January 2023 Around Town e-Newsletter

LATEST NEWS

Happy New Year!

MEET BIRMINGHAM FIRE MARSHAL, ALAN SOAVE

We are pleased to feature the city's new Fire Marshal, Alan Soave, in this month's meet the staff video. Alan started in the Birmingham Fire Department in 2002 as a firefighter paramedic, and will be moving on from his most recent role as Battalion Chief to Fire Marshal. He has a degree in fire science and is a certified fire inspector through the NFPA and State of Michigan. He is looking forward to serving the community in his new role!

Follow this link to learn more.

CITY MANAGER REPORT

Looking for the inside scoop at City Hall? Download the City Manager's Report prepared for the City Commission each month. Birmingham City Manager Tom Markus provides the latest updates from city departments and a sneak peek at upcoming events, staffing changes, developments and more

CITY OFFICES & MEETINGS UPDATES

CITY OFFICES

ACCESSING CITY HALL - 151 MARTIN STREET

The City Hall lobby remains accessible to the public through the Martin Street entrance on the north side of City Hall during regular business hours, Monday-Friday from 8:00 a m - 5:00 p.m.

Main floor services including the Clerk’s and Treasurer's offices are accessible. Necessary in-person meetings between City Hall employees and the public take place at a designated location on the main floor of City Hall. Social distancing of six feet should be maintained during all in-person meetings The Police Department lobby entrance on the east side of City Hall on Pierce Street continues to operate as the point of contact for all off-hour requests.

MASKS

The city recommends members of the public wear a mask if they have been exposed to COVID-19 or have a respiratory illness. City staff, City Commission and all board and committee members must wear a mask if they have been exposed to COVID-19 or actively have a respiratory illness. The city continues to provide KN-95 respirators and triplelayered masks for attendees

CITY MEETINGS

City Commission and other city boards meet in-person, and most have a virtual option available to the public.

Individuals may access City Hall from the Martin Street entrance during normal business hours, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. For meetings that occur after hours, visitors can access City Hall through the Police Department lobby entrance on Pierce Street.

Learn how to participate in virtual meetings at www.bhamgov.org/participate

CONTACT

US Visit www.bhamgov.org/contacts to view a list of department contact numbers for services needed.

You may also watch many City meetings on your local cable access channel and by web streaming on the City's Vimeo channel.

SUBMIT CONCERNS USING GOVALERT APP

Submit non-emergency concerns or questions directly to the City of Birmingham using the GovAlert Mobile app! Simply download the free app and follow the user-friendly prompts. Follow this link for a short video with step-by-step instructions Don't want to use the app? That's OK! Submit your request at www.bhamgov.org/citizenrequests.

DISCOVER OUR NEW, VIRTUAL SKYWAY TOUR

With the start of a new year, the city has introduced its brand new virtual tour by Skyway Interactive. The tour, available at www.birmingham.skywayvr.com utilizes 360-degree images and drone footage to create a fully immersive experience. This interactive virtual tour is embedded on the City’s website at www.bhamgov.org/residents and will serve as a resource to attract those considering relocating to Birmingham, opening a business, visiting the city, or holding a special event in Birmingham. Those familiar with Birmingham may discover something new as they explore remarkable aerial and ground footage of the city's golf courses, parks and facilities such as The Birmingham Museum, Birmingham Fire Department, Birmingham Ice Sports Arena and more. Visit www.birmingham.skywayvr.com to virtually explore Birmingham today!

SENIOR SERVICES

Did you know seniors enjoy a wide variety of services all throughout the Birmingham community? From special events and activities to exclusive discounts and assistance, seniors have many special opportunities in Birmingham. Learn more at www.bhamgov.org/seniorservices.

UPGRADED PARKING EQUIPMENT COMING SOON

New equipment will soon be installed at the city's parking structures to create an expedited easy-in, easy-out experience for all parkers. Equipment and software by TIBA Solutions will provide cloud-based kiosks with user-friendly, contactless entry and convenient payment options.

The following is an estimated timeline for parking equipment upgrades:

Chester Street Parking Structure: January 2023

N. Old Woodward Parking Structure: January-February 2023 Park Street Parking Structure: January-February 2023 Pierce Street Parking Structure: February-March 2023 Peabody St. Parking Structure: February-March 2023

Transient parkers (those without a monthly parking pass) may enter and exit using a credit card, or they may pull a ticket at entry and scan the ticket upon exiting As always, parkers will enjoy two hours free in all structures.

