City of Birmingham
Around Town E-Newsletter
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September
Around Town
E-Newsletter
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Welcome to the Around Town e-Newsletter from the City of Birmingham. Thank you for your support and please forward this newsletter along to friends and family. |
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Around Town - Updates from Birmingham |
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Birmingham residents are strongly encouraged to sign up for the citywide email system at www.bhamgov.org/citywideemail. The email service allows the City to target specific neighborhoods for messaging and keep everyone updated on what’s happening in this rapidly changing environment.
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Upcoming regularly scheduled City meetings will continue to be conducted virtually (online and/or by phone) due to health concerns surrounding COVID-19 under the Governor’s Executive Order. Learn how to participate in these meetings at www.bhamgov.org/participate.
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Marianne Gamboa, Communications Director |
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COVID-19 Updates from Birmingham |
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COVID-19 Information
The City's COVID-19 webpage at www.bhamgov.org/virusprevention continues to provide information from trusted resources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the State of Michigan, the Oakland County Health Division and more.
Let's Work Together to Reduce COVID-19 Cases
The City reminds you to take the actions listed below to protect yourself and your loved ones. Let's all do our part to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases.
- Wear a mask in indoor public spaces.
- Wear a mask in outdoor crowded spaces where you cannot maintain social distancing.
- Wash your hands often and take advantage of hand sanitizer stations in place throughout the downtown area, City parks and parking structures.
The nice weather has encouraged high activity levels on streets, sidewalks and parks throughout downtown Birmingham. While City crews work to pick up discarded masks and debris, we encourage the community to take advantage of garbage receptacles in place throughout the downtown area and in parks.
We appreciate your help as we work to maintain a clean and safe environment for residents and visitors to enjoy!
City Services
City offices continue to service the public, however the Municipal Building and Department of Public Services remain closed. Forms, payments and ballots may be submitted 24/7 via the drop box located behind City Hall. Documents such as building permit applications and plans can be dropped off or picked up at the Police Department entrance on the east side of the Municipal Building on Pierce Street. As part of the City's operational relief efforts, most City forms, applications and payment submissions are also available at www.bhamgov.org/formsandpayments. Residents are encouraged to contact any department requiring assistance via phone or email. Visit www.bhamgov.org/contacts to view a list of departmental contact numbers for services needed.
Parking Updates
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The City has announced free parking in the City's five municipal garages has been extended through December 31, 2020. In addition, to help reduce financial burdens for employees, monthly permit holders may pay a one-time reduced fee of $100 by November 30, 2020 to retain their status as a monthly parker through December 31, 2020. The City is pleased to continue relief efforts to help the community.
- Take advantage of hand sanitizer stations throughout the City’s parking structures (also throughout the downtown area and in city parks).
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Enjoy contact-free parking with the ParkMobile parking application. Simply pay for parking with your cell phone! To use the ParkMobile system, register for free at www.parkmobile.com. Once registered, use a mobile app, the internet, QR code, or call toll free at 800-280-4146 to pay for parking. Select the zone and parking space numbers printed on the ParkMobile stickers on each meter. Add more time to a meter from your phone, as long as the posted time limit is not exceeded.
- Valet parking - To ensure an advanced level of service to Birmingham customers and visitors, the City of Birmingham is offering two valet parking 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. The charges are $5 per vehicle (first two hours), then an additional $5 per hour thereafter. Also please continue to enjoy free parking in the City’s parking structures through December 31, 2020.
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Birmingham Events Update
7th Annual NEXT Golf Classic
The 7th Annual NEXT Golf Classic will take place on Monday, September 28th from 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. at Lincoln Hills Golf Course. This charity tournament is open to all golfers and the fun begins with a putting contest at 1 p.m. Golfers will start play at 2 p.m., followed by a Cocktail Hour and Dinner Served at 5:30 p.m. Register and learn more by calling 248-530-1670.
Greenwood Cemetery Tour
On Saturday, September 26 at 1 p.m., a Greenwood Cemetery tour will be led by local historians George Getschman and Linda Buchanan. The tour will cover the earliest parts of the cemetery as a 'pioneer period' tour -- with the addition of newly-discovered former slaves George and Eliza Taylor. Proceeds will help fund a marker for the Taylors' unmarked graves. Public safety measures will be followed with social distancing and required masks. Docents will use voice amplification devices to enhance guest experience. Tour tickets are $10 per person; guests may pay with checks payable to the Friends of the Birmingham Museum or cash (exact change) at the gate. Learn more by calling the Birmingham Museum at 248-530-1928.
Canceled Events & Safety Reminders
As a reminder, the following events have been canceled due to safety concerns surrounding COVID-19: Family & Friends CPR classes, the Fall Festival at the Birmingham Farmers Market, and Common Ground’s Annual Birmingham Street Art Fair.
