Tuesday, May 27, 2008 - East Lansing May 2008 Curbside Journal

May 2008 Project Pride -  This Sat May 31st Special Project Pride Online Newsletter... What you need to know What is it: A community spring clean-up and recycling project When is it: Saturday May 31st - 8am to 3pm Location: 1400-1500 Abbot Road - north of Saginaw Click Here for a Map Who May Participate: East Lansing Residents only Here are the rest of the Details Just What is Project Pride: Project Pride is a community spring clean-up and recycling project which helps East Lansing residents clean up their homes and yards by providing an outlet to recycle, or donate for reuse, common household items that residents no longer want. The event is similar to the many “DeJunking Days” or “Community Cleanup” days held in other communities in the region. However, we place greater emphasis on reuse and recycling opportunities rather than disposal. As a result, a majority of the items brought to Project Pride do not end up in the landfill. In fact, last year we recycled or donated for reuse over 39 tons of material and disposed of less than 6 tons. Therefore, 87% of the material brought into Project Pride was diverted from the landfill. The event is organized by the Project Pride Planning Committee which is a composed primarily of East Lansing residents and City staff. Project Pride is a non-profit entity which uses money collected at the event to offset disposal and operational fees. Project Pride donates any remaining funds to the City for environmental projects. Who, When and Where? Project Pride is the first Saturday after Memorial Day each year. This year it is May 31 and will once again be held at the Abbott Center, 1400-1500 Abbot Road from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Only East Lansing residents are eligible to participate. Please bring proof of residency such as a driver’s license or billing statement with you to verify your residency. Residents should access the Abbott Center from Kendale Blvd, which is off of Saginaw Street. Kendale is the first street east of the Abbot and Saginaw intersection. Turn north onto Kendale. Proceed north onto Kendale to the coned off area at the intersection of Kendale and Woodland Pass. This is where you will enter the event. We Need You! We need volunteers like you. Project Pride relies on more than 100 volunteers. In order to keep this great community event going, we need your help. Please volunteer. To sign up, call Susan Schmidt at 333-3587. What You Can Drop off at Project Pride **Changes for 2008**we will be accepting three new items this year: Household Electronics Plastic Planting Pots and Trays Boxboard (see details below on each of these items) In order to make room for these items, we will discontinue collecting regular curbside recyclables at Project Pride, including: Glass bottles and jars Plastic bottles Newspaper Mixed papers Tin Cans & Aluminum cans/foil Magazines Residents have ample opportunity to recycle these items through the City’s curbside and drop off program. The following items Will Be accepted at Project Pride for reuse and recycling: Washers/Dryers Usable Furniture (see below) Clothing in Good Condition Scrap Metal Houshold Utensils Lawn Mowers Bikes Corrugated Cardboard Small Appliances Car & Household Batteries Boxboard Styrofoam (no peanuts) Athletic Shoes Stoves Books Plastic Planting Pots and Trays: Plastic planting pots, flats, plug trays and cell packs that are made of #2 HDPE, #5 Polypropylene or #6 Polystyrene plastic. See bottom of container for label. All plastic pots/trays must be relatively free of dirt, with like items stacked together. We will not be able to accept items with excess dirt or debris. The following items Will Not be accepted at Project Pride: Box Springs Yard Waste Propane Tanks/Bottles Drywall Solvents Fluorescent Lights/Fixtures Anything Containing Mercury Wire Fencing Steel Cable Bricks Mufflers Stains Oil/Oil Pans Trash/Garbage Glass Cement Paints Gas Cans Cleaners/Degreasers Fuel Oil Tanks The following items will be accepted at Project Pride, but require a fee: Tires Passenger Tires 16" or less - $4.00 each Truck Tires - $10 each Tractor Tires - $15 each Items With Refrigerants such as refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers, air conditioners, etc. - $15 each Lumber (no yard waste) $5 for small trunk load (trunk full) $10 for small truck load (5’x6’x1.5’) $20 for small utility trailer or full sized pick up load (max 6’x8’x2’) Unusable items for disposal: $5 each Electronics: Computer CPU’s, notebooks, and computer parts are free (except monitors). All other Small Consumer Electronics are free – (i.e. items with a cord or battery such as a curling iron, small radio, etc.) The following electronic items require a fee: Wooden Stereo Speakers: $5 per pair Microwave - $5 each Vacuum - $5 each 19 & 21 inch computer monitors - $10 each All in one computers - $9 each TV’s less than 19” - $9 each TV’s 19 – 27” - $20 each TV’s greater than 27” - $35 each Wooden Console TV’s - $30 Projection TV’s - $42 Oversized Electronics (i.e. large printers/copiers) 50-100 lbs - $25 each Oversized Electronics greater than 100 lbs - $75 Pick up for Senior and Handicap Residents: Curbside pick up of recyclable items is available. Call the East Lansing Prime Time Senior’s Program at 337-1113 by May 29 to schedule an appointment. Please note there is a $10 pick up fee to cover costs associated with this service. All items should be at the curb or in the garage for pick up. Usable Furniture/Household Items: Reusable items will be collected by St. Vincent Catholic Charities and Salvation Army. If you have questions on whether your item is “usable,” we encourage you to contact them directly. St. Vincent: 323-4734 or www.stvcc.org.  Salvation Army: 800 562-3834 or www.usc.salvationarmy.org/wmni. Flowers & Compost bins for sale: Volunteers will be on hand to demonstrate how to compost in your back yard. Compost bins will be available for $39.50 and free compost samples will be given out. Once again, native wildflowers will also be sold. Prices and selection vary. Project Pride reserves the right to use discretion in setting fees during the event and to reject excessive quantities of items for disposal.   Copyright 2008, City of East Lansing

