794.6240 or visit https://www.a2gov.org/departments/Parks-Recreation/play/Pages/Huron-River-Day.aspx.

No Mow May

Without pollinators, such as bees, butterflies and beetles, our ecosystem would suffer. Approximately 75 percent of all plants rely on pollinators for fertilization in order to produce fruits, seeds and young plants. And not only do we need plants for food, the environment needs plants to prevent soil erosion, remove carbon from the air and provide homes for wildlife.

Protecting pollinators is important, and there are several ways to help.

Plant a rain garden in your yard with native, pollinator-friendly flowering plants. Doing so will attract pollinators and reduce runoff.

Stop and think before you spray any chemicals outdoors. Pesticides, herbicides and fungicides are harmful and toxic to pollinators.

Let your lush lawn grow for a month. Ann Arbor City Council recently declared No Mow May to encourage property owners to refrain from mowing the open spaces on their properties until May 31, 2022. The resolution also includes some exclusions to ensure vegetation doesn't compromise safety for humans, such as impeding sidewalk access and reducing sight lines. Read the full resolution at .

For more information about the No Mow May initiative and the vital role of pollinators, visit https://www.a2gov.org/departments/sustainability/Sustainability%20Natural%20Resources/Pages/No-Mow-May-Initiative.aspx, and watch at https://youtu.be/pTyhLzvK5sU.

Redistricting update ? New voter ID cards and new precinct numbers coming soon!

Ann Arbor?s population has grown, and populations throughout the county and the state have also changed, according to the 2020 Census. As a result, some changes are now taking place with voting districts.

The Ann Arbor City Clerk?s Office is finalizing the precinct changes that will take effect for the Aug. 2, 2022, Primary Election, stemming from the census and statewide redistricting. All Ann Arbor voters are now in U.S. Congressional District 6, and new State House and Senate districts have also been assigned to Ann Arbor. Some residents will also be assigned to a new County Commissioner District.

What does this mean to you as a voter? Most, but not all, voters will still vote at the same polling location, and this will also be indicated on your new voter ID card. For voters who have been reassigned to a new ward and/or precinct location, the card will clearly indicate this change for you. Watch for your new card in the mail in the coming weeks, well before the August Primary.

Same precinct locations, new numbers

All city voters should also be aware that the precincts have been renumbered, now in consistent chronological order (1-53). So while you may still be assigned the same precinct and polling location, the number may be slightly different. This new naming convention is a best practice and replaces the previous system of numbering each ward separately. For example, Ward 2, Precinct 1 is now Ward 2, Precinct 13, following the first twelve precincts in Ward 1.

Sound confusing? Not to worry ? these changes will be provided to each registered voter on their new voter ID card being mailed to all city voters in late spring/early summer. More information on voting and upcoming elections can be found at www.a2gov.org/elections. Still have questions? Contact the city clerk?s office at 734.794.6140 or [email protected].

Experience summer outdoors with Ann Arbor parks day camps

Do you have plans for your children this summer? Are you looking to fill their days with fun, safe opportunities for adventures, learning and friendships? Though all camps at Argo and Gallup canoe liveries are full and have extensive waiting lists, and most junior golf camp sessions are also closed, there are still openings in other camps hosted by Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation!

Check out the openings earlier in the summer months at Fuller Park Pool (weeks 2?4) and Buhr Park Pool (weeks 1?4, 7?8). To register, visit https://secure.rec1.com/MI/city-of-ann-arbor/catalog, and scroll down the page to the pool camps section.

The city?s friendly, trained staff looks forward to providing a wonderful summer to remember!

Reminders for your four-legged (dog) friend

Spring is in bloom, making this the perfect time to remind dog owners of some important ways to keep your dog (and others) safe and happy in city parks and neighborhoods.

Be sure dogs are properly licensed. Why license?

• Provides identification ? Helps to reunite lost dogs with their owners.
• Michigan law requires all dogs over the age of 6 months to be licensed. License fees are only $6 for an up-to-one-year license and $15 for a three-year license if your dog is spayed or neutered. Licensing fees for unaltered animals are $12 or $30 for a one- or three-year license. Service dogs are licensed for free.
• To control and prevent the spread of rabies ? Proof of a current rabies vaccination is required in order to purchase a license. Therefore, requiring dogs to be licensed is also a measure to prevent the spread of rabies.
• Only licensed dogs are permitted to play at the city's three off-leash dog parks. Plenty of exercise, socializing and play are in store at Broadway, Olson and Swift Run parks. To learn more, visit https://www.a2gov.org/departments/Parks-Recreation/play/Pages/Dog-Parks.aspx.

Visit the city website for more information on dog licenses, including the new application and rates, at www.a2gov.org/doglicense or https://www.a2gov.org/departments/city-clerk/Pages/Dog-Licensing.aspx Or to apply online, visit https://stream.a2gov.org/EnerGov_Prod/selfservice/AnnArborMIProd#/home.

