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DOWNTOWN06.18

18

Cities up their game to remain relevant A number of Oakland County communities, including Birmingham, are pushing improvements that allow them to remain of interest to both millennials and baby boomers who are looking for the “urban” experience.

LONGFORM

29

Oakland County comes in for criticism by neighboring Macomb County when it comes to sewer and stormwater overflows during heavy rains but officials here say they meet all state requirements when it comes to water releases.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

10

Downtown newsmagazine will be producing a Special Primary Election Voter Guide that will be part of the upcoming July issue when absentee ballots will start being distributed for the August vote.

CRIME LOCATOR

13

A recap of select categories of crime occurring in the past month in Rochester and Rochester Hills, presented in map format.

THE COVER

OAKLAND CONFIDENTIAL

15

It’s Kerry vs. Rocky but in court; more predictions from the crystal ball on congressional 11th District; 40th House no longer GOP bastion; Slotkin windfall from bundling; plus more.

The Katke-Cousins Golf Course on the grounds of Oakland University.

The 18-hole course was designed by Bill Newcomb and the architect was Bob Beard.

Downtown photo: Laurie Tennent.

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Bob Milne

MUNICIPAL

34

Blossom Mills senior housing approved; final Rochester parking assessment set; new Rochester Hills budget has surplus; Junk in the Trunk event returning; city amendments tightened; plus more.

SOCIAL LIGHTS

40

Society reporter Sally Gerak provides the latest news from the society and non-profit circuit as she covers recent major events.

ENDNOTE

46

The storm and waste water overflow problem in Oakland County. Plus our take on the charges for parking in downtown Rochester.

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PUBLISHER David Hohendorf NEWS EDITOR Lisa Brody NEWS STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS Hillary Brody Anchill | Dana Casadei | Kevin Elliott Sally Gerak | Austen Hohendorf | Bill Seklar Judith Harris Solomon | Julie Yolles PHOTOGRAPHY/CONTRIBUTORS Jean Lannen | Laurie Tennent | Chris Ward Laurie Tennent Studio VIDEO PRODUCTION/CONTRIBUTOR Garrett Hohendorf Giant Slayer ADVERTISING DIRECTOR David Hohendorf ADVERTISING SALES Mark Grablowski GRAPHICS/IT MANAGER Chris Grammer OFFICE 124 W. Maple Birmingham MI 48009 248.792.6464 DISTRIBUTION/SUBSCRIPTIONS Mailed monthly at no charge to homes in Rochester, Rochester Hills and parts of Oakland Township. Additional free copies distributed at high foot-traffic locations in Rochester and Rochester Hills.

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INCOMING/READER FEEDBACK We welcome feedback on both our publication and general issues of concern in the Rochester/Rochester Hills communities. The traditional “letters to the editor” in Downtown are published in our Incoming section and can include written letters or electronic communication.

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FROM THE PUBLISHER ollowers of Downtown newsmagazine may want to make note that our next issue in July will contain a Voters Guide special section detailing issue positions of any candidates who have opposition in the August 7 primary election, including those running for Congress, Michigan House and Senate and the Oakland County Board of Commissioners. It’s bound to be one of the better read issues that we produce this year.

F

Our work on the Voters Guide actually began months ago as we hosted periodic meetings with some candidates who had announced they were running for office this year. We are now in the midst of gearing up to produce what could be a 20page plus special section within our July issue presenting candidates’ answers to questionnaires we sent in early May to about 35 Republican and Democrat contenders whose fate will be determined in party primary voting this August. Winners of these primary contests will face off against opponents in the November general election.

For our small staff, needless to say, this is quite an undertaking but we felt the election this year has taken on a special significance, given the background of an especially charged political atmosphere nation-wide. Additionally, we have a couple of open offices where there is no incumbent in the race this election, and then there are predictions that traditional GOP control over some Oakland County area offices could change hands and go to the Democrats, a trend that has been slowly taking hold in the county over the last decade.

Mind you, we have always considered elections an important event, whether a local contest or a race for a state-level office or for Congress. In the past, we have either interviewed or relied on questionnaires for candidates and we have always posted the results of our work on our website where we generally have 60,000 monthly visitors. This year, we are taking the extra step of providing candidate coverage in our print product, and we are producing it in our July issue because that is when ballots will be distributed to absentee voters, a group that has always had significant influence on the outcome of political party primary elections, and a group that is growing in numbers in all local communities in both the primary and the fall general elections.

Our plans for the August primary election Voter Guide is a good segue into the other key point of my column this month – the importance of a stronger than normal turnout for this election, whether you cast a vote through an absentee ballot or physically at the polls on election day.

Unfortunately, too many registered voters – and others who are eligible but have not bothered to register – do not participate in the primary election process, which in the past has meant that a generally older population has determined the outcome of our representative government. The politicians know this so they focus

on those with a track record of voting in past primaries. In Oakland County that has trended in the past towards the Republican party, thanks in large part to how political districts have been carved up by the party in power.

The Democratic party in a number of Oakland County contests in the past has really struggled to field the most worthy of candidates because it has seemed a lost cause. But that is not the case in 2018. You have all no doubt heard talk of a “blue wave” in 2018. Well it is more than just talk – it is here in Oakland and will be determining the outcome of a number of races in November. So your primary vote is critical in determining who will be representing the two major political parties when we get to the November election.

Frankly, I have never understood why voter turnout is not more robust, given the long history of efforts in this country to make voting a right enjoyed by everyone.

When the U.S. Constitution was first written, there really was no definition of who was allowed to vote, so the task of determining eligibility was left up to the states, where in most cases the right of casting a ballot was reserved for white male adults who owned property. Women in most states and men who did not own property generally could not vote.

Eventually the federal government had to take charge over the issue of voting rights because of a patchwork of discriminatory state rules and regulations Thanks to efforts in the past and a number of post-Civil War amendments to the Constitution, race, color and servitude were eliminated as roadblocks to voting (15th amendment in 1870), as was sex (19th amendment in 1920); prohibitions on “poll tax” and other tax restrictions (24th amendment in 1964); and finally the lowering of age limit to 18 in 1971 (26th amendment).

As a side note, the fight to preserve the voting rights of minorities is still far from done, and there have also been a number of efforts in some states to impose new identification requirements for voters that have all the appearances of attempts to suppress the vote, mostly along party lines – the battle over the right to vote still continues. But you get my drift – considerable effort has gone into enshrining our right to vote.

So it is inexcusable to not participate in the upcoming August primary. You have until July 9 to register to vote and you have until a few days before the election to request an absentee ballot.

Make sure your vote counts.

David Hohendorf Publisher DavidHohendorf@DowntownPublications.com

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CRIME LOCATOR

Map key

NORTH

Sexual assault

Robbery

Larceny from vehicle

Drug offenses

Assault

Breaking/entering

Vehicle theft

Arson

Murder

Larceny

Vandalism

These are the crimes reported under select categories by police officials in Rochester and Rochester Hills through May 24, 2018.

Placement of codes is approximate.

OAKLAND CONFIDENTIAL Oakland Confidential is a periodic column of political gossip/news, gathered both on and off-the-record by staff members at Downtown newsmagazine.

We welcome possible items for this column which can be emailed to: OaklndConfidential@DowntownPublications.com. All sources are kept strictly confidential. The gossip column can be viewed at OaklandConfidential.com.

FLIPPING THE SWITCH: Political experts are keeping their eyes laser focused on Michigan, for both Congressional and state races, because traditionally safe Republican districts appear poised to flip to the Democratic side. Roll Call, which provides info on Capital Hill and Washington DC, has listed Michigan’s 11th District, which Rep. David Trott is leaving, opening up a feeding frenzy of candidates on both sides of the aisles, as one of five national races where GOP seats have now shifted STEVENS toward Democrats. On May 15, Roll Call said both parties have competitive primary races on August 7, but “this is the type of district Republicans will likely struggle to hold in this environment. Move from ‘Tilts Republican to Toss-up.’ That’ll have the six candidates on the Republican side – Kerry Bentivolio, Kristine Bonds, Lena Epstein, Klint Kesto, Mike Kowall and Rocky Raczkowski – in a tizzy. That’s good news for the victor in the August primary that includes Democrats Tim Greimel, Suneel Gupta, Dan Haberman, Fayrouz Saad, Nancy Skinner and Haley Stevens.

ROCKY V. KERRY, ROUND 1: In the “we can’t make this stuff up” department, Republican candidate for the 11th Congressional District Kerry Bentivolio has filed a $10 million suit against another candidate, Rocky Raczkowski, claiming defamation. He alleges Raczkowski has been telling folks at political gatherings that Bentivolio, a highly-decorated veteran of the Vietnam and Iraqi wars, that Bentivolio’s military record is “made up,” a “lie,” and that Bentivolio “didn’t really earn his medals,” which include two Bronze Stars, a Meritorious BENTIVOLIO Service medal, an Army commendation medal, and others, totaling 27. Raczkowski, a former state Representative, who is also a veteran, has admitted he has questioned Bentivolio’s awards, believes the lawsuit is frivolous and will be dismissed. But he said he did it because Bentivolio demeaned his own military service.

Bentivolio was elected by chance to represent the district in 2012, earning the moniker the “Accidental Congressman.”

Although he lost re-election to David Trott in 2014, he has been trying to reclaim the seat ever since. A reindeer farmer in Milford and part-time Santa, he said he doesn’t mind those RACZKOWSKI designations – just don’t question his service record, his military awards or his commitment to his country. It will be up to Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Hala Jarbou to decide.

