Winter composting program underway

Now that regular, weekly compost collections have ended for the season in Ann Arbor, the once-monthly winter collection of food scraps in compost carts has resumed this first week of January, Jan. 2?6. Missed this month? Winter compost curbside collections will also occur the weeks of Feb. 6 and March 6. Details, including helpful hints and tips, are available at https://www.a2gov.org/news/pages/article.aspx?i=932.

Attend an unarmed crisis response team public forum

Feedback is being gathered from community members to help create an alternative response process for crisis and public safety calls in Ann Arbor. In April 2021, Ann Arbor City Council adopted resolution R-21-129 directing the city administrator to implement an unarmed crisis response program (http://a2gov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4874520&GUID=84A3D90E-7AF3-46C9-98B8-FE4789A7DAB1&Options=ID%7cText%7c&Search=R-21-129). As the city continues to explore creation of a team of unarmed social and human services professionals, several community meetings are scheduled in January to hear from the public. All are invited to join the conversation:

Monday, Jan. 9, at 1 p.m. ? In person at the downtown Ann Arbor District Library, 343 S. Fifth Ave., basement multipurpose room.

Thursday, Jan. 12, at 6 p.m. ? In person at the Pittsfield Ann Arbor District Library Branch, 2359 Oak Valley Drive, program room.

Thursday, Jan. 19, at 6 p.m. ? *Online via Zoom. Please see the news release at https://www.a2gov.org/news/Pages/default.aspx for the meeting link and passcode.

Washtenaw County winter warming centers

Emergency shelter for homeless individuals is again being provided during the winter months through the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County (SAWC), in cooperation with the Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development and other organizations throughout the county. Daytime warming centers do not require preregistration; however, for access to overnight warming centers, each client must call Housing Access of Washtenaw County (HAWC) to obtain a referral to the Delonis Center. More information is available through HAWC at 734.961.1999 or www.housingaccess.net. For community members seeking shelter after 5 p.m., onsite assistance will be provided at the Delonis Center (312 W. Huron St., Ann Arbor).

Find the complete and most up-to-date information at https://www.washtenaw.org/2789/Winter-Warming-Centers?fbclid=IwAR0k1KK0QwCtF_DuYFQ9Phf6hdXQ2K6MhXxPPbHGAw9gZVTkaXHD98PVsws.

Open letter to the community

A message from the desk of Ann Arbor City Administrator Milton Dohoney

Happy New Year!

It has been an honor for me to serve the community over the past year as the city administrator. While I have learned a lot in that time, it is an ongoing process, and I firmly believe the more I learn, the better I will get in leading the government administration.

Ann Arbor Bicentennial

However, I am not writing you from the role of city administrator. I have volunteered to be part of a major civic effort, and I pen this letter as one of the leaders of the Ann Arbor Bicentennial Coordinating Committee. ?Coordinating? in this context is a key word. There were several conversations and planning efforts on this topic taking place around town. They just weren?t all connected. The aim of the coordinating committee is to bring the plans under a unified umbrella so that we can have a remarkable celebration that gives people several choices on how to celebrate the civic birthday. I?m using this space to tell you what we?re doing, and second, to invite you to be part of the observance.

The plan is to celebrate the bicentennial throughout the entirety of 2024. We are not simply planning some blowout event on a single day. We expect there to be different types of activities or events produced. Some will be newly created, one-time events only occurring in 2024. Others may be a ?series? that unfolds over multiple days across several weeks. The City of Ann Arbor has its own internal bicentennial committee. Their task is to plan whatever activities local government will produce during the year.

Some groups already do some type of annual event but may choose to simply rebrand it during that particular year. Finally, groups may elect to use our 200th birthday as an occasion for some type of legacy activity, something that will transcend a single year?s observance.

Destination Ann Arbor, a local organization that promotes conferences and leisure travel to the city (coordinating committee member) has graciously offered to facilitate the creation of a bicentennial calendar of events. The plan is to have an online accessible schedule showing everything that is planned over the 12 months of celebration.

The coordinating committee wants the community?s celebration to be fun, unifying and inclusive. There is a lot of work still ahead. This is the first of several periodic communications that will be forthcoming leading to our 2024 bicentennial observance.

What can you do?

If you are an organization, you can consider if you want to plan an event or activity to mark the bicentennial occasion. The coordinating committee role is not to plan the actual activities or events, the community needs to do that. Our role is to help promote the things that the community decides to produce.

