Residents interested in following the discussion on the City of Dearborn’s proposed Fiscal Year 2014 budget will be able to follow the meetings in person or review the budget on the city’s website.

For reasons unknown, the budget hearing schedule is subject to change, apparently the result of a Council that can’t even lock in dates. As a result, you’ll need to get the latest updates on hearing dates at the city’s website, www.cityofdearborn.org

Important dates include the public hearing on the budget, which is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 23 in the City Council Chambers. The public is invited to give comments and ask questions about the proposed budget at this hearing.

The City Council is scheduled to adopt the proposed budget at a public meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28 in the City Council Chambers. The Fiscal Year 2014 budget begins July 1, 2013 and ends June 30, 2014.

Leading up to the budget hearing and adoption are workshops between Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. and his administration and the City Council.

All budget workshops are at 5:30 p.m. in the Mayor’s Conference Room on the second floor of the east wing of City Hall, except where noted.

The first workshop is Wednesday, April 24. An overview of the budget will be given to the City Council at this time.

From there, the following is a tentative schedule, subject to change by the City Council:

• Wednesday, May 1 (Council Conference Room). Topics: Fire Department and the Dearborn Administrative Center.

• Monday, May 6. Topics: Police Department and City Technology Plan.

• Tuesday, May 7. Topics: Recreation and Parks, including Mystic Creek, the Camp Dearborn Re-investment Plan and Studio A and Theater Challenges.

• Wednesday, May 8. Topics: District Court and Inspection Services Benchmarking Request for Proposals.

• Wednesday, May 15. Topics: Public Works, including street weeping, county/state roads cleanup policies and enforcement, and potential outsourcing opportunities in the future.

Documents related to the proposed Fiscal Year 2014 budget are posted at www.cityofdearborn.org

An upcoming informational meeting will allow Dearborn residents to learn about a project that will help revitalize several Dearborn neighborhoods through the construction and sale of new homes.

The meeting will be 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9 at the Esper Branch Library, 12929 W. Warren Ave.

The City of Dearborn, Habitat for Humanity Detroit, Wayne County and ACCESS have partnered to build 12 new homes to sell in Dearborn.

Preference for sale of the homes will be given to working families that include veterans and victims of domestic abuse, and who live in Wayne County.

Construction on the first of six homes is expected to begin the week of April 16 on Neckel Street between Gould and Diversey.

Volunteers, families and sponsors will join Habitat for Humanity staff to build the homes on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Residents near the construction sites, as well as any interested community members, are invited to attend the informational meeting.

Attendees will be learn about Habitat for Humanity’s mission, as well as the process, timeline and goals of the City of Dearborn project.

Information will also be available on applying to volunteer, or to become a Habitat for Humanity homeowner.

Questions on the meeting or the project can be directed to Habitat for Humanity Detroit at 313-521-6691, ext 503.

Updates on conceptual plans for development of the area surrounding Dearborn’s new train station is set for April 8.

An informational session on April 8 will give the Dearborn community updates on conceptual plans for development of the area surrounding the City’s new train station, as well as a chance to provide feedback on the final design recommendations.

The event will be in Studio A of the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center from 7-9 p.m. and is open to residents, business owners, commuters who work in Dearborn, college and university students and other Dearborn stakeholders.

The meeting is part of the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) initiative that seeks to capitalize on the new train station’s ability to draw more visitors, businesses and residents to Dearborn’s west downtown. The train station is scheduled to open in early 2014.

Through a grant awarded the city from MIPlace Partnership, planners from Michigan State University and experts from the Michigan Municipal League and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority are assisting city staff and stakeholders with creating a vision for the neighborhoods, parkland and business area near the train station.

Although the conceptual designs are not binding, the exercise will help to focus the City’s efforts when considering future development.

Public sessions held in December and January and led by the design team allowed residents and other stakeholders to generate ideas about how they would like the area to be developed. Suggestions focused on creating green space, fostering community involvement and honoring Dearborn’s rich heritage.

At the April 8 meeting, the team will return to give community members the opportunity to view and comment on the TOD design recommendations created based on those earlier design sessions.

The team will walk participants through various depictions of how the area could be developed, as well as give a summary of their final report on the design concepts.

The event will include the next steps in the process and details about the final TOD community celebration.

For more information, please call Liz Hendley in the City Plan Office at 313-943-2171.

Dearborn’s outdoor pool season is just around the corner, and residents can prepare by purchasing swim tags and registering for swimming lessons at the service desk of the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, beginning April 1.