40 AND OUT: On the state level, the 40th House District (Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, the eastern portion of West Bloomfield), which state Rep. Mike McCready (R) has represented for the last six years before being term limited, has previously been a safely Republican District. Not anymore. Crystal ball gazers at MIRS (Michigan Information and Research Service) and Gongwer News MANOOGIAN Service, two Lansing-based wonky news organizations, are predicting a flip to the Democratic side. MIRS has the district, with Democrats Nicole Bedi, who gave McCready a good run for his money two years ago, and Mari Manoogian, squaring off in the primary, as the second most likely district to flip, after only the 39th District, which Klint Kesto (RCommerce, West Bloomfield) is vacating. And Gongwer recently switched the 40th District from ‘Lean GOP’ to ‘Tossup’ status. Six Republicans want to make sure that doesn’t happen. Stay tuned.

RIDE ‘EM COWBOY: If age is just a state of mind, then Republican state Senator and 11th District Congressional candidate Mike Kowall may be the youngest pup in the race for the seat. In May, Kowall (R-White Lake) was named by the National Republican Congressional Committee to its “Young downtownpublications.com

Guns” program. The program, which serves as a merit badge of sorts, chooses GOP candidates that must meet specific goals throughout the cycle to ensure their campaigns are able to operate effectively. Fellow 11th District candidates Lena Epstein, Klint Kesto and Rocky Raczkowski were named to the program earlier this year, with Kowall, a political veteran who got a bit of a late start to his campaign, joining them.

KOWALL “Congratulations to Michigan Senate Majority Floor Leader Mike Kowall for being named ‘On the Radar’ in the NRCC’s Young Guns program,” NRCC Chairman Steve Stivers said in EPSTEIN making the announcement. Kowall, who is 67, is hardly a political newcomer, having previously been White Lake supervisor and state House Representative before eight years in the state Senate. But it is his first rodeo when it comes to a Congressional campaign.

NO PUSHOVER: It may be considered the Year of the Woman, but that doesn’t mean it’s a gimme for women, either. Just ask Elissa Slotkin, Democratic candidate for Michigan’s 8th Congressional District, who is working very hard to unseat Republican Congressman Mike Bishop of Rochester. While not exactly counting her chickens before they’re hatched, Slotkin announced, preemptively, that if elected, and the Democrats take the House of Representatives, she would not vote for Rep. Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House. Pelosi has said she would run again for speaker. Slotkin said it’s nothing personal nor would it be a sign of disrespect – “but I think on both sides of the aisle people are saying that they want new leaders, and we need to hear that,” she told The Detroit News. “They want a new generation.” Slotkin also got a bit of potential SLOTKIN good news recently that she is one of 10 Democratic candidates the House Victory Project, formed last month through a filing with the Federal Election Commission, has selected to support. The House Victory Project takes the concept from Wall Street of bundling donors (goal of $10 million) to have greater impact and is expected to donate in the range of $400,000 each to select Democratic candidates on the November ballot.

WORKER OR QUEEN BEE: Congressional candidate for Michigan’s 11th District seat Klint Kesto in May touted his work ethic while suggesting his Republican opponent, oil heiress Lena Epstein is too busy goldbricking to be a success in Washington. “Lena is embarrassing herself with that television ad (touting that she will work hard in Washington),” Kesto said in a campaign release in which he references Epstein’s attendance as a volunteer on the Michigan Children’s Trust Fund board, to which she was appointed by Michigan head nerd, Gov. Rick Snyder. “Epstein had a chance to work on the most important cause you can think of, protecting children from abuse, but she wouldn’t do the job 87 percent of the time,” Kesto said about Epstein’s attendance at quarterly board meetings while bragging about his own attendance in the legislature. While Epstein may have been preoccupied with marriage and childbirth recently, Michigan Children’s Trust board chairman and former Republican legislator Randy Richardville said it’s common for some members to call into meetings rather than attend in person. Richardville placed Epstein’s overall attendance closer to the 35-percent mark – better than the 13 percent Kesto claimed, but not quite high enough to pass even a community college course. Richardville stressed that the positions are strictly volunteer.

“She volunteered, and all she has done is appreciated,” Richardville said.

SHOW ME THE MONEY: Democratic state Senate candidate Mallory McMarrow of Royal Oak is challenging incumbent state Sen. Marty Knollenberg (R-Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Rochester, Rochester Hills) in November for his 13th District state Senate seat. Knollenberg, a strong fundraiser, has raised $142,823 during this election cycle but he’s already spent more than $114,000. McMarrow, a political newcomer in a traditionally Republican district, is showing she is capable of gathering cash from her district, too, as well as from all over the country, raising $47,249, which includes personal contributions from herself, which total about $19,295, and she has about $34,573 cash on hand.

DOWNTOWN

15

FACES Bob Milne usician and former Rochester resident Bob Milne doesn't say he was born with a gift for music, but he doesn't deny it either.

Referred to as "a national treasure" by the U.S. Library of Congress, Milne is the only ragtime musician to be featured by the national library in the past half-century. However, it's the unique way that Milne hears and sees music that makes his story so interesting.

Raised in Ferndale until the 7th grade, Milne had already been introduced to the violin by the time he moved to Rochester. By the 5th grade, he was tutoring other students, later picking up the French horn in the 8th grade and playing with the Pontiac Symphony while in high school, and with the Rochester Philharmonic in New York at 19-years-old.

"My mom wanted me to take piano lessons, which I did for about a year, but I hated it," Milne said. "They kept having me play stupid things they give beginners, so I started playing violin in elementary school. They were having me tutor other kids, just showing them obvious things, but they couldn't get it. I remember thinking then, 'I can see and hear things in music that the other kids can't hear, but they are doing their best.'

"It became my mantra of life: if you have been given a gift – I will never say I was given a gift, someone else may say it, but I won't – but if you were given a gift, it's your duty to honor that gift by making it better each day, and never make another kid feel inferior because of your gift."

It wasn't until around the 9th grade that Milne began playing piano, making $5 a week for a dance class. Even then, he said he didn't read notes off a piece of paper – playing by ear after hearing a song one time.

"I knew the notes, but for me to read the notes is like for someone else to read the newspaper to you," Milne said. "I don't visualize notes at all. I hear the sound and I know the notes they play, and I know how to fill in the chords and counter melodies that go along with it. I can't explain it."

While music has always come naturally, finding steady work has been a challenge at times. While Milne started playing bars in Detroit in the 1960s, the work became erratic or dangerous during the time of the riots in the city. At one point in his career, Milne relied on shooting pool to make ends meet. But that changed in the 1990s, when he began playing libraries and special events that opened new doors.

Milne's peculiar way of processing music caught the attention of a neuroscientist at Penn State University, who determined Milne is able to play up to four symphonies in his head at the same time.

"They played four pieces of music I never heard before, and then asked me to get into an MRI and listen to them, then asked if I could remember them, and I can," he said. "It started with a Bach piece, then after 15 or 20 seconds they had me start another."

Starting each piece at a different time, researchers cut the music to Milne's ears and asked him to continue them in his head. When they checked the progress, each matched up with where the music would be if it were playing.

"When I was younger, I thought that's how everyone heard and played," he said.

M

Story: Kevin Elliott

RETHINKING DETROIT’S REVIVAL AND DESIRES FORCE OAKLAND COMMUNITIES

or most urban areas, in the question of the chicken or the egg, it's clear which came first. The metropolis developed from a mature downtown core with neighborhoods surrounding it, and then smaller cities were incorporated as suburban areas that grew over decades. In southeastern Michigan, that's how it happened, too.

In 1920, Detroit was the fourth largest city in the United States, after New York, Chicago and Philadelphia, due to the booming automobile industry, and later, the addition of Prohibition, as the Detroit River was a major conduit for liquor smuggling throughout the U.S. Detroit experienced growing pains through racial conflict and discrimination which followed rapid demographic changes, as hundreds of thousands of new southern workers, including many African Americans, came north to work in auto factories during the mid-20th century, as well as significant immigration of southern and Eastern Europeans, which led to segregated neighborhoods. In the 1940s and 1950s, freeways split Detroit neighborhoods, and the suburbs began to burgeon and grow, led by “white flight. “By the 1970s and '80s, Detroit was a city rapidly in decline, which seemed to hit rock bottom with the (former mayor) Kwame Kilpatrick scandal in 2008.

Then, in the midst of the Great Recession, surprisingly, Detroit began to rise again. Spearheaded by mortgage baron Dan Gilbert, who initially brought 1,700 Quicken employees from Livonia to downtown in 2010, he also started buying numerous buildings in the center core. Today, his business empire includes approximately 20,000 employees in the city's heart. Many of those employees are young, college-educated, and seeking an urban lifestyle experience. Where once they lived – and would have worked – in suburbia, they are now living, working, dining and playing in the city their ancestors fled. It's a hipster hangout, and Detroit is suddenly hot and desirable. The Lonely Planet named Detroit number two in the “Best in Travel 2018.”

The Detroit resurgence is providing a challenge to suburban communities to either reinvent themselves, or stagnate.

“There are so many things motivating them to rethink how they've lived in the metro area for 30 years,” said architect and urbanist Mark Nickita, principal at Archive DS and a city commissioner in Birmingham. “Detroit's rise is coming from millennials and baby boomers who are demanding a lot of different things. There is a demand for authentic urban experiences – for walkable places, which Detroit and Birmingham are. There's also the full cultural experience in Detroit – all four sports teams are now down there, there's the opera (Michigan Opera Theater), symphony (Detroit Symphony Orchestra), Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit Historical Museum, science center (Michigan Science Center), and now they're talking about an aquarium focused on the riverfront. There is nothing like being in a big city, in the core. It's what draws people to Chicago.

