The city of Ann Arbor’s Natural Area Preservation program is responsible for roughly 1,200 acres of natural areas, including 38 purchased with funds from a land acquisition millage. An article about the April 20, 2010 meeting of the Ann Arbor park advisory commission misstated those facts. Also, Berkshire Creek Nature Area was initially misspelled. We note the errors here, and have corrected the original article.
Ann Arbor Transportation Authority board meeting (April 21, 2010): On Wednesday, Eli Cooper, the city of Ann Arbor’s transportation program manager, gave the AATA board an update on Phase One of Fuller Road Station – a city-university collaboration to build a combined parking structure, bus station and bicycle amenity south of Fuller Road, abutting the University of Michigan medical campus. The project envisions eventual integration of a train station for east-west commuter rail, if service along the Detroit-Ann Arbor corridor can be established.
Eli Cooper, the city of Ann Arbor's transportation program manager, sets up his visual aids for the Fuller Road Station. (Photos by the writer.)
Confronted with skepticism from board member David Nacht, who expressed his doubts that the rail service would ever become a reality, Cooper urged a “glass as half full” view of the project. Cooper was buoyed in part by a recent phone call he’d received from the Michigan Dept. of Transportation about another round of funding that the Federal Railroad Administration will be making available.
AATA board member Sue McCormick also gave some shape to the city’s funding strategy for its share of the Fuller Road Station project: Once the environmental impact study is completed, that will make it possible for the local transit agency – in this case, the AATA – to apply for federal funds for the project. That’s consistent with the message thus far from city officials, who have said that whatever the funding strategy will be, it won’t involve city general fund money.
In its main business items of the meeting, the board approved a contract worth $399,805.32 with a consultant, Steer Davies Gleave, to head up the formulation of a transportation master plan (TMP), which will underpin the AATA’s effort to expand its service countywide. The board also approved an allocation of $350,000 for a period ending March 31, 2012, that will allow the AATA to task one of three public relations firms for work, depending on the nature of the project: The Rossman Group, Ilium Associates, and re:group.
Both resolutions passed, with dissent from the board’s treasurer, Ted Annis.
The board made a decision at its March board meeting to change its meeting time and location to Thursdays at the downtown Ann Arbor District Library. Although it was discussed then that the new time and location would begin in two months, board discussion on Wednesday suggested that the target for changing the new time is now August 2010. [Full Story]
The Friday Fish Report – a blog for Monahan’s Seafood Market – includes a brief write-up of this week’s visit by author and chef Tony Bourdain, who hung out for a while at Kerrytown: “Tony enjoyed several oysters and a HUGE pile of smelt in the Kerrytown Courtyard on a gorgeous Wednesday afternoon, while hordes of Community High kids on lunch hour skulked around with camera phones, twitter accounts and a lot of enthusiasm.” [Source]
2:15 p.m. no ice cream truck; 2:19 p.m. no ice cream truck; 2:31 p.m. no ice cream truck; 2:48 p.m. no ice cream truck. Is this intersection not on an ice cream truck route?
Crane jiggling the vertical steel beams into place for earth retention system. Vibrating apparatus atop beam. [photo]
Ann Arbor Park Advisory Commission meeting (April 20, 2010): At Tuesday’s meeting, park commissioners gave their blessing to proposed fee increases and the parks budget for FY 2011, recommending that city council approve both items.
Gwen Nystuen, center, passes out copies of a draft resolution to Karen Levin and David Barrett, her colleagues on the Ann Arbor park advisory commission. Nystuen is proposing that PAC form a subcommittee to review the impact of the Fuller Road Station. (Photos by the writer)
The proposed budget would keep all of the city’s 157 parks open, but would cut back maintenance – mowing and snow removal – on 17 parks. The budget also proposes keeping open Mack Pool and the Ann Arbor Senior Center, which had previously been slated to close. A handful of supporters for those two groups who attended Tuesday’s meeting applauded when commissioners approved the budget.
Only one commissioner – Gwen Nystuen – voted against recommending the budget, citing objections to a proposed rollback of funds for the city’s Natural Area Preservation (NAP) program.
Nystuen also floated a proposal to form a subcommittee that would review the impact of the Fuller Road Station. That project, which is jointly funded by the city and the University of Michigan, would initially include a large parking structure and bus station on city-owned land that’s designated as parkland. Nystuen has been vocal about her concerns over setting a precedent with this project, and frustrated that PAC hasn’t taken a more active role on the issue.