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Share Your Feedback on the Citywide Master Plan at Sept. 9 Planning Board Meeting |
Share your input on a Citywide Master Plan that will guide Birmingham’s future for the next twenty years! A community engagement process is in full swing as plans move forward to finalize a second draft of the Citywide Master Plan for 2040. During the Planning Board meeting on Wednesday, September 9 at 7:30 p.m., the Planning Board will review findings and recommendations suggested for Birmingham’s mixed use districts, with specific focus on the Maple & Woodward and Market North Districts. Residents are encouraged to attend the meeting via zoom and share their feedback. The Planning Department and Planning Board are eager to gather community feedback as they move forward with the process.
Download the first draft of the Master Plan and the Master Plan Review Process at www.thebirminghamplan.com. The site includes relevant data, surveys, documents and an email communication option that allows residents to send comments directly to the planning team. Learn how to participate in upcoming meetings at www.bhamgov.org/participate. Please make sure your voice is heard!
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Parks & Recreation Bond Opportunity
Birmingham voters will consider a Parks and Recreation Bond on the November ballot, which will provide funding to continue the City’s investment in Birmingham parks and recreation facilities. If approved, the City Commission will have permission to move forward with improvements at:
- Numerous City parks
- Playgrounds
- The Rouge River trail system
Additional amenities include potentially a pickleball court and splash pad. Projects identified evolved from the Parks & Recreation Master Plan and from community-wide input. The bond will allow for funding to advance these and other projects.
The Commission approved a total bond amount of $11,250,000 which, if passed, could be issued in two series; the first in the amount of $4,750,000 in 2021 and the second in the amount of $6,500,000 in 2024 as existing bond debt will be retired in those respective years.
Voters last approved a parks improvement bond almost 20 years ago. Existing bonds funding sewer and parks projects will be fully retired in 2024, providing an opportunity to continue parks improvements, while minimizing the impact on taxpayers.
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Maple Road Reconstruction Project Update
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The Maple Road reconstruction project is now 75% complete! The City appreciates the community's patience as intricate project work takes place. While project elements progress at different paces, the project will wrap up in September and the finished product will be beautiful!
The project is the second phase in the City’s three-phase plan to improve infrastructure and amenities in downtown Birmingham. Construction crews achieved several important infrastructure milestones on East Maple (between Woodward and Old Woodward) in the month of August, including the installation new planter boxes supported by structural soil, and the completion of electrical and irrigation infrastructure work. On West Maple (between Pierce and Chester), crews continued to enhance the infrastructure by completing all road-related concrete work including the Southfield intersection, installing a new storm sewer in the Southfield intersection, and laying structural soil for planter boxes.
In September, Maple Road reconstruction will focus on both the west side (between Pierce and Chester) and east side of the project. Planned activities on West Maple include: installation of planter boxes and irrigation conduits, and completion of traffic signal work at the Southfield, Chester, and Henrietta intersections. On both East and West Maple, crews will plant trees in the new planter boxes, install street lights, stripe the drive and parking lanes, and install meter posts.
The Maple Road Reconstruction Project will help the City manage traffic more effectively; provide a welcoming, attractive experience for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists; and serve the community for decades to come. Look for the finished project later this month.
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Voter News from the Clerk's Office
In late September, the Clerk’s Office will be sending absentee ballots to all residents who have requested them. The Clerk's Office will then mail absentee ballots as new requests come in. If you would like to request an absentee ballot for the November 3, 2020 general election, please visit mi.gov/vote or return your absentee ballot application to the drop box at City Hall.
The Clerk’s Office is happy to announce a new absentee ballot drop box will be coming soon! For your convenience, the box will be located at City Hall near the driveway entrance off of Henrietta. You will be able to simply drive up, deposit your ballot or ballot application, and be on your way.
If you prefer to mail your ballot, the postage is on us. All absentee ballots will have postage included on their return envelopes. The Clerk’s Office strongly encourages you to mail your ballot as soon as possible to ensure it is received by Tuesday, November 3.
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Online Forms and Payments |
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Have you enjoyed the City's convenient online forms and payments? To address social distancing restrictions and provide continuity of services while City offices remain closed, most City applications, permits and licenses have been transitioned to online submittals with online payment functions.
Examples of forms and payments now available for online service include: Pet License Registration Form, Property Transfer Affidavit, Absentee Voter Application, Block Party Permit, Tree and Shrub Permit and many others. In addition, several Building Department applications are also now available online. Electronic building plan submittals along with Planning and Engineering forms will be available online later this year. As part of the City’s Economic Relief Program, e-check fees have been waived through June 30, 2021.