“This is a new synergy in the region, and it's driven by two

F

BY LISA BRODY

Above: Woodward/Bates team Birmingham development proposal rendering

THE SUBURBS OF MILLENNIALS, BABY BOOMERS TO FOCUS ON MEETING DEMANDS

Below: TIR Equities Birmingham development proposal rendering

fundamental demographics,” Nickita continued. “Boomers are increasingly finding urban areas are where they want to be. They've lived their suburban lives, and now are spending weekends downtown.

They're taking advantage of the city for the first time. And then there are millennials. They're all-in. They want to live in the center city, hang out, take advantage of all it has to offer, to take transit, ride bikes. They have the opportunity to do what they've done in other cities.

“And it's growing like wildfire. It's not a ‘will come.’ It's come,” Nickita said.

Robert Gibbs, an urban planner and retail consultant who is president of Gibbs Planning Group in Birmingham, agreed. “Twentysomethings and fifty-somethings both want the same things,” he noted.

“They want to walk to coffee shops and restaurants, and to live in a walkable environment, to walk to schools, libraries, offices, parks, and to see friends.”

Gibbs has helped spearhead numerous reinvented urban communities around the country, including for Birmingham, along with noted urbanist Andrés Duany of Miami, with Birmingham's 2016 Plan, which helped to envision a walkable city where residents and businesses could coexist, with the maxim of “work, live and play.” He and Duany were recently asked by the city of Birmingham to respond to a new request for proposal (RFP) for a new master plan proposal, the first for the entire city since 1980, and they have begun the process, which is due June 1. He is also involved with Troy Town Center, an effort by the city of Troy to create a walkable town center where their municipal complex currently is on Big Beaver Road near I-75. While forward thinking and desirable, according to acting Troy city manager Mark Miller, it is currently in a holding pattern.

“It was going a little fast for our residents,” Miller said, who said the goal given to Gibbs was to create a mixed use town center with alternate housing.

“We hear from a lot of our residents that there's not a lot of new housing for them when they want to sell their homes and downsize,” Miller said. “For baby boomers, everything is really more expensive than they want.”

Troy, along with Royal Oak, Birmingham and Rochester, are examples of Oakland County communities actively reinventing and recreating in the advent of Detroit's rise. For some communities, like Birmingham, the effort at reinvention has been ongoing for decades.

Others, like Rochester, began in 2012, when city leaders recognized stagnation was the alternative. Royal Oak came to confront the realization that a city defined by its nightlife cannot survive in the long run nor stabilize its neighborhoods, and recognizing its inherent potential, made a concerted effort to go after office development, believing it will fortify its retail base as well. Troy, an example of postWorld War II suburbia, like several other suburban communities, is at a

corridor,” said Troy's Miller, sink-or-swim moment in of a corridor study of the city time. which was completed in “The suburban areas that 2008, as the Great Recession continue to just have large was beginning. lots will become functionally Kmart's corporate obsolete,” Gibbs headquarters had been at prognosticated. “However, the corner of Big Beaver and inner ring suburbs will stay Coolidge, but closed well vital and popular. These over a decade ago, in 2005 smaller urban areas need to or 2006, Miller said. In continue.” addition, further commercial Gibbs said that studies Aerial rendering of the Troy Town Center proposal space became available as he's seen show that General Motors left, along with numerous automotive suppliers. suburban areas, those with subdivisions with homes with larger lots “All the suppliers left – they didn't have to be here,” he said. “It and strip centers, perhaps office buildings, and little else, “will decline became apparent we had way too many empty buildings – with office about 20 to 30 percent by 2030, and walkable communities will go up vacancies of about 40 percent.” by 30 percent. It may be the biggest change in real estate.”

He said their Downtown Development Authority did a Quality Another is a demand for rental properties for the same Development Initiative (QDI) to ascertain appropriate mixed uses, and demographics – which not all communities are responding to, nor recommended building lower rise buildings in parking lots to counter permitting, Gibbs said. empty parking lot space and stormwater retention. Office vacancies “I just saw a study from the Urban Institute in Washington D.C., are now at about 16 percent. that found that Oakland County will find itself with a shortage of Today, there are about 24 global subsidiaries in the city of Troy, 70,000 apartments by 2025,” he said. “What's odd is it is illegal to build “foreign-based companies from all over the world. We're competing for apartments in most communities north of Royal Oak – so it's illegal to these in the office market, not with Detroit, but with Auburn Hills, build what is wanted in these communities. They'll need to change Novi/Plymouth, Ann Arbor and Southfield,” Miller said. “We're their zoning.” centrally located by I-75.”

Or watch residents – and potential residents – flee elsewhere.

On the Maple Road corridor, he said, “We've allowed a lot more land His company is seeing requests by numerous suburban uses, except single family. There's more industrial, and it's almost at communities to have urban plans developed for them for walkable full occupancy now. We still want a brew pub in the industrial area – town centers, to have zoning rewritten to recreate their densities, as we've always envisioned someone taking over an underutilized space they have done for Troy. and building something from scratch, something organic. There's a ton “We just did one for (the city of) Warren and for Westland, and we're of restaurants there.” talking to five others in Oakland County to create walkable town However, they also saw that without a traditional downtown, and centers,” Gibbs said. with Detroit a competitor for jobs, office space and residents “for the “When we plan a walkable community, we plan that you can have first time in a long time,” they sought to create a mixed use town three or four housing cycles,” he said of the variety of housing unit center with alternate housing. styles a successful town center should offer. “You can have your first “We don't have anywhere for young people to live. We're trying to condo through your family house to senior housing – so you don't have make it all walkable, to encourage the mixed use developments, with to leave the community, and your friends and family.” retail, office and apartments all in one space, to encourage apartments “There's a general interest in town centers, in a walkable context, that they would want to live in,” Miller said. just as there is a demand for traditional downtowns,” Nickita noted, As for the suburban sprawl of strip centers, Miller acknowledges, with his firm currently working with Sterling Heights on a new master plan and the Lakeside Mall property to change its zoning from retail to “the die is cast. It would be hard to change that. But we're trying to humanize the new ones, to build them closer to roads, to add bicycle mixed uses, to look into a town center as retail uses change. racks and put more parking in the rear of stores.”

“Troy, and the other post-war car-oriented suburban sprawl newer Rochester, a mature city that was first settled in 1817, with the communities, these non-traditional communities were designed with Village of Rochester first formed in 1869, and a city in 1967. The city wider streets, bigger blocks and separation of uses, none of which became an industrial center in the 19th century using the abundant work together,” Nickita said. “They were zoned to be separate. You water power of the Paint Creek and Clinton River. Over time, industries can't put an office near a store or a residence. It wasn't part of the like a refinery for a sugar beets, a paper products company and the zoning at that time. Now, Troy, Southfield, Novi, Warren, Sterling Heights, they're all thinking about how to become more pedestrian and Western Knitting Mills factory closed or moved on, and the city became a pastoral, bucolic suburban area of 13,000 residents with a people-oriented rather than car-oriented – more mixed-use, and more lovely Main Street. interactive.

In 2012, city leaders began the work of morphing from a sleepy “These communities are recognizing that they weren't built for town to a vibrant city. The first step was redesigning that Main Street, these uses, and they're looking to be attractive for this changing complete with road work that narrowed the street, adding bump outs demographic,” Nickita pointed out. and cross walks and recreating the streetscape, as well as adding two Troy, known to many for its retail behemoth Somerset Collection, new parking structures. Their website now boasts, “A perfect mix of has a residential population of about 84,000 people, and for many historic and hip, downtown Rochester attracts both local residents and years had a vibrant office and industrial market. visitors from across the state of Michigan. Downtown Rochester is “We did a Big Beaver corridor study in 2006, and what was home to more than 350 shops, salons, restaurants and professional apparent, with the exception of Somerset, it was an office building

service businesses; 85 percent of which are independent merchants.

Downtown Rochester’s natural beauty is attributed to the waterways that surround the city and the abundant green space that three parks and two winding trails offer.”

Kristi Trevarrow, executive director for Rendering of the Troy Rochester's Downtown Development Authority (DDA), said, “When we came out of the makeover in 2012, at that time, everyone said we would die. But everyone also said we want our downtown to survive.

“We lost a net of two merchants,” she said proudly. “We had some businesses open during construction, while some closed. It usually takes six months to a year for people to start coming back after a big construction project. We had already had a long construction project, and we said, we can’t wait that long. We finished (the road construction) one week before Lagniappe (a downtown Rochester Christmas festival meaning 'a little something extra), followed up with the Big Bright Light Show, and we had the biggest crowd we ever had.

“And we saw the trends continue right through '13.”

Trevarrow acknowledges it wasn't a fluke, but partially attributable to hard work on the part of the DDA. “We were out there every day talking to people about the construction, downtown and our events,” she said. “People said we remembered how much we love downtown, and we want to support it.”

Since 2013, downtown Rochester has maintained a retail occupancy rate of 97 percent.

A city known for its festivals and events, Trevarrow said she and her staff are constantly looking to reinvent and redo those events, as well as working with businesses and retailers on what interests them and how to help them be better businesses.

“We're big on retail retention. We're teaching them social media, marketing,” she said. “We're all in business together in our downtown, and we run our DDA like a business.”

In the last few years, development has followed the remade downtown, with the latest, a planned senior housing development, proposed for across from the Royal Park Hotel. To help it avoid growing pains, the city enlisted McKenna Associates to create Sustainable Rochester, a planning and development document, the result of a $53,000 project, which was accepted by the city council in April to guide the city as it grows. It is intended to be a toolkit to assist city staff, elected officials, decision makers and developers on any and all aspects of developing in Rochester, from environmental impact, mobility, fiscal strength, neighborhoods, downtown viability, and public services. Projects are scored on how well they do – or don't do – in order to help steer appropriate evaluations.