Tuesday, April 22, 2008 - East Lansing Curbside Journal - Earthday 2008

Earth Day 2008 Special Earth Day On-Line Newsletter In this Months Newsletter... In This Newsletter The Origins of Earth Day Celebrate Arbor Day April 2 Re-Think, Re-Cycle Green Purchasing Power Know Your Footprint Think Before You Act You to Can Make It Happen Green Your Lawn This Spring Opt-In/Out & Manage Subscriptions Thanks! Thank you for taking the time to read this special Earth Day edition of the on-line curbside Journal. We hope you find it educational and that it inspires you to take more action at home and in our community. Celebrate Arbor Day April 25 Help the City celebrate Arbor Day once again this year. Plant a tree, take a nature walk through one of our many parks and enjoy trees and natural areas. The City has been named a “Tree City USA” by the National Arbor Day Foundation for the 21st straight year. This year we have donated a tree to each of the East Lansing Elementary schools to celebrate Arbor Day. Visit the Foundations web site at www.arborday.org  to learn about the importance of trees in our community. The Origins of Earth Day In the early 60’s, Democratic Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin was concerned about the lack of political attention environmental issues were receiving. Nelson wrote “For several years, it had been troubling me that the state of our environment was simply a non-issue in the politics of our country.” Nelson came up with an idea to persuade President Kennedy to embark on a national conservation tour to give visibility to the issue. The President agreed with the idea and in September of 1963 President Kennedy began a five-day, eleven-state conservation tour. Unfortunately, the tour did not succeed in putting the issue at the political forefront. For the next several years Senator Nelson continued to discuss environmental issues across the nation. He saw that although citizens were concerned over environmental degradation, politicians weren’t. In 1969, Nelson noticed the effectiveness of grassroots anti- war demonstrations called “teach-ins.” According to the Senator “Suddenly, the idea occurred to me – why not organize a huge grassroots protest over what was happening to our environment?” He did just that by announcing that in that in the spring of 1970 there would be a nationwide grassroots demonstration on behalf of the environment. He invited everyone to participate. According to Nelson, the wire services picked up on the story and “the response was electric.” Earth Day was born. The first year, more than 20 million people took part in activities. We continue to observe Earth Day on April 22 of each year thanks to Senator Nelson, his staff and numerous volunteers who helped make it happen. A brief biography on the remarkably life of Senator Nelson can be found at www.wilderness.org/AboutUs/Nelson_Bio.cfm You to Can Make It Happen Being “green” these days is getting easier. There has been significant attention paid to environmental issues recently by everyone from the Pope to corporate America….and even many politicians. There are more opportunities today than there ever has been. Make it happen by starting on Earth Day to change your habits. Take a look at some ideas below. Re-Think, Re-Cycle Don’t throw a good thing away! Many items that you dispose in your Easy Cart should be recycled. East Lansing households divert at least 25% of our waste (including yard waste) from the landfill. We can do better. Although you can’t directly compare it for various reasons (i.e. our bottle bill) the national average is 32.5% Take advantage of the City’s curbside and drop off recycling program, our many regional collections and special recycling events. Here’s a list of those this spring: ELROW Food Drive – April 28 – May 9 Pack Up, Pitch In – May 1 & 2 (for off campus MSU Students only) Computer and Electronics Recycling Collection – May 3 Seasonal Phone Book Recycling – June 1 - Sept. 1 at drop off site & Aug. 12-15 curbside Project Pride – May 31 Green Purchasing Power Retailers are starting to pay attention to the environmental movement. Just a couple of years ago, you almost never saw anyone bring their own bag to put their groceries in. Now, almost every store offers canvas tote bags for your groceries or many people bring their grocery bags back for reuse. Other products such as green cleaning products are popping up on shelves as well. For example, Clorox has a line of natural cleaning products called Green Works Natural Cleaners and Meijer has a similar line as well. These products are generally made from plants and minerals rather than petroleum based products. Know Your Footprint Your carbon footprint is a measure of the impact you have on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide. There are many web sites now that can help you track your footprint and provide practical solutions for reducing your impact. One example is the The Nature Conservancy web site at: www.nature.org/initiatives/climatechange/calculator Think Before You Act How many times do you “run to the store quick” to pick up something you want? Several small trips during the week can add up to a lot of pollution, and with today’s gas prices, a lot of cost as well. Take a minute in your everyday life to try to think of better ways to act toward the environment. If you think about it, you can really improve by just using your brain power. Green Your Lawn This Spring There are several ways to keep your lawn looking green while being green. The City has developed a guide for homeowners which discusses composting, mulching, “earth friendly” fertilizers and more. Take a look: Calendar April 22   Earth Day 25   Arbor Day 28   Start of ELROW Food Drive May 1-2   Pack Up, Pitch In 3      Computer & Electronics Recycling 5      Final "no-fee" yard waste 9      Last Day of the ELROW Food Drive 26    Memorial Day holiday. DPW closed.          No bulk item or yard waste pickup 31    Project Pride          No bulk item or yard waste pickup Useful Links Recycling Services Special Collections Yard Waste Pickup Request Form Waste Collection Routes Collection Fees Spring/Summer 07 Curbside Journal Copyright 2008, City of East Lansing