Seven types of swim tags, good for admittance to Dearborn’s six outdoor pools this summer, are available.

Infants (under age two) are free.

Preschool, $15. Parents must present a copy of the child’s birth certificate and proof of residency.

Youth (ages 17 and under), $35. Must present school-issued ID card.

Adult (ages 18-59), $45. Must present proof of residency.

Senior (ages 60 and over), $35. Must present proof of residency.

Family (both parents and all children under the age of 18), $100. Proof of residency for parents and birth certificate(s) for children are required.

Non-Resident, $80

Pool tags must be sewn on swim suits prior to admittance.

Swim lessons, conducted Monday through Thursday in two-week sessions, feature instruction at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels and run for 30 minutes. Make-up lessons, if necessary, are held on Fridays.

Sessions offered at Dunworth Pool run June 17-27, July 1-11 (lessons July 5, but not July 4), July 15-25 and July 29-August 8.

Sessions offered at the city’s other five outdoor pools run June 17-27, July 1-11 (lessons July 5, but not July 4) and July 15-25.

Cost: $50 for Dearborn residents and $60 for non-residents. Non-resident registration begins June 3. All participants must also purchase a swim tag.

The service desk is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For further information, call 943-2350.

Investing in the City’s roads, water mains and sewers is an important undertaking to preserve Dearborn’s infrastructure, but can cause temporary inconvenience.

For timely updates and more information about construction projects, visit the Construction Updates page at www.cityofdearborn.org or www.dearbornconstruction.wordpress.com

The following are ongoing or scheduled projects in 2013:

• Dearborn Hills neighborhood, east of Telegraph, south of Cherry Hill. Sewer separation, CSO 4, Phase 1. Now through December 2013.

• Highland neighborhood, east of Telegraph, north of Cherry Hill. Sewer separation, CSO 4, Phase 2. Continuing through 2014.

• Diversey, Kentucky, Hubbard, Indiana, Morross, Queen, Vassar and Wisconsin streets. Asphalt street resurfacing and water main replacement. Now – July 2013.

• Bailey Street. Sanitary sewer replacement. Now – July 2013.

• Schlaff between Michigan Avenue and Chase. Asphalt street resurfacing and water main replacement. Now – June 2013.

• Chase between Michigan Avenue and Ford Road. Asphalt street resurfacing. Now – June 2013.

• Wyoming Avenue pavement reconstruction and water main replacement at Conrail railroad crossing. April – June 2013.

• Cherry Hill from Gulley to Telegraph. Asphalt street resurfacing and water main replacement. June – September 2013.

Report safety issues in construction areas

Residents are encouraged to report any safety issues in construction areas to the Engineering Division at 943-2145 during business hours. After hours, please call the Police Department’s non-emergency number at 943-2241.

If any situation appears to be putting drivers or homeowners in imminent danger, please call 911.

Other information

Please drive carefully through construction areas or seek alternate routes as crews work to improve roads in Dearborn.

Additional construction projects may be undertaken by Wayne County or the State of Michigan and affect Dearborn traffic or neighborhoods.

A March 31 deadline is approaching for Dearborn residents to register for a program that could reduce energy bills and potentially save them hundreds of dollars.

The potential cost-savings process begins when residents register for a $100 home energy audit through BetterBuildings for Michigan and the Southeast Michigan Regional Energy Office.

Participants in the BetterBuildings for Michigan program save an average of $230 per year on energy bills and can also access up to $5,000 in incentives if they choose to make energy saving home improvements, from adding insulation to replacing a furnace. Dearborn residents can register at www.MiHomeEnergy.org or by calling 313-566-4801 by March 31.

The $100 energy audit identifies ways to save energy and money at home. It also includes installation of CFL lightbulbs, a low-flow shower head and a programmable thermostat.

The Energy Office is a coalition of nonprofits and communities that work to help local governments reduce their energy use and save money for their citizens through energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

Giving residents access to energy funding through BetterBuildings for Michigan was a key reason for the City of Dearborn’s interest in the Energy Office.

“This is a good opportunity for people to reduce their bills and invest in their homes,” said Mayor O’Reilly.

“We are also interested in seeing what opportunities are available for our city buildings,” he added, referring to grant seeking services for municipal energy projects that the Regional Energy Office also provides.

Avoid tickets when Public Service Days start again the week of April 1, 2013. Keep your parked vehicle off the street on your trash day, which is also your Public Service Day. Parked cars must be off the street 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Public Service Days in Dearborn will start again the week of April 1, 2013 and last through Nov. 30, 2013.