Royal Oak is working to reinvent itself as well, in light of the resurgence of Detroit. While Royal Oak was first incorporated as a village in 1891, it became a city in 1921 and grew quickly due to its proximity to Detroit. A city with a strong neighborhood base and a population of approximately 58,000, its downtown lost its way in the 1990s and 2000s, as it became known for its nightlife, restaurants and bars.

“For at least 30 years, it's been a great place after 5, but not from 9 to 5,” said Royal Oak Economic Development Manager Todd Fenton.

“That's the opposite of a lot of cities.”

In 2012, city staff put together a downtown task force comprised of members of the community, community leaders, property owners and other interested parties, and said, “How do we create a blueprint for people in Royal Oak? How do we bolster retail efforts?

We were adamant that we want Royal Oak to be an Town Center Square unparalleled place for eclectic shops and boutiques,” Fenton said.

The task force came to the conclusion that first they needed to create a daytime population, which would then ultimately shop and dine in the downtown, and to accomplish that, they should take unused or lesser used downtown property and create an incentive to developers to build Class A office buildings – a minimum of 180,000 square feet of Class A office space, which would bring in 1,000 new office workers each day into downtown Royal Oak. Fenton was hired in 2014 with the job of taking that concept and turning it into a creative reality, which has been branded Rethink Royal Oak. “I was tasked with how do we implement that need to build up the daytime population, and where do we put them?” he said.

He said he spent most of 2014 doing an inventory of all of the cityowned parking, notably of the surface lots, and identifying which of those would be great for building upon as office buildings.

“I published that and took it to brokers and anyone I could get it in front of – 'would you consider developing in our city?'” Fenton asked. “I went to Oakland County, national groups, even the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) group. We found a lot of interest in doing projects in the city, and then figured out where to have people park – because we also wanted to have one-to-one parking replacement.”

Fenton said at that point, Royal Oak's main concern was creating access, not revenues, in an effort to create an accessible downtown for people to utilize.

Doug Etkin, principal of Etkin Real Estate Solutions, was the first to bite, snatching up the city-owned parking lot at 11 Mile and Center streets, at 150 W. Second Street, across from the Royal Oak Post Office, for a 74,000 square foot luxury office building that will be completed in late May/early June. The four-story building, which Etkin will move his company into as well, is completely leased and will bring approximately 350 people into the city every day.

“Royal Oak is the recipient of the new confidence that downtown Detroit has brought,” Etkin said. “Royal Oak has walkable urbanity, good parking at reasonable prices, has been of interest to firms that have to compete for staff members, and is a desirable alternative to Detroit.”

Etkin said they wanted to build a high-quality building in an area that wasn't as developed.

“We were the first company to come in under their new plan, to increase daytime density in a surface parking lot,” he said of the purchase of the surface lot. “We have the ability to park people during the day at reasonable rates, and we leased up so quickly because of the (parking) structure kiddy corner across.”

Unlike in Birmingham and Ann Arbor, at the current time, despite wanting to increase pedestrian traffic through office tenancy, Royal Oak is not requiring office buildings to have first floor retail space.

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“We did not make a requirement for first floor retail, but said it was a preference,” Fenton said. “We knew we needed to get office workers in first.

It would have been difficult to prioritize on retail without the numbers to support them.”

Etkin counters that his building is not on a main street. “Urban planning is best served when Main Street offers retail,” he said. “There are streets that serve (main) access, and others that offer ancillary services.”

Now, with close to 300,000 square feet of office space being built or committed, Fenton said the next round of buildings will likely be required to have first floor retail space. “Usually, office and national retail go handin-hand,” he said. “We want to focus and maintain our mom and pops, but a few nationals are good, too.”

The latest groundbreaking in the city will truly transform the downtown with a re-envisioned center square, as a public/private partnership between the city and Lansing-based Boji Group that will create a new municipal center, police station, six-story office building and a new public downtown park.

Located on the site of the city's current city hall, the new city center will be anchored by a new six-story building located in the parking lot adjacent to the current city hall. As a tax incentive, the city sold the land for the building to the Boji Group, a 25-year development company with an expertise in private/public partnerships across Michigan, for $1, and is providing an incentive payment of $5.5 million.

It's not a no-brainer for Boji, who is taking a risk as well. Boji held their groundbreaking for their building, their part of the massive project on May 15, without the commitment of any tenants for the new office project. The city will break ground this summer on a new city hall to be located where the city's farmers market is currently. Where the existing city hall is, Fenton

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said, will become a new police station. Once the new buildings are completed, “we will demolish the old and create a new city park. We think it will be a fantastic amenity (for workers and residents).”

They are also replacing parking and adding an additional 581 spaces with a new parking structure.

“It is the largest project for the city of Royal Oak. It will be transformational,” Fenton said. He noted that the construction, combined with road and infrastructure improvements, will incur “short term pain, but with infrastructure as a whole, it's needed. We're communicating to businesses and residents as a whole that Royal Oak is open, they can navigate around the construction, and we're Rethinking Royal Oak. It's a city that is not just for food and bars anymore.”

“We're very excited and very proud to be doing this project with Royal Oak,” Ron Boji said. “It's really a tribute to the city to realize what their deficiencies are and to move forward to correct them. Royal Oak is all about the play and live environment – they don't have the work. You need to be about the work, and ultimately, have live, work and play.”

Boji likes Royal Oak for a lot of the reasons people have always come to the city – “the ease of traveling to neighboring communities and other destinations. It's very central. Royal Oak has all of the avenues coming together, with I-75, I-96 and I-696, those main thoroughfares to downtown (Detroit), airports, Ann Arbor, Warren. It's easy access to tech companies and to travel.”

Besides adding office space and office workers and a beautiful public park, Boji noted that the new city complex will “create a tax base as well as we bring potentially 750 new people to eat, possibly live, shop, drink, patronize shops, and create tax revenue.”

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to reinvent itself over 20 years ago with public charrettes, community meetings and a massive reinterpretation of the city with its 2016 Plan in 1996, a revisioning of the downtown area created by Andrés Duany and Elizabeth PlaterZyberk, Gibbs Planning Group, McKenna and other local partners, which A rendering of the senior housing project examined every aspect of the city's downtown, from streetscapes to parks to alleys and passageways to parking and modality to retail and how best to reinvigorate walkability. Other than one area, the entire document has been implemented, which Bob Gibbs said he and Duany comment is very unusual and pleasing to them as urban planners.

“Birmingham changed their zoning from one-story to five-stories (in downtown) 20-some years ago, which precipitated hundreds and thousands of more multi-family units downtown,” Gibbs said. “Now many cities, like Ferndale, are allowing denser multi-family, and are permitting parking garages.”

As part of the 2016 Plan, zoning for new buildings mandated that they be mixed use and five-stories, with retail on the first floor, commercial/office on the second and third floors, and residential on at least the fifth floor, and often the fourth floor, with parking provided for residential units. It has reshaped much of the central business district, because not only is there more residential in the downtown, but there has been an enormous influx of square foot of commercial space and office workers.

In addition, in 2007, city planners took advantage of a change in the state's liquor license requirements and created a new bistro liquor license ordinance, with the aim of activating the city's street, creating greater walkability and visibility for retailers. A far less expensive option for restaurateurs, at $20,000 for the license, the city only offers two bistro licenses per year, with the specific criteria of small restaurants with no more than 65 seats, no more than 10 of which can be at a bar; there must be a specific – and approved – menu style which is approved by the city commission and cannot be significantly changed, even if the bistro is sold (once Mediterranean, for example, always Mediterranean), with windows that cover at least 70 percent of the front of the restaurant and open out, inviting the public in, with sidewalk or patio seating.

By all standards, the bistro liquor license has been an overwhelming success, and one that is being modeled all over the country. It has drawn thousands to downtown Birmingham, and has proven to be a sound economic incentive tool.

“The bistro program is an excellent example of a planning tool to bring business, because at one time, the quota liquor license (there are a maximum of 17) were going for $600,000 or $700,000 each,” Birmingham Planning Director Jana Ecker said. “We crafted the ordinance carefully, to have small establishments, with low key entertainment, and capped the number of seats.”

The city commission is in the process of making minor changes to the bistro ordinance, to permit a slight expansion of bistros in the city's Rail and Triangle districts, which are on the other side of Woodward Avenue, and extend all the way to Eton Road and the railroad tracks bordering Troy.

“We revised the bistro ordinance to encourage and attract activity in those areas,” Ecker said. “They add character and incentive to clean

up and make those areas attractive, and to help keep the city viable in those areas.”

Ecker, along with city manager Joe Valentine, said continually focusing the conversation around walkability has been in the city's best interest, especially now with a reemergent Detroit. near the Royal Park Hotel in Rochester “We always talk about walkability, whether in a way to be convenient, in strategizing, in light of changes in retail, or as we talk about a re-emergent Detroit,” Valentine said.

Ecker said they continue to stay pro-active for both residents and businesses, redoing the city's multi-modal plan in 2012, which she said, “We were once a car-centric community, now we're about all forms of modalities. We looked at cars, pedestrians, cyclists, ADA-compliance, everything,” Ecker said. “It's allowed us to say, 'should there be bike rental programs? Charging stations?'”

