City of Sylvan Lake

SEMCOG Declares Ozone Action Days

June 24, 2009

SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, announces that Wednesday, June 24, 2009, is the first Ozone Action day of the year. This is the 16th year of the voluntary program that helps keep Southeast Michigan's air clean.

We are experiencing hot, humid weather, with high temperatures, with little wind and little chance of rain. These conditions enable ground-level ozone to remain high.

Here are some things Southeast Michigan residents can do to help keep the air clean on the region's first Ozone Action day of the season:

· Try not to refuel on Ozone Action days. If you need to refuel on an Ozone Action day, fill up in the evening when the weather is cooler and don’t “top off” the tank.

· Reduce automobile use on Ozone Action days. Plan to carpool, use public transit, walk, or work at home.

· Relax on Ozone Action days. Choose the lawn chair over the lawn mower.

Additional information and tips, as well as an Ozone Action video, are available online at www.semcog.org (look for Ozone Action under Hot Topics on the home page) or at 800-66-33-AIR. Residents can also request e-mail notification of Ozone Action days. E-mail ozoneaction@semcog.org and put "Notification" in the subject line.

Thanks to citizen support and action, the air is cleaner in Southeast Michigan. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says eight southeastern Michigan counties have met the eight-hour outdoor air quality standard for ozone. The EPA recently granted Michigan's request to reclassify the air quality for Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw and Wayne counties. The agency says outdoor air monitoring data from the counties for 2006-2008 meet the federal standard. It also approved Michigan's plan to continue to meet the standard through 2020.

SEMCOG is a regional planning partnership of local governmental units serving 4.9 million people in the seven-county region of Southeast Michigan striving to enhance the region's quality of life.

Code of Ordinances - Now Available Online

In a continuing effort to make important information more easily accessible to all of our residents and business owners, an electronic version of the Sylvan Lake Code of Ordinances is now available online. You may access the documents by clicking on the left tree Ordinances/Charter. The ordinance documents are externally hosted, so please be aware that clicking on the link will redirect your web browser to another company’s website (MuniCode.com).

This request was initiated by City Council and acted upon by the City Manager and City Clerk/Treasurer, who successfully negotiated a first year discount. We are pleased to share that the first year of service is being provided at no cost to the City. In subsequent years, beginning with the 2010/2011 budget, we will be charged a minimal fee of $400 per year.

With 24x7 Internet availability, both the City and residents now have a more convenient and cost effective way to research and find answers to common code related questions. In addition, the MuniCode.com website provides advanced search capabilities that make finding information even faster.

It is City Council’s belief that informed citizens make better decisions and can positively impact the City’s operating expenses by reducing the number of administrative inquiries.

Boater Safety Course & Laws

Go to: boater safety to download a free pdf of Michigan Boating Laws and Responsibilities. Register for Boat Safety course.

Swine Flu Info

FACTS

Updated Boat Dock Wait List

2009 Wait List

Enhanced Driver’s License and State Identification

Beginning June 1, 2009, travelers must present an identity and citizenship document approved under WHTI to gain re-entry into the U.S. from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the Caribbean. (Before you travel, please check to make sure that you have met the specific identity and citizenship document requirements for any country you may be visiting.)

U.S. citizens age 16 and older must present one of the following:
a. Passport
b. Passport card
c. Enhanced driver’s license or state ID card
d. Trusted Traveler card (NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST)

U.S. citizens younger than 16 should present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate (original or a photocopy), a naturalization certificate or a citizenship card.

Young people ages 16-18 who are traveling in a group with adult supervision as part of a school, church, social organization or sports team need only present their birth certificate (original or a photocopy) or other proof of citizenship.

For more information on WHTI and other federal travel requirements, visit www.dhs.gov or www.travel.state.gov

Attached are FAQ and examples of what the license will look like: FAQ DL Examples

City Hall Closed Mondays

City Hall is now closed on Mondays in order to save money. Full-time staff is still working, but there will be no front counter help and City Hall is not open to the public. If you need the Police or Fire for an emergency, call 911. If you need the Police for a non-emergency, or if there is a DPW emergency (e.g., sewer back up, water main break) please call 248-682-2104 and that will connect you with West Bloomfield Dispatch who can then inform our police of the issue. We are open to the public Tuesday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Budget Deficit