If you are an individual, you may choose to contact one of the producing organizations to see if you can volunteer to help them with their event. Or you can simply look at the calendar when it?s available and attend one of the events that appeals to you.
If you are a business or philanthropic organization, you may choose to sponsor one of the activities to support the celebration while elevating your own brand at the same time.

Let?s come together to appreciate the community we have chosen to live, work, learn or play in. It is not perfect, but it?s working to get better. A fun-filled, unifying bicentennial celebration can help the community to do just that! We will be looking for, and looking forward to, your constructive thoughts and willingness to help out somehow, when the time comes!

Milton Dohoney Jr.
Ann Arbor Bicentennial Coordinating Committee
Co-chair

Excitement is ahead! Please follow the City of Ann Arbor on social media ? NextDoor (https://nextdoor.com/agency-detail/mi/ann-arbor/city-of-ann-arbor-1/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/TheCityOfAnnArbor) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/a2gov) ? for more information, including ways to connect and opportunities, as available.

Christmas tree free drop-off sites

The City of Ann Arbor is once again providing drop-off disposal locations for undecorated Christmas trees beginning Monday, Dec. 12, 2022, through Monday, Jan. 16, 2023. There are four free drop-off locations, all at city parks. Locations are open during normal park hours, 6 a.m.?10 p.m.

Southeast Area Park located on Ellsworth at Platt. Trees may be left at the dirt lot north of the basketball courts.

West Park parking lot off Chapin near West Huron Street.

Gallup Boat Launch parking lot (not the Gallup Livery), entrance on the southeast side of Geddes Road, East of Huron Parkway.

Olson Park parking lot, 1515 Dhu Varren Road, near Pontiac Trail.

It is important for all tree stands, nails, lights, ornaments, tinsel and plastic items to be removed from the trees and discarded before dropping off. The collected Christmas trees are chipped into mulch onsite or composted. Anything left on the tree can ruin the processing equipment, spoil the landscaping mulch and worse, harm the operators. Since wreaths and evergreen roping (garland) are generally made with wire or plastic backing, these items should not be dropped off and should instead be placed inside trash carts.

After Jan. 16, 2023, trees must be stored away; or branches less than 6 inches in diameter can be cut and placed in compost carts for monthly winter compost service or saved for regular curbside compost service, which resumes in April 2023. For more information on composting, visit www.a2gov.org/compost.

A2 Snow Match program

Snow-covered sidewalks can be hazardous for everyone, and now a program to help keep walkways clear is hitting the streets this winter in Ann Arbor. The City of Ann Arbor Snow Match program is underway, pairing residents with nearby neighbors to assist with sidewalk snow removal. Recipients of the volunteer services are individuals with disabilities or seniors (55+) who do not have resources (financial or family/friends nearby) for snow removal. The goal is to make sidewalks accessible for all ages and abilities ? and to make help available to those in need.

Along with making sidewalks safer for postal carriers, children/students, community members using public transportation and neighbors, and relieving some of the stress on residents that comes from a snowfall or freeze, the Snow Match program aims to foster stronger community relationships!

If you?re in need of assistance or have questions, email [email protected]. Interested in helping clear sidewalks this winter near your home? Sign up at https://bit.ly/3UJvPgo!

Free sand/salt mixture for residents

During the winter, the city provides residents with up to five gallons of a sand/salt mixture, per visit, at various locations around Ann Arbor to help treat sidewalks. Residents must bring their own shovel and bucket and also load material themselves from the marked piles. Sand/salt mixture (for city residents, NOT for contractors or landscapers) is now available to pick up at:

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

A locations map is posted at www.a2gov.org/snow.

Winter reminders

Snow and ice management

Please review these reminders regarding snow and ice management.

Property owners are responsible for removing and/or treating snow/ice on sidewalks, crosswalk ramps and bus stops. Residents are also encouraged to help neighbors clear sidewalks, as they're able, to create a safe and walkable community for all ages and abilities during the winter months.

For residential properties:

Within 24 hours, any accumulation of snow greater than 1 inch must be cleared from adjacent sidewalks, concrete bus stop walks and crosswalk ramps. Any ice accumulations must be treated within 18 hours of forming 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.

For nonresidential properties:

All snow/ice which has accumulated prior to 6 a.m. on a sidewalk adjacent to property must be removed by noon the same day. Snow and ice from walkways and ramps that are at bus stops or that lead to a marked or unmarked crosswalk must also be removed. The owner or occupant must keep the sidewalk effectively treated with sand, salt or other suitable substance in such manner as to prevent ice from being dangerous until such time as it can be removed.