The downtown is currently undergoing a major road construction project as it rebuilds several downtown city streets, including sewer and water infrastructure – some of which dates back to the 1890s – adding underground fiber-optics, more crosswalks, handicap-accessible sidewalks, and charging stations for mobile devices at benches and other locations.

“We continue to re-evaluate and modify things to keep up with technology and changing times,” Ecker said. “Forty years ago, 20 years ago, the emphasis wasn't on the downtown (but on the neighborhoods).

Now it is. I don't think we've reinvented ourselves – we're working to continue to evolve. We've always had restaurants – now we have bistros.

We always had the park – now Shain Park is better (after a recreation to make it a center square with a bandshell and other amenities).

“We are always working to evolve,” she continued. “We had good bones to start with, and we're always working to improve. We also are good with planning. We figure out what we want first – then we write ordinances to craft what we can get.”

Birmingham is figuring out what they want for the last piece of the puzzle of the 2016 Plan, for the N. Old Woodward parking structure and adjacent surface lot, which the 2016 Plan recommended creating a continuation of Bates Street, and ringing the street with retail and perhaps adding residential.

With the success of office usage in downtown Birmingham came a squeeze on parking. A study by an ad hoc parking committee led to the decision to issue an RFP to invite “creative and innovative development plans from qualified developers that will extend Bates Street from Willits to N. Old Woodward and redevelop the remainder of the site by constructing a parking facility that provides a minimum of 1,150 parking spaces currently on the N. Old Woodward/Bates Street site, introducing residential, commercial and/or mixed uses to create an activated, pedestrian-oriented urban streetscape and provide public access to the Rouge River and Booth Park to the north.”

Two qualified groups responded with detailed proposals, one called Woodward/Bates, comprised of Saroki Architecture (Victor Saroki) of Birmingham, Walbridge (John Rakolta, Jr.) of Detroit, Boji Group (Ron Boji), Lansing, and Robertson Bros. Homes (Paul C. Robertson Jr.), of Bloomfield. The other was submitted by TIR Equities, a Birminghambased limited liability company incorporated by Ara Darakjian of Darakjian Jewelers on Willits Street.

national shops, with stores Each responded with needing to abide by their interpretation of the standardized hours and RFP, but with decidedly protocols. different visions.

A concern of this The Woodward/Bates proposal, which Darakjian proposal followed the RFP to said will generate $300-plus the letter of the law, offering million in revenues, is multia five-story mixed use fold for the city, first of building on N. Old which is the 15-story Woodward, and parking building, in a city with a structure for almost 1,300 five-story height limit. spaces plus nine on-street The planned civic center development proposed for Royal Oak Darakjian said that only spaces on the extended Bates Street, and a public park/plaza with a fountain in the center, and applies to privately-owned buildings, and he is proposing the city own it, with a tax increment finance (TIF) district to help finance the a bridge to neighboring Booth Park. They stated the economic impact development, which staff labeled, in essence, a subsidy by the city, of their project at $166 million.

As described in their proposal, the 1,276 space structure they would which the RFP specifically said would not be part of this development.

“Every city also reserves the right to change that. The Birmingham build would have three levels below ground, and six levels above ground, with a first floor retail and optional residential above. The new ordinance has a height restriction on private property, but not on city property, and this is city-owned property,” Darakjian countered. five-story mixed-use building will have first floor retail on N. Old “The RFP...makes clear that no city subsidies will be made available Woodward, two floors of office and two floors of residential above. for a potential development. The TIR Equities team indicated during “This building is directly in front of the parking structure and will their interview process that the proposal they submitted would not serve as a gateway for the Bates Street extension and provide more cost the city...Staff inquired further, and learned that as part of the connectivity for the downtown walking/shopping patterns,” the proposal, TIR Equities anticipated the use of a Tax Increment Finance proposal stated. The Bates Street extension would be pedestrianfriendly with extra wide sidewalks and retail and the public plaza with district and revenues from the parking structures that the city could the foot bridge to Booth Park “will be an active urban space with urban use to pay for the development,” stated the staff evaluation.

“Additionally, the parking revenue assumed $3.5 million in annual furniture, landscaping and a play/fountain water feature. It will be a revenue to support this payback. The current structure with half of the space for gathering, activities, cafes and relaxation.” proposed spaces is expected to generate $1.2 million in revenue. At In addition, there are also other proposed buildings that could be best, staff projects a doubling of revenue (approximately $2.6 million).” options for the site, including another parking structure that could be Another concern for some city staff and city leaders is the potential integrated into the other structure with three more floors of residential; a of the development to become its own isolated destination within Bates/Rouge River residential mixed use building, five stores which Birmingham, “a mini-Ren Cen,” said one city commissioner, referring follows the shape of the street with first floor retail, two floors of office and two floors of residential, with two levels of parking, fronting on Willits to Detroit's Renaissance Center.

Street “and provide more connectivity and activity in this part of It's an idea that Darakjian doesn't dissuade from. “It is it's own downtown. A proposed walking 'via' will be developed on the east side development. It becomes a neighborhood, an enclave, rather than just a between this new building and the existing (Google) building to the east.” street, so it becomes a focal point of downtown,” he said. “It solidifies downtown Birmingham in the marketplace. It will not take people away The TIR Equities proposal looked at the RFP, and as Darakjian said, from Maple and Old Woodward – it will generate more traffic and more “I met and exceeded every criteria.” The RFP became a launch pad for people coming to Birmingham – there will be people from all over the creating a new development along N. Old Woodward which is both world coming to see this world-class designed enclave.” stunning – and perhaps too bold for Birmingham, some say.

TIR Equities hired Robert AM Stern Architects in New York City, A May meeting of the ad hoc parking committee, tasked with known for designing some of the tallest skyscrapers in New York, with recommending the plans forward, preferred the Woodward/Bates a modernist architectural style. proposal to the city commission, feeling the TIR Equities proposal did “He's the only one in the world with the international experience to not meet the RFP, and that it was too ambitious for the site. do justice to this kind of development,” Darakjian said. “I brought While Darakjian is continuing to work on persuading the city and someone who has the experience and vision for this site, who will business leaders of his vision, Birmingham has a history of not letting solidify the reputation of Birmingham for generations to come. It's the developers dictate development, but rather taking the lead from city future we're looking at – not today.” leadership, planning and zoning. It's unlikely to be any different this The future, as Stern and Darakjian envision it, has a four-level time around, as they look to cross the last piece on their list from the underground parking structure along with some on-street parking for 2016 Plan and move forward with a new citywide master plan process.

1,781 vehicles, and a 15-story mixed use building at its centerpiece, “The whole concept was in the 2016 Plan, and it's the biggest some other adjacent buildings and a center plaza, which would offer element left – to add more public parking and connect Old Woodward 60,000 square feet of retail, 25,000 square feet of office space, and 371 and Bates,” city planner Ecker said. “The giant surface parking lot is units of residential, which Darakjian said is designed to attract 25 to not adding anything. Then, it's great to add more development and 40-year-olds. vitality, but it depends on the scope of the project. You go to your “We want a younger demographic, and we'll have market rents for master plan and see what direction it gives you.” sure. Each of these people will eat out and shop in Birmingham,” It's a process that has done well by Birmingham for over two Darakjian. decades, no matter what other communities, large or small, have Darakjian said 80 percent of the stores and restaurants will be done.

FACES

James Stanton ames Stanton steps onto the stage, watching as the crowd full of his family, teammates, and coaches wave the American flag and scream his name. “Bronze medalist, United States of America,” is announced as the 23year-old steps up to the podium, bows his head, and the medal is draped over his neck.

In that moment Stanton officially became a 2018 Paralympic medalist.

“The medal ceremony was by far the coolest moment of my entire life,” Stanton said. “It was really a dream come true.”

It had been almost a month since it happened when our interview was conducted but Stanton’s excitement was still there. It hadn’t quite sunk in yet that he was now part of medal-winning history.

Stanton won bronze in slalom, but also competed in the super combined, giant slalom, and super-G event at this year’s games in PyeongChang, South Korea.

Like all athletes though, his journey to the 2018 Winter Paralympics began long before that.

Growing up in Rochester Hills – something he is very proud of and where Stanton said his competitiveness was born – Stanton got his first experience on skis when he was only three. He played able-bodied sports most of his life, ranging from hockey to swimming to basketball, and varsity golf and varsity skiing while at Rochester Adams High School. Even though his right leg was amputated below the knee when he was only six months old, that never deterred him.

“I would always find a way to compete in the sport,” he said. “There was a little bit of adaptation sometimes, but nothing that stopped me.”

He wasn’t introduced to the paralympic scene until 2011, when a friend persuaded him to enter the Michigan Adaptive Sports State Championships ski races, where he won back-to-back titles.

“I just thought it would be a good opportunity to kind of test myself

J

against other disabled individuals to see what I had, and where I stacked up against them,” Stanton said.

Stanton became a breakout star.

He would go on to receive the Willy Schaeffler Scholarship – a five-year, full ride that benefits disabled athletes – from the University of Denver. He also received the university’s prestigious Freshman of the Year Award in 2013.

Then, during his sophomore year, he earned a spot on the U.S. Paralympic alpine skiing development team. This led to his first Paralympics in 2014 at Sochi, which didn’t go as well as planned. His best place was sixth in the super-G. After that, his whole training regime changed, including his diet and how he took care of his skis.

“I knew that in order to end up on the podium in PyeongChang, I was going to have to do all those things and not just do them, but do them with a purpose,” Stanton said.

During the years between the 2014 and 2018 Paralympic Games Stanton won multiple World Cup slaloms, among other recognitions.

He was ready for PyeongChang.

