MAYOR

JAMES B. AVERY
Volume 3, No.1
FERNDALE
NEWSLETTER
CITY COUNCIL
ALBERT G. GERTLEY PHILLIP L. POOLE
OSCAR R. LINDSAY DONALD J. SAUNDERS. JR.
.-
City of Ferndale - 300 East Nine Mile Road - Ferndale, Michigan 48220
ACTION LINES:
City Hall.. .547-6000
City Yards.. ..541-4664
CITY MANAGER
JESS R. SOLTESS
March-April 1984
CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT IMPROVEMENTS
HIGHLIGHT SPRING ACTIVITIES
The Ferndale Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is undertaking a 1984 street beautification and
improvement project in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce and the Retail Merchants' Association.
On January 23rd the City Council authorized the expenditure of approximately $141,780 for installation of
new curbs, sidewalks, pedestrian islands, tree-wells and screens, and other street improvements. New
decorative lighting will be provided through Detroit Edison.
The 1984 project area includes both sides of West Nine Mile between Woodward and Planavon, and the
east side of Woodward between Nine Mile and Vester.
Ramco-Gershenson, Inc., developer of the new retail space under construction on the former Federal
Department/Radio City site, is cooperating in the project to install lighting, trees, curb and sidewalk
improvements that will complement the DDA initiative.
The public share of the 1984 project is being funded largely with Federal Jobs money awarded through
the Oakland County Community Development Division.
Construction on the Nine Mile improvements is scheduled to begin this spring.
ADOPTATREE CAMPAIGN
The Downtown Development Authority is initiating a 1984 Adopt-A-Tree Campaign
in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce and the Retail Merchants' Associa-
tion. Since adequate federal and city funding is not available to complete the Nine/
Woodward beautification and improvement project for 1984 as planned, commercial
property owners and business persons are being asked to pay the cost of buying,
planting and maintaining approximately 50 trees as proposed in the project plan
prepared by landscape architect John M. Grissim.
The estimated cost of each tree is $350. The trees will be purchased through the
Parks and Recreation Department to obtain price discounts.
"FERNDALE PLACE"
Another major element of the 1984 beautification and improvement project provides for development of
a new "Ferndale Place" at the Nine Mile/Woodward intersection.
The concept advanced by Grissim calls for the installation of three flag poles, a monument wall with
plantings, trees, sidewalk improvements and new street furniture.
The objective is to provide Ferndale with a new high visibility image and to serve as a reminder of citywide
pride.
Civic clubs, organizations, schools, institutions and individual citizens will be urged to help support this
initiative through contributions.
Memorial plaques bearing the names of sponsors will be placed on trees and appropriate street fixtures.
All contributions will be eligible for tax deductions.
Further details will be provided through flyers. meetings and telephone calls within the next two months.
For immediate information, contact the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce at 542-2160.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Spruce Up Your Neighborhood
A new neighborhood
Paint, Patch and
Clean-up Project
will be launched in
April under the
Community Dev-
elopment Block
Grant Program ap-
proved by the City
Council.
The CDS Department will be working with CIVIC
and neighborhood groups to encourage all resi-
dents to participate.
The project will be carried out over a four-week
period on a block-by-block basis within each of
four neighborhood zones, and within commercial
and industrial zones. CDS staff will assist resi-
dents and businesses in each zone by providing
on-site technical assistance and engaging in code
enforcement and inspection.
Special assistance will be made available to
senior citizens and eligible low-income residents.
Everyone is encouraged to join in this neighbor-
hood pride effort to enhance Ferndale. Details
will be available through the CDS Department.
CITY ASSESSOR'S OFFICE
An Appeal Route Is Available
Property owners who, upon receipt of their 1984
assessed valuations, wish to appeal assessments
may do so by calling the City Assessor at 547-
6000 Ext. 36, to make an appointment before the
Board of Review.
The Board is scheduled to meet Wednesday,
Monday and Tuesday, March 7,12, and 13, respec-
tively, from 9 am to 12 noon, 1 pm to 5 pm and
7 pm to 8 pm.
RANDOM NEWS AND INFORMATION
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
are honored if the required fee and vaccination
certificate are submitted. A $3.50 late payment
charge is added after Apri I 1st.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Spring Safety Reminders
Parents are asked, again, to warn their children
to be aware of strangers that might attempt to
approach them and, immediately, report any
such incidents to the Police Department.
An alarming increase in the number of pedes-
trian accidents occurred this past January, the
majority of victims being teens. Please ask
your teen to be alert when crossing streets.
Please be aware and instruct your children of
the annual problem in early spring, of the theft
of unlocked bicycles.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
Spring leaf collection is tentatively scheduled for
the week of April 23rd.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Fire Prevention Key to Safety
According to Fire Inspector William LeGault, 70
percent of the fires that occur in homes and
buildings can be attributed to indifference and
carelessness towards good fire prevention
practices.
Inspector LeGault points out seven hazardous
situations to avoid:
-Careless smoking
habits
-Playing with
matches or fire-
works
-Matches or ciga-
rettes tossed in
rubbish
-Defective electri-
cal wiring
-Faulty electrical
appliances
-Over-heated
heating units
-Defective and overheated cooking equipment
-Improper use of flammable liquids
Dog owners are reminded
that licenses for their
pets expired on Decem-
ber 31 st. Applications
for new licenses, which
cost $3.50 each, must
be accompanied by an
immunization certificate
that has an expiration
date beyond Decem-
ber 31, 1984. Mail
requests for licenses
PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
New Improvement Projects,
Special Events Upcoming
The following improvement projects, funded
under the 9th and 10th Year Federal Commu-
nity Development Block Grant Program and the
Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund
Program, will be completed this summer and
fall.
