City of Bloomfield Hills

5/15/2012 Woodlands Ordinance Public Hearing Part 3.

2012-05-31T10:53:00.000-04:00

Actual Public Comments at the Public Hearing

Mark and Sharron Speak Against.

(6 Minutes 32 seconds)

Walter a resident and member of the Woodlands

Ordinance Task Force Speaks For.

(3 Minutes 8 Seconds)

5/15/12 Woodland Ordinace Public Hearing Part 2

2012-05-29T14:23:00.000-04:00

Commissioners discuss the ordinance

Part 1 (4 minutes 07seconds)

Commissioners discuss the ordinance

Part 2 (6 minutes 58 seconds)

Commissioner discuss the ordinance

Part 3 (2 minutes 57 Seconds)

Commissioners discuss the ordinance

Part 4 (8 minutes 20 seconds)

5/15/12 Woodlands Ordinance Public Hearing before City Commission. Part 1.

2012-05-29T10:55:00.002-04:00

McKenna and Associates, a City hired

Consultant group to develop the ordinance

speaks in favor of it.

Six minutes and 29 seconds

McKenna part II

5/15/12 Baldwin Library and Cobalt Communications (City Survey) Presentations to City Commission.

2012-05-29T08:41:00.002-04:00

Baldwin Library (8 Min 29 secs)

Cobalt Communications Part I (13 min 3 sec)

Colbalt Communications Part II (15 min 20 seconds)

City Commission Appointments to Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeal, and Board of Review.

2012-05-28T22:44:00.002-04:00

Appointments Part I (4 min 52 sec)

Appointments Part II (7 min 9 sec)

City Commission Meeting of 5/15/12 introduces a New Commissioner, Elects a new Mayor, and a new Mayor Pro tem.

2012-05-28T10:32:00.000-04:00

Election Results. New Commissioners
Sworn In. 2 min 20 seconds

Election of Mayor 1 min 18 seconds

Election of Mayor Pro Tem 1 min 14 seconds

New Baldwin Library Titles May 22nd 2012

2012-05-27T13:20:00.001-04:00

Beautiful Sacrifice by Elizabeth Lowell: A dedicated female archaeologist and a former Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officer must recover priceless South American artifacts that could bring deadly chaos into the world.

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Red Tails (DVD): Italy, 1944. As the war takes its toll on Allied forces in Europe, a squadron of black pilots known as the Tuskegee Airmen are finally given the chance to prove themselves in the sky, even as they battle discrimination on the ground.

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The Secret World of Arrietty (DVD): In a secret world hidden beneath the floorboards, little people called Borrowers live quietly among us. But when tenacious and tiny Arrietty is discovered by Shawn, a human boy, their secret and forbidden friendship blossoms into an extraordinary adventure.

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This Means War (DVD): FDR and Tuck are covert CIA operatives and best buddies, until they both fall for charming and sexy Lauren. Their friendship is put to the ultimate test as they wage an epic battle for her affection, using their surveillance skills and an array of high-tech gadgetry. May the best spy win!

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New Titles Baldwin Library May 15th 2012

2012-05-27T07:36:00.001-04:00

Stolen Prey by John Sandford: Lucas Davenport has seen many terrible murder scenes. This is one of the worst. In the small Minnesota town of Deephaven, an entire family has been killed--husband, wife, two daughters, dogs. There's something about the scene that pokes at Lucas's cop instincts--it looks an awful lot like the kind of scorched-earth retribution he's seen in drug killings sometimes. But this is a seriously upscale town, and the husband was an executive vice president at a big bank. It just doesn't seem to fit. Until it does. And where it leads Lucas will take him into the darkest nightmare of his life.

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Albert Nobbs (DVD): A woman passes as a man in order to work and survive in 19th century Ireland. Some thirty years after donning men's clothing, she finds herself trapped in a prison of her own making.

