Ann Arbor

July 12, 2009

saturday Ann Arbor farmer's market report, u-pick fruit coming up, and what's in bloom

I was at market on Saturday (yesterday) and kept an eye out for fruit and for new things at market.  Here's some details.

Sour cherries were gone; sweet cherries were $5-$6 per quart.
Both Erie Orchards and Sodt's Berry Farm had blueberries for $40 for a 10# lug.
Basil, $1.00 to $1.25 a small bag, or $10/# (organic).
Grandma from Grandma's Kitchen brought 70 dozen eggs and was sold out at noon.

The U-Pick local report from Mark Charles:

Dexter Blueberry Farm's web site says they'll open on July 20. 

Makielski's raspberry farm says "2 weeks"  (about July 25.)

and the field report from the Buhr Park wet meadow from Andy Brush

Today at wet meadow II, I saw the following in bloom:
  • Bee Balm
  • Black Eyed Susan
  • Yellow Coneflower
  • Prairie Dack (just getting going)
  • Butterfly Milkweed
  • Hoary Vervain
  • Daisy Fleabane
  • Common Milkweed



July 11, 2009

a blogger reads the newspaper; day 9

day 9 of notes on my new job at annarbor.com

A new newspaper showed up on my sidewalk yesterday afternoon; I'm not going to name it by name, but let's just call it the A2 Gerbil.  It was a happy little paper, full of happy little stories about quaint things happening in some leafy town somewhere near here.  It took me a couple of minutes to leaf through it and a few more minutes to hunt down the web site for it and appreciate some of its finer points.

Newani

I'd pick on the newspaper itself, but you can't see it unless you live here.  Like its namesake, it leaves droppings on sidewalks, and if you walk through my neighborhood you'll notice in a few blocks half a dozen houses that didn't bother to pick it up, and if you walk down Packard you'll notice that most houses didn't manage to pick it up.  Unsolicited free drop media of all kinds generates litter - in student neighborhoods you perpetually step over rotting copies of the Wall Street Journal delivered but unread.

Newani

There were the usual collection of small town newspaper typoes - spelling mistakes in the body copy, and one I noticed in a headline.  People make mistakes, but if you're going to the trouble of printing them, you'd hope there were enough people in the production process and enough spell checking tools to catch them.

Newani

The web site is a charming example of what newspaper web sites looked before RSS feeds made it possible to syndicate news and read it (minus the ads) in a feed reader.  I don't know if that's a deliberate, calculated design decision, or an omission.  The one indication that you have that a story is new is a blinking NEW! icon.  (really)

Newani

Some of the headlines on the web site could use some work.  "Construction under way"; that's not helpful.  "Ann Arbor's many distinctions"; that could run every week.  "Neighbors get their way"; a hint of controversy, I suppose, but again that looks like an every issue column and not really a headline.

Newani

It's tough being a photo editor, but really, when you print pictures of people in a parade, it would be really nice to get their names, so that you could say who they were so that someone could clip and send the photo to them.  It just looks weird to see a caption like "Someone is walking in a parade" with no idea who it is.

Newani

I hate to poke at someone's new enterprise, in part because I'm involved in a new enterprise, and it might have some aspects of it in the first issue that aren't 100% glorious.  I'm sure that the Gerbil, and its owners at the esteemed Gerbil-Hamster Corporation, is the product of a lot of hard work.  Alas, it doesn't say anything about the town I live in - it's like a picture-perfect mirror to some sleepy parallel universe town where everything is kind of nice in a boring kind of way. 

July 08, 2009

what I saw on my walk home, day 6

day six of notes about my new position at annarbor.com

It's about a mile and a half as the crow flies from my office at annarbor.com to my home.   If I'm willing to detour a bit out of the way along the way, I can make a reasonable direct path by bus, bicycle, or walking that takes me through a big part of central campus, the athletic campus, a few neighborhoods, about 20 coffee and ice cream shops, and dozens of bulletin boards where events and notices are posted.