Monday, April 14, 2008 - East Lansing Curbside Journal - April 2008

April 2008 Take Advantage of Spring Reuse and Recycling Events!! In this Months Newsletter... In This Newsletter Recycling Events Document Destruction Day Computer & Electronics Recycling Project Pride Climate Protection News Pilot Boxboard Program City Named "Tree City USA" Emerald Ash Borer Update Let's Celebrate Earth Day!! Useful Links Opt-In/Out & Manage Subscriptions Pilot Boxboard Program a Success Residents are eagerly recycling boxboard at the DPW drop off site and the temporary site at Patriarche Park. So far, we have collection about 15 tons or 30,000 pounds. There were some issues early on with improper items being deposited in the containers. However, better signage and education have mostly resolved them. Due to this success, the City plans to continue to accept boxboard indefinitely and is looking into ways we can collect it curbside. Celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day, April 22 & 25 Celebrate these important days by doing something “green.” Consider increasing your recycling, choosing to ride a bike or walk to the store, planting a tree or whatever you see fit. Look for more ideas in an upcoming special Earth Day publication of the C.J. Spring Reuse and Recycling Events Several special collections and programs are taking place this spring geared toward helping you reuse and recycle common household items. Here’s a list: Document Destruction Day - Saturday, April 19 at Friedland Industries from 8 a.m. until noon. Bring your documents to be securely shredded and recycled. Friedland is located at the corner of Center and Maple streets in Lansing’s Old Town. Call 487-3322 Computer & Electronics Recycling - Saturday, May 3 at the City of Lansing Recycling Transfer Station, 530 East South Street from 8 a.m. to noon. TVs, VCRs, computers, stereos, cell phones and much more will be accepted. Some items require a fee. Go to the City’s web page for a complete list of items accepted and fees. For more info, call 483-4400. Note: Electronics will also be accepted at this years Project Pride event for a fee. Project Pride - Mark your calendar for this years PP event to be held on Saturday, May 31. New items this year include plastic plant pots/trays and electronics recycling. Much more will be posted on this event in April. Climate Protection News The City continues to move forward with its emissions inventory of global climate change pollutants. With the assistance of MSU students, we are currently entering data into our software database which will calculate emissions from City operations/facilities. We hope to have the inventory completed by late spring. At that point, City staff and the Commission on the Environment will develop an action plan for reducing our emissions. The action plan should take 3-4 months to develop. City Named “Tree City USA” by Arbor Day Foundation The City has once again been honored by the Arbor Day Foundation for our efforts at preserving and enhancing our urban forest. The City has received this recognition for the past 21 years. Properly managing the urban forest is becoming a real challenge due to invasive species such as the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). This borer is well on its way to killing most of the City’s ash tree population which will seriously strain the City’s urban forest budget. Because of this, we have been aggressively seeking supplemental funding for forestry projects. So far this fiscal year, we have received two grants from the State to help plant trees in our community. One grant is partially funding the removal and replacement of ash trees in the downtown area. The other is providing low cost trees to residents of the community. These trees can be planted in the public street right of way or on private property and will help homeowners recover tree canopy lost to dying ash trees. Status of Emerald Ash Borer(EAB) in City Emerald Ash Borer is present across the City. Based on the level of infestation and the resulting symptoms that were visible last year, it looks like we will start to see significant die off of trees this summer. If you have an ash tree that you want to save, it may be too late if it is already infested. There are a lot of resources that can help you make that decision. You can start by going to the Department of Public Works page on the City’s web site at: http://www.cityofeastlansing.com/CITYGOV/WORKS/EAB.asp Calendar April 19    Document Destruction Day 21    Second no-fee yard waste collection day 22   Earth Day 25   Arbor Day 28   Start of ELROW Food Drive May 1-2   Pack Up, Pitch In 3      Computer & Electronics Recycling 5      Final "no-fee" yard waste 9      Last Day of the ELROW Food Drive 26    Memorial Day holiday. DPW closed.          No bulk item or yard waste pickup 31    Project Pride          No bulk item or yard waste pickup June 1     Phone book drop-off begins Useful Links Recycling Services Special Collections Yard Waste Pickup Request Form Waste Collection Routes Collection Fees Spring/Summer 07 Curbside Journal Copyright 2008, City of East Lansing