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Born to Be Wild (DVD): This film documents orphaned orangutans and elephants and the extraordinary people who rescue and raise them, saving endangered species one life at a time. Stunningly captured in, a heartwarming adventure transporting moviegoers into the lush rainforests of Borneo with world-renowned primatologist Dr. Birute Mary Galdikas.Check Availability

Chronicle (DVD): Seen through the lens of a troubled teen's video camera, yet filled with eye-popping action and jaw-dropping special effects, Chronicle is as real as it gets. When three ordinary high school friends make an extraordinary discovery, they acquire amazing abilities beyond their understanding. But as their powers develop, so do their darker sides. Fun, harmless pranks soon lead to much riskier activities as the boys' 'gifts,' and their lives, spin dangerously out of control! Check Availability

The Grey (DVD): After their plane crashes in Alaska, seven oil workers are led by a skilled huntsman to survival, but a pack of merciless wolves haunts their every step. Check Availability

New Titles Baldwin Library May 8th 2012

2012-05-26T23:43:00.000-04:00

Home by Toni Morrison: Frank Money is an angry, self-loathing veteran of the Korean War who, after traumatic experiences on the front lines, finds himself back in racist America with more than just physical scars. His home may seem alien to him, but he is shocked out of his crippling apathy by the need to rescue his medically abused younger sister and take her back to the small Georgia town they come from and that he’s hated all his life. As Frank revisits his memories from childhood and the war that have left him questioning his sense of self, he discovers a profound courage he had thought he could never possess again.

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In One Person by John Irving: The author's most political novel since The Cider House Rules and A Prayer for Owen Meany, this novel is an intimate and unforgettable portrait of the solitariness of a bisexual man who is dedicated to making himself "worthwhile."

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The Sins of the Father by Jeffrey Archer: A second installment in a planned five-part series finds Harry despairing of a marriage to Emma and joining the Merchant Navy before assuming the identity of a fallen American soldier whose past proves even more turbulent than Harry's own.

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Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel: Though he battled for seven years to marry her, Henry is disenchanted with Anne Boleyn. She has failed to give him a son and her sharp intelligence and audacious will alienate his old friends and the noble families of England. When the discarded Katherine dies in exile from the court, Anne stands starkly exposed, the focus of gossip and malice. At a word from Henry, Thomas Cromwell is ready to bring her down. Over three terrifying weeks, Anne is ensnared in a web of conspiracy, while the demure Jane Seymour stands waiting her turn for the poisoned wedding ring. But Anne and her powerful family will not yield without a ferocious struggle. Hilary Mantel's Bring Up the Bodies follows the dramatic trial of the queen and her suitors for adultery and treason. To defeat the Boleyns, Cromwell must ally with his natural enemies, the papist aristocracy. What price will he pay for Anne's head? Check Availability:

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The Vow (DVD): A young couple get in a car accident that puts the wife in a coma. After she wakes up with severe memory loss, her husband sets his sights on winning her heart again.

BHSD Student and Staff Recognition May 17th 2012

2012-05-26T11:20:00.002-04:00

The following students are being recognized for their accomplishments in varsity swimming. tThey are Tyler Falcoff. Joe Kemeny, Joe Abrash, and Vic Sun. Captain Zack Prebay,Jeff Lin, Elliot VanValkenburg, and Connor Lee.

Recognized for their participation in the Michigan Youth Art Festival: Alyssa Giannetti and Jonathan Schiff

Editors Note: Many students honored are not pictured due the many activities they participate in. The above honorees in Baseball attire planned to attend the Tiger game immediately after the award ceremony.

Bloomfield Hills Schools Provide On Line Learning. Compete for Cyber Students.

2012-05-26T11:19:00.000-04:00

New mascot logo for Bloomfield Hills High School

At a recent School Board meeting Superintendent Robert Glass said that of State Bill 616 which allows Cyber Schools to operate in Michigan has passed and within the next year such schools will be a reality. Bloomfield Hills however has been at the vanguard of virtual on line teaching . Arabic one the many world languages the district teaches (the others are French, Spanish, German, Chinese, Japanese, Latin and American Sign Language) has been taught for years on line. Other blended (often incorporating virtual elements) learning programs exist in many departments.

