Would you like to let your neighbors know more about what your committee is up to? Or maybe you have news and information you would like to share, such as family announcements, recipes, decorating ideas, or crafts. We invite you to submit content that you think your neighbors will want to know about. We will include information as space allows. All submissions must follow the Newsletter Guidelines for Outside Submissions at the end of this newsletter.

Please encourage neighbors who have not signed up for this newsletter to do so. While those not on our email list will receive a print version of the newsletter, it will be in black and white, only contain basic information, and they will not receive our reminders and updates.

And don't forget to visit the Sylvan lake Website.

-- John Martin, City Manager

We need your photographs!

If you have any photos related to the City that you would like to share, please forward them following the guidelines in this newsletter. The photos can be from a special event, sunset, or just a "nature" photo. Click on "Newsletter Guidelines for Outside Submissions" above to see how to do it.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

Community Events

Annual Fireworks

City Council has approved July 5th with a rain date of July 11th for the annual fireworks sponsored by the Oakland County Boat Club. The fireworks will be shot from a barge this year. What that means is there will be no fenced off areas at the Community Center, and the boats docked at the Community Center will not have to be moved. This is very exciting, for it will open a great door of opportunity for the Community Center this year.

Chairman for Fireworks Celebration Day

Time is short!! Council is looking for someone to lead a committee to put this event together for July 5th. It could be a small fundraising activity, but we just want everybody to get together for a fun time! We realize there is not much time to organize this. Council would like this event to be similar to an open house and kids party with dunk tank, bouncer, games, food, etc. (Here is the county website for what is types of equipment they have available http://www.oakgov.com/parksrec/program_service/mob_rec.html)
Please send and email or letter to City Hall expressing your interest and experience.

Ice Skating Rink up and Running!
The ice rink, purchased through donations by the Parks and Recreation Committee is up and frozen! It is on the tennis courts next to the Community Center. It is open during normal park hours (closed at 11:00 p.m.) for Sylvan Lake residents and their guests. There are no fires allowed.

It's been a great year for ice because it has been cold so long, but the amount of snow we've gotten has made it a lot of work to keep the rink clear. So your help is needed! If you have a snow blower or shovel and are willing to help keep the rink clear, please call Mitch Black at 248-683-8387.

Watch the web site and for email newsbytes for dates for "skate nights."

Garden Club - Think Gardening!!

Ruth Vrbensky from Oakland Wildflower Farm is going to talk about Native Plants and Wild Flowers on Thursday, March 19th, at 7:00 p.m. at the Community Center. Everyone is welcome. Come to get some new ideas about what to plant along our trails, in our parks, and in our yards. If you plan to attend, please call Helen McAllister at 248-682-1082.

Sylvan Lake Home & Garden Tour

The Tour will take place on Saturday, June 20th, 2009. After five years of tours, the proceeds from this event have built the kitchen and provided the first phase of the irrigation system for our new community center. Visit www.sylvantour.com or call our hotline at 248- 615-6296 to advertise or volunteer. You can also learn more about how you can participate and support your community:

Volunteer as a docent - see the homes yourself on the pre-Tour and tell the stories of the homes to our tourists.

Place an ad in our Tour book - we draw hundreds of people to our community on Tour day.

Sponsor lunches for volunteers.

Advertise on a banner that will span Orchard Lake Road to be seen by thousands.

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News/Announcements

Boat Dock Waiting List

On November 12th, 2008, the City Council voted to amend the Docking Ordinance No. 78 (2.13) to include a one-time, non-refundable $100 administration fee for all current and future wait list applicants.

The list has been updated with those who have submitted their application and paid the required $100 fee. There are currently about 50 people on the wait list. Now is the time to move significantly up the list. To be added to the list, you must turn in your application along with the $100 fee. Names will be added to the list in the order they are received.

Rack Storage

The rack storage for non-motorized boats at the Community Center is available for $25 a space. A boat launch sticker will be provided for these watercraft and they may only be stored on the rack from April 1st to November 15th of each year.