Wednesday, March 26, 2008 - East Village Newsletter March 2008

East Village Newsletter No. 4 - March 2008 Timeline February 2006: Revised East Village Master Plan adopted by Planning Commission June 2006: New East Village District Code adopted August 2006: City signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with The Pierce Company August 2006 - February 2008 MOU Phase I Project Development Due Diligence Project Feasibility Design Development Agreement Negotiations January 2007 – 5+Design began design concepts. March/April 2007 - The Pierce Company host two series of design workshops with stakeholders. May 2007 – The floodplain analysis of the Red Cedar River between Hagadorn Road Bridge and Bogue Street Bridge was completed. January 2008 – FEMA approves the reduction of the 100-year floodway and 100-year floodplain for the reach of the Red Cedar River February 2008 - Pierce Education Properties concludes the proposed development plan for a 25-acre area within the East Village area is feasible. March 2008 - City Council approves the First Addendum to the Memorandum of Understanding. March 2008 - February 2009: MOU Phase II – Design/Development Agreement Programming Design Land Assembly Leasing/Marketing Financing City Approval & Permitting 2009-2011 : Phase Three Project Development: Construction (estimated for late summer 2009) Leasing/ Marketing Operation Want to know more? Visit us online at www.cityofeastlansing.com/eastvillage to view a comprehensive project timeline. Links Want to know more?  Visit us online at: www.cityofeastlansing.com/eastvillage to view more information about the East Village Master Plan and redevelopment planning. For more information about the Master Developer and Architects, click on the websites below. The Pierce Company: www.pierceeducationproperties.com 5 + Design Architects: www.5designarch.com Comments/Questions Contact Lori Mullins, Sr. Project Mgr. 410 Abbott Road East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 319-6930 lmullin@cityofeastlansing.com Introduction Welcome new subscribers and thank you all for reading our quarterly newsletter. In this forth issue of the East Village Newsletter we are back with East Village project updates taking place since January 2008. The redevelopment project is moving forward and, as the project unfolds and the development plan gets refined, we are going to include here all the project details. Feel free to talk about our newsletter with your friends. We welcome more subscribers! Do not hesitate to share your valuable comments about the East Village project with us. We welcome your involvement! Red Cedar Island at East Village Conceptual Design Click on the image above for an Interactive view. Project Updates City and Developer agree on next phase On March 4, 2008, the East Lansing City Council approved a resolution to enter the next phase of the City’s agreement with Pierce Education Properties (PEP). On February 26, the development company presented, during the City Council Work Session, the conclusions of 18 months of project feasibility studies. The developer completed the due diligence studies, prepared a program and a concept design plan, prepared a financial pro-forma, and concluded that the proposed redevelopment of a 25-acre area within the East Village area is feasible, contingent upon several financing sources. The City Council approved unanimously the First Addendum to the Memorandum of Understanding between the City and Pierce Education Properties. During the next 12 months, PEP will proceed with the following steps: develop a detailed architectural design, a project schedule, and a development program; complete the financial feasibility analysis, pre-lease retail and office space, and acquire the necessary properties. Also during the next 12 months, the City and the Developer will negotiate a Development Agreement. Check out the East Village website for the conceptual design for the proposed redevelopment project for a 25-acre area within the East Village