The purpose of the bill is is to provide opportunities for students who are not in the the traditional public school setting. In that regard it is is similar to the WAY program for non traditional learners which the School Board approved last fall. It will also allow the state's education dollars to follow the student.
Oakland Schools, working with various school districts, will offer high quality education in the new Cyber school market which may lead to increased state funding.

The bottom line is that Home School students grades K-8 will benefit from a quality online curriculum.

In regards to the virtual it was also reported that the digital Town Hall Meetings (also available by phone for those who did not have a computer) were a success. Apparently so.The following week on May 8th the School Bond issue passed by a 60 % to 40% margin district wide and even carried the more reserved and stodgy City of Bloomfield Hills by seven votes.

Mr, Glass also reported on a student leadership conference he attended at Oakland University. He said our future was in great hands."There is evidence of the emphasis on inquiry: We (the school system) have been doing this and it is taking root and it's working. It has brought meaning, purpose, passion, and critical thinking to students and these are not things we see everywhere."

The new logo for the consolidated High School's mascot a raven was introduced to rave reviews. It was designed by a parent in the school district.

Memorial Day Weekend. Time Enough for Everything ?

2012-05-26T07:54:00.000-04:00

Looking for a parade this weekend ?

The Oakland Press has complete list of Oakland County holiday weekend events. To get to The Oakland Press On Line Edition just click on the Oakland Press Box in the right hand column on this page. Enter "Memorial day activities" or whatever in the search engine. It works for the current edition as well as archived editions.The Bloomfield Patch also has a good listing of Parades as well. Just click on "Looking For a parade" at the top of this page.

The Baldwin Library and City Hall are closed through Monday but you can always checks out electronic books from Baldwin if you have a card.Click here to use the Baldwin Library via your computer.
Even if you don't have a card, free books are available for download from the Baldwin Library. There are lots of public domain titles to choose from. Just go the click on the red Baldwin Link above and look for the box on your right

What do we recommend ? Well for Midwest Americana for a themed Memorial Day weekend how about Booth Tarkington's "The Magnificent Ambersons." Booth was a native of Indianapolis Indiana. Some consider the movie adaption of his book could have been the second greatest movie ever made. Unfortunately everyone agrees the movie was hacked to death by Hollywood and all that remains are the pieces.

The Magnificent Ambersons Opening Narration

Clicking on the above title in red will get you the first five minutes of the movie. It's rather intriguing but please don't ruin your weekend chasing all over town looking for the rest of the film. Others have tried but no one has ever succeeded. The library is closed. Red Box and Block Buster can't help. It is on TCM, Turner Classic Movies however. The 88 minute truncated version that is.

The book and the time period (the 1890's)fascinated Orson Welles the Director of Citizen Kane who was determined to make it his second movie. There is a bit of a parallel between Welles' demise and that of the Ambersons's motor car venture in the last days of the horse. Knowing that will help you'll catch the allusion of a world going faster in the opening clip."The faster we are carried the less time we have to spare" the narrator says. Whether that is an Orson Welles sardonic ad lib or Booth Tarkington's own words, you'll have to read the book to find out.

Many a director has said he would put the Magnificent Ambersons back together again but it hasn't happened.

93 years ago the book won a Pulitzer Prize. Orson Wells is said to have carried the novel around with him. Back then things moved at slower pace. People would, on a public holiday, take in parade or listen to a concert at the band stand In those days books were bound in cloth and easy to conceal while hiding in a hammock from the wife and her list of chores. Now the book is free but you have read it on your computer or print your own. The former requires batteries or a long power cord which will lead the wife right to you. A book might throw her off her guard and prompt the question "What in the world are you reading ?" There is something peaceful and restful about a person reading while swaying back and forth between two trees. The scene says do not disturb.Try it.It may work.

A computer is just bad news as in "Are you on that computer again ?" There is work to be done. Dirt be moved and weeds to be pulled. In an instant Memorial Day has become Labor Day. A short summer to say the least. Have we reached that threshold where we have to run fast to stay where we are ?

Have a happy and safe Memorial Day Weekend and don't forget to set your clocks ahead. Or is that back ?

Bloomfield Hills School District Student and Staff Recognition May 3rd 2012.