“I had been skiing slalom particularly, and skiing in general, a lot better than in Sochi,” Stanton said. “I think we knew that I had a better shot at a medal.”

Now that he has medaled does the future hold another Olympics? Stanton isn’t sure.

First, he has to get through a two-year analyst program at Citigroup in New York, which he starts in mid-July.

“I think at that time, we will make a decision if we’re going to come back and try to defend a medal or stick with the career,” Stanton said.

Story: Dana Casadei

Photo: Michael Clubine

WATER, SEWER

OVERFLOWS 2018 RELEASES HAVE ALREADY SURPASSED TOTAL FOR 2017; DELUGE OF ISSUES FACE COUNTY

BY KEVIN ELLIOTT

The old saying about foul matter flowing downhill – in this case actual sewage – takes on literal and figurative meanings in metro Detroit, where billions of gallons of stormwater and sewage flow each year from the northwest suburbs to the southeast communities that border Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River.

"It follows the natural topography of the land and flows in that direction," said Gary Nigro, chief engineer for the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner (OCWRC). "It's not personal."

And so it flows – the water, the waste and the storm runoff, all of it down the drain where it leads to a combined sewer system that serves much of Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township and 11 other communities in southeast Oakland County.

During dry weather, the sewage from the combined system is pumped to the Detroit Wastewater Treatment Plant, where 85 to 90 percent of its contaminants are removed before it is released into the mouth of the Rouge River and into the Detroit River, near Zug Island.

But when stormwater floods the system, the sewage is diverted to one of four retention treatment basins (RTB) in Oakland County, where it is held, screened, settled, skimmed and disinfected until the system can take it or it is released to nearby surface water – either the Rouge River or Red Run Drain (which is a tributary of the Clinton River).

The releases, or overflows, are referred to as combined sewer overflows (CSO), and have been a point of contention for officials in Macomb County. The problem, they have said for years, is that partially treated sewage entering the Clinton River empties into Lake St. Clair and leads to poor water quality, high E. coli levels and dozens of beach closures. Yet, Oakland County water resources officials and representatives from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) say large CSO releases meet state and federal water quality standards, nor can all E. Coli be traced back to human sources, let alone CSO releases from Oakland County.

From January 1 to April 18, 2018, a total of 95.4 million gallons of partially treated sewage were released into the Rouge River from retention treatment basins in Birmingham and Beverly Hills. More than another billion gallons of water were released from retention basins in Macomb County, the majority of which included wastewater discharged from the George W. Kuhn treatment basin, which collects sewage from 14 communities upstream of the Red Run Drain, including Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, Berkley, Clawson, Ferndale, Hazel Park, Huntington Woods, Madison Heights, Oak Park, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak, Royal Oak Township, Southfield, Troy and Beverly Hills.

L

arge amounts of snowmelt and rain led to several overflows in 2018, which have already outpaced 2017, when Oakland County RTBs released 35.4 million gallons of partially treated sewage, and the Kuhn drain and others in Macomb County released 1.2 billion gallons. Still, those releases are relatively minor compared to the more than 2.4 billion gallons released in August of 2014 when stormwater flooded much of metro Detroit.

But, more recently, Macomb County officials have become increasingly vocal about the wastewater that has been dumped on them for years.

In October of 2017, a few hundred Macomb County residents gathered in Harrison Township at MacRay Harbor, located near the mouth of the Clinton River where it empties into Lake St. Clair. Among the speakers were state Representative Peter Lucido (R-Shelby Township), who questioned DEQ officials about water quality in the lake, and whether water flowing from Oakland County is to blame for problems in the lake.

Nutrient pollution, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, is one of the country's most widespread, costly and challenging environmental problems. Excess nutrients support the growth of algae and aquatic plants, which provide food for aquatic habitat, but can lead to health and environmental issues. Algae may harm water quality, food resources, habitats and decrease dissolved oxygen. It can also lead to fish kills and produce toxins and bacteria that make people sick if they

come into contact with it. A main source of those nutrients is stormwater.

Attending as a listener, Nigro said DEQ officials confirmed that Oakland County's system was meeting current water quality standards and were ready to present that information but were stopped before they had a chance.

"Until recently, it hasn't been that easy to test where E. coli is coming from," Nigro said. However, he said advances in testing now reveal whether tested E. coli stems from human or other animals. Such advances, he said, lead to more beach closings and awareness of pollution.

"It's not that we are necessarily polluting more – it's that we know what it is now," he said. "The pollution has been going on for decades, but now we are aware of it. We are very conscious about it."

Officials, like Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller, are pushing for the state to implement more stringent water quality standards to force Oakland County and others in the Great Lakes Basin to do more to control overflows.

M

iller, who failed to return calls to Downtown newsmagazine, has said that E. coli from sewage isn't the only thing heightening E. coli levels in the lake. E. coli traced to geese and other wildlife that share the water are part of the problem. In fact, DEQ officials are reluctant to name any one source of water quality issues. Still, Lucido and others continue to point to Oakland County's combined sewer systems as the problem.

Unlike combined sewer systems, separate sanitary sewers are designed to carry only sanitary sewage to a wastewater treatment plant. Combined sewer systems are generally older sewer systems designed to send both sewage and stormwater to a treatment plant.

Because combined systems may receive massive amounts of water from storm events or snow melt, they are designed with overflow points in the system and/or at the treatment plant.

Michigan started its CSO control program in 1988, and in 1994 the federal government developed a nationwide policy. The policy suggested states use an enforceable permit program called the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System to require CSO communities to implement interim measures, or minimum controls, and then develop long-term control plans. As an alternative to separating combined systems, some communities, including several in Oakland County, opted to build retention treatment basins, which are designed to capture the combined sewage and rainwater that would otherwise flow to surface waters untreated. The basins hold the combined sewage long enough to provide treatment and disinfection before the combined sewage is discharged.

In Oakland County, the Water Resources Commissioner (WRC) operates four such retention basins. In each case, water is treated, at least partially, before being released to a wastewater treatment facility.

Each of the retention basins are capable of storing massive amounts of combined sewage. However, even with such measures in place, combined systems still get overloaded and are forced to release the holdings to their respective waterbodies.

"You're still going to have back ups," Nigro said. "In a highly urbanized area like southeast Oakland County, the storm system alone isn't going to handle every single rain event. There's a certain level of service they are designed to provide. People think that if there's a backup from a rain event, then something must have failed, but that's not necessarily the case."

Nigro likened the system’s design to that of a freeway system – while a 12-lane highway may help move the heaviest flows of traffic during peak times, such a system will be virtually empty most of the time – and have higher costs.

"The same can be said for storm systems," he said. "It's not designed for Noah's flood because it would be unachievable, practically, and the cost would be unbearable. If you can imagine separating that system (into a single sanitary sewer system), it would have a $2 billion bill.

Nobody likes paying their bills now. Multiply them by 10 or 20 times – it's not practical."

In addition to the high cost of converting combined systems, Nigro said there isn't consensus that such a conversion would actually increase water quality downstream.

"Some say it's a bad idea to separate them, others say it's good to separate," he said. "When you do separate them, that stormwater goes right into the lakes, rivers and streams without being treated."

T

hat means stormwater runoff from Woodward, I-75 and other urbanized or heavily-paved areas would flow directly into the Clinton and Rouge rivers, along with oil and other contaminants picked up along the way. Nigro said that in a combined system, at least the runoff is being treated to a degree, the same way sewage would be before it is sent to a treatment facility or prior to being discharged during an overflow event.

In general, both Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO) and Separate Sanitary Overflows (SSOs) can discharge untreated human and industrial waste, toxic materials, debris and disease causing organisms onto the ground or in lakes, streams and rivers. However, discharges from Retention Treatment Basins (RTB) are treated to collect and treat water before its discharged. The basins are designed to meet wastewater discharge permit requirements overseen by the state DEQ and to be protective of water quality and public health.

Each of the retention basin facilities use screening cells and operations to skim wastewater and allow heavy solids to settle and be removed. The water is held for at least 30 minutes for the treatment, which also includes a disinfectant treatment.

Secondary treatment of wastewater is done at wastewater treatment plants, which removes 85 to 90 percent of the remaining pollutants before being released. Because separate sanitary sewer systems don't carry stormwater or route through retention treatment basins the way that combined systems do, SSO's typically occur at wastewater treatment plants that get overloaded at manholes along the system lines where blockages may occur.

"I wouldn't want to swim in it, or even after it's had secondary treatment, but those retention basin facilities are designed to meet water quality standards," said Dan Beauchamp, statewide program coordinator for the DEQ. "For that matter, I wouldn't say to swim during any wet weather events."

Beauchamp said the retention basins in Oakland County meet all state discharge standards. Those standards, he said, are already more stringent than what the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires.

"They do screening, settling and disinfecting, and they have permits for these basins and have to meet limits for E. coli and other contaminants," he said.

Still, Beauchamp said, as did Nigro, the retention basins aren't designed to eliminate all discharges; rather they aim to reduce them and ensure water released during discharges is treated to a minimum standard.

"The facilities are designed for a certain amount of control," he said "They must meet a presumptive criteria, which in a one-year capture is basically one inch of rain and 30 minutes of detention time, or basically 30 minutes for a 10-year event, which is about 1.8 inches. If a facility builds to that size, they are presumed to meet water quality standards at any type of receiving stream. They also have an option to build a demonstration size basin, which would be smaller than the presumptive size and do water quality monitoring and modeling. The majority of facilities don't build to the presumptive size – they build to demonstration size and do monitoring to ensure water quality standards are met."

The Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner's Office operates four retention treatment basins in Oakland County, including three that discharge into the Rouge River and one that discharges to the Red Run Drain, a tributary of the Clinton River, during heavy rain events. All of the facilities receive water from combined sewer systems in Oakland County.

The largest of the four retention basins, and that which receives the most scrutiny by those in Macomb County, is the George W. Kuhn retention basin, or GWK, formerly known as the 12 Towns drainage district and retention basin.

Originally located between I-75 and John R, north of 12 Mile Road in Madison Heights, the facility was updated and expanded in 2006. That expansion was done to meet the DEQ's permit requirements for treatment of combined sewer overflows. Storm drains discharging into the basin were removed and rerouted to provide more volume to control combined sewer flows, with storage at about 124 million gallons. The basin reduces overflow volumes by about 875 million gallons per year, and has eliminated all untreated combined sewage by rerouting two combined sewers into the basin that would have entered the basin downstream of screens and disinfection facilities.

The GWK drainage district has historically averaged about 10 treated discharges per year, all of which go to the Red Run Drain. During normal operations, when the system isn't overloaded, flows are returned to the collection system for processing at the Detroit Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The GWK serves 24,500 acres upstream of the Red Run Drain, including all or part of 14 communities, including Berkley, Birmingham, Clawson, Ferndale, Hazel Park, Huntington Woods, Madison Heights, Oak Park, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak, Southfield, Troy, Royal Oak Township and the Village of Beverly Hills.

Three other retention basins in Oakland County discharge overflows into the Rouge River.

Constructed in 1997 for a cost of $11 million, the Acacia Park RTB was part of an $82 million national demonstration project intended to eliminate combined sewage overflows in the Rouge River watershed.

The retention basin serves 816 acres and treats about 70 million gallons of combined sewer overflows each year, of which about 19 million gallons are discharged to the Rouge River. The basin has a capacity of about four million gallons, and is designed to provide 30 minutes of detention time for a one-year, one-hour storm. It serves the Village of Beverly Hills drainage district community.

F

low to the Acacia Park RTB is regulated by a tipping plate that diverts flow of more than four cubic-feet per second to a 10-foot diameter influent tunnel, which provides about 400,000 gallons of storage. As cells are filled, the facility provides disinfection, settling and skimming of stormwater and sewage. Treated flow exceeding the storage capacity of the cells is screened and overflows via weir troughs to an effluent channel that discharges into the Rouge River.

The WRC said that discharge water quality consistently exceeds water quality from separated storm sewers upstream and downstream from the basin. Retained flow is pumped back into the Evergreen Interceptor for treatment at the Detroit treatment facility. After the basin is dewatered, a pivoting trough flushes the system of any remaining sediment.

The Acacia Park basin is located in the Village of Beverly Hills Nature Preserve. In 2009, the WRC completed chlorine minimization improvements to reduce the amount of chlorine in discharged water.

Other control system improvements have also been made to the facility.

The Birmingham RTB, at the Birmingham Municipal Park, services a 1,185-acre watershed, treating about 71 million gallons of CSO annually, of which about 18 million gallons are discharged to the Rouge River. The basin has a capacity of 5.5 million gallons, which is designed to provide 30 minutes of detention time, or a one-year, one-hour storm.

It serves the Birmingham drainage district community.

The Birmingham basin receives gravity flow from a 12-foot by 18-foot influent sewer, with five million gallons of storage provided in an upstream tunnel. Flows are treated by disinfection, settling and skimming through screened cells.

The Bloomfield Village Retention Basin is located below the eighth fairway of the Lincoln Hills Golf Course in Birmingham. The basin serves 2,325-acres of the watershed and treats about 122 million gallons

of CSO annually, of which about 23 million gallons are discharged to the Rouge River, and has a capacity of about 10 million gallons.

Beauchamp said there are several factors that determine whether a discharge is necessary. For instance, the intensity of the rain, the makeup of the ground sediments, ground saturation and the water table determine how much rain will be absorbed by the land or sent to storm sewers. With hard clay in both the Clinton and Rouge, the rivers are "flashy," in that they are quick to flood and quick to drain.

Large capacity retention basins are one way of reducing the amount of overflows in a combined sewer system, but new technology and environmentally friendly approaches to design may also provide benefits.

Nigro said further reducing overflows may be done by implementing "green infrastructure," rather than building a larger basin. The approach means using more porous pavements that capture water and allowing it to flow through the pavement, rather than running off, and other improvements that reduce the amount of water entering the system.

"Gray infrastructure would be building additional storage capacity for fewer rain events that exceed the volume, but those are expensive – but work with instant results," he said. "Alternatively, more green infrastructure approaches would be infiltration. Instead of letting water run off into the system, the idea is to capture and detrain it, and infiltrate it into the ground.

"If you have a lot of clay, which a lot of this area does, you can't infiltrate that much water very quickly. There are things that make that more of a triple-bottom line. It's socially, economically and functionally good. You may see bioswales with plantings instead of a catch drain, but they don't have that much of an impact alone. It would have to be a change of mind in the whole area, and it has to be maintained. It's a change that long term, you'll see more green infrastructure and it will have a solid impact, especially in areas that are still developing. In older ones, undoing the old ways is expensive."

While elected officials in Macomb County continue to push for reforms within some of Oakland County sewer systems, watershed groups monitor the health of the rivers both upstream and down.

"It's a very complicated issue, not only from the environmental aspect, but from the location aspect, as well as the political aspect," said Eric Diesing, an environmental scientist with the Clinton River Watershed Council. "Between Oakland and Macomb counties pointing fingers at each other, when you look at watershed issues, which is a 10foot point of view, it allows you to address the issues on a whole. A lot of rivers and watersheds deal with these issues around the country, and a lot of it comes down to aging infrastructure, and a lot of times it was never updated. We have seen progress, but we have a long way to come. We have come a long way from 'the solution to pollution is dilution,' as they said in the old days."

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ith the Clinton River Watershed containing more than 760 square miles and a population of more than 1.5 million people and massive development, it's natural for impervious surfaces to be increasing, and in turn, more stormwater runoff.

"The headwaters are in Clarkston and Independence (townships), but it flows through several lakes and underneath the city of Pontiac," Diesing said. "From Auburn Hills to Utica, the river has a 300-foot drop in elevation, so it picks up and starts moving through there. We have a very flashy system, partially due to elevation and partially due to development. It's moving a large amount of water very quickly. That's how some of these overflows happen. The systems get overworked and filled up so fast that it can't handle the water. " Despite increased flows, Diesing said the council is seeing positive trends at most testing sites. That, he said, can be attributed in part to infrastructure improvements to combat stormwater.

"We focus a lot on stormwater education, and fish and wildlife habitat," he said. "It's all interrelated. Stormwater is one issue, but a lot of things need to be looked at as an overall view. There's not just one thing affecting a river or lake."

The largest discharges in recent years occurred in August of 2014, when more than five inches of rain fell in a three-hour period and caused major flooding throughout southeast Michigan. In the Red Run Drain, more than two billion gallons of partially treated sewage was released from the George W. Kuhn RTB. Another 2.4 billion gallons were released by other retention basins in Oakland County.

Annual totals of SSO and RTB and other types of CSO overflows in Oakland County totaled 58.73 million gallons (mg) (9.4 mg SSO; 49.44 mg RTB; 15 mg other) in 2015; 22.88 mg (1.3 mg SSO; 21.54 mg RGB) in 2016; 137 mg (1 mg SSO; 35 mg RTB; 100 mg other) in 2017; and 144 mg (12 mg SSO; 95.4 mg RTB; 37 mg other) through April 18 of 2018.

Those overflows don't include discharges from the George W. Kuhn RTB, which the DEQ lists under totals in Macomb County.

D

ischarges into the Rouge River at Evergreen and Beverly Roads, from the Acacia Park RTB, totaled about 100 mg from 2015 to April 18, 2018. Partially treated sewage discharges into the Rouge River at Lincoln and Southfield from the Birmingham RTB totaled about 20 mg during the same period. And overflows into the Rouge River at Cranbrook and 14 Mile Road from the Bloomfield/Birmingham RTB totaled about 50.13 between 2015 and April 18, 2018.

Oakland County outfalls outside of the Birmingham/Bloomfield area include some SSO and other releases from the Auburn Wastewater Treatment Plant into the Clinton River; SSO releases into the Rouge River from the Evergreen/Farmington collector; the Wixom Wastewater Treatment Plant at Norton Creek; and various manholes and other locations due to backups or blocked pipes.

The only release reported to the DEQ in the Rochester/Rochester Hills area included .005 mg of SSO into the Paint Creek in 2018 that was caused by a plugged mainline sewer in Rochester. A manhole at 613 N. Main overflowed and released untreated sewage into the Paint Creek. The line was subsequently jetted and the blockage was removed.

Annual totals of SSO, RTB and "other" types of overflows in Macomb County totaled 836.85 mg (134 mg SSO; 674 mg RTB; 27.8 mg other) in 2015; 2.3 billion gallons (356 mg SSO, 1.8 billion gallons RTB; 26.6 mg other) in 2016; 1.76 billion gallons (296.7 mg SSO; 1.2 billion gallons RTB; 217 mg other) in 2017; and 1.4 billion gallons (296.67 mg SSO; 1 billion gallons RTB; 54.3 mg other) through April 18 of 2018.

Partially treated sewage from the George W. Kuhn RTB totaled more than 4.1 billion gallons between 2015 and April 18, 2018, all of which were released into the Red Run Drain, which drains into the Clinton River.

Sally Petrella, monitoring program manager with Friends of the Rouge, said Oakland County has controlled all of their CSOs, meaning that all discharges receive at least initial treatment, while Wayne County has a larger problem.