Please also remember ?

• Keep your pup on a leash. The city?s designated dog parks are the only city parks where off-leash walking and play are permitted. Otherwise, dogs must be secured by a held leash when walking at other city parks, schools, in neighborhoods, etc.
• Pick up what is left behind. Not picking up your dog?s droppings violates the city?s sanitation nuisance ordinance. It?s also just not very neighborly! If you and your dog plan to stray away from your yard, be sure to bring along bags so you may properly dispose of any droppings.

More information is available on the city?s animal control web page at https://www.a2gov.org/departments/police/services/Pages/Animal-Control.aspx.

Share feedback via the Parks and Recreation Open Space (PROS) Plan survey

The City of Ann Arbor is updating the Parks and Recreation Open Space (PROS) Plan to identify goals, needs, trends and priorities for the next five years and beyond. Currently there is an online survey (https://www.opentownhall.com/portals/116/Issue_11734) available to allow the community to provide feedback on the future of Ann Arbor Parks.

Updating the PROS Plan helps to facilitate community discussion and evaluation of topics of importance and current issues. The online survey is one way for the community to participate during the PROS Plan process, and additional opportunities to engage, such as public meetings, will follow.

The PROS plan also plays an important role in qualifying for state and federal grant funding. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) requires that all municipalities applying for recreation grants have a current plan on file with the MDNR and to update that plan every five years.

To view and read the plan visit, https://www.a2gov.org/departments/Parks-Recreation/administrative/Documents/PROS%20Plan%202016.pdf. To watch a brief video, go to https://youtu.be/EY0F2GS9rNc. The survey will close on Sunday, June 5. If you have any questions or comments about the PROS plan update, please contact Hillary Hanzel, park planner and landscape architect, at [email protected].

Look no further for summer fun + funds ? Ann Arbor parks is hiring!

Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation has a variety of job openings for the summer if you love working outdoors, meeting new people and earning money ? all while having FUN! The city is looking for day camp directors and day camp counselors, park operations maintenance workers, golf course maintenance staff, lifeguards and swim instructors.?

Starting salaries are $15.66 for TEMP 1/STEP 1 hires. Join the parks summer team for a fun, memorable and rewarding season and a great work experience making a meaningful difference in the lives of young people. To learn more about working in the parks, visit https://www.a2gov.org/departments/Parks-Recreation/parks-places/Pages/parksjobs.aspx. Apply online.

Now hiring: Police officers and cadets

Are you ? or do you know someone ? interested in a law enforcement career? The Ann Arbor Police Department is seeking candidates for police officer and cadet positions. Find more information, including how to apply, at https://www.a2gov.org/departments/police/Pages/Careers.aspx. Applications are being accepted through Sunday, May 8. Please share this opportunity to join Ann Arbor?s finest.

A closer look at local hazards

The City of Ann Arbor is seeking feedback to update its five-year Hazard Mitigation Plan. Please take a few minutes to complete an online survey by May 6 at https://www.opentownhall.com/portals/116/Issue_11813. The survey will help identify how Ann Arbor residents experience local hazards, activities individuals have taken to prepare for local hazards, and activities the city could be taking to enhance city-wide preparedness and resilience. More information about the project and additional public feedback opportunities is available at https://engagestantec.mysocialpinpoint.com/a2_hazard_mitigation.

Temporary signs in Ann Arbor

Wondering about the rules regarding temporary signs in your neighborhood? The City of Ann Arbor Sign Code was updated and approved in December 2020. Please see the ?Guide to Temporary Signs in the City of Ann Arbor? (PDF), to determine the size, amount, location of temporary freestanding and wall signs in residential and nonresidential zoning districts; or view Section 5.24 of the Unified Development Code (UDC) for all other sign code requirements.

Remember, a temporary sign (one that is not permanently anchored to the ground or building) is intended for a limited timeframe of display. For more on signage in the city, visit https://www.a2gov.org/departments/planning/zoning/Pages/Sign-Code-and-Sign-Permits.aspx.

SEU: What say you?

The City of Ann Arbor is seeking input regarding the potential creation of a Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU). An SEU is a community-owned energy utility that provides electricity from local solar and battery storage systems installed on homes and businesses throughout the city to provide 100% clean, reliable, locally built and affordable electricity; built by the community, for the community. The SEU would supplement the utility we currently have, meaning residents would have a choice for how to get their energy ? a choice most do not have today.

Watch this 10-minute video for an overview of the proposed Ann Arbor SEU at https://youtu.be/MLYcCMga8a8. Also check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLi_4neoHhg. To learn more about the idea and share your feedback via an online survey (open through June 30), visit www.a2gov.org/a2seu.?