2012-05-24T14:19:00.000-04:00

Please note: Not all students (usually due to other commitments) are pictured and those pictured may not be listed in the order they are standing.

The above students are being recognized for their achiuevement in Andover Model UN Comepition. Andrew Parsons. Tre Hammonds. Bryce McClelland,Wall Pelton. Ila Nichols. AB Allam, rohan Sinha. Shivan Patel. and Imran Nahim (Above photo center) who was also recognized at the last meeting for achieving a perfect score on the ACT exam.They are coached by Matthew MacLeod and Dave Jenvey.

The above students are being recognized for their achievement on the Bloomfield Hills Middle School School Mathcounts team. Jarrett Black, Henry Dickson, Sam Greenberg, Jhuree Hong, Cynthia Jia, Kathryn Jorgensen, Nicki Lucci, Raviraj Rege, Kata Szamosfalvi, and Kristrine Wang.

The above West Hills Middle School students are recognized for their achievements at the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association annual Spring Conference. Jessica Appelman, Haley, Dishman, Carrie Elloit, Jake Fogel, Jenna Lee, Ryan Merchant, Diva Moudhil, Cooper Myers, Karthik , Nagappan, Rachael Rabinowitz, Ali Randel, Julia Russo, Dalia Schwarzbaum,Liam Tsimhoni, Eve Washington, Dylan WittenBerg, and Max Wittenberg. The advisorsa re Krishnan Anatharaman, and Janic Seaton

Pictured below is 2011-12 Distinguished Service Award Winner, Physical Education Teacher Frank

Di Vito. A video was also presented which included comments from the many people he has instructed and helped.

Tonight Travel Presentation Double Header at the Birmingham Community House ! Colorado 's Historic Trains and The Romantic Rhine and Mosel River Cruise

2012-05-22T12:28:00.000-04:00

Two completely different vacations. One for now and one for next Spring. Both will be presented and previewed at the Birmingham Community House tonight at 7pm. While you are there don't forget to pick the Summer Catalog which includes information on all up coming Community House trips. Of note Community House will be going to the Canadian Rockies August 11-18. Falling for Paris in September 6th-13 and visiting the magnificent cities of Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Krakow, and Warsaw, September 2nd-15th.

BHSD Student and Staff Recognition April 19th 2012

2012-05-21T14:30:00.000-04:00

Why Long Term school Board Budget Projections Are Always Doom and Gloom: Part 1 April 17th 2012.

2012-05-17T23:40:00.000-04:00

At the April 17th Schooll Board Meeting, Assistant Superintendent for Business Tina Kostiuk provided some insight into why long term school budget projections are always doom and gloom.

This year in 2011-12 she said expenses topped revenues by $295,000. Leaving a projected June 30^th General Fund Balance of $23,682,477. In 2008-09 the projected General Fund Balance for 2012 was $14.6 million. In 2009-10 that number dropped to 12.6 million and in 2010-2011 it bounced back to $19.6 or roughly four million below this year’s current projection.

What is going here? Kostiuk said pupils are revenue. Faculty and staff are costs. Of the two the latter is more stable and easy to predict.

From 2008-09 to the current year less funding per student and 125 less pupils meant a drop of revenue of $4,653,515. Low interest rates also hurt income by as much as $300,000 dollars.

Staff Costs during this period included a drop of salaries and wages of $3.6 million, an increase of retirement benefits of $2,500,000 and a decrease of fringe benefit costs of $400,000.

Federal stimulus and Edujobs money added approximately $7 million to General Fund. If that had not happened the current General Fund Balance would be approximately $16 or close to 2008-09 projection for year 2011-12 of $14 million. In short the Stimulus monies funded the General Fund during these years.

The projected General Fund Balance for 2012-1213, worst case scenario is a loss of $7.5 million leaving a balance of 16 million. A better case would mean a 4.5 million dollar loss and a fund balance of $19 million.

Projecting ahead to 2016 the worst case projects a deficit of $22.6 million for the general fund and a better case scenario which predicts a balance of $6 million dollars. Both examples are based on decreasing revenues and increasing costs.

