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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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AROUND TOWN
December 2019
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Welcome to the December 2019 edition of the Around Town e-Newsletter from the City of Birmingham. We hope you enjoy this e-newsletter and forward it to friends or family 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 December 2019 |
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New renderings provide glimpse into future of Maple Rd. corridor once reconstruction is completed next year
While the Maple Road Reconstruction Project will not start until early spring, new renderings of the project provide a peek into the future once the work is done, approximately four months after it starts.
The first rendering shows a new mid-block crosswalk on E. Maple (east of Old Woodward). Similar to the mid-block crosswalk installed on Old Woodward from that project, the mid-block crosswalk on east Maple will add to the City's walkability as well as act as a traffic calming device. The new crossing will line up at the existing pedestrian via located at 300 E. Maple, heading south.
The second rendering, viewed from the intersection of Henrietta and Maple, visualizes a number of enhancements the project will bring including:
- Wider sidewalks
- Granite benches for sitting and relaxing
- The concrete roadway that will stretch the length of the project as well as the new traffic signals.
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City unveils Action Plan to help you combat possible lead in drinking water
The City's Action Plan concerning possible lead in drinking water will exceed state mandates.
To help you understand the City's Action Plan, you can download a summary of it here. In addition, there is a wealth of resource information from the state, Oakland County and the City as well as helpful videos (including the City's Community Water Forum held on Nov. 14th) on the City website at www.bhamgov.org/leadtesting.
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Release of next survey and finalization of added public engagement opportunities highlight next steps in the Master Plan process
The City's ongoing work toward a new Master Plan moved to another phase this month with the release of the next public survey of the process.
You are invited to take the survey that can be found online at www.thebirminghamplan.com between now and December 23, 2019. If you would prefer to fill out a hard copy version of the survey, they are available at City Hall, the Baldwin Public Library, the Department of Public Services and at the City's two fire stations (Station 1 on Adams; Station 2 on Chesterfield).
In addition to the survey, the City Commission and the Planning Board are close to finalizing additional public engagement opportunities so you can help guide Birmingham's next 20 years during the remainder of the Master Plan process. Watch the City's website and social media platforms for more information once the details are finalized.
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Tree Lighting, Winter Markt & more in Birmingham
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| Birmingham Tree Lighting & Winter Markt |
BIRMINGHAM WINTER MARKT & Tree Lighting Ceremony
Featuring horse-drawn carriage rides, Santa House and Tree Lighting Ceremony
Dec. 6-8 / Shain Park
Shain Park will come alive with activity during the annual Birmingham Winter Markt. Enjoy European food and drinks, gift items, holiday greens, ice sculptures, live reindeer, warming stations, Santa House, horse-drawn carriage rides and live entertainment. Tree Lighting Ceremony - Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. Information: 248-530-1200 or
AllinBirmingham.com/WinterMarkt.
SANTA HOUSE & CARRIAGE RIDES
On weekends throughout the holiday season, children are invited to visit the Santa House under the pavilion in Shain Park. Also enjoy complimentary horse-drawn carriage rides throughout downtown Birmingham. View the complete schedule for the Santa House and carriage rides at AllinBirmingham.com/calendar.
Two Hours of FREE Valet Parking
Enjoy two hours of FREE valet parking at two convenient locations this holiday season! Now through Tuesday, December 24th, shoppers and visitors will enjoy two hours of FREE valet parking at these locations: Hamilton near Ferndale, and South Old Woodward near Merrill. The service is offered Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Enjoy!
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Introducing Birmingham Bucks eGift Cards
Give the gift of Birmingham! Birmingham Shopping District eGift cards (Birmingham Bucks) make a great holiday gift for family, friends and teachers! Purchase your
Birmingham Bucks online today!
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Take Advantage of Discounted Lyft Rides to Birmingham
Heading to Birmingham? Enjoy a Discounted Lyft Ride! Leave your car at home when visiting downtown Birmingham this holiday season.