For a complete list of payments and forms that may be submitted online or to view mailing addresses for City payments, visit www.bhamgov.org/formsandpayments. Forms and payments may also be submitted 24/7 via the drop box located behind City Hall.
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Reserve Park Space with Online Reservation System |
Did you know you can reserve park space at play.bhamgov.org? The service is designed to streamline your park reservation and activity registration experience! On the site you may reserve a tennis court, request the shelter at Springdale Park, or reserve space in one of our many parks to host a fitness class. In the future, you will also be able to register for our Learn to Skate classes on the site. Visit play.bhamgov.org or call Parks and Recreation at (248) 530-1642 for more information.
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Birmingham Welcomes Johnny Was |
Women’s fashion retailer Johnny Was has long been synonymous with apparel that celebrates a bohemian elegance and artisan detailing with their unrivaled embroideries, prints and trims. With more than 50 boutiques across the country, Johnny Was will be making its Michigan debut with the newest locale coming to downtown Birmingham at 115 South Old Woodward Avenue this September. “We’ve really enjoyed working with Johnny Was,” said Ingrid Tighe, Executive Director of the Birmingham Shopping District. “Research analysis identified Johnny Was as a great fit for Birmingham more than two years ago. With the help and hard work of CC Consulting, we were pleased that Johnny Was chose to open a store in our community.” Please join us in wishing Johnny Was a warm welcome! |
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Apply Now for Open Boards and Committees
Would you like to get more involved and make a difference in your community? There's no better time than now to get involved in a wide range of available boards and committees in Birmingham. You may be interested in history, design, or parks and recreation - wherever you look, we've got a place where you can make a difference.
The following is a list of just some of the Board or Committee openings:
Advisory Parking Committee (1 regular opening, 1 alternate opening),
Cablecasting Board (2 regular openings, 1 alternate opening),
Design Review Board (2 regular openings, 2 alternate openings),
Historic District Study Committee (1 regular member openings),
Parks and Recreation Board (1 regular opening),
Public Arts Board (2 alternate openings),
Storm Water Utility Appeals Board (2 alternate openings),
Triangle District Corridor Improvement Authority (3 regular openings).
For a complete list and to find out more about the requirements for each board please visit the City's website .
It's easy to apply. Download the online application today, and email, fax, mail or submit it to the drop box outside of City Hall. For more information, you may also contact the Clerk's Office at (248) 530-1880.
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Be Counted Birmingham
You have just one month left to be counted by responding to the 2020 Census. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Census Bureau has moved the response deadline to September 30, 2020. Approximately 77% of Birmingham residents have responded to the census, while several nearby communities have an 80% or higher response rate. Submit your response today! You may fill out your census form by mail, phone, or online at https://my2020census.gov/. The information collected by the U.S. Census Bureau is used to produce apportionment counts, inform redistricting decisions, and guide federal spending so it is important that each and every resident is counted.
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Fall Things To Do in Birmingham |
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Fall is beautiful in Birmingham! Enjoy the cooler temperatures and changing leaves by getting outside and discovering Birmingham’s hidden gems. Remember to social distance while enjoying Birmingham’s parks and trails.
Rouge River Trail System
There is no better way to see the fall color than by walking the Rouge River Trails. Trailheads are located at Booth Park, Quarton Lake, Linden Park, Willits Street, and West Lincoln Avenue.
Downtown Sculpture Tour & Brochure
Did you know the City is home to 15 art sculptures? Download a Downtown Sculpture Tour & Brochure map and discover them today. Make a list of your top three favorite sculptures and compare lists with friends and family.
Mill Pond Historic Walking Tour
Parks
Have you visited all 26 of Birmingham’s parks? This fall make a plan to enjoy a park that you have never visited before.
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2020 Concrete Sidewalk Repair Program Update
Every year, the City conducts a sidewalk improvement program. This year's work focuses on the south central section of the City bounded by Maple to the north, 14 Mile to the south, Adams/Woodward to the east, and Pierce to the west. Approximately 40 ADA ramps will be installed near Shain Park, City Hall and the Baldwin Public Library. Work is expected to be complete by early November.
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Birmingham Green
If we asked you to describe the best features that Birmingham has to offer, what would you say? We are not a betting bunch, but we would wager that the majority of respondents would include one thing somewhere in their list…the trees! We do not even need to get into the carbon sequestration potential of a well-planted city to make a convincing argument to protect our current stock of mature canopy trees, while also introducing new trees wherever possible. A simple alternative argument would be beautification with a poignant example: the Maple Road Reconstruction project. Removing the existing street trees for the reconstruction changed the character of Downtown Birmingham dramatically. The new Maple Road streetscape will include beautiful landscaping boxes and trees that will re-introduce the quintessential tree-lined street back to its former glory. Some other examples of the ongoing benefits of trees are the wildlife habitats they provide, and according to the U.S. Forestry Service, health and social cohesion are potential benefactors. Did you know that Birmingham is a Tree City USA community? Check out the Arbor Day Foundation website for more information on trees and their many benefits.
