Arbor Update

Technology

Councilmember Suarez guest blogs on Metromode

Posted by Murph on 14. June 2007

Freshman First Ward Councilmember Ron Suarez, the only person on City Council known to have an active online presence, will be Metromode’s guest blogger for the next week.

Metromode is likely somewhat more interested in his experience as serial entrepreneur than City Councilmember, but we’ll see where he goes with it.

Comment [4]

Events

Bike Fest this Friday

Posted by Bruce Fields on 14. June 2007

Main will be closed to traffic downtown from 6 to 9pm this Friday for the bike fest and green fair. Bike fest highlights include:

• Freeride Bike Demo
• Bike Obstacle Courses & Races
• Track Stand Contests (“Contests will open to participate in throughout the entire evening. We will hold a large group track stand contest at 8:45 pm.”)
• Bike Maintenance & Safety Inspection Booth (with Introductory Bike Maintenance Class from 7:30-8:30pm)
• Displays by local bike shops and membership organizations
• Informative displays on the City’s adopted Non-motorized Transportation Plan
• Activities for kids. Bring your bike and helmet!
• Free, attended bike parking

Comment [2]

City Council

City Council Primary Shaping Up

Posted by Juliew on 13. June 2007

A reader writes:
The deadline is Monday, June 25 for filing for the City Council primary elections on August 7. As of June 6, no Republicans have taken out petitions.

For the Democrats::
1st Ward: John Roberts has petitions out and current Councilperson Bob Johnson is not running again.
2nd Ward: Stephen Rapundalo has already filed.
3rd Ward: Leigh Greden has petitions out.
4th Ward: Marcia Higgins has petitions out.
5th Ward: Wendy Woods and Michael Anglin have petitions out.

Comment [265]

Environment

Council approves stormwater credits for rain barrels

Posted by Murph on 6. June 2007

Reader HD provides a timely tip on decking out your home with rain barrels:

At Monday’s meeting, City Council approved a change in stormwater fee structure based on amount of impervious surface and that also provide green credits for residents who implement:

1. rain barrels or
2. rain gardens or
3. detention ponds

There will be an online interface where residents can view how much impervious surface the City believes they have and where it is located. Green credits for (1) and (2) will be handled on an honor system basis, with possible spot checks (enforcement costs do not begin to approach the amount of the credit).

This fits nicely with Marilynn Rosenthal and the Burns Park Neighborhood’s plan to host a meeting on rain barrels this Wednesday, 6 June at 7pm at the Burns Park School cafeteria. Open to the public, not just Burns Parkers.

Relatedly,
> The Ann Arbor News discussed rain barrels last Friday
> Ypsilanti-based non-profit Growing Hope holds periodic rainbarrel (and worm bin) workshops, as well as selling pre-made barrels as a fundraiser
> To build your own, the Ann Arbor water treatment facility is a popular source for empty, garden-safe 55 gallon plastic barrels.

Comment [52]

Local

U-M Survival Flight Air Ambulance Crashes into Lake Michigan

Posted by Juliew on 5. June 2007

From the University of Michigan Health System:
At approximately 5:50 p.m. ET today (June 4), the University of Michigan Health System was notified that a Cessna jet leased by its U-M Survival Flight air ambulance program had crashed into Lake Michigan.

The UM web site lists the following names of the four UM employees and two air pilots who were aboard. A search for survivors is continuing.

• David Ashburn, M.D., a UM fellow (physician-in-training) in cardiothoracic surgery
• Richard Chenault II, a transplant donation specialist with the U-M Transplant Program
• Dennis Hoyes, a Marlin air pilot
• Richard Lapensee, a transplant donation specialist with the U-M Transplant Program
• Bill Serra, a Marlin air pilot
• Martinus (Martin) Spoor, M.D., a cardiac surgeon who had been on the U-M faculty since 2003

More information is available here.