The new system will offer multiple forms of payment, such as debit/credit card (insert or tap to pay), Apple Pay and Google Pay. In the near future, the equipment will also integrate with the ParkMobile app. Monthly parking pass holders will have the option to access the structures by scanning a new parking pass, or use the TIBA Mobile Access App

Learn more at www bhamgov org/parking or contact Parking Manager Aaron Ford at aford@bhamgov.org or (248) 530-1257.

REFUSE COLLECTION ON SCHEDULE; CARDBOARD RECEPTABLES AVAILABLE

The volume of cardboard packaging acquired this time of year is often too large to fit in household recycling containers. To help with recycling efforts, large cardboard-only receptacles are located at the Birmingham Ice Sports Arena, Poppleton Park and St. James Park Now through Friday, January 20, simply break down and discard your cardboard at any one of these receptacles. Please flatten completely, and remove all packing material Only dispose of cardboard - no trash or other materials

FINAL MASTER PLAN DRAFT TO BE REVIEWED AT JAN. 11 PLANNING BOARD MEETING

Join the Planning Board on Wednesday, January 11 at 7:30 p.m. as they discuss the third and final draft of the Citywide Master Plan for 2040 At this meeting, they will review the final draft, present/discuss comments received during the distribution period and set the public hearing date. The approximate timeline for review and implementation of the plan is as follows:

All documents related to the 2040 Plan remain available at www.thebirminghamplan.com. The community may visit the site to submit comments directly to the consultant team, and also submit comments directly to the Planning Division to be placed in the next available Planning Board agenda

We want to hear your opinion, preferences, and vision for the community’s future. You are encouraged to share your feedback at www.thebirminghamplan.com.

UNDERSTANDING THE SNOW ORDINANACE

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 at www.bhamgov.org/snowremoval.

Remember, snow removal equipment is large, loud, and difficult to stop. Pedestrians and vehicles should allow a wide safety area around plows and deicing equipment during winter operations. Avoid darting out in front of snow and ice removal equipment, and make eye contact ith th d i b f i i f t f th W lki d i i t l l i f t b hi d

SNOW EMERGENCY NOTIFICATIONS

When a Snow Emergency is declared, the city will send an eblast (sign up for the city newsletter and alerts at www.bhamgov.org/enews), send a Nixle text and email alert message (register at www.nixle.com), post on social media and update the city's website (www.bhamgov.org). Visit www.bhamgov.org/communicationtools to learn more about these and other communication services

PARKS & RECREATION UPDATES

PARKS & RECREATION BOARD MEETING

Learn and ask questions about Parks and Recreation Bond projects at the Parks and Recreation Board meeting on Tuesday, January 10 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Department of Public Services, located at 851 South Eton. Topics on the agenda include:

Chair and Vice Chair

Nominations

MI Spark Grants Application Play Is Essential Grant Application Barnum Outdoor Ice Rink and Winter Sports Communication Updates

Attend in person at the Department of Public Services, located at 851 South Eton Street (park inside the gate and use the side entrance), or learn how to participate via Zoom at www.bhamgov.org/participate. Find more information about Parks & Recreation bond projects at www bhamgov org/parksbond

HOLIDAY TREE COLLECTION

Holiday trees are being collected through January 28. A separate service is used for disposal of holiday trees, so collection will not necessarily be at the same time your refuse is picked up The trees are ground into wood chips for recycling, so please remove all lights, ornaments, stands, etc. If you used a bag to contain the needles while removing the tree from your house, please remove it and dispose of it in your regular garbage. For more information call the Department of Public Services at (248) 530-1700.

NEWS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT

The Birmingham Police Department is participating in our first Polar Plunge! The event will take place on February 4, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. in Walled Lake at the Beach Tiki Bar & Boil. We will be "freezin' for a reason" and are seeking community support! Please consider sponsoring the team by donating to Special Olympics Michigan All funds go directly to Special Olympics Please feel free to stop by during the event to support your BIPD team!

NEWS FROM THE CLERK'S OFFICE

ANNUAL LICENSES

Birmingham has many different annual licenses which are issued through the Clerk’s Office Renewal notices and applications for fire prevention, pawn shops, child care, theaters, open parking systems, motor vehicle rentals, and hotels have been sent to businesses and are coming in. We are working with departments to ensure that any approvals and inspections needed are completed in order to renew these licenses.

