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151 Martin, P.O. Box 3001
Birmingham, MI 48012
Ph. 248.530.1800
Fax 248.530.1080
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Welcome to the July 2017 edition of the Around Town e-Newsletter from the City of Birmingham. We hope you enjoy this e-newsletter and forward it along to others who may be interested in the City of Birmingham!
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Inside City Hall with Birmingham City Manager, Joe Valentine
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| Inside City Hall, July Edition |
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Take Advantage of Parking Technology in Birmingham
 Parking Widget
The City's new parking widget tells drivers the number of available spaces at each parking structure in real-time. Now, visitors can go to the city's website at
www.bhamgov.org or the Birmingham Shopping District's website at
www.ALLINBirmingham.com to access the mobile-enabled feature. Drivers simply click on the green and white parking logo at the top right corner of the screen and gain access to current parking space availability and Google maps to the city's parking structures.
Smart Meters
All parking meters located in the City of Birmingham now offer payment by credit card as an option.
The new parking meters still have a coin slot for payment using nickels, dimes or quarters. T
he City of Birmingham is absorbing the processing costs associated with use of credit cards. Parking rates will be the same regardless of payment type - coin or credit card. The new meters will accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover.
Prefer to pay using Parkmobile? Another great option! The new Liberty meters will reflect Parkmobile payments on the meter and on your mobile phone.
Also, the new vehicle detection sensors will allow parking patrons to utilize mobile phones, computers or vehicle apps to locate convenient parking close to Birmingham destinations for business, shopping, dining or recreation.
For more information regarding these enhancements, contact
[email protected] or call 248-540-9690.
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Family Friendly Entertainment in Birmingham Parks
Enjoy live concerts in Shain Park this summer during the In the Park Summer Concert series. The picturesque setting offers a perfect opportunity to kick off your shoes, relax on a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy the show. Brand new this year, enjoy a special Fourth of July concert, and afternoon concerts on July 12 and August 2 from 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. Head to Shain Park on your lunch break and enjoy! Upcoming June and July concerts are as follows:
Tuesday, July 4, 2017 - ***Special Fourth of July Concert by the Jazz Ambassadors of The U.S. Army Field Band*** 7 p.m.
Wednesday, July 5, 2017 - Weekend Come Back (Pop, Rock, Country, Funk & Motown), 7 p.m.
Wednesday, July 12, 2017 - Brand New afternoon concert by Gia Warner and Bobby Lewis (Rock/Classical), 12 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Wednesday, July 12, 2017 - Magic Bus (Psychedelic Music, 60's & 70's), 7 p.m.
Wednesday, July 19, 2017 - Toppermost Beatle Tribute (Beatles), 7 p.m.
Wednesday, July 26, 2017 - Elvis Tribute Artist, Darrin Hagel, 7 p.m.
Movies under the Stars in Booth Park
Find a cozy spot on the grassy hills of Booth Park and enjoy family-friendly movies this summer. The Birmingham Shopping District's popular Movie Night events offer pre-show entertainment at 7:30 p.m. followed by a movie at dusk. Upcoming events are as follows:
Friday, July 14
- Featured presentation: Finding Dory
Friday, August 11
- Featured presentation: Ghostbusters (Original from 1984)
Head to Booth Park (located on the west side of North Old Woodward, just north of Harmon Street) and enjoy movies under the stars! Find out more at
www.ALLINBirmingham.com
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Shopping Extravaganza at Day On The Town
Saturday, July 22, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
 Attracting shoppers from near and far, Birmingham's biggest sale event of the year will draw thousands on Saturday, July 22 from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Day On The Town offers bargain-hunters with a unique opportunity to find discounted high-end merchandise in stores and on the streets and sidewalks throughout downtown Birmingham.
The annual Kid's Bike Parade will kick off the event at 8:30 a.m. in front of City Hall at 151 Martin Street. Children are invited to decorate their bikes for a chance to win a special prize. Prizes will be awarded for the best decorated bikes in the following categories: Most Creative, Most Patriotic, Most Fashionable, and Wackiest. Children will be led through the downtown area with a police escort just prior to the opening of the event.
In addition to the sales, families will enjoy wandering entertainers, face painting, crafts, bouncers, magic, live music and more.
Whether you're looking for clothing, shoes, jewelry, dishes, vases or toys, Birmingham is the place to be on July 22! For more information about Day On The Town, visit
www.ALLINBirmingham.com.
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Free Little Library Coming to Booth Park
Following the success of Barney (
Birmingham's first "Little Free Library" housed inside a brightly painted owl figure perched in a tree on the southeast corner of Barnum Park), Birmingham will introduce a second Little Free Library in Booth Park in July.