Boat Dock Applicants

All applicants must make sure City Hall has your current cell phone number and email address. Cell phones are being used instead of land lines and City Hall may not be able to get a hold of you. You may supply City Hall with both of those pieces of information by emailing them to City Hall at sylvanlakecityhall@comcast.net. Please give your name, mailing address email address and phone number. We will then be able to email you pertinent information and reminders.

Boat Dock Renewal

The deadline for submitting a dock license application and all information is March 1st. Since March 1st falls on a Sunday, we will accept applications through March 3rd. If we do not receive your application by March 3rd, you may still retain your space by submitting your information along with an additional $300 fee ($665 total) by Tuesday, March 17th. If your information is not received by March 17th, you will lose your space.

Planning Commission Meeting

The Planning Commission Meeting will be held Tuesday, March 3rd, at 7:30 p.m. They will continue their discussion on the fences and a noise ordinance. They are currently discussing the allowance of fences in the side yard with a height limit of four feet and the fence must be an “open” style fence. The current ordinance only allows fences to be placed in the rear yard. Fences would still not be allowed in the front yard.

Board of Review

Assessment notices have been sent to you. Why did your taxable value increase, but your assessed value decreased? Neighborhoods are now experiencing a decline in the market value. However, Proposal A requires that the Taxable Value increase by the Inflation Rate (1.044 percent), but it cannot exceed the Assessed Value. So even though your assessed value may decrease due to the market value, your taxable value will continue to increase until the taxable value meets or exceeds the assessed value. Taxable Value may increase for physical additions, such as adding a garage, and decrease for physical losses such as removing a deck.



If you feel the assessment of your property is incorrect and would like to make an appointment to meet with our Board of Review to request a change, please do so by contacting Oakland County Equalization Division toll-free at 1-888-350-0900, Ext. 80768. The board will meet at the Community Center on the following days

Wednesday, March 4th, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Monday, March 9th, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 11th, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

City Council Meeting

City Council will be holding their next meeting on Wednesday, March 11th, at 7:30 p.m. Discussions will continue about the budget deficit, ways to increase revenue, decrease expenditures, and the millage proposal. Also on the agenda will be the discussion of getting Community involvement in the Community Center, use of the Community Center for the July 5th Fireworks, and funding for Sylvan Otter lake weed control.

The Basics of Composting and Using Decay to Enhance Soil Fertility

An MSU Extension, the Oakland County Master Gardener Program, is offering this course for all gardeners interested in learning how to make compost. Participants will learn the theory, methods, and uses of compost. Class will be held on Saturday, March 28th, from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon at 2100 Pontiac Lake Road. The cost is $20 per person and advance registration is required by March 18th. The brochure with registration form is available at www.msue.msu.edu/oakland. For further details, call 248-858-0887 or email to smithlin@oakgov.com.

Water Quality Presentation

This presentation will be done by the Clinton River Watershed Council (CRWC) on May 14th, 2009, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. This is a free presentation on Managing Lakefront Properties. Discover how making small adjustments in our landscaping practices can make a big difference in the health of our creeks, lakes and rivers. Resources provided will assist participants in the planning process for designing native lake/stream buffers. Attendees will receive plant lists, sample landscape plans and other related resources. For more information on how to protect our water resources call 248-601-0606 or email contact@crwc.org to register. Registration is required.

City Hall Closed Mondays

Council has approved closing City Hall 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.

Beach Patrol

Because of the budget constraints, City Council has cut the park ranger hours to working Friday through Sunday only. Volunteers are needed Monday through Thursday during the daytime. Contact City Hall to volunteer.

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 to know what is being done. The City has been proactive in making cuts in expenses, including cutting employees and changing medical benefits, 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

Combining Police Departments or sharing staff is 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 3rd, 2009 ballot, with the exact language to be determined.