PARADE & HOMETOWN CELEBRATION

The Clerk’s Office is gearing up to present the Celebrate Birmingham Hometown Parade on Sunday, May 21, 2023 After department and City Commission approvals for the special event have been granted, we will be acquiring and organizing volunteers, getting donations and identifying groups to participate in the parade. Along with the parade, we will be organizing the Government Day Celebration.

ETHICS BOARD

The Ethics Board last met on November 21, 2022 to collaborate with the Executive Director of Ethics for the City of Detroit on a proposed ethics conference for the spring of 2023 in Downtown Detroit The board also started to work through a review of the city’s current Ethics Ordinance and a review of their rules of procedure. The board plans on continuing this work in January; meeting date to be determined.

CEMETERY BOARD

The Greenwood Cemetery Advisory Board met on December 2, 2022. The board voted to approve the Historical Marker Application for the Taylor Monument The next meeting is h d l d f d b ll d ll l d d f

ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT UPDATE

PUBLIC WORKSHOP: SOUTH ETON

Planning work is starting on some of the 2024 construction projects. The city will host a Public Workshop for South Eton from 14 Mile Road to Yosemite Boulevard on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in the Department of Public Service's Conference Room at 851 S. Eton Street This workshop will include general information about the project and information on how to participate in an upcoming survey.

NEWS FROM THE

ICE SPORTS ARENA

LEARN TO SKATE PROGRAMS

The Birmingham Ice Sports Arena offers Learn to Skate programs for ages three and up. Session Three begins January 31! Register online at https://play.bhamgov.org starting January 9 at 8:00 a.m. Skate rental is available.

OPEN SKATE SCHEDULE

Enjoy open skate all winter long at the Birmingham Ice Sports Arena! Visit bhamgov.org/icearena to view the open skate schedule

The Ice Sports Arena is located at 2300 East Lincoln For questions about programs, contact Connie Folk at (248) 530-1642 or cfolk@bhamgov.org.

NEWS FROM THE MUSEUM

BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM'S RESEARCH INTO UNDERGROUND RAILROAD ENTERED INTO CONGRESSIONAL RECORD

Elijah Fish and George Taylor's connections to our local Underground Railroad history has been officially entered into the Congressional Record by Representative Haley Stevens. The record details their stories and acknowledges the importance of the Birmingham Museum and the City of Birmingham in achieving the designation of Fish's and Taylor's burial sites at Greenwood Cemetery to the National Park Service's Network to Freedom It also recognizes the important role played by the settlement of Birmingham in the anti-slavery movement in Michigan in the 19th century. This tribute will become part of the national record and will provide a permanent recognition of Birmingham's role in this important American story A framed copy of the statement will be presented to the museum and will be displayed in the lobby.

BIRMINGHAM GREEN

BY NICHOLAS J. DUPUIS, PLANNING DIRECTOR

To kick off the new year, we will continue our exploration of reducing consumption and minimizing waste and highlight the important topic of e-waste According to the EPA, “ewaste”, “electronic waste”, “e-scrap” and “end-of-life electronics” are terms often used to describe used electronics that are nearing the end of their useful life, and are discarded, donated or given to a recycler. Though “e-waste is the commonly used term, the EPA considers e-waste to be a subset of used electronics and recognizes the inherent value of these materials that can be reused, refurbished or recycled to minimize the actual waste that might end up in a landfill or improperly disposed of in an unprotected dump site either in the US or abroad

Every year, consumers discard millions of tons of e-waste, a small percentage of which is collected for recycling, with the remainder disposed of primarily in landfills, where the precious metals cannot be recovered. Birmingham residents have the opportunity to increase their recycling of electronics through SOCRRA, who also has a very useful tool called the Waste Wizard to help its constituents understand what can and cannot be recycled. Remember, the most effective way to reduce waste is to not create it in the first place

COOL WINTER PROGRAMS!

This month, join us for a variety of events, including learning more about Google Sheets and how to use them to Track Your Stocks, a presentation from the Birmingham Museum, a Retro Expo with the Idea Lab, and piracy on the Great Lakes. Plus, teens battle it out in our version of Cupcake Wars, and youth services staff help you celebrate Appreciate a Dragon Day Find all of these, plus storytimes, book clubs, and more at baldwinlib.org/calendar.

LINKEDIN LEARNING

Are you starting the year with a goal of learning something new? Get started at LinkedIn Learning! Use your Baldwin library card to access thousands of online courses to learn indemand skills from real-world industry experts

WINTER READING CHALLENGE

Readers of all ages are invited to take part in our Winter Reading Challenge for the chance to win a giveaway! Complete and submit your challenge through January 31, 2023 at baldwinlib.beanstack.org.