Tuesday's trek home I did on foot with my cell phone open to Twitter and with my eyes open for what was going on on central campus.   I got a chance to see new businesses and closing businesses on Liberty St and State St, the relative quiet of the Diag in the summer time, picture-perfect Law Quad greenery, and giant touch-screen displays inside the business school.   Interestingly enough, the twitter stream I sent out got enough comments that I felt like I had people double checking the observations I had along the way (and I have half a dozen followups to do to understand more).

I've commuted home from downtown before, but almost all of the time it was of the variety of commute where every single day I caught the exact same bus at the exact last minute and saw the same thing every day.  I'm sure there will still be some of that, but a reasonable goal is to walk down a new street every day and just notice what is going on there.

what can you grow in your Ann Arbor street easement? 36 inch height limit

A neighbor got a citation for his day lilies, which were in violation of something; I haven't seen the actual paper he got to know which chapter and verse of city code they violated.

Looking through it I see Chapter 47 STREETS and section 4:2

(4)   It is the duty of each owner of property adjacent to a street to maintain that property so that trees, shrubs and other vegetation do not obstruct the passage of vehicles, bicycles or pedestrians on streets or sidewalks. If a property owner fails to maintain the property as required by this section, the City may do the work necessary to bring the property into compliance and charge the property owner for the reasonable cost of the work. If the charges for the work are not paid, they may be assessed against the property, as provided in Section 10.4 of the City Charter.


but that doesn't give much in the way of detailed landscaping guidelines to go by.

UPDATE: I wrote about this exact same issue last year, when a different person I know got the same day lily ticket.

3:15.  Lawn extension and city street right-of-way.

The owner of every parcel of land is responsible for grading, planting, mowing and raking the extension or city street right-of-way so that it is covered with turf grass with an average height not in excess of 12 inches or other ground cover vegetation with an average height not in excess of 36 inches above the adjacent road surface unless it presents a view hazard based on the criteria in the AASHTO (American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials) Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets, 5th Edition (2005), or as subsequently amended. The city shall not be liable for damage to any vegetation planted, or to any property or fixtures placed, in or upon the lawn extension or the city right-of-way that results from work performed by the city in the lawn extension or right-of-way.
(Ord. No. 43-04, § 17, 1-3-05; Ord. No. 19-05, § 4, 5-16-05)

June 30, 2009

Ignite Ann Arbor 1 a rousing success

There were a ton of people twittering from the event, held tonight at the Neutral Zone.  It started promptly at 7pm, ended promptly at 9pm, featured a single-elimination rock scissors paper tournament (A2RSP, of course), and was generally and genuinely awesome.  Attendance was about 200.

Trek Glowacki:

Best event I've attended all year. Nearly perfect execution from both speakers and organizers. Congrats to all involved.


A few high points: Eli Neiburger from the AADL on hacking your library; Eric from the Ann Arbor Go Club on the game of Go; the friggin lasers at the A2 Mechshop; high flying balloons; backyard satellite weather, and two versions of News 2.0, at least one of which should be better than News 184x where the publisher accepted payment in potatoes.

I hope I'm not going to get paid in potatoes.  (Well, maybe a bonus in potatoes.)

June 22, 2009

Photowalk at AADL June 27, 2009

pictureAnnArbor is a photography collection of Ann Arbor maintained and managed by the Ann Arbor District Library.  It has a mix of personal and historical collections, including a wonderful Ann Arbor signs collection with photos from the city sign inspector from the 1970s.  The AADL is hosting a photo walk this coming weekend to add more local and neighborhood photography to the collection.