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Skateboarders

This probably will not be a big problem again until Spring, but we want to bring it to your attention. There have been a number of instances where people have been using their skateboards and grinding on the fireplace hearth outside the Community Center. This is causing quite a bit of damage. Please talk to your young adults and ask them and their friends to not ride their skateboards around the community center building. This building is brand new, and we want to keep the building looking this way for as long as possible.

Community Center Committee

City Council would like to have a committee to organize and facilitate community events and organizations to use the Community Center. If you are interested in being on this committee, please submit a letter of interest and qualifications to City Hall.

Community Center Rental

Many residents have already reserved dates for next year to rent the Community Center. If you would like to reserve the Community Center, you need to fill out an application form and provide a deposit. The application, along with rules and regulations, are on the website under "calendar." If you do not have internet access, you can come into City Hall and receive a copy.

Community Center Volunteers

We are still looking for volunteers to spend time at the Community Center during the day or evening so it can remain open for others to use. So far we have one. Once we know how many volunteers are willing to do this, we will publish a schedule of times it will be open for residents to relax, play cards, etc. Please contact City Hall if you are interested.

Millage Fact

Did you know that our millage rate for general operating is only 6.9 mills? The City’s taxable value last year was $105.5 million which generated about $727,500 in taxes for the year. Our millage rate was set at 10 mills in 1947 when we incorporated into a City. Our general operating millage has never been increased. Since the Headlee Amendment, it has remained the same or been reduced to the current level.

Snow Removal
Please try not to park your car in the street during poor weather. It is very challenging to maneuver the plow trucks around parked cars. Remember, there is no parking on any street between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.

When shoveling your driveway, please be sure to shovel the snow to the sides of the driveway. Do not put your snow in the street. It is a hazard and also illegal. If you have a sidewalk in front of your house or business, it is your responsibility to keep it clean.

Website

Make sure you visit our website at www.sylvanlake.org for regular and current information.

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From The Police Chief

If you have a concern or a complaint that the Police Department should know about, please send an e-mail to slpdchief@comcast.net.

*Make sure you keep your homes, cars, and garages locked.

Street Lighting

The City has been working with Detroit Edison's Community Lighting group to expedite the repair and maintenance of streetlights. If you see a problem with a street light, please call City Hall with the following information:

Specific streetlight location,

wooden or metal pole,

streetlight pole number (metal pole - at base of pole, Wood poles - it is located eight feet up the pole),

details about outage (intermittent, off, flashing, etc.).

If there is a case where a pole has been knocked down or any other emergency, please call 1-800-477-4747.

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Recycling

Recycling is included as a part of your normal trash collection. Bins are available at City Hall. It is not necessary to use their recycling bin. Your first recycling bin is free, but if you like more, they are $10 each.

You can use a plastic "storage" type container or a cardboard box.

Make sure it is marked RECYCLING so the contents are not disposed with the regular trash.

Newspapers, magazines, and ads should be tied securely with a string or placed in a brown paper bag.

Telephone books do not have to be bundled.

Plastic jugs, bottles, glass bottles, and jars must be washed out.

Only plastic jugs and bottles marked with a 1 or 2 on the bottom will be accepted.

Plastic containers marked with a 3 through 7 will be accepted

Metal cans need to be clean.

Pots and pans.

If any recycling is dirty, it will be thrown out with the regular trash.

Click here to view a flier for RESIDENTIAL HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE and ELECTRONIC RECYCLING.

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What is a variance? Click to read about the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), how the appeal process works, and how the ZBA tries to relieve property owners from ordinances uniquely affecting them.

CRWC

The Clinton River Watershed Council (CRWC) is a non-profit organization to help protect and improve the health of the Clinton River. The CRWC also wants to assure that the river's natural, economical, and recreational attributes enhance the quality of life for those who are directly affected by it. The CRWC is made up of four full-time and two part-time staff along with a 15-member board of directors. They provide programs in areas of watershed management, such as Stream Leaders, Adopt-A-Stream, River Day, and Clinton Clean-Up Programs. The Clinton River, as some may know, runs through Sylvan Lake. Click here to learn how the CRWC has such an impact on Sylvan Lake.