area. Project Description Proposed uses derived from market studies: Retail, restaurant & entertainment (380,000 sq/ft) Multiplex movie theater (potential as smart lecture halls) (80,000 sq/ft) Market - specialty grocer (20,000 sq/ft) Diverse array of restaurants with outdoor seating and entertainment venues (140,000 sq/ft) Retail shops (140,000 sq/ft) Civic & Campus-serving office, research and business incubator space (up to 200,000 sq/ft) Hotel and conference center - 200 rooms, 35,000 sq/ft Residential - 965 units 1,500 beds of Rental housing for undergraduate students 300 units of Rental housing for graduate students, faculty, staff & the workforce 190 units of For-sale housing for graduate students, faculty, staff, alumni & the workforce Parking - approximately 3,700 underground and above-grade parking spaces Amenities - six-acre Riverfront Park & Winter Garden Project Benefits Create a gateway entrance into Downtown East Lansing and Michigan State University As a regional draw will bring additional visitors and business to the area Be an economic catalyst for Downtown East Lansing Open, through the 6-acre public park and walking trails, the Red Cedar River riverfront to the community Provide indoor & outdoor assembly areas for performances, ice skating, and other activities; and access to the river for canoeing and fishing Create about 2,000 jobs (some career oriented) during construction and after completion Stimulate additional redevelopment and upgrade of Downtown properties Establish a potential shuttle link with stops throughout downtown Enhance the quality of the environment through river edge landscaping to protect the water quality Expand housing options through a mix of housing choices at medium and high densities for a mix of markets (rental and owner, including undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff, young professionals, alumni, and the workforce) Improve the functioning and appearance of East Grand River Avenue (including a landscaped median on Grand River Avenue) Bring a diverse, dynamic offering of retail, restaurants (including outdoor dining) and entertainment venues Establish a four-star, 200-room Hotel & Conference Center Include potential university related office space Enhance safety and security by creating a series of residential villages with similar lifestyles Recent Comments Here are some comments that we've received through the online comment form: “[T]he prospect of developing the East Village area seems very exciting to me! My classmates and I are all doing a lot of thinking about the future (with the opportunity to take our degrees and make a living anywhere in the world, there is so much to daydream about) and I strongly believe that the proposed development will move East Lansing to the front of the queue of places for alumni to live and work. My wife and I talk a lot about where we see ourselves in 20 years, and as we've seen the East Village plans unfold, the prospect of someday returning to East Lansing has become more of a focus of our conversations. We are beginning to see East Lansing as a city that is pursuing progress, civic improvement, and as a (potentially) very cool place to someday call "home". I hope very much that the plans to redevelop the East Village area will go forward and that the city council will continue to have a positive attitude toward commercial development.” (MSU medical student) “Looking to possibly buy condo in 4-5 years in East Lansing area. Interested in living close to campus, assuming it doesn't become the next Cedar Village” (MSU alumnus) “The entertainment, commercial development and residential values of the riverfront property can provide tax revenue for East Lansing residents.” (East Lansing resident and MSU alumnus) Many members of our community have shared their opinions with us regarding the proposed project.  We welcome your involvement!  Fill out the form on the East Village Web site www.cityofeastlansing.com/eastvillage  and share your thoughts with us.