Kids of all ages will love this "take a book, leave a book" free book exchange. Enjoy!
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Fourteen Graduate from Spring Citizens Academy
Register Now for Fall Academy
The Spring session of the Birmingham Citizens Academy came to an end June 12, 2017, and 14 graduates attended the City Commission meeting that night recognizing their completion of the course. This year, Jaxon, a leader dog for the blind (in training) accompanied resident Angela Links, and received an honorary mention and extra treats.
Residents completed the rigorous eight-week academy which, for the first time ever, included a session on the Birmingham Museum and The Baldwin Public Library, which was well received and appreciated by participants. The Planning Department took the group on a walking tour of the downtown, pointing out unique design features and little known vistas which gave residents an inside view of the planning process.
Interested Birmingham residents 18 or older may register for the fall academy which starts September 26, 2017 and runs through November 13, 2017. Most meetings are Tuesdays and a few Thursday evenings, starting at 6 p.m. Applications can be found at
bhamgov.org/citizensacademy. The deadline to be included in the fall session is Friday, September 15, 2017. For more information, you may call the City Manager's Office at 248-530-1808, or email
[email protected].
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Vote for Birmingham - 2017 Community Excellence Award
The City of Birmingham has entered the
Multi-Modal Transportation Board in the Michigan Municipal League's 2017 Community Excellence Award competition.
The purpose of the Birmingham Multi-Modal Transportation Board is maintaining the safe and efficient movement of motorized AND non-motorized vehicles and pedestrians on the streets and walkways within the City and to advise the City Commission on the implementation of the Birmingham Multi-Modal Transportation Plan. This unique board consists of ex officio members and seven community members appointed by the City Manager. Insofar as possible, the City Commission shall appoint members as follows: one pedestrian advocate member; one member with a mobility or vision impairment; one member with traffic-focused education and/or experience; one bicycle advocate member; one member with urban planning, architecture or design education and/or experience; and two members at large from different geographical areas of the city.
We're very proud of our
Multi-Modal Transportation Board, so please help us win the Race for the Cup by voting and learning more about the board at
http://cea.mml.org/vote. You can vote once a day through July 30. Thank you for your support!
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WRAP Offers Assistance to Low-Income Households
WRAP (Water Residential Assistance Program) provides assistance to eligible low-income households. Owner-occupied households above 120% of average water usage are also eligible for minor home plumbing repairs. Download a
Household Eligibility for Wrap Assistance flier to learn more about the program. To participate in WRAP, contact Dayna Swindell at 248-209-2791 or
[email protected].
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Learn about City Commission and Library Board Election
 In November of every odd-numbered year Birmingham voters are asked to elect members to the City Commission and to the Library Board. On November 7, 2017 the ballot will contain races for three (3) City Commission members and three (3) Library Board members.
Voters can quickly and easily confirm their voter registration and find out the location of their voting precinct by visiting
www.michigan.gov/vote
. New residents and residents who have recently changed addresses may register to vote or update their registrations by visiting any Secretary of State branch office or the City Clerk's office during regular business hours.
Online registration is also available at
www.michigan.gov/sos. Voters registering for the first time in Michigan must appear in person to vote in the first election in which they wish to participate. This requirement does not apply if you: (1) personally hand deliver a registration form to the county clerk or city clerk's office instead of mailing the form, (2) are 60 years of age or older, (3) are disabled, or (4) are eligible to vote under the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.
FILING FOR OFFICE
The deadline to file petitions to become a candidate for City Commission or Library Board is 4:00 PM on July 25, 2017. Petitions forms can be obtained at the City Clerk's Office, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
The City Charter of the City of Birmingham states: "No person shall be eligible to the office of City Commission or Library Board who shall not be an elector in the City and who has not been a resident of the City for at least one (1) year prior to his election."
If you have further questions regarding the procedure to run for office or to register to vote, contact the City Clerk's Office at 248.530.1880 or visit
www.bhamgov.org/voting
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Discover the Benefits of Mixed Recycling
 Changes are coming this summer for recycling service in Birmingham as SOCRRA rolls out its 65-gallon, mixed-stream recycle carts for all single-family households. These wheeled containers eliminate the need to sort items, making recycling as easy as taking out the trash!
The following are answers to some frequently asked questions:
What is "Mixed Recycling"?
Currently SOCRRA collects materials in two streams - paper, and everything else (plastic, metal, glass containers), requiring recycling drivers to separate the two. Mixed recycling is when all recyclables can be mixed together in both the recycling container and recycling truck. The sorting of materials is done at the MRF, rather than by the recycling drivers.
Why switch to carts for recycling collection?