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Clinton River Trail Website

The old railroad that is now a trail that goes through Sylvan Lake is part of the Clinton River Trail system. For all of you trail users and enthusiasts, the Clinton River Trail's website is full of news and updated features. It is updated by the Friends of Clinton River Trail (FCRT). Thanks to John Hensler, and FCRT member, the website is getting better and better. For any words of appreciation or any suggestions, please contact John at john@sunkenanchor.com

Sylvan Lake History

We would greatly appreciate any assistance you could offer to expand this important and interesting section of the newsletter. We are looking for any interesting articles relating to the City's history. We are also looking for photos relating to the City, such as:

the Oakland County Boat Club,

Memorial or Veterans Park,

Ferndale Park,

the beach on Lakeview,

the Interurban,

City Hall,

Free Press Fresh Air Camp,

the Community Center, and

the Daniel Whitfield School.

Family photos and any and all events around Sylvan Lake will also be accepted and reviewed. Please label your photos and bring them to City Hall. They will be scanned and returned promptly. There are also two City Council Meeting Minute books missing. The book that dates before 1928 is the first City Council book. It would be interesting to read about how Sylvan Lake became a Village. Another missing book is for the years from 1946 to 1950, when Sylvan Lake became a City. Please look around your home for these missing books and return them to City Hall.

Sylvan Lake Inn

In 1893 Merrill B. Mills, Mansfield Shelly, George Barbour, and J. Blair Simpson decided to establish a resort at Sylvan Lake. Merrill B. Mills built a summer hotel on a hilly point separating the two parts of the lake. He did his best to encourage land sales by offering a free weekend at his hotel for those who brought a lot in the subdivision. There was a golf course, a riding stable, furnished with saddle horses, a bathing beach, a bowling alley, and even a billiard parlor. The center of the resort, a hotel, was erected on the present site of the Community Center for $25,000. The grounds were lighted by electricity in connection with the interurban railway.

In addition to the hotel, owners planned a community containing 1300 building lots, six public parks, a school house, a depot, and church sites. In 1903, the Sylvan Lake Inn burned down.

For many years, the family of Merrill Mills gave the Detroit Free Press a restricted deed
to the property formerly occupied by Mills’ summer hotel. Around 1906, Mills donated this property to The Detroit Free Press for use as the Fresh Air Camp.

Special Thanks/Kudos

Mitch and Sharon Black for getting a group of people together to donate the 50-inch LCD television to the Community Center.

Project Updates

Community Programs

Fur-e-tails Newsletter

A new electronic newsletter for pet lovers, fur-e-tails, has been launched by Sylvan Lake resident Linda Wasche. Every monthly issue contains information and news covering all topics ranging from pet care and nutrition to the latest in pet products and pet lover events. For your FREE subscription contact editor-fur-e-tails@oaklandpetfund.org. All proceeds from fur-e-tails advertising will go to benefit Oakland pet fund, bringing the No-More-Homeless Pets movement to Oakland County.

Pet Supplies Plus of West Bloomfield was involved in the cat trapping program of our City. They are also working together with the Nooters Club on how to prevent littering.

To read more about how to prevent littering and help improve the environment, click here.

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT BECOMING A NEW MEMBER OF NOOTERS CLUB!

CAN YOU FIND A HOME FOR TWO KITTENS? CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

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March Calender Of Events

3rd     - Planning Commission meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Community Center.

4th    - Board of Review from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

9th   - Board of Review from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

11th   - Board of Review from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

11th   - City Council meeting at 7:30 p.m.

17th   - Happy St. Patrick's Day!

26th   - City Council Study Session at 5:00 p.m.