Commissioners also got a brief update on the status of an RFP being drafted by city staff for the possible privatization of the Huron Hills Golf Course, and heard from an organizer of the Ann Arbor skatepark during public commentary, who invited commissioners to an April 25 design workshop. [Full Story]
John U. Bacon
With tax day just past, it’s a good time to ask where our money should go – and where it shouldn’t. I don’t have all the answers, of course – but I’m convinced one expenditure should end immediately: stadium subsidies.
Two years ago, the New York Yankees signed third baseman Alex Rodriguez to a contract that will pay him $275 million dollars in exchange for 10 years of catching, throwing and hitting a baseball. That puts him ahead of his teammate, Derek Jeter, who has to get by on a mere $189 million for his decade of duty. Sucker.
Whenever teams sign contracts like that, the player’s agent always justifies it by saying, “Well, that’s what the market will bear.”
If that were true, it would still be insane, but at least there would be a logic to it. After all, if any team is dumb enough to pay someone that kind of money, and if a family of four wants to pay $200 to see that guy play – well, then, so be it. That’s how free markets work.
But the free market doesn’t come close to paying these guys’ salaries. Who picks up the gap? You do – every time you pay your taxes. [Full Story]
On Friday morning, the city of Ann Arbor has reported a water main break on the city’s east side. From a city press release: “As a result of a water main break that occurred on Packard at Cherry Tree Lane, some residents in the affected area may experience discolored water. In addition, traffic disruptions will occur on Packard between Fernwood and US-23 with the eastbound lanes most impacted while repair crews are on site most of the day making necessary repairs. Residents who have questions can call 734-794-6350 or check the city’s website www.a2gov.org for updates.”
The India in Ann Arbor blog has a guest post by UM student Adhiraj Vable, who writes about how his connection to India changed over the years. During his childhood in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, he didn’t feel strong ties to his homeland. Vable writes: “Throughout my first few years in Ann Arbor, things pretty much stayed the same – I didn’t join any Indian centered student groups, and the Indians I was friends with were friends because of similar interests, not heritages. Again, my un-involvement in the Indian community was nothing fueled by resentment, it just wasn’t something that crossed my mind.” [Source]
Sneak peak of an antique car in a truck. [photo]
Ann Arbor Public Schools Board of Education meeting (April 21, 2010): In one swift action item on an otherwise skeletal agenda, the Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS) board of education voted unanimously to lay off all 191 of its probationary teachers, starting in June. Probationary teachers are commonly called “un-tenured.”
Todd Roberts, superintendent of Ann Arbor Public Schools. (Photos by the writer).
While introducing the item, AAPS superintendent Todd Roberts noted, “This is certainly a very difficult thing for myself and for this board to be recommending tonight,” but said he was hopeful that AAPS will continue to work collaboratively with its employee groups to end up with “as few job reductions as we possibly can.” District officials hope that many of the layoffs will be rescinded before the start of school in the fall.
Last night’s meeting also contained the first of two public hearings on recommendations from the district’s sexual health education advisory committee regarding materials to be used in elementary-level sex education. [Full Story]
Cyclist preserving public art. [Eschews "art" bike hoop, chooses lamp post.] [photo]
Sharon McRill, owner of Ann Arbor-based Betty Brigade, is featured in a Forbes magazine article about dealing with long-term unemployment. McRill described her experience after being laid off: “I used those eight jobless months to network and brainstorm about what I was really good at – and that turned out to be helping people with their household projects.” [Source]
A crew from Atwell Hicks takes some boring samples in the parking lot of the former Ann Arbor News building. [photo]
Vicki Honeyman gives Doug Wathen a haircut in her shop, Heavenly Metal, which shares space with her other business, Vicki’s Wash & Wear Haircuts. In the background to the left is a sandwich board sign for Heavenly Metal, tucked into the corner since Honeyman was notified that it's illegal to put it outside the store.
Vicki Honeyman’s Heavenly Metal is easy to miss. Not only is it the sole retail shop on East Ann, but the business is also set back from the street. Until recently, Honeyman relied on a portable sign she set up on the northeast corner of East Ann and Fourth Avenue to bring in business. But earlier this month, a city official told her she had to take her sign down. In Ann Arbor, it’s illegal.