Proven benefits of switching to carts include more recyclables collected, increased convenience for residents to fit all their recyclables into one container, increased safety for workers, and potential cost savings. More materials diverted for recycling will increase revenue sharing for member communities thereby reducing disposal costs.
When will I receive my cart?
Cart distribution begins in late-August, and is expected to run through mid-October.
How much do the carts cost?
Because Birmingham is a member of SOCRRA, all single-family households will receive a cart at no cost.
Is the cart difficult to handle?
Measuring 3.5' tall, 2' wide, and 2' deep, the carts are well-balanced and easy to maneuver, even when loaded. What's more, their footprint is nearly the same size as the current 18-gallon recycling bins.
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Volunteer for the Birmingham Cruise Event
Tell your family and friends: volunteers are needed for the Birmingham Cruise Event! All volunteers will receive free event t-shirts, snacks and hydration all day long! Select from convenient 2 or 2 1/2 hour time slots. Volunteers are a valuable part of the Birmingham Cruise Event. Download the
volunteer registration form and sign up today. Thank you in advance for your support!
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Refuse Delayed One Day 1st Week in July
Please note refuse collection will be delayed one day during the week of July 3rd due to the Fourth of July holiday.
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Reminder: Follow Birmingham Leash Laws
Please remember all dogs must be on a leash when off your personal property or not within the confines of the dog park. The following are our city ordinances that apply to dog owners walking their dogs in the city:
Sec. 18-33.
- Restraint of dogs.
It shall be unlawful for any owner of any dog to permit the dog to go beyond the premises of such owner unless restrained by a chain or leash and under the reasonable control of some person.
Sec. 18-36. - Vicious dogs prohibited.
No person shall own or harbor a fierce or vicious dog, or a dog that has been bitten by any animal known to have been afflicted with rabies. All dogs found to be vicious and all rabid dogs shall be destroyed, unless otherwise disposed of by the owner thereof.
Sec. 18-51. - Required.
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, possess or harbor any dog or cat four months old or over in the city unless such dog or cat is licensed, or to own, harbor or possess any dog or cat four months old or over that does not at all times wear a collar or harness with suitable tag attached or with the license number written indelibly thereon. All dogs and cats shall be immunized against rabies, prior to the issuance of a license under this division.
If you have questions regarding the Animal Ordinance you may call the Police Department at 248.530.1889 or the City Clerk's office at 248.530.1880.
Off-Leash Fun at Lincoln Hills Dog Park
If you're looking for off-leash adventures for your dog, look no further than the Lincoln Hills Dog Park! Located at the southeast edge of the Lincoln Hills Golf Course (located at 2666 West Fourteen Mile Road, just west of Cranbrook Road), the dog park is open every day from dawn until dusk. Registered dog park users may bring their four-legged friends out to play! Your dog will enjoy running around in a securely fenced .85 acre Dog Park. Learn more at
www.bhamgov.org/dogpark.
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Avoid Fines: Keep Grass & Weeds Below Eight Inches
To ensure our city looks well-maintained, the City's ordinance requires grass and weeds to be kept below eight inches high. Poison ivy, ragweed or any other poisonous, noxious or unhealthy growths are prohibited. Those in violation of this ordinance will have their lawn mowed and will be required to pay for the service. Access the entire Grass and Noxious Weed ordinance (Sec. 118-66) on the City's web site. For more information, call the Department of Public Services at
(248) 530-1700.
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Stories and Ice Cream at The Birmingham Museum
Thursday, July 13, 7 p.m.
You scream, we scream, we all scream for ice cream! Join us on Thursday, July 13 at 7 pm for stories, movement and songs all about everyone's favorite summer treat, ice cream. Storytimes are geared towards children 1-8 and are free. Come ready to tell us what your favorite flavor is!
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July News from the Baldwin Library
 Build a Better World with The Music Lady
Thursday, July 13 at 10:30 a.m. Registration required.
Beverly Meyer is back with her guitar for an interactive music program that will rock you off your feet.
Making Detroit: History and Mystery, with Stephen Vogel
Monday, July 10 at 7:00 p.m. Registration required.
Dr. Vogel will present an engaging lecture about the history of Detroit from its founding to present day, and speculations on a new vision for the City.
LEGO Sumo Robot Workshop with the Robot Garage
Thursday, July 13 at 7:00 p.m. Registration required.
Teens will divide into groups for a special challenge: design and build a LEGO® Mindstorms Robot that will compete in a high-energy Sumo Battle. Absolutely no experience necessary.
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Thank you for reading Around Town, a monthly e-newsletter from the City of Birmingham. We hope you find the information timely and useful. Please feel free to forward this e-mail to friends and neighbors who may be interested in Birmingham.
Sincerely,
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