Type code BHAMDAY19 from 12:00 p.m. - 5:59 p.m. to obtain $7 off a ride to downtown Birmingham.*
Type code BHAMNIGHT19 from 6:00 p.m. - 11:59 p.m. to obtain $3 off a ride to downtown Birmingham.*
*Promotion is valid now through December 31, 2019 or when promotion funds are exhausted - whichever comes first. Please note an individual rider may only utilize a maximum of four rides during the designated daytime hours and two rides during the designated evening hours throughout the duration of this specific promotion.
Enjoy!
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Holiday Open Skate Opportunities at the Ice Arena
Get some exercise on the ice with open skate and junior open hockey opportunities at the Birmingham Ice Arena. Ice skating is a great form of exercise and fun for all ages! Download the Holiday Open Skate schedule here. Have fun!
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Planning Board to hold public hearing on Dec. 11
th
to clarify D5 zoning classification
D5 is a zoning classification in the Downtown Overlay District that permits buildings greater than five stories in height.
The current D5 regulations permit properties that are immediately adjacent or abutting existing D5 zoned properties to potentially qualify for rezoning to D5 which allows a building height greater than five stories, up to a maximum height of the neighboring, and existing D5 building, with a Special Land Use Permit. There is currently no definition for "immediately adjacent" or "abutting".
Thus, the City Commission asked the Planning Board to clarify which properties would be considered immediately adjacent or abutting existing D5 zones, and may potentially qualify for rezoning to D5 (and permit more than five stories).
During its meeting on December 11, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, the Planning Board will conduct a public hearing to amend the regulations in D5 so that only properties directly abutting a D5 zoned property could qualify for rezoning to D5 and perhaps build more than five stories in height to match the existing D5 building next door. A definition for abutting is proposed to be added, along with a further caveat that any private properties separated by streets, alleys or other public properties would NOT be considered abutting.
If these changes are adopted, then only those properties within an existing block and on the same side of an alley within the block surrounding a property currently zoned D5 (only three), would potentially qualify for rezoning to D5.
After the Planning Board has made a recommendation on the proposed amendments, the City Commission will then review and decide on next steps.
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Introducing Birmingham Green articles from the Planning Department
 As the winter months begin to frost, shiver, and bluster, it is often easy to forget what it is like to be green. However, there are several ways that one can remain green in the City while enduring the white snow and grey skies of a Michigan winter. Whether it be making the extra effort to utilize less wrapping paper (or opting for recyclable wrapping paper) during the holidays, opening the blinds for natural light and solar heat, utilizing reusable mugs for those essential morning coffees, or even taking the bus instead of a car...these small changes can have a big impact on the sustainability of a city. The City of Birmingham is set up to help make the transition to a greener lifestyle with more than 80 bus stops within a ½ mile of the majority of Birmingham, as well as the maintenance of a healthy walkable environment enabling people to shop at local businesses. Stay warm, and think Birmingham Green!
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Take Advantage of Internet Purchase Exchange Location
 The holiday season is upon us and the Birmingham Police Department is encouraging residents to use the Internet Purchase Exchange
Location for buyers and sellers utilizing websites like Craigslist. The internet exchange location is in the parking lot on the south side of City Hall at 151 Martin Street.
Residents are encouraged to make exchanges during daytime hours, however the lot is well-lit if meeting after dark is necessary. The lot is under video surveillance at all times. While this area may not work for every online sales transaction because of the size of the item(s) being exchanged, it is open to the general public and encouraged for use when possible.
The purpose of the Internet Purchase Exchange Location is to cut down on potential fraud and robberies that can be associated with these types of transactions. The area is intended for completing exchanges; police personnel will not participate or act as official witnesses in the transactions nor are they available for legal advice or pricing disputes between parties involved in transactions occurring at this location.
For more information, contact the Birmingham Police Department at 248-530-1870.
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Still Time for Curbside Leaf and Yard Waste Collection
All residents may continue to bag leaves and place them in approved containers curbside by 7 a.m. on your trash day now through the week of December 16th. If your street has curbs, check the map below to determine when leaves will be collected from your street. You are guaranteed one collection from the street during your designated weeks. Curbed street leaf collection will end in zone 1 and 2 during the week of December 2-6. We recommend raking your leaves into the street the weekend prior to your designated week. For more information, visit www.bhamgov.org/leaves.