Photowalk - Capture The Beauty of Ann Arbor!
Saturday June 27, 2009: 10:00 am to 11:30 am --
Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Bring your camera and explore Ann Arbor! Photowalk is a fun way to capture photos of the beauty of Ann Arbor and then post them online for all to see. Our first Photowalk is held in conjunction with the Library’s summer reading program, Local Motion - which encourages the use of local neighborhoods, gyms, recreational facilities and outdoor areas to explore Ann Arbor and get fit. We will begin with presentations by several local photography experts, including: Myra Klarman, professional photographer specializing in studio and lifestyle portraits, Michael C. Myers, local photographer and a founding member of the Ann Arbor Crappy Camera Club, and Leisa Thompson, Ann Arbor News Staff Photographer. Following the lecture, at 11:30 am, we will go out in small groups to photograph Ann Arbor. The results will be an online exhibit of your photos in the aadl.org pictureAnnArbor collection. --


thanks to Myra Klarman for the heads up.
http://www.aadl.org/events/list?id=4782
http://relish.myraklarman.com/ann-arbor-photowalk

April 28, 2009

Chickens! How to raise your own yard hens (and deal with The Man along the way)

from Matthaei Botanical Gardens Adult Education:

4/29/2009 - Yard Hens II; Raising and keeping happy, healthy hens at home

Dates: Wednesday April 29, 7-9pm
Fee: $20.00 ( $16.00 for members)
Class Number: 09-AE-19s
Description: Ready for spring chickens? Welcome hens into your yard with Part II of our wildly successful class, Yard Hens. In this second installment we expand on Part I and take an in-depth look at how to raise and care for happy, healthy birds at home. This two-hour class will cover poultry health and maintenance with a special focus on heirloom breeds. Learn where to get chicks, receive valuable resources, and connect with a community of poultry fanciers. Instructor: Andy Sell
Class Max: 18
registration information



but if you do so, make sure you read the Ann Arbor city ordinances and all of the very, very fine print very carefully:

No permit shall be issued to a person, by the City, and no chickens shall be allowed to be kept unless the owners of all residentially zoned adjacent properties (see 9:42(3)(j)) consent in writing to the permit. Please attach the Adjacent Neighbor Consent Form to this application and check the box that you understand and have complied with the terms of this ordinance requirement.

If the requirements of Chapter 107 are not complied with, the City may revoke any permit granted and/or initiate prosecution for a civil infraction violation. A person who has been issued a permit shall submit it for examination upon demand by any police officer or code enforcement officer. Fenced enclosures are subject to all provisions of Chapter 104 (Fences). Notwithstanding the issuance of a permit by the City, private restrictions on the use of property shall remain enforceable and take precedence over a permit. Private restrictions include but are not limited to deed restrictions, condominium master deed restrictions, neighborhood association by-laws, and covenant deeds. A permit issued to a person whose property is subject to private restrictions that prohibit the keeping of chickens is void. The interpretation and enforcement of the private restriction is the sole responsibility of the private parties involved.

What happens if the man doesn't agree with your poultry easement: you get a personal visit from the city attorney (!!!!!) who is apparently the city's only animal control officer.

We decided we were not interested in pursuing the official permit, as we are a bit out of compliance anyway and do not really feel this should be required (that this process is more just a way for the city to ease into a common sense practice). The city attorney hand delivered a notice telling us of all our waywardness. I will post a notice/petition of support out front. Please come by and sign it when you get a chance. Thanks!!

Read the Top Ten Reasons to Raise Your Own Yard Hens

6. Outlaws - Urbanites with chickens are an elite vanguard that gets to ignore stupid laws

March 18, 2009

In response to your metafilter post; or, how to feed the trolls

From: secureonefour@yahoo.com

Good God, Man!

What a FREAKING GEEK. You make me EMBARASSED to live in Ann Arbor.

Well, not actually. Nothing can do that. haha

Just pick ANOTHER restaurant.

You know, there's more than ONE great eatery in AA.

Plus, contact the restaurant and ask for their help.

No help? No more lunch.

Face it, your 'favorite restaurant' excuse is not believable.

You just want to re-start the Yuppie vs Hippie wars.

Too bad you can't tell the difference anymore without CREATING a FAKE controversy.

Big Daddy

UPDATED


Good God, Man!

Eastern Accents Sucks! haha

And you just HAD to pick a spot at 4th & Liberty at noon?

Don't be a shmuck!

You give even Community Organizers a bad name.

And that's hard to do these days... lol

Your Friend,

HG


PS How did you resolve your PHONY crisis with Republic?