Factors that are not as yet factored in include state budget decisions, the districts own budget balancing plans, the outcome of the May 8^thBond Proposal, retiree pension and health care reform, and the outcome of pending litigation and negotiations.

Other Developments of Note

In other developments Brian Goby, The School District’s Director of Facilities requested a contingency amount of $465,634, General Condition’s money of $239,690.32 and a Labor Budget of$35,000 from the Sinking Fund for district wide renovations through the summer months.

These monies are expected to remain in the estimate provided to the Board last November.

As a rule a bid is awarded to the lowest complete qualified bidder.

The key word there is complete. Goby said that is not uncommon to receive as the result of an oversight or an attempt to find out what others are bidding, incomplete bids. One example of the lowest complete qualified bid, Goby disclosed, came from Hartwick Electric which is owned by Bloomfield Hills District Employee Dennis Hartwick.

Tonight Birmingham Community House Previews November Trip to Tuscany

2012-05-17T11:38:00.001-04:00

The Birmingham Community House has just published it's summer catalogue ad in includes a number of new tours and travel destinations. What's the difference between a tour and a travel destination. A tour is more "up at seven national museum at eleven" and a destination is more of an experience to be enjoyed.. Treasures of Tuscany is more of the latter. Like the Community House's trip to the travel destination of the Amalfi Coast you stay a one convenient hotel, (which prevents suitcase reshuffling) at and then travel to near by attractions on a daily basis. If you are familiar with the movie Under the Tuscan Sun and think Tuscany may be a good place for romance or to forget one, the single supplement is only $261 dollars over the the rate for couples. The over all price of $2599 includes airfare some meals and tours to the attractions is also quite reasonable.

If you want a certain cachet with locals you can tell them that the author of your 185th favorite Travel Blog (the one you are reading now) was in Florence in the summer of 1967 when the effects of a late 1966 flood (which did more damage to the City and it's art treasures that all of World War II) were still being dealt with. The flood has not been forgotten in Florence and when you go you may hear stories or be shown the high water mark. Two news reels are depicted here. The above is in Italian and even features a partial narration by Richard Burton (speaking or reading Italian) The one below is a news real in English.

How did I hit upon Florence ? When I was growing up the usual sticking points involving adolescent and parents were usually best resolved by dispatching the former to some exotic place in hopes that something might rub off. Florence struck me as an interesting but more of an acquired taste. At the time I was rather tasteless and acquiring such a sensation did not seem immediately likely.Two decades later when I met my wife she said she went to Florence after graduating from College and it was her favorite Italian City. I talked about the flood. She asked what I thought of the rest of Tuscany. I remember asking "You mean there is more ?"

Indeed there is and over the years I have found that many places benefit form a second or even a third visit. Especially with old or new friends from Community House. This trip to one of the most renowned Art Centers in the world has an added benefit. It spares you the indignity of having to ask "the rest of what ?."

The Tree ordinance is gone (to City Commission) and the Planning Commision is back ! Two residential and two commercial items highlight four item agenda.

2012-05-15T12:44:00.000-04:00

Click here for Today's 4pm Planning Commission Agenda and Agenda Packet.

Residential items include a request for a property split and a side yard fence request.

Commercial includes entrance/parking lot modifications on Long Lake and modifications to Damone (Woodward) Project.

Two months ago it was agreed at City Commission that American Tower would seek a variance for various things concerning 140 Cell Phone Tower to be placed on the DPW lot on Kennsington Road. That has not happened and won't happen today either. It seems the Cell Phone Tower people are again on Hiatus. This item was first presented to City Commission in July 2011. It was billed as a must have for Police and Fire communications. Yet every time City Commission has suggested a "next step" the the Cell Phone Tower people vanish for months on end which prompts one to wonder how important these enhanced communications to be provided by 14 story pole really are.

Tonight's City Commission Meeting. Opening Night ! New Commissioner. New Mayor ? 200 plus page Agenda Packet . Long Agenda. Searchlights ? (not likely.) Souvenir Gift to 100 Attnedees ? (no).