For more information, visit www.a2gov.org/sidewalksnow. To report a problem sidewalk, please use the A2 Fix It app at www.a2gov.org/a2fixit or call 734.794.6942.

Clear fire hydrants

Residents who are able are also being asked to help keep fire hydrants adjacent to their property or in their neighborhoods free from snow and ice. Leaving a 3-foot clearing around hydrants can provide easy access to firefighters in the event of fire. The city thanks you in advance for your assistance!

Let?s keep in touch

Have you resolved to stay more connected with your community in the New Year (and beyond)? Do you just want to know what?s happening in your city ? which roads are being worked on, job opportunities, meetings, events in the parks and more? Visit the Ann Arbor public engagement hub, A2 Engage, to learn how to sign up for email alerts; how to report a city maintenance request; how to get involved with the city; where to follow the city on social media; and much more at www.a2gov.org/engage.

Good news!

- The City of Ann Arbor congratulates Julie Roth, city senior energy analyst, for being recognized with the Exemplary Leadership Award from Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association. Roth is dedicated to expanding local access to solar, an important part of the A2ZERO effort.

- The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently announced Ann Arbor as one of 12 candidates for the first round of its SolarAPP+ Prize! (This is in addition to Ann Arbor's designation as a SolSmart community.) Each of the communities selected during Step 1 of the SolarAPP+ Prize program has been determined eligible to adopt SolarAPP+, an automated, standardized solar installation-permitting tool created by NREL in partnership with government, private and local stakeholders. The $15,000 prize, to be awarded during Step 2 of the program, is intended to help reduce review timelines and improve processes for solar project implementation. Learn more at https://solsmart.org/news/four-solsmart-communities-are-eligible-for-solarapp-prize/.

CTN highlights

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

Adventures in Parenthood ? Michigan Scholastic Cycling Association (MiSCA), Sean Warren, Executive Director of the Michigan Scholastic Cycling Association (MiSCA) shares how this organization is bringing fitness to a broader range of students throughout the mitten state: https://youtu.be/x3xyt_IGEUE.

CTN celebrates 50 Years of Programming in 2023: https://youtu.be/Ljzmeln4zao.

CTN Tour ? Boy Scout Troop 456: https://youtu.be/0YNgJYHA03o.

FYI ? 30th Anniversary Special Part #1: https://youtu.be/6zZLNjXsjzI.

FYI ? 30th Anniversary Special Part # 2: https://youtu.be/0_HIbT-fJ00.

FYI ? 30th Anniversary Special Part # 3: https://youtu.be/M6tbUOOjJS0.

Green Room ? Butterflies, dragonflies and moths with naturalist, Ron Gamble: https://youtu.be/-C6EMuttXX4.

Let?s Watch with the Ann Arbor Film Festival ? Filmmaker Brent Coughenour: https://youtu.be/NqsPHsPfRFg.

Let?s Watch with the Ann Arbor Film Festival ? Filmmaker Troy Ramos: https://youtu.be/3gyUSyizKHw.

Let?s Watch with the Ann Arbor Film Festival ? Filmmaker Dawn Roe: https://youtu.be/xWTCtCkxAqM.

Let?s Watch with the Ann Arbor Film Festival ? Filmmaker Joel Swanson: https://youtu.be/2dTdhjxVDko.

Park Peek ? Buhr Park: https://youtu.be/RFBQ2GUjaLw.

Park Peek ? Mack Pool: https://youtu.be/vbXR5HhXOvE.

Santa Satellite Network 2022 ? https://youtu.be/C_CiE1oylmg.

Senior Moments ? Pittsfield Township?s Kim McIntire, recreation manager, and Stacie Jackson, recreation specialist, discuss updated information of the township senior center such as upcoming events, current and new programs and classes and the COVID restriction and policy for their clients: https://youtu.be/Bg9RshViI_o.

Soapbox ? Guest, Mentor 2 Youth: https://youtu.be/RFBQ2GUjaLw.

Soapbox ? Guest, Washtenaw Housing Alliance: https://youtu.be/deQ3SfaMWgE.

The Speed Management Program PSA ? Learn about the key elements of the speed management program being developed as part of implementing the Vision Zero Transportation Plan: https://youtu.be/0SIBV1Xaphw.

Ward Talk with Christopher Taylor: https://youtu.be/GeDZNdSnwuU.