March 14, 2009

records request: ann arbor downtown development authority parking data

update: broken links fixed to interview, thanks John Balogh for the heads up

as sent by postal mail and email

March 14, 2009

 

Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority
150 South Fifth Avenue
Suite 301
Ann Arbor, MI 48104

 

     RECORDS REQUEST

 

Dear Records Request Officer:

 

Pursuant to the state open records act, I request access to and copies of the continuously updated information about the current availability of parking structure occupancy and free spaces, as currently provided to the general public on the web page

http://www.a2dda.org/parking__transportation/available_parking_spots/

For your reference, this system is described in this interview

http://www.homelessdave.com/tt20080411stephensmith.htm

conducted by Mr. David Askins of the Ann Arbor Chronicle, in which a representative of a contractor for the DDA says:

"SS: Oh, okay! Yeah, no, I haven't had a lot of time to pay attention to our statistics yet, but I will at the end of this month. It just rolled out April 1st. Our area associations, I imagine, are going to want to embed this--and we encourage them to--in their own webpages. For instance, Main Street Area Association, and State Street Area Association. There are a lot of them, these associations and other organizations, who could really benefit from it, especially if you're going to have an event, you're telling your attendees to come downtown. "

Despite these assurances, our current requests are met with this error message:





Forbidden


You don't have permission to access /parking__transportation/available_parking_spots/
on this server.




Apache/2.2.4 (Unix) mod_ssl/2.2.4 OpenSSL/0.9.7a DAV/2 mod_jk/1.2.20 PHP/5.2.1 Server at a2dda.org Port 80

.

 

I am willing to pay up to a maximum of $20 in fees associated with the fulfillment of this request.

As the release of this data is in the public interest - indeed, is within the primary goal and charter of the DDA - I ask that these fees be waived.

 

If my request is denied in whole or part, I ask that you justify all deletions by reference to specific exemptions of the act.

 

Thank you for your assistance.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Edward Vielmetti

February 20, 2009

Bridge Inspection Program Reduced Weight Postings for E. Stadium Boulevard over S. State Street File No. 2006-014.17

Thanks to Alan Pagliere for unearthing this memo, entitled "The Bridge Is Falling".  Note the date.  Alan says "read it, appreciate the dates and the content, and when you pick your jaw up off the floor, contact the City of Ann Arbor before driving confidently under or over that bridge."

MEMORANDUM

DATE:    February 26, 2008

TO:        Homayoon Pirooz, P.E.
Manager, Project Management Unit

FROM:    Michael G. Nearing, P.E.
Senior Project Manager, Project Management Unit

RE:        2006-2007 Bridge Inspection Program
Reduced Weight Postings for E. Stadium Boulevard over S. State Street
File No. 2006-014.17 (mgn)

We are writing to inform you of the recent investigation and analysis that was performed on the E. Stadium Boulevard Bridge over S. State Street.  We are also reporting on the condition of the bridge and providing information regarding possible short- and long-term solutions for the E. Stadium Boulevard Bridge over S. State Street and the E. Stadium Boulevard Bridge over the Ann Arbor Railroad tracks.

Attached, please find a Traffic Control Order (TCO) that recommends a reduction in allowable gross vehicle weights for the E. Stadium Boulevard Bridge over S. State Street in accordance with the limits contained in this memorandum.

Background

On December 29, 2007, our Field Operations forces were called out to the E. Stadium Boulevard Bridge over S. State Street as medium-sized pieces of concrete were falling off of the bottom of one of the box beams that support the roadway.  These pieces of concrete were large enough to damage passing vehicles, if they were to strike them.  Our Field Operations and Safety Services personnel closed one lane of traffic at a time and removed the remaining loose concrete from the underside of the box beam.  No injuries due to the falling concrete were reported.

As a result of the concrete removal, we reviewed the structure again and were concerned about the condition of one of the box beams.  In early January 2008, a meeting was held on-site between Project Management Unit, our bridge inspection consultant, and bridge design personnel to review the condition of the bridge and (1) determine what possible courses of action could be taken to help prevent further damage to the bridge and (2) identify possible repair strategies.