2012-05-15T09:39:00.001-04:00

Click for Tonight's Agenda and Agenda Packet

Agenda Item 3. Appointments.. First on the is Mayor, who per our City Charter is actually elected. Possible candidates include Commissioner Pat Hardy (not enough votes), Commissioner Michael McCready (no because he will be busy in enough seeking state office in August and possibly November), Commissioner Michael Zambricki (No because it is presumed that having just been Mayor, he does not wish to do it all over again), and Commissioner Sarah McClure, (yes despite only 2 years on the Commission, she was the top vote getter in the last election in all categories). It is important to the City, the Charter,and the residents that there be an election and an actual vote for Mayor. We would not be opposed if for that purpose Commissioner Michael Dul nominated himself or Pat Hardy for Mayor and then awarded himself one vote or themselves two votes. Then future generations could see that in 2011 and 2012 City Commission returned to electing a Mayor. We would be opposed to any "by acclamation" unanimous votes that were characteristic of the ~~selection~~ rotation of a Mayor that dominated City Hall for twenty or more years.

Of note in the appointment list is item "K" City Planner Special Projects-McKenna Asssociates. They are the City's third consultant firm and were used to develop the the Tree Ordinance.

There are many worthy applications in the Agenda Packet for 2 vacancies on both the Planning Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals. Some are very qualified individuals who have served the city well, and might be regarded as cronies of the current commission. Some are very well qualified individualism who had a difference of opinion with the current commission on some issues. These appointments are under items R,and S. They are not to be confused with Ex-Officio appointments which are commission members appointed to various boards or commission as liaisons. This will be a most interesting part of the meeting and provide a glimpse of the direction the new commission will be taking.

The applications of the candidates are in the agenda pack. One is on a form so old we think it comes from the desk of a very old commissioner who at one time inadvertently painted shut a the drawer. Later it was assigned to his daughter's 3/4 size doll house. The years went by and when the daughter graduated from college the desk was retrieved and the drawer pried open to reveal a stack of very old appointment applications.That is but one plausible explanation. There may be others.

Agenda Item 6 The Commission will hear an update from the Baldwin Library. Really ? How nice. On their own, with no prompting, they fulfilled all their campaign promises. Hopefully the over crowded agenda won't give them the bum's rush.

Agenda Item 7. The Commission will hear a presentation from Cobalt Community Research on the result of the Citizen Survey. The Final Edition is in the agenda package and we have posted it by topic on our blog. They are the last six entries and you may reach them simply by scrolling down the page (they will be in reverse order) or by consulting the index in the right hand corner of this page. We have many comments but are deferring them until we here the presentation.

Agenda Item 8; The Commission will consider the request of a property owner for permission to install landscaping in the City road right of way. Think City Commission meetings have nothing to do with you ? Think again. The City Commission is always the proverbial court of last resort.

Agenda Item 9: Public Hearing The Commission will hold a public hearing on the Woodlands Tree Ordinance. This may be the last time residents have a chance to discuss the issue before it goes to a vote.

Agenda item 19. The Commission will discuss the appointment provisions in the City Charter. One wonders why ? A two page copy of the those pages is in the agenda packet. We don't think it has anything to do with the appointments made earlier in evening. We don't think it is a covert attempt to change the charter without the permission of the people. We think it has something to do with anticipated future events which at this point we can only guess at. The discussion should be interesting.

Agenda item 20. The Commission will discuss compensation for non-union employees. This has already been discussed in Budget meetings that were open to the public. The City has benefited from
extraordinary efforts from these employees. The discussion may be an affirmation of what was said in the budget meetings. It may be more. We will find out tonight

City Survey Final Edition Grid Analysis

2012-05-14T23:55:00.000-04:00

City Survey Final Edition:Implementing Results

2012-05-14T23:17:00.000-04:00

City Survey Final Edition: Text Cloud

2012-05-14T23:15:00.000-04:00

City Survey Final Edition : City Commission

2012-05-14T23:14:00.000-04:00

City Survey Final Edition : Budget and Planning

2012-05-14T23:09:00.000-04:00

City Survey Final Edition : Community Characteristics and Quality of Life in Bloomfield Hills.

2012-05-14T23:03:00.000-04:00