Title
Resolution to Approve Street Closings for a Celebration Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, 2020
Memorandum
Attached for your consideration is a resolution to close the following streets for a celebration to commemorate the 50th Anniversary Earth Day on April 22, 2020 from 7:00 AM to Midnight:
• Washington Street between Main Street and S. Division Street (except for traffic entering or exiting the Washington Street Parking Structure)
• Soft closure (aka, just barricades with through traffic still possible) at 5th Avenue and Washington Street and 4th Avenue and Washington Street
The event itself will take place from 4:00 PM until 9:00 PM with the additional time to be used for set-up and breakdown. The City of Ann Arbor, in partnership with the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, are sponsoring this event and will work in partnership with the Downtown Development Authority and Republic Parking to ensure that access to the Washington Street parking structure is maintained and that parking meters are bagged.
This event will be held to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day and to educate and promote the A2Zero carbon neutrality efforts of the community. Specifically, staff and community partners are proposing the aforementioned street closures so that the streets can be decorated with hundreds of trees, all staged at different heights and decorated with lights. The purpose of the demonstration is multi-faceted: 1) it shows residents the magnitude of trees planted by the City each year; 2) it will provide a literal opportunity for residents to purchase saplings that they can plant on their own property (trees will be delivered post event); 3) it will provide a contemplative space for individuals to reflect on the last 50 years of the environmental movement and what needs to happen in the coming years; 4) it will be a space to celebrate the merging of our natural and physical infrastructure; and 5) it will provide space for the community to the community to come together and celebrate our commitment, locally, to climate action and sustainability.
This project is being done as a partnership between the City Administrator’s Office and the Ann Arbor Summer Festival. Donations are being sought from nurseries, businesses, and community partners to help support the event.
The City Administrator’s Office agrees to obtain all necessary permits, to provide evidence of proper liability insurance as required, and to comply with all City regulations governing the use of the streets.
Notification of the street closings will be provided through the City’s website as well as through the Main Street Area Association and Downtown Development Authority communications.
The event has been coordinated with all relevant City service areas for the purposes of traffic control and for the protection of the health and safety of the participants and the general public.
Budget and Fiscal Impact: Staff from the Office of Sustainability and Innovations will support this event. As such, work plans have been crafted to ensure proper time to support this effort within the existing OSI budget. The organizing committee is working to secure donations to help offset the cost of the event but OSI is prepared to allocate up to $14,500 from existing OSI budget to help cover materials and supplies necessary to ensure the event is a success. These funds currently exist within the OSI budget.
Staff
Prepared by: Missy Stults, Sustainability and Innovations Manager
Reviewed by: Derek Delacourt, Community Services Area Administrator
Approved by: Tom Crawford, Acting City Administrator
Body
Whereas, April 22nd, 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day;
Whereas, The first Earth Day celebration took place 50 years ago in Ann Arbor;
Whereas, The Ann Arbor City Council has declared a climate emergency and set the goal of achieving carbon neutrality, community-wide by the year 2030, which will necessitate incredible engagement and involvement from all members of the Ann Arbor community;
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor received numerous requests to organize a formal event to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day;
Whereas, The Ann Arbor Summer Festival agreed to partner with the City to organize a celebratory event in honor of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day;
Whereas, The staging of this event will require the closing of the following streets on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 from 7:00 A.M. to Midnight:
• Washington Street between Main Street and S. Division Street (except for traffic entering or exiting the Washington Street Parking Structure)
• Soft closure at 5th Avenue and Washington Street
• Soft closure at 4th Avenue and Washington Street
Whereas, The street closures will be signed, barricaded and properly supervised;
Whereas, The sponsor agrees to obtain all necessary permits, to provide evidence of proper liability insurance as required, and to comply with all City regulations governing the use of the streets; and
Whereas, Notification of the street closings will be provided through the City’s website as well as through the Main Street Area Association and Downtown Development Authority’s communications;
RESOLVED, That City Council approve the closing of the following streets on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 from 7:00 AM to Midnight:
• Washington Street between Main Street and S. Division Street (except for traffic entering or exiting the Washington Street Parking Structure)
• 5th Avenue between Huron Street and E. Liberty Street
• 4th Avenue between Huron Street and E. Liberty Street
Sponsored by: Councilmembers Smith and Ackerman