Since the millage proposal was not passed at the last election, City Council is continuing their discussion on how to address the budget deficit. They are asking residents to come to the meetings and voice their opinions, to learn what is going on and being done. The city has been proactive in making cuts in expenses, including cutting employees and changing medical benefits over the past years, but the budget is still not balanced. Some of the items being discussed are:
• Increase in summer fees (docks, parks, etc.)
• Increase the fee for the RV storage lot
• Sell some city property
• Open the rental of the Community Center to nonresidents
• Open the Parks to the public at an increased fee for an annual park tag
• Eliminate the park ranger and extra summer park patrol by the police department
• Reduce the frequency of lawn mowing
• Outsourcing the Police Department if economically advantageous
• Reduce the hours of the Ordinance Enforcement Officer by half (done)
• Close City Hall one day per week (done)
• No capital improvements in the City (done)

Unfortunately, most of these items are not long-term cost-effective solutions and the City cannot continue to operate at the current level of service on the current income.

Minutes are on the Sylvan Lake Web Site for residents to review. Council voted to put a millage proposal on the November 3, 2009 ballot, with the exact language to be determined.

Consumers Power Lawn Repair

If Consumers has replaced your meter and damaged the road and your yard in the process, Consumers requires that your call customer service with your name, address, and your account number. Please let them know when the damage occurred and repairs required, e.i. road repair, soil and seed.
They will give you a notification # for your repair. Do not lose this number. You
should call Consumers at 1-800-477-5050, refer to customer service, lawn repair.

Planning Commission

Planning Commission Meeting will be held Tuesday, July 7 at 7:00 p.m. They will continue their discussion on the noise ordinance.

Call before you dig

Call 811 (Toll-free) three working days before starting any digging. One call gets free staking of underground utility lines and helps reduce the chance of injury and expense. You also may call MISS DIG at 800-427-7171 or go to MissDig.

If someone hits a pipeline, even if there is no apparent damage, they must call 800-477-5050.

Boat Trailer and Recreational Vehicle Storage

Boat Trailer and Recreational Vehicle Storage Please remember when storing your boat to keep your registration with you. You will need to provide it to register your boat and dock space next year. We do have a recreational vehicle (RV) storage ordinance that governs where recreational vehicles may be stored. This includes boats and boat trailers. Here are some of the requirements:
 All RV’s must be placed within a completely enclosed building or located behind the required front yard setback (appx. 45' from the street) and at least 3' from the side and rear lot lines.
 You cannot store a RV on a vacant piece of property.
 You cannot hook up a RV to water, sewer, or electricity and they must remain unoccupied.
 No more than two RV’s may be stored on one piece of property at one time. (A boat hoist is considered an RV)
 RV’s may not be stored in the road right of way at any time.

Streetlighting

The City of Sylvan Lake has been working with Detroit Edison's Community Lighting group to expedite the repair and maintenance of the streelights in our community. In the event of a streetlight outage, please call City Hall, 248-682-1440 with the following information:

1. A specific street light location.

2. Whether the pole is wooden or metal.

3. The streetlight pole number(for metal poles it is located at the base of the streetlight pole. For wood poles it is located approximately eight feet up the pole.

4. Details about the outage (i.e. Light off during the night, light turns on and off at night, light stays on during days, etc).

In cases where a pole has been knocked down or any other emergency please call Detroit Edison at 1-800-477-4747.

Bicyclers

A reminder to obey speed and traffic signals. This includes stopping at the stop signs on the trail.

Dogs in Park

At the March City Council meeting it was approved to allow leashed dogs at the Community Center Park east of Pontiac Drive. That is the side of Pontiac Drive toward the Community Center. Not the side toward the lake and boat docks. This is the only park where dogs will be allowed. Dogs must be on a leash that is no more than 10-feet long and being held by the owner/walker. The dog must be picked up after. These same rules apply to dogs being walked anywhere in the City. The police will be issuing tickets for unleashed dogs, not cleaning up after the dog and unlicensed dogs. The penalty for violating this ordinance is a misdemeanor with a minimum fine of $150. Dogs may be walked on a leash to your boat.

Ordinance Violations Hotline

Residents can call in with any ordinance violations you may see. You do not have to identify yourself, but we need you to provide an address and description of the problem. Call 248-682-1440 extension 6 after hours or email sylvanlakeordinance@gmail.com.