LIBRARY AND CITY OFFICES CLOSED FRIDAY,
APRIL 20 in observance of Good Friday.
Roosevelt Park - Installation of picnic
tables and grills. $ 4,000
Harding Park - Installation of timber
play piece. $11,000
Martin Road Park - Installation of
timber play piece, open air picnic
shelter, and burial of overhead
electrical wires. $33,500
Wanda Park - Installation of timber
play piece, picnic tables and grills,
and tree planting. $19,000
Reforestation - Planting of five tree
species on city property in Voter
Precincts #6 (Woodward to Allen,
Marshall to W. Troy) and #10 (Woodward
to Hilton, Academy to E. Troy). $10,000
FERNDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY
The week of April 9-14 will be output-measures
week as well as National Library week. Statis-
tics will be gathered on how well the Library
serves the community, and then analyzed to set
Library goals. Volunteers are needed. If
interested, contact City Librarian Daidee
Springer at 548-5959.
The Friends of the Ferndale
Library's 9th Annual Photo-
graphy Show will run May 7-
June 2. Entry forms for the
contest, which will be judged
by professional photographers,
are now available at the
Library. Reception Monday,
May 7,7:30 pm, at the Library.
The Library and the Oakland County Bar
Association are jointly sponsoring a film festi-
val in celebration of Law Day, Monday, April 30,
at the Library. Details to be announced.
Upcoming childrens' events, requiring registra-
tion, include:
-Baby Sitting Clinic. Tuesdays, March 6-27,
3:45-5:45 pm. Red Cross-sponsored.
-Kite-making workshop. Saturday, March 10,
2:30 pm. Children 9 yrs. and up.
-Film Festival. Saturday, March 24, 2:30-3:30 pm.
Movies: Moah's Ark; A Boy, A Dog and A Frog;
and The Music Box. No registration required.
-Story Hour. Tuesdays, March 27-May 8, 10 am.
Ages 3
1
/2 -5 yrs.
-Egg Decorating Workshop. Saturday, April 14,
2:30 pm. Ages 8 and up.
-Easter Story Hour. Thursday, April 19, 10 am.
Ages 3112 -5 yrs.
-Film Festival. Saturday, April 28, 2:30 pm.
Sorcerer's Apprentice and One Wish Too
Many. No registration required.
"The Great Egg Drop" Martin
Road Park (lighted ball field)
2:30 pm. Toddlers to 11 years.
Open to city and/or Ferndale
School District residents. Heli-
copter to drop plastic eggs.
(Webb Junior High School if
inclement weather.)
"Family Roller Skating Party"
Skate World of Troy, 6-8 pm.
Admission, meal tickets,
transportation, and skate
rental $1 each. Choose any
number of options. Tickets on
sale at Department office
March 5th.
Saturday, April14
Monday, March 26
.
CIVIC CALENDAR
(PUBLIC INVITED TO, AND WELCOME AT, ALL MEETINGS)
MARCH
Wed., 7th, 7:30 pm Beautification Commission
Wed., 7th, 8 pm Ferndale Plan Commission
Mon., 12th, 8 pm Ferndale City Council
Tues., 13th, 1:30 pm Ferndale Housing Commission
Mon., 19th, 7:30 pm Community Center Board (at Center)
Tues., 20th, 7 pm Library Board (at Library)
Tues., 20th, 7 pm Civil Service Board
Wed., 21 st, 8 pm Parks/Recreation Advisory Board
Mon., 26th, 7 pm Ordinance Committee
Mon., 26th, 8 pm Ferndale City Council
Wed., 28th, 8 pm Special City Council (Econ. Development)
APRIL
Wed., 4th, 7:30 pm Beautification Commission
Wed., 4th, 8 pm Ferndale Plan Commission
Mon., 9th, 7:30 pm Police/Fire Pension Board
Mon., 9th, 8 pm Ferndale City Council
Tues., 10th, 1:30 pm Ferndale Housing Commission
Mon., 16th, 7:30 pm Community Center Board
(at Center)
Tues., 17th, 7 pm Library Board (at Library)
Tues., 17th, 7 pm Civil Service Board
Wed., 18th, 8 pm Parks/Recreation Advisory Board
Mon., 23rd, 7 pm Ordinance Committee
Mon., 23rd, 7:30pm Employees' Pension Board
Mon., 23rd, 8 pm Ferndale City Council
Thurs., 26th, 7:30 pm Economic Development Corp.
(ALL MEETINGS, UNLESS NOTED, ARE HELD AT CITY HALL)
Ferndale Newsletter officers - Byron A. Photiades, President; Karen Harlick, Treasurer: Dwayne G. McLachlan, Vice Treasurer; Daidee Springer, Secretary. Published by Ferndale
Newsletter, a Michigan nonprofit corporation, for the information of Ferndale's residents regarding pending subjects of local government concern. If you have questions or
need more information, call 5476000, ext. 41, or write to Ferndale Newsletter, 300 East Nine Mile. Ferndale, Michigan 48220.
FERNDALE NEWSLETTER
300 EAST NINE MILE ROAD
FERNDALE, MICHIGAN 48220
MARCH/APRIL,1984

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