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Understanding the Snow Ordinance
 Take measures to ensure you don't find yourself in violation of the ordinance regarding snow removal and snow parking bans. Here are the two most important requirements:
1) You are required to clear snow and ice on sidewalks that abut your property. If the snow stops falling during the day, your sidewalks must be cleared by no more than 12 hours later. If the snow stops falling during the night, all sidewalks must be cleared by 6 p.m. the following day. Sidewalks that are not cleared of snow and ice will be shoveled by the city and the property owner will be fined.
2) When a Snow Emergency is declared, residents must remove their cars from city streets so the snow plows can get through. Cars in violation of this ordinance will be ticketed.
View more information about snow removal on the
city's website.
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Preparing for Winter Weather
For the City's Department of Public Services (DPS) crews, collecting, loading and hauling leaves from the city throughout the past eight weeks is the pre-season warmup for the real game: combating winter weather. To be ready for winter this year, the DPS has stocked
nearly 3,000 tons
of
road salt. These steps and numerous others are part of the winter preparation plan as the season nears. For more information on the City's snow removal plan, visit
www.bhamgov.org/snowremoval.
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December News from the Birmingham Museum
A Peek at Christmas Past: A Birmingham Holiday Medley at the Museum
 How did Birmingham families celebrate the winter holidays in times past and make the season special? Stop by the Hunter House at the Birmingham Museum during December for a special treat: a glimpse of holiday traditions from early Birmingham through the mid-twentieth century from our collection.
Visitors will learn how our first settlers celebrated the season; read Birmingham holiday postcards from 1910; and view Christmas photos of Birmingham families and their decorations from the 19th and 20th centuries. Also on display will be antique ornaments and toys from Birmingham's past, and a private collection of springerle holiday cookie boards (molds) from the mid-1800s-a German custom that came to Michigan and is the root of our annual Christmas cookie tradition.
Our gift to you--visitors who are or become members of the Friends of the Birmingham Museum will receive a set of mail-able reproduction Victorian Christmas postcards while they last! Membership: $25/person, $40/family. Or regular admission applies: $7 adult, $5 seniors and students, kids 5 and under and members free. Please call 248-530-1928 or visit us on the web at www.bhamgov.org/museum, or www.facebook.com/TheBirminghamMuseum.
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December News from the Baldwin Library
Knife Skills with Chef Jake Williams
Hone your knife skills so you can chop like a pro in the kitchen. Bring a clean, sharp chef's knife and a cutting board. Veggies provided.
Saturday, December 7, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Saturdays @ the Library: Penguins and Polar Bears
Saturday, December 14, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Registration required.
Spend your Saturday mornings at the Library with books, music, crafts, and more.
Sunday, December 15, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Art historian Wendy Evans will discuss the artists and ideas that formed the core of Western art for centuries.
Now Hiring!
Part-time Operations Assistant (12-28 hours per week). Apply online at www.baldwinlib.org/employment
The Baldwin Public Library is located at 300 W. Merrill Street.
For more information visit
www.baldwinlib.org
or call (248) 647-1700.
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December News from Next
2121 Midvale, Birmingham, MI
248-203-5270
www.BirminghamNext.org
DETROIT: An Illustrated Timeline
December 4 at 12:30 pm
Local author Paul Vachon joins us to share
his latest book
Detroit: An Illustrated Timeline
and takes us back three centuries - a time when
Detroit was simply an outpost. Mr. Vachon will
share noteworthy turning points in Detroit's
long journey - some of which are little known!
PROTECTING SENIORS IN THE
TECHNOLOGY AGE
December 12 at 1:00 pm
Presented by Collin D. Dickey, Attorney with Rutkowski Law
Firm. Learn about the developments in technology
that has opened the door to financial scams targeting
the 50+ community. From telemarketing swindles to funeral
fraud, learn how to protect yourself and your family from
 AWARD WINNING SHEILA LANDIS
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December 18 at 12:00 noon
A regular at Detroit's Cliff Bells, Sheila Landis
Is one of the area's finest vocalists and has
been chosen as "Outstanding Jazz Vocalist"
seven times! You are invited to sing along with
one of Detroit's most talented vocalist!
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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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