Friday, February 22, 2008 - Curbside Journal for March 08 - East Lansing Public Works

February 2008 Restoration of our Trees  -  Student Move-Out Recycling In this Months Newsletter... In This Newsletter Purchase Trees Through ROOT Program Students Urged to Recycle Instead of Dispose During Move-out Residents Eligible to Purchase Trees Through ROOT Program The City of East Lansing was chosen again this year to participate in the Restoration of Our Trees Program (ROOT). The Purpose of the program is to provide homeowners the opportunity to purchase landscape trees at a reduced cost to restore tree canopy cover in areas where Emerald Ash Borer has killed ash trees. The Michigan ROOT Program is a public-private partnership between the Office of the Governor, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, USDA Forest Service - State & Private Forestry, Michigan Department of Agriculture, DTE Energy Foundation and the City of East Lansing. Residents in the 21 EAB quarantined counties are eligible to purchase up to 2 trees per household at a cost of $21 each. The City of East Lansing will have a total of 250 trees available for purchase. Available trees include Sugar Maple Ginko, Red Oak River Birch Dawn Redwood London Planetree Swamp White Oak Tulip Tree Due to overwhelming demand, trees sold through the City of East Lansing will be available through a random drawing. When all applications have been received, applicants will be randomly selected until the inventory of trees has been sold out. For complete information on the program, including the tree order form, please visit the City’s web site at : http://www.cityofeastlansing.com/CITYGOV/WORKS/Root.asp  Students Urged to Recycle Instead of Dispose During Move-out Students eager to head home for the summer often stuff trash bags and haul unwanted items to the curb for disposal. The City sees a significant increase in trash at the curb during this time of the year. Many items disposed are in good condition and can be reused or recycled. That is why the City and University are teaming up to urge students to participate in the Pack-Up, Pitch In program. Through this program, off-campus students living in East Lansing can drop off carpet, clothing, shoes, electronic waste, food and sofas for reuse and recycling. Items you may drop-off for reuse and Recycling Carpet Clothing Shoes Electronic waste Food Sofas Drop-off  Location Hannah Community Center north overflow parking lot (For a map Click Here) Drop-off  Dates Thursday and Friday, May 1 and 2 Drop-off  Times 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. More detailed information on the program will be placed on the City’s web site in the upcoming weeks and students will receive information through e-mails, flyers placed in curbside recycling bins and through their landlords. Residents interested in the program may also contact Dave Smith, Environmental Specialist, City of East Lansing at dsmith@cityofeastlansing.com or by calling 337-9459. Useful Links Recycling Services Special Collections Yard Waste Pickup Request Form Waste Collection Routes Collection Fees March 08 Curbside Journal   Copyright 2008, City of East Lansing