We directed our consultants to re-analyze the bridge structure given the section loss that had just occurred.  As you may recall, effective January 1, 2008 we lowered the weight limits due to section loss that was discovered during the biennial inspection that was performed in late October 2007.  Based upon the new analysis that was performed in January 2008, it is recommended that we reduce the weight limits on this structure again.
Condition of the bridge

The existing bridge is composed of 16 pre-stressed concrete box beams that are laid side-by-side.  They are “tied” together with steel post-tensioning rods that connect pairs of beams together.  The beams are overlaid with an asphalt wearing surface.  There is a concrete sidewalk that has been cast on top of the two northernmost beams.  The bridge does not provide sufficient vertical or horizontal clearances and is considered structurally deficient and functionally obsolete.

One of the box beams has developed a severe longitudinal crack.  This is the beam that our field personnel had to hand-chip to remove the spalled concrete in late December 2007.  There are other beams that are developing longitudinal cracks, as well.  Other beams have several broken pre-stressing strands and the abutments that support the beams are in poor condition.  Note that the pre-stressing strands are the primary elements of the bridge beams that provide structural strength.  Based on these deficiencies, the bridge, viewed as a whole, is considered to be in poor condition.  The beam that is severely cracked is considered to be in serious condition.

Upon review of the “as-built” drawings of the structure, we believe that it is not possible to repair the severely cracked beam in any manner that can restore its structural integrity.  This is due to the location of the beam itself, and the location and configuration of the post-tensioning rods that tie the box beams together.  The severely cracked beam is the fifth beam in from the south side of the structure.  Due to the manner in which the bridge was constructed, it is not possible to replace only this beam. In order to repair the beam, we would have to cut the post tensioning rods on each side of the beam.  We would not be able to access the needed areas of the beams to re-install the post-tensioning rods, however, effectively leaving the beams to function individually.  This would be unacceptable.  There is also one other beam that contains small cracks that currently are not as severe as the beam described above, but we believe that it is likely that it, too, will crack in a similar manner.  AS A RESULT, WE BELIEVE IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO REPLACE AT LEAST FIVE BEAMS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE BRIDGE, AND POSSIBLY AS MANY AS EIGHT.

Exacerbating the problem is the condition of the remaining beams.  We believe that it is likely that the tops of these beams have begun to spall.  It is apparent to us that salt-laden water has seeped between the asphalt layer covering the beams and the beams themselves.  Water routinely leaks around the beams and runs down the abutment walls.  Over time, this moisture and salt will cause the concrete to disintegrate.  Given the length of time this has been occurring, we have reason to believe that it is possible that the tops of the beams are damaged to the point that they may not be able to be repaired, if we were to attempt it.

We also believe that any attempt at performing a repair itself would be expensive.  We do not have detailed costs at this time, but we estimate that it would cost at least $250,000 to attempt to replace the five to eight south side bridge beams.  Also, it would take at least one month to perform the needed construction.

At your request, we could prepare a more thorough and detailed estimate of the repair costs and other possible options that could be implemented should funding for the replacement of the structure not be available in the foreseeable future.  This evaluation would cost approximately $15,000 to retain the services of a structural engineer to analyze and review various options.  We also recommend that about $10,000 be budgeted for our Field Services personnel to assist in the performance forensic investigations on the bridge in order to better determine the extent of deterioration of the existing bridge beams and abutments.

We do not believe that it is possible to repair the bridge over S. State Street cost effectively, however.  This is due to the extensive deterioration of the existing beams, abutments, and asphalt-wearing surface.  As mentioned previously, the bridge is considered structurally deficient and functionally obsolete.  These deficiencies cannot be easily remedied.  We will, of course, continue to monitor the condition of the bridge. Should it become necessary, we are prepared to repair the structure in order to allow the bridge to remain in service.