During Public Service Days, Dearborn provides critical services, such as street sweeping, tree-trimming, and sewer maintenance in your neighborhood on your trash day.

To ensure these services are provided in a safe, effective manner, do not park on the street from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on your trash day.

Vehicles parked on the street 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. will be ticketed.

Residents are reminded that you cannot park your vehicle across the sidewalk or on your easement or lawn.

You must also keep your trash and recycle carts and yard waste containers off the street on your Public Service Days/trash days.

For parking issues related to Public Service Days, call 943-2276.

Dearborn does offer parking exemption applications. They are available HERE  

Exemption applications also can also be picked up at the front desk of the Police Station, 16099 Michigan Ave.

Beginning February 14, and for a limited time, Dearborn residents can order affordable trees that will be planted on the easement in front of their homes.

The city of Dearborn encourages the planting of trees as a way to keep neighborhoods attractive, reduce energy consumption and support a healthier environment.

The annual spring tree planting program is open to Dearborn residents only.

This year trees cost $175 each, and the supply of trees for the program is limited. Trees range in size from 8 – 10 feet in height and are sold on a first come, first served basis through Dearborn’s Department of Public Works.

Residents can choose from an assortment of trees. Each species offered meets American Association of Nurserymen standards and is zone hardy.

Starting on February 14, residents may place an order or request a selection guide by phoning 943.2317 or visiting www.cityofdearborn.org

This year’s tree options include: “Ivory Silk” Japanese Tree Lilac, Corktree, Celebration Maple, American Hornbeam, Golden Rain Tree, Corzam or Corinthian Linden, American Yellowwood, Ginkgo Tree/Maidenhair Tree, “Lustre” Allegheny Serviceberry and Sugar Maple “Legacy”.

Homeowners can suggest an easement planting location and city personnel will have final approval.

The area between resident’s sidewalk and curb must be a minimum of 4 feet wide to accommodate a tree. Public Works officials will decide if there is adequate space in the easement of a property owner’s home for a tree. Multiple trees may be ordered if correct spacing is available.

Trees will be planted by a contractor and have a one-year warranty. Planting usually takes place in late April and should be complete by the end of June. The contractor is responsible for planting, mulching, staking, pruning, watering and clean up at the time of planting.

At the end of the first year, the contractor will provide a final inspection and remove tree stakes and bracing.

Residents, who are responsible for maintaining the health of the tree through regular watering, will be billed by the City of Dearborn after tree planting is complete, usually in July.

The city of Dearborn is asking for more public input on future development ideas around Dearborn’s new train station, which is scheduled to open in 2014.

The three open meetings are Jan. 17-19.

The three interactive meetings all will take place inside the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, and are follow up events to a lively kickoff brainstorming session held in December, which attracted about 100 residents.

The Jan. 17-19 sessions are part of the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) initiative that seeks to capitalize on the new train station’s ability to draw more visitors, businesses and residents to Dearborn’s west downtown.

Public sessions will be 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, January 17 and Friday, January 18, and 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 19.

All will be in Wet Rooms 1 & 2 at The Center.

Through a grant awarded the city from MIPlace Partnership, planners from Michigan State University and experts from the Michigan Municipal League and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority are assisting city staff and stakeholders with creating a vision for the neighborhoods, parkland and business area near the train station.

The train station is scheduled to open by early 2014. Through this visioning process, steps can be taken over the next year to set in place future development to accommodate elements determined important by Dearborn stakeholders, such as bike paths and fresh housing opportunities.

On January 17 and 18, there will be additional sessions during the day aimed at invited groups, such as business and land owners.

All ideas will be considered. On Saturday, January 19, the revised TOD Neighborhood designs with illustrations will be presented to all groups and the public at the same time. People will be able to react to the conceptual design and comments will be recorded.

For more information, please call Liz Hendley in the City Plan Office at 313-943-2171.

The City of Dearborn will collect yard waste in proper containers on trash days one last time the week of Dec. 10-14, but then the program for 2012 concludes until next year.

The curbside yard waste collection will resume the week of March 18, 2013.

Residents whose trash day is Monday, Dec. 10 should put out their final yard waste for pickup that day and the pattern will continue all week long,  ending for residents with trash days on Friday, who should put out their yard waste for pickup on Friday, Dec. 14

Note that the city’s Public Service Days program has already ended for the season, meaning trash day parking restrictions are lifted until April 1, 2013.

However, it is still a good idea to keep vehicles off the streets when possible on trash days, to allow for more efficient pickup even during the winter months, said Nick Siroskey, director, Dearborn Residential Services.