Tuesday, January 29, 2008 - East Lansing Public Works - January Curbside Journal

January 2007 New Year’s Green Resolutions In this Months Newsletter... In This Newsletter New Year’s Green Resolutions City Looks to Make Big Environmental Impact in 2008 Revisions to Solid Waste Ordinance Modernize Neighborhood Trash Collection Opt-In/Out & Manage Subscriptions City EasyCart New Year’s Green Resolutions The new year is here and its time for your annual resolutions. This year consider trying some “green” resolutions. Here are some suggestions that may slim your waist, fatten your wallet and conserve our resources:   Purchase ENERGY STAR products. ENERGY STAR is a program developed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and US Department of Energy (DOE). It identifies products that meet strict energy efficiency guidelines. Americans who purchased ENERGY STAR products in 2006 saved enough energy to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 25 million cars — all while saving $14 billion on their utility bills. Visit their web site at www.energystar.gov  for more information. Plant a tree. Emerald Ash Borer is beginning to devastate the ash tree population in the East Lansing area. About 10% of our urban street tree population or 850 ash trees will be lost to EAB in the next few years. Countless more trees will be lost in our parks and residents yards. Turn off your computer. The US Department of Energy recommends the following: Turn off your monitor if you won’t be using it for more than 20 minutes Turn off your PC if you aren’t going to use it for more than 2 hours.  Enable the power-down feature on your PC through your operating system software. This will automatically reduce power used by the computer when it is not in use. Finally, screen savers are not energy savers and can use as much power as a running PC. Modern LCD monitors don’t need screen savers. Buy reusable shopping bags. Many local stores such as Meijer and Goodrich Shop Rite sell canvas tote bags that are handy and durable for groceries. According to the EPA, Americans consume about 380 billion plastic bags, sacks and wraps a year, while fewer than five percent are recycled. Walk or ride instead of drive. The next time you have to run to the store or over to a friends house, consider walking or riding your bike instead of hopping in your car. Use your muscle power instead of your engines horsepower and you will save gas money and be healthier.     City Looks to Make Big Environmental Impact in 2008 This year is shaping up to be a big year for the City in terms of environmental programs. Building on our achievements from 2007, following are some of the initiatives we will be working on: Working on completing a green house gas inventory for City operations and drafting an emissions reduction action plan to reduce global warming pollutants. – Road Studying new products and services to add to our recycling program, including the possibility of accepting boxboard curbside. Adding new products for collection at Project Pride. Studying the feasibility of installing alternative energy generation at the Department of Public Works facility. Collecting PET plastic bottles at some of the City’s major events and parks such as the Aquatics Center and Soccer and Softball Complexes. Sponsoring a Document Destruction Day to help residents properly recycle sensitive documents. Partnering with MSU to increase recycling opportunities for off campus students during move in and move out times. Partnering with local businesses to help us promote our recycling program as well as recycling services offered by local businesses. Establish a new recycling drop off site. Tree planting programs. The City will be aggressively seeking grant funding and other funding opportunities to help us cope with the affects of Emerald Ash Borer including incentives and programs for our residents. These are just a few of the many programs, services and initiatives we hope to implement this year. Stay tuned to the Curbside Journal to track our progress and learn about the changes we have in store! Revisions to Solid Waste Ordinance Modernize Neighborhood Trash Collection In an effort to modernize and simplify neighborhood trash collection, City Council recently adopted Ordinance 1189 which will require owners of single-family and two-family households to purchase City Easy Carts or yellow City trash bags for refuse collection. The newly adopted requirements will create a neater appearance in East Lansing neighborhoods, provide residents with trash receptacles that are tamper resistant to animals and allow the Department of Public Works (DPW) to perform trash collection more efficiently. In addition, the DPW anticipates less work-related injuries under the new guidelines. The ordinance goes into effect as follows: March 1, 2008 - On and after March 1, 2008 all residents who purchase a single- or two-family household in East Lansing will be required to purchase an Easy Cart for trash collection. October 1, 2008 - On and after October 1, 2008 all East Lansing residents living in single- or two-family households will be required to use an Easy Cart and/or yellow trash bags with the City seal for trash collection. Black trash bags, metal cans and other rigid plastic containers will no longer be accepted at this time. For details on the City’s Easy Cart automated waste collection program, Click Here Useful Links Recycling Services Special Collections Yard Waste Pickup Request Form Waste Collection Routes Collection Fees Spring/Summer 07 Curbside Journal Copyright 2007, City of East Lansing

Friday, January 25, 2008 - East Village Newsletter January 2008

East Village Newsletter No 3 - Jan 2008 Timeline February 2006: Revised East Village Master Plan adopted by Planning Commission June 2006: New East Village District Code adopted August 2006: City signed Memorandum of Understanding with The Pierce Company August 2006 - August 2007 Phase I Project Development Due Diligence Project Feasibility Design Development Agreement Negotiations January 2007 – 5+Design began design concepts. February/April 2007 - The Pierce Company and 5+ Design host two series of design workshops with stakeholders. May 2007 – The floodplain analysis of the Red Cedar River between Hagadorn Road Bridge and Bogue Street Bridge was completed. Sept 2007 – City sent the application for the revision of the floodplain boundaries for the reach of the Red Cedar River to FEMA. Fall 2007-2008: Phase Two Project Development: Programming Design Land Assembly Leasing/Marketing Financing City Approval & Permitting 2009-2011 : Phase Three Project Development: Construction (estimated for late summer 2009) Leasing/ Marketing Operation Want to know more? Visit us online at www.cityofeastlansing.com/eastvillage to view a comprehensive project timeline. Links Want to know more?  Visit us online at: www.cityofeastlansing.com/eastvillage to view more information about the East Village Master Plan and redevelopment planning. For more information about the Master Developer and Architects, click on the websites below. The Pierce Company: www.piercecompany.com 5 + Design Architects: www.5designarch.com Comments/Questions Contact Lori Mullins, Sr. Project Mgr. 410 Abbott Road East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 319-6930 lmullin@cityofeastlansing.com