Honeyman says that since the city made her take her sign down, she’s seen a significant drop in the number of customers coming into Heavenly Metal. Without the sign, people don’t know her business is there.
“It’s completely affected my business,” Honeyman said, describing it as “devastating” to her income.
The Ann Arbor city council considered a measure in February that would have amended the sign ordinance to make portable signs legal, allowing businesses to buy annual permits to use them. But when that resolution was voted down, city officials decided to step up enforcement of the existing sign ordinance. Business groups and retailers have protested – it’s likely that city staff will propose a new permitting system for council to consider next month, one that’s based on sidewalk occupancy permits. [Full Story]
In the spirit of Earth Day, we’re recycling this article by Alan Glenn, published last year by The Ann Arbor Chronicle, on the origins of Ann Arbor’s first Earth Day. In 1970, UM student activists drew national attention to a teach-in focused on the environment. [Source]
Man wearing dark jacket and white fedora hat with guitar case in one hand and folding chair under his arm.
Ann Arbor City Council meeting (April 19, 2010) Part 1: In the main business of the meeting, city administrator Roger Fraser delivered to Ann Arbor’s city council a presentation required by the city charter, which contained his proposed budget for FY 2011. That marks the formal start of councilmembers’ opportunity to modify the budget proposal.
From left to right: Mayor John Hieftje, Marcia Higgins (Ward 4) and city administrator Roger Fraser. The trio were basking in the blue glow of the slide projector before the start of the council meeting, which began with Fraser's budget presentation. (Photos by the writer.)
The council must adopt amendments to the budget by their second meeting in May – May 17 this year – or else see the administrator’s unamended budget enacted by default, as stipulated by a city charter provision.
The council also heard a summary of the parking plan that they had commissioned the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority to produce.
Related to the city budget and the DDA board – but not reported during communications time at the council meeting – members of the DDA board and city council held a closed-door meeting last Friday afternoon with city administrator Roger Fraser to discuss a $2 million payment by the DDA to the city this year.
At Monday evening’s meeting, the council postponed a vote on a schedule of fine increases for parking violations. The estimated $635,000 in additional revenues that the increases would bring, said CFO Tom Crawford at the meeting, was not part of the FY 2011 budget assumptions.
The topic of the University of Michigan’s upcoming graduation exercises on May 1, which will feature an address by President Barack Obama, found its way into deliberations at various points in the meeting. The city approved road closures around the football stadium in conjunction with the UM commencement. Residents who live near Elbel Field will contend with floodlights and loudspeakers as early as 4 a.m. on commencement morning. And during public commentary, one resident expressed concern over the city’s denial of a permit to demonstrate – organizers of “Fulfilling the Dream” expect to draw hundreds on May 1, but as yet have nowhere to gather.
The city administrator’s report to the council featured an explanation of parking citations handed out during the previous Saturday’s UM spring football game, as well as an explanation of the closure of city hall last week due to elevated levels of carbon monoxide.
Public commentary was weighted towards an agenda item that allocated $313,000 from the Ann Arbor Housing Trust Fund for three different permanent housing projects. The council approved the allocation.
The council also satisfied an obligation it had under the settlement terms of a recent lawsuit by voting to remand consideration of an email rule to its rules committee.
In Part 1 of this report, we focus on the budget, parking and UM’s commencement. [Full Story]
Decrepit squirrel, bald save for bushy tail, crossing Diag. Do these things get mange? Mummified?
A post on Repasts, Present & Future documents the building of a hoop house last weekend at the Tessmer Farm: “At the end of the first day, the hoop was all ready for the next day end wall construction. The end walls are made using a sturdy plastic that is a bit fussy to work with. It takes nearly as long to build and install the two end walls as it does to put the bow parts together and install them.” [Source]
The Detroit News reports that Eastern Michigan University’s board of regents approved a 0% increase to tuition, room and board, and fees for its 2010-11 academic year. According to the Michigan Senate Fiscal Agency, the last time one of the state’s 15 public universities did not raise tuition was in 1986-87. The article quotes EMU regent Jim Stapleton: “We understand clearly the challenges working families face.” [Source]
Tents going up in the parking lot of Boulevard Plaza (home of Arbor Farms, Ace Hardware et al.) for the seasonal plant business there. Around the corner, former Fresh Seasons still (sadly) empty.