Variances

The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) has the power to grant variances upon appeal, from the strict application of the zoning ordinance. An appeal may be filed when there is a practical difficulty or hardship preventing the property owner from conforming to the strict letter of the ordinance. The ZBA will consider the request for a variance and determine whether it may be granted without substantial detriment to the public good and without substantially impairing the intent and purpose of the ordinance.

The authority of the ZBA is designed to provide relief to a property owner from an ordinance that is uniquely affecting him/her. The problem the property owner faces must be created by circumstances unique to the property and not shared by surrounding parcels and the problem cannot be self-created. Typically, the following situations must exist:

The alleged practical difficulty is exceptional and peculiar to the property and generally does not exist throughout the City. An irregular shaped lot or odd natural characteristics of the land are possible examples of this.

The alleged practical difficulty must be more than a mere inconvenience or need for financial gain or financial savings.

The practical difficulty was not created by an action of the applicant and either existed at the time of the adoption of the requirement from which the variance is requested, or is necessary as the result of governmental action such as road widening. A self-created hardship is typically not a valid basis for a variance.

The variance is the minimum necessary to permit reasonable use of the land and building for activities permitted in the zoning ordinance.

Justice considering: Public benefits specifically defined by zoning rules, AND individual hardship suffered by not granting variance, AND the rights of affected property owners.

The appellant presents information usually showing that the requested variance:

Will not be contrary with the intent and purpose of the zoning ordinance,

Will not cause a substantially adverse affect upon adjacent properties,

Will relate only to the property under control of the appellant,

Will not essentially alter the character of the surrounding area,

Will not increase the hazard of fire, flood, or other similar dangers; and

Will not increase traffic congestion.

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Newsletter Guidelines for Outside Submissions

The City of Sylvan Lake welcomes articles, news and updates from members of the community. Such information should be relevant to Sylvan Lake, to its residents and to living in the community. The editor reserves the right to accept or reject any such information. All such information will also be edited for style and space.

In submitting information, please follow the guidelines below.

Submit your information, preferably in electronic form, to:

Newsletter Editor

Sylvanlakenewsletter@gmail.com

248-682-1440

1. Articles and updates

Limit articles, updates and other information to no more than 200 words. Such items must be written from the perspective of an outside objective third party. We do NOT accept editorials or opinion pieces. Let readers know where they can go for more information, where appropriate, by including a phone number, email address or website. Also, be sure to include your contact information in case we have questions.

2. News releases

We welcome news releases on upcoming events and programs, but cannot run releases in their entirety due to space limitations. Be sure to include contact information.

3. Photos

Color photos are welcome IF THEY ACCOMPANY ABOVE DESCRIBED NEWS OR INFORMATION. All photos MUST be in ELECTRONIC format as a .gif or .jpg. If photos include human subjects, be sure you have their permission to submit the photo. Be sure to include a caption explaining what is in the photo as well as a name and contact information for the person submitting the photo. If a photo was taken by someone other the person submitting it, you will need his or her written permission to allow us to use the photo.

4. Deadlines

Information for the newsletter is due as follows:

The 12^th of the month preceding the issue (For example, information for the December issue would be due November 12th and so on.)

Sylvan Lake Spotlight

Sylvan Lake Spotlight is published by the City of Sylvan Lake, 1820 Inverness, Sylvan Lake, MI 48320. Resident news and information are welcome, but must follow newsletter editorial guidelines. To request a copy of the Editorial Guidelines, contact City Manager John Martin at martinsylvanlk@comcast.net.

In the future, Advertising may be accepted from residents and local businesses. Please watch future newsletters to obtain advertising rate information, or to place an ad in the Community Service Directory or Classified Advertising section..

LEGAL NOTICE: This email may be considered an advertising or promotional message. If you no longer wish to receive this email, please unsubscribe using the link found at the top of this newsletter. Views expressed or implied herein are not necessarily those of the City of Sylvan Lake, City Council or its affiliates.