Comment [1]

City Council

City Council: Zaragon Place Continued

Posted by Juliew on 4. June 2007

Monday, June 4 at 7:00 pm.
City Council Agenda

Highlights:

• Zaragon Place Site Plan and Development Agreement, 619 East University Avenue (a ten-story, 99,982-square foot mixed use building, consisting of 66 dwelling units, ground floor retail space, and 40 underground parking spaces.)
• Malletts View Office Center PUD Site Plan and Development Agreement, 385 East Eisenhower Parkway (this proposal includes the sale of a parcel of city-owned land)
• An Ordinance to Amend Sections of the city code to Provide Dog Play Areas in City Parks
• Resolution to Approve a Professional Services Contract with Beckett & Raeder, Inc. in the Amount of $99,440.00 for the Farmers Market Renovation and Expansion per RFP No. 652, Establish a Total Project Budget of $109,384.00,

Note:
A local resident notified me the other day that someone (not CTN) is posting City Council meetings and some planning and historic district meetings on Google Video. This is great! Here is the link.

Comment [48]

Transportation

State wants 55mph limit on Huron Parkway?

Posted by Murph on 2. June 2007

The Ann Arbor News today reports that the State Police and MDOT are pushing for increased speed limits in many places, based on the idea that posting speed limits at the speed that drivers are already driving is safest. But safest for whom?

Comment [7] • Read More »

Local

Pumas, Pottery, and Parties

Posted by Juliew on 2. June 2007

As the summer heats up, so do the events around town. Here are a few interesting ones happening this weekend:

Ya’ssoo Greek Festival Friday and Saturday 10:00am-midnight at the new St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church at 3109 Scio Church Road.

Puma Party to celebrate the return of the Pumas to the front of the Museum of Natural History. Saturday from 3:00-5:00pm in front of the museum.

African American Downtown Festival. “This event is the celebration of the contributions of African Americans to the development of Ann Arbor and is held in what was once the center of the city’s African American business district. There will be sale of food, merchandise by local African American merchants, arts & craft, face painting games, and a variety of entertainment.” Saturday from 10:00am to 9:00pm on North Fourth Avenue

Potter’s Guild Sale Saturday and Sunday 10:00am-5:00pm at the Potter’s Guild at 201 Hill Street.

Taste of Ann Arbor Sunday 11:00am-5:00pm on Main Street.

Comment [1]

Local

Downtown Design Workshop

Posted by Juliew on 28. May 2007

DATE: Wednesday, May 30, 2007
TIME: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (or slightly later)
PLACE: Courthouse Square 2nd floor Ballroom (100 S. Fourth Avenue)

The Ann Arbor Design Guidelines Advisory Committee has been working to develop new design guidelines for downtown Ann Arbor. Tomorrow, Wednesday, May 30, there will be a workshop to provide residents with the opportunity to shape the design process. The consultant leading the process is supposed to be very good and enthusiastic. The agenda will cover defining character districts, urban design framework, character district design objectives, and potential tools.

As an aside, this is not the first Design Guidelines meeting. Although many people attended the Calthorpe workshops, far fewer have attended these design workshops. Below is an excerpt from the Ann Arbor News that was printed after the last meeting in early May:

Ray Detter, a member of the downtown Citizens Advisory Council, said the city needed a strong design review process.

(City Planner Wendy) Rampson said that they would have a workshop on that May 30. But a design review policy would be one of the most controversial parts of shaping the downtown, with architects and planners wary of how it could be done effectively.

Like many of the meetings on development, Wednesday’s meeting drew a familiar crowd of politically active residents who serve on neighborhood associations or city commissions and architects.

Ethel Potts, a city planning commissioner, looked around at the participants and saw only a handful of residents she didn’t recognize. “We need the general public,” Potts said. “They aren’t here. That is their choice.”

Comment [8]

Washtenaw Co's largest Social Service Agency to Close it's Doors

Posted by Chuck Warpehoski on 25. May 2007

The Ann Arbor News reports that the largest nonprofit social service agency in the county, will be closing in September.

President of the HelpSource Board, David Christiansen, is more tactful than James Carville, but he basically said “It’s the economy, stupid.” He says, “It’s the economy, a 2-ton weight that has strained everything to the breaking point.”

Comment [2]