Sustainably speaking

Catch up on the latest from the city's office of sustainability and innovations (OSI). For more information, including registration links, visit https://www.a2gov.org/departments/sustainability/Newsletter-Events/Pages/default.aspx.

• Climate Change: Responding to the latest IPCC Report ? May 12 at 6 p.m. The impacts of climate change are already being experienced around the world. What are the existing and projected impacts to our region? What are others doing? What should we do? Attend this interactive presentation and open question-and-answer session to learn more. Speakers will share findings from the most recent series of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports, details about climate activities in Michigan and Ann Arbor, and ways you can get more involved. Registration is free and is also required: https://a2gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_OOCTtNsDTQqqMuueXcZdVw. Speakers include Dr. Jonathan Overpeck, Edith Juno and Dr. Missy Stults.
• A2ZERO Week ? Coming June 5?11, this week-long celebration of sustainability activities and creativity is a great way to have fun and learn a little. Events are constantly being added and the draft agenda can be found at https://www.a2gov.org/departments/sustainability/Newsletter-Events/a2zero-week/Pages/default.aspx. If you are interested in working with OSI on an event during this week, please reach out to Christine Schopieray at [email protected].

Memorial Day schedule

On Monday, May 30, city government offices are closed for Memorial Day. There will be no trash/recycling/compost collection on this holiday Monday. Collections will instead be delayed by one day, taking place Tuesday through Saturday.

Good news!

• Ann Arbor is ranked No. 4 on Niche.com's list of Cities with the Best Public Schools in America. Congratulations, AAPS, and thank you for helping to make Ann Arbor a great place to live, work and also learn! Read all about it at?https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/search/cities-with-the-best-public-schools/
• Ann Arbor has once again earned recognition as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation. Learn more about the city?s forestry efforts at https://www.a2gov.org/departments/forestry/Pages/default.aspx.

CTN highlights

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

Adventures in Parenthood ? Mike Longencker, executive camp director and co-founder of Great Lakes Burn Camp, shares details about the annual and inspirational summer and winter camps dedicated to burn survivors: https://youtu.be/BVaL3eTwnXQ.

Ann Arbor Inclusive ? Multidisciplinary collaborative course at the University of Detroit Mercy pairs engineering students and nursing students with clients who have physical disabilities with the purpose of building a medically safe device to improve the life of the person living with the disability: https://youtu.be/BpxAGHx5oMU.

Ann Arbor Inclusive ? Peggy Campbell of "We Can't Wait? discusses Auto No-fault Reform: https://youtu.be/p9lEPkgwwGs.

Ann Arbor Sustainability Energy Utility (SEU) Promo: https://youtu.be/XLi_4neoHhg.

FYI ? Cheryl Saam, recreation supervisor for the Ann Arbor Canoe Liveries, shares how to honor one of the area?s most valuable assets during Huron River Day; Ann Arbor Active Against ALS Boxcar Derby; and Superb Owls at Leslie Science & Nature Center: https://youtu.be/WkBZqzGK5ig.

FYI ? La Shawn Cartwright and Lindsay Calka share how to support the local homeless community through Groundcover News; National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Cheer and Dance Championships; and animal lifesaving techniques: https://youtu.be/Jni0E9Kq_C0.

Happy Tails ? LLDR is a no-kill rescue with foster homes across Michigan rescuing dogs. The LLDR takes in dogs and does their best to provide them with safety, medical care and love and eventually their forever home: https://youtu.be/0-pSf7sWCmQ.

Meet CTN?s Jamie Chiu: https://www.weloveannarbor.com/ctn-profile-jamie-chiu-is-focusing-on-uplifting-marginalized-voices-and-perspectives-in-her-new-job/.

No Mow May 2022: https://youtu.be/pTyhLzvK5sU.

Parks and Recreation Open Space (PROS) Plan Survey 2022: https://youtu.be/EY0F2GS9rNc.

Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) Overview ? This 10-minute video provides a high-level overview of the proposed Ann Arbor Sustainable Energy Utility and how it could operate locally to advance clean, reliable, locally built, and community-owned energy: https://youtu.be/MLYcCMga8a8.

Senior Moments ? Yvonne Cudney of Ann Arbor Housing Bureau for Seniors discusses the organization, which is part of the University of Michigan Health System, programs to prevent seniors from eviction and upcoming events such as Big Heart for Seniors and Senior Week: https://youtu.be/ncXoBiPL0bo.

Senior Moments ? Katie Monkiewicz of the Ann Arbor District Library Washtenaw Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled discusses the organization and show devices to help individuals with vision problems read: https://youtu.be/mxfQaZa_qTk.

Ward Talk ? Guest Ann Arbor Councilmember Julie Grand from Ward 3: https://youtu.be/rbOW6ZpeogQ.