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Residential Water Testing Update |
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The City continues to be well ahead of schedule in meeting the state-mandated deadline for replacing lead water-service lines. Water testing in more than 700 homes serviced by lead lines is ongoing. Visit www.bhamgov.org/leadtesting for more information.
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Pet Care & Safety Reminders for Walking Around Town |
With fall just around the corner, please keep in mind several pet regulations designed to keep pets and people safe as they enjoy cooler outdoor temperatures. Here are some useful reminders:
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All dogs must be on a chain or leash and under reasonable control of some person at all times. A dog cannot go beyond the premises of its owner unless restrained by a chain or leash and under reasonable control.
- All dogs and cats four months old or over must have a license. All dogs and cats shall be immunized against rabies, prior to issuance of a license. Licenses are issued by the City Clerk's Office at City Hall.
- Owners cannot allow animals to deposit fecal matter in any place other than the premises where the animal is harbored or kept, unless it is immediately collected and removed.
- If a person is walking an animal on property they do not own, whether public or private, they must have an appropriate device for the collection of fecal matter in their immediate possession and an appropriate depository for the transmission of fecal matter to the premises where the animal is harbored or kept.
- No person shall harbor or keep any dog which, by loud or frequent or habitual barking, yelping or howling, causes a serious annoyance to the neighborhood, or to people passing on the street.
Also, please remember dog waste should be collected with a bag and disposed of in your garbage container, not your yard waste bin. 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.
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September News from The Birmingham Museum |
Birmingham Museum to feature National
Archives Display in Women’s History Pop-Up Outdoor Exhibit in September
With the help of a grant-funded display from the National Archives, the Birmingham Museum will create a pop-up exhibit to highlight outstanding women of Birmingham. The National Archives display, “Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote,” will be combined with artifacts and other materials from the museum’s collection that relate to local women in politics, civic and cultural affairs, educators, and the arts as a special selection of its current exhibit, “Beyond Suffrage: Empowering Birmingham’s Women.” The public is encouraged to stop by the exhibit in the museum’s plaza between the Allen and Hunter houses on Fridays in September from 1 to 4 PM. Museum staff will be on hand to present stories of Birmingham’s women’s accomplishments in the larger context of American history, while visitors are free to examine the materials. In the interest of public safety during the pandemic, social distancing, masking, and sanitizing measures will be followed. Parking is available in the Chester Street parking deck across from the museum, but pedestrians and bicyclists welcome!
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September News from The Baldwin Library |
Books Unboxed
Grades 4 to 12. Join our new subscription book service and receive a surprise library book tailored to your preference each month! Visit www.baldwinlib.org/youth to subscribe.
Using Libby
Monday, September 14 at 4:00 P.M.
A librarian will teach you how to access our curated collection of ebooks and eaudiobooks through the Overdrive app: Libby! Registration and a BPL card are required for this Zoom class.
Tails From Beyond the Paw Print, With Dr. Micky Golden Moore, Ph.D
Tuesday, September 22 at 7:00 P.M.
This Zoom virtual presentation offers insight for those seeking to better understand the grief that accompanies the passing of a beloved animal companion. Registration required.
The Baldwin Public Library is located at 300 W. Merrill Street in Birmingham. For more information visit www.baldwinlib.org or call (248) 647-1700. Visit www.baldwinlib.org/reopening to view current information on the Library's hours and services.
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2121 Midvale
Birmingham MI 48009
(248) 203-5270
Next has so much in store for you to enjoy during the gorgeous months of September and October!! Outdoor concerts, new morning yoga, grilling demos, trivia, self-defense - all outside in the courtyard where there is amble room to social distance! We also have on the schedule many incredible speakers and plenty of presentations to keep you engaged, all through Zoom. Please look at the Next website to see all the upcoming programs and latest information at wwwBirminghamNext.org.
Join our Team!
Next is a growing and thriving 50-plus Community Center serving over 2000 members in the surrounding area. We are posting for a part-time financial administrator to be part of our dynamic team. The ideal candidate will have a passion to work with our expanding 50-plus demographic, possess a strong understanding of Quick Books and Microsoft Excel, with municipal reporting a plus. More information can be found on the Next website at www.BirminghamNext.org.
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Understanding the Grass & Weeds Ordinance
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 website. For more information, call the Department of Public Services at (248) 530-1700. To make a complaint, call the Birmingham Code Enforcement Hotline at (248) 530-1859, and leave a detailed message.
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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. |
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151 Martin St. P.O. Box 3001 Birmingham, MI 48012
Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tel: (248) 530-1800
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