Baldwin Public Library is located at 300 W. Merrill Street in Birmingham. For more information visit www.baldwinlib.org or call (248) 647-1700. The Library is closed Sunday, January 1 in observance of New Year's Day and Monday, January 16 in observance of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

HISTORY OF DETROIT

Detroit Sports History II: Lions, Red Wings, Pistons, Olympia & Olympians Wednesday, January 4 at 11:00 a.m.

Robert E. Sullivan, Jr., Attorney and sixth generation Detroiter, has taught a History of Detroit class at the International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit and at Macomb Community College for several years Mr Sullivan will continue his exploration of Detroit sports history, including the Detroit Lions, Red Wings, Pistons, Joe Louis and boxing, hydroplanes, golf, horse racing, bowling, car racing, track, Olympic skating and other Olympians, Detroit’s historic Olympia Stadium and the controversial last days of Tiger Stadium Follow this link to register

CRYPTOCURRENCY, FINANCIAL FRAUD & ROMANCE SCAMS

Thursday January 5th 6:00 p m Marcus Salloum - Investigative Analyst, United States Secret Service, Detroit Field Office

This presentation will focus on several emerging aspects involving day-to-day activities such as investment scams, romance and confidence fraud, grandparent scams, tech support and advanced fee scams Mr Salloum will share the basics of cryptocurrency, emerging patterns in law enforcement and how criminals are resorting to cryptocurrency when orchestrating illicit acts. Finally, he will share common instances of fraud and the best ways to avoid becoming a victim including red flags to look out for when financial transactions are involved Follow this link to register

YOGA-INSPIRED STABILITY with KAREN LUTZ - NEW!

FREE DEMO Thursday, January 5 from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Class begins Thursday, January 12 from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Stretch, strengthen and stabilize with this new yoga-inspired ball class led by Karen Lutz, E-RYT. You will have the option of working with a chair or yoga mat All levels are welcome and we’ll just have fun! Bring your yoga mat and any props you like to use. Follow this link to register.

Next proudly serves the growing 50 plus population in our community. Next is located at 2121 Midvale Street in Birmingham. Contact Next at (248) 203-5270, visit www.BirminghamNext.org or like Next on Facebook

WINTER ACTIVITIES

BUNDLE UP AND ENJOY THE OUTDOORS THIS WINTER!

Residents and visitors are encouraged to take advantage of all that Birmingham has to offer this winter season. With 26 parks covering 230 acres, there are many options to satisfy every outdoor enthusiast For park locations and amenities, visit www bhamgov org/parks

VISIT THE PARKS & ROUGE RIVER TRAIL SYSTEM

Each of Birmingham’s 26 parks is unique and amenities include play structures, hiking trails, sports fields, tennis courts and more. Again this year, the tennis nets will remain in place for players to enjoy throughout the winter months, weather permitting. Tennis courts are available at Kenning, West Lincoln, Pembroke, Poppleton, Quarton and St James Park Pickleball nets will also remain in place for play at Crestview Park.

Nature lovers can access over two miles of beautiful Rouge River trails right here in Birmingham. For the trail map, visit www bhamgov org/rougetrails

SLEDDING AND WINTER SPORTS

Bring your sleds and enthusiasm for some fast-paced fun on the hills! When the snow flies, sledding is offered at Lincoln Hills Golf Course (4" of snow minimum), Booth Park and the Birmingham Museum. Lincoln Hills Golf Course is also a great location for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing Rental equipment is not provided, but visitors are welcome to bring their own skis and snowshoes and enjoy the peaceful, yet challenging course. Please call Lincoln Hills at (248) 530-1670 before visiting.

OUTDOOR ICE SKATING

Once temperatures are consistently cold enough, the outdoor ice rink at Barnum Park will be available (weather permitting) City crews work hard to maintain the rink, however users are welcome to shovel any snow accumulation to clear an area for skating Keep an eye on future communications from the city regarding an official opening date. For more information on outdoor skating at Barnum Park, visit www.bhamgov.org/outdoorskating.

NEW BUSINESSES

For the love of people, music and food is the mantra at EM, a new restaurant and bar located on North Old Woodward Avenue in downtown Birmingham. Find out more and see their menu at www embirmingham com Photos courtesy of EM Instagram

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Photo Credit:Chris Cook Instagram: @jchriscook