Proposed Short-term Action

In order to help minimize damage to this structure and prolong its life span to the greatest extent possible, we are recommending that the weight limits be lowered.  We have prepared the following table that compares the existing and proposed weight limits for the three classes of trucks that can use the structure:

Design
Vehicle        Existing
Posted Load
(since January 1, 2008)    Proposed
Posted Load    Reduction in
Load carrying capacity
Single Unit Truck        31 tons    19 tons    39%
Two-Unit Truck        39 tons    24 tons    39%
Three-Unit Truck        44 tons    26 tons    41%

The proposed Traffic Control Order (TCO) recommends a reduction in gross vehicle weight for the three types of trucks that can travel on Michigan roadways without special permits.  They are one, two, and three-unit trucks.  A single-unit truck is any truck without a trailer.  A single-unit truck can be any number of common vehicles.  Some examples of this would be a school or AATA bus, moving van, or in the worst case, a fully loaded concrete truck.  A two-unit truck can be most easily described as a semi-truck with one trailer.  Note, a pick-up truck or car pulling an “ordinary” trailer (such as the trailers that lawn maintenance companies would use) would not be considered a two-unit vehicle. Finally, a three-unit truck can be most easily thought of as a semi-truck pulling two trailers.  An example of this would be the large sand or gravel hauling trucks that bring materials to construction sites.

The recommended gross vehicle weight reductions are significant.  Also, the overall condition of the bridge has declined measurably over the course of the last calendar year.  We expect that the condition of the structure will continue to decline as the structure is nearing the end of its useful life.  Based on the rate of deterioration that we have observed over the course of the last few years, we believe that the structure has approximately three to five years in which it will be able to carry trucks.  We also expect that additional weight limit restrictions will be necessary in the future.

Proposed Long-term Actions

As you may recall, we have begun a project to perform the preliminary design of the replacement for this structure, as well as the E. Stadium Boulevard Bridge over the Ann Arbor Railroad tracks.  The bridge over the Ann Arbor Railroad tracks is located about 300 feet to the west of the bridge over S. State Street.  We believe it makes sense to consider replacing both bridges at the same time, although it is also possible to replace the two bridge structures at different times.

We have not able to move forward on the preliminary design of the bridge over S. State Street or the Ann Arbor Railroad tracks because we are waiting for the 4th Ward City Council members to nominate and confirm a Citizens Advisory Committee to assist us with the public engagement process.  It has been our experience with projects of this nature that it is important to consider and review all aspects of the proposed design with the citizens in order to make sure the project that we deliver meets community expectations.  This process will also help us to avoid conflicts later in the design process as we will have already confirmed the design approach and aesthetics of the project with the public and City Council.  Finally, this preliminary design process will allow us to better estimate the cost of the project based on a more complete picture of all project elements.

We have estimated that it will take about 2 to 3 years to prepare for bridge replacement including the public engagement and internal project review process; the preliminary and final design of the bridges and needed approach work; and the development of a funding plan for the project.  We have prepared a tentative schedule for this project such that its construction could be started shortly after the University of Michigan’s Football Stadium Renovations are completed.  We are also planning and coordinating this project so that it is compatible with the planned improvements along W. Stadium Boulevard.  Attached, please find a drawing that we have prepared that locates all of these planned improvements and their anticipated starting and completion dates.  Also attached, please find the tentative project schedule that details the required tasks and estimated durations of the required activities to complete the project’s design.

Summary

Fortunately, the reduction in weights that we are proposing does not yet affect most of the everyday users of this structure.  However, we believe that when it is again necessary to reduce the posted weight limits, both AATA and the Ann Arbor Public Schools will be impacted by this change.

The proposed change will impact the trucking and construction operations that use this corridor as they, most probably, will not be able to route trucks through this portion of the E. Stadium Boulevard corridor between S. Industrial Highway and S. Main Street.  These types of trucks will have to find an alternative route around this portion of E. Stadium Boulevard.

We are also working with the Communications Office to prepare a press release notifying the appropriate agencies of the proposed change.

attachments

HP:MGN:mgn (e stadium weight reduction memo 080225.doc)

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