About two dozen members of three Ann Arbor commissions gathered last week for a rare joint meeting, a two-hour, wide-ranging discussion focused on the issue of sustainability. Bonnie Bona, chair of the city’s planning commission, said the working session was meant to start a conversation, with the goal of moving the city toward a sustainable future.
From left: David Stead, Jean Carlberg, and Fulter Hong at an April 13 working session on sustainability. They are members of the environmental, planning and energy commissions, respectively. (Photos by the writer.)
The discussion touched on the conceptual as well as the concrete, with some commissioners urging the group to tackle practical considerations as well. The chairs of each commission – Bona, the energy commission’s Wayne Appleyard, and Steve Bean of the environmental commission – set the stage by talking about the roles of their appointed public bodies, and how sustainability might be incorporated into their work.
Specific ideas discussed during the session included financing energy improvements in households through a special self-assessment on property tax bills, and tapping expertise at the University of Michigan.
More than midway through the meeting they were joined by Terry Alexander, executive director of UM’s Office of Campus Sustainability. He described UM’s efforts at implementing sustainable practices on campus as well as creating a living/learning environment for students, teaching them what it means to be a “green citizen.”
Toward the end of the meeting, Bona noted that the issue extended far beyond the three commissions gathered around the table. Housing, parks and other areas need to be involved as well, she said, if they were truly to tackle the three elements of sustainability: environmental quality, social equity, and economic vitality. Bean said he and the other chairs would be meeting again and come up with some specific examples for what steps might be taken next. “You’ll be hearing from us,” he said. [Full Story]
A San Francisco Chronicle article reports on a study that finds text messaging is the dominant form of communication for teens. The study’s co-author is Scott Campbell, a UM assistant professor of communications studies: “It provides a private back channel to conduct their personal affairs away from parents and authorities. It’s anywhere, point-to-point access to other teens.” [Source]
Occasional contributor to The Ann Arbor Chronicle, Howard Lovy, now writes as the Detroit correspondent for a new publication Xconomy. In an inaugural column, he describes the evolution of the meaning of “Detroit”: “And when I say ‘Detroit,’ I am also talking about Southeastern Michigan, including Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan [...] University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman has a variation on an old academic mantra. At U-M, it’s ‘partner or perish’ as the university aggressively pursues business relationships to turn academic ideas into business realities.” [Source]
A report of the April 15, 2010 University of Michigan board of regents meeting incorrectly stated that regents approved a parking permit fee increase. This was an informational item only. We note the error here, and have corrected the original article.
Pedestrian stopped on the sidewalk, staring down into the Library Lot crater.
Ann Arbor Public Schools Board of Education meeting (April 14, 2010): Bids to outsource Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS) custodial and maintenance services were presented and discussed at the board of education meeting last Wednesday. If negotiations with its local custodial and maintenance workers union do not succeed, the board will vote on privatizing those services at its April 28 meeting.
Glenn Nelson addresses his fellow AAPS board members during last Wednesday's meeting. (Photos by the writer.)
Also mentioned was the possibility that layoff notices could be issued – and, in fact, about 190 teachers have received letters stating that they might receive such notices. If approved by the board at its meeting on Wednesday, notices could go out later this week.
The board also swore in its newest member, Christine Stead, as treasurer, replacing long-time board member Randy Friedman, who resigned earlier this month. His resignation adds a fifth seat to the election slate this fall.
Updates were given to the budget plan, and a bid for summer construction projects at Pioneer High School was given a first briefing by the board. That marked the final phase of the comprehensive capital improvements program approved by the community with the passage of the bond and sinking fund millages in 2004.
Peer mentoring was applauded as part of middle school programming, and a personal curriculum option and additional facilities projects were also discussed at first briefing. [Full Story]
A report on the April 13, 2010 meeting of the Ann Arbor Public Art Commission incorrectly stated that Connie Pulcipher from the city of Ann Arbor’s systems planning unit will facilitate AAPAC’s May 12 annual planning meeting. Pulcipher will not be facilitating that meeting. We note the error here, and have corrected it in the original article.
Muslim mom driving a Passat has cellphone tucked into her hijab so she can keep both hands on the wheel.