"That was exacerbated by the recession that hit Detroit, creating a situation where they were unable to address their issues as quickly as they should have," Petrella said.

Specifically, Petrella said a project that called for constructing a retention basin tunnel to control overflows was slowed.

"That's a little frustrating," she said. "With that project, they would have maybe one CSO overflow once a year, opposed to about 47 from Detroit. They have been scaled back, and they are using green infrastructure, but that's really frustrating to an organization that cares so much about the river."

Uncontrolled CSOs, or those that don't receive treatment before wastewater is released, have huge impacts on the use of a waterbody, as well as aquatic life.

"When you get near Rouge Park, we do fish surveys and when we get there they go down to about four species. That's not a lot of diversity," Patrella said. "Upstream, closer to 8 Mile, we find rock bass and 10 or 11 species of fish."

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33

MUNICIPAL Rochester approves parking assessments

By Kevin Elliott

Rochester City Council on Monday, May 14, approved a third and final year of a special assessment district (SAD) for property owners in the parking management district that don't have private on-site required parking.

The amount a property owner will be required to pay for parking was approved at $50,000, down from $187,500 last year. The city's parking advisory committee had originally proposed a $125,000 SAD, but that was lowered to $50,000 following a commitment of $50,000 from the city's Downtown Development Authority (DDA) from its 2019 budget.

Council voted 5-2 to approve the SAD, with council members Ann Peterson and Stuart Bikson voting against it.

Bikson said he has voted against the assessment in the past, as he did again, because he believes the DDA should pay for the operation and maintenance of the parking structures, as it is the DDA that benefits the most.

Peterson also said she doesn't feel the burden should be put on business owners.

The parking committee in March passed a motion to request the city council consider approving a third and final year of the SAD to pay for bond debt incurred from its construction and maintenance. The committee also recommended raising the price of monthly passes from $20 per month to $25 per month. The fee hike would result in about $36,000 in additional revenue each year. Council members indicated they weren't in favor of raising the fees.

"The goal isn't to make it a profit center," councilman Ben Giovanelli said.

Council also considered changing the hours of operation to extend the closing time from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. The change would provide about $14,000 in additional revenue each year.

"I'm not a fan of raising prices on passes, but it makes sense to extend hours," mayor Rob Ray said.

Council also was presented with the option of charging for parking on Sundays, which are currently free; changing the policy that allows for one hour of free parking to 30 minutes; and charging for parking at the city's Farmer's Market lot by adding a kiosk device.

Council approved the SAD amount, but stopped short of approving any operational changes or fees, as they 34

Schools closed due to mercury in water science experiment by a Rochester Hills school teacher that resulted in the discovery of high levels of mercury led school officials on Tuesday, May 22 to cancel classes at two schools in the Rochester Community Schools District.

Van Hoosen Middle School, 1339 Adams Road, and Rochester Adams High School, 3200 W. Tienken Road, were closed due to water quality concerns.

Rochester Community Schools Superintendent Robert Shaner said in a Monday, May 21 statement to parents that the district received an email that morning from an Arizona State University laboratory manager about water sampling done by a teacher during a science experiment that showed significantly high mercury levels in the water.

"Although the tests were not conducted by certified personnel or sent to a certified lab for testing water, we still take these concerns very seriously," Shaner said. "Since the water source feeds both Van Hoosen Middle School and Rochester Adams High School, drinking water sources at those schools were immediately disabled and the students were dismissed early."

The report from Arizona State University indicated that a Van Hoosen Middle School science room faucet has mercury levels significantly higher than the maximum contaminant level published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Three samples were tested: one from Van Hoosen Middle School, one from Paint Creek and one from Sargent Creek. The average sampling was .056 mg/l or 56 parts per billion (ppb). The EPA maximum contaminant level for mercury is .002 mg/L or 2 ppb.

"In order to provide due diligence in evaluating the concerns, we immediately engaged the city of Rochester Hills, the Oakland County Health Department and an independent environmental consulting firm, Nova Environmental," Shaner said. "To confirm the water quality, the city of Rochester Hills Department of Public Works is performing water sampling at both schools and will be forwarding the samples to a certified lab for testing."

Results from eight water samples taken at Van Hoosen Middle School and Rochester Adams High School were released late Tuesday afternoon.

All of the samples came back "non-detect" for mercury, meaning the certified lab wasn't able to detect mercury in the water, and it was deemed safe for consumption. The highest results for mercury were recorded at .0002 mg/L, well below the state standard.

The samples were tested by Paragon Laboratories, which is certified by the state as a drinking water test facility.

Following the results of the tests, the district re-opened both schools for regularly scheduled classes on Wednesday, May 23.

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opted to look into the matter more and take up the issue at a later date.

Rochester Hills ups water, sewer rates

By Kevin Elliott

Rochester Hills City Council on Monday, May 21, unanimously approved increasing monthly water and sewer rates by about 2.8 percent for the average residential water and sewer customer.

Rochester Hills Chief Financial Officer Joe Snyder said the city's water and sewer technical review committee met and discussed several rate scenarios for water and sewer rates based on rate change notifications received by water and sewer service providers.

Snyder said the committee employed a break-even methodology to determine the rates. That methodology is based on covering operating expenses. He said capital and lateral revenue aren't considered operating revenue and isn't utilized to offset operating expenses. Those funds are set aside in the water and sewer capital fund to fund future capital projects. The proposed rates assume that future capital improvement projects will be accomplished and reported in the capital improvement plan using the water and sewer capital fund.

The committee decided to look at rates using a multi-year approach, rather than to adjust for a straight pass through or holding rates at current levels.

Under the proposed rates, the water

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rate would increase by .5 percent, or $5.84 per 100 cubic feet; sewer rates would increase about 4.8 percent, or to $6.09 per 100 cubic feet. The customer charge, or the amount that is charged for servicing customers, meter replacements, billing, meter reading and other services, will increase about 1.8 percent under the proposed rates, for a 10-cent increase, from about $5.54 per bill to $5.64.

Non-metered, flat sewer rates are proposed at $73.08 per bill, a 4.8 percent increase. Industrial high surcharge rates from the Great Lakes Water Authority will continue to be pass through fees to industrial customers, with a proposed increase of about .2 percent; non-residential (industrial) surcharge (waste control) rates are also a pass through charge, which are decreasing by an average of 37 percent.

Overall, the average residential customer will see their water and sewer bill go from about $144.98 to $148.77, $3.79 per month, or 2.6 percent. Flat rate sewer customers will see increases from about $72.49 per bill to $75.90, $3.41 per bill, or a 4.7 percent increase.

In addition to the sewer rates, council approved the first reading of an ordinance to increase the late fee for delinquent water and sewer bills.

Snyder said the city surveyed 10 surrounding communities and found late fees ranged from five to 10 percent. Rochester Hills currently charges two percent of the outstanding bill as a late penalty.

Council approved increasing that penalty to five percent.

Councilwoman Jenny McCardell said she didn't feel the city should impose an increased late fee, as many residents are already struggling to pay increasing bills. "If we can help by not adding more to their plate, then we should do that," she said.

Snyder said customers have the ability to work with the finance department for bill payment options, and that the department has the authority to waive late fees under some conditions.

Under the proposed ordinance, late fees could be waived by the city when customers sign up for an automatic bill payment option through their bank.

Both of the proposals – the rate increases and the proposed late fees – are part of the city's ordinance process, meaning the ordinance introduction was the first in a two-part step to approve the measures. The proposals will come before city council a second time at its June 4 meeting for final consideration.

06.18

New director joins Community House Rochester Principal Shopping District President Alan Smith was welcomed by Rochester City Council members on Monday, May 14, as the new executive director of the Rochester Community House.

Smith is replacing longtime director Mary Lee Kowalczyk, who announced her retirement this year, after more than 42 years as executive director. Kowalczyk was recognized by city council members and a representative for U.S. Congressman Mike Bishop (RRochester), who had previously read a commemoration in Kowalczyk's honor on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

"I have a stack of letters this thick asking council to support the Community House," Rochester Mayor Rob Ray said, signaling the public's support for the non-profit. "If anyone is concerned about the longevity of the Community House, just look to our new director."

The change in leadership is followed by an amended two-year contract between the Rochester Community House and the city. The agreement extends the current contract, which was initially approved in 2014. However, the amended contract includes some slight changes.

Under the amended agreement – which was approved by council by a vote of 6-1 with councilwoman Ann Peterson voting against it – the city will have access to the Community House building via keys and alarm codes, and the city will be able to use the building and property rent free for various events. The nonprofit organization will also be required to pay for all utilities, including gas and electric, the latter two beginning in June of 2019.

Currently, the city pays for gas and electric services at the building.

The contract also requires the Rochester Community House and city to appoint a committee with three representatives from the city and three from the Community House, to negotiate a new contract

by June 18, 2020.

"It's an excellent agreement," said councilwoman Nancy Salvia. "It gives Alan some runway to get in there and polish the gem. There may be some other thoughts, but a multiyear agreement gives Alan, the board and the community a chance downtownpublications.com

to rally behind the Community House."

Peterson said she had hoped for more information about operations and other details to be presented to council prior to the proposed agreement being presented.

"I just feel like things are done without anyone knowing, and it just happens," Peterson said. "This doesn't address how we will manage it in the future. I think this agreement needs more teeth to protect us as a city."

Rochester 2019 budget surplus

By Kevin Elliott

Rochester City Council on Monday, May 14, unanimously approved a 37.8 million budget for the upcoming 2018-19 fiscal year, which starts on July 1.

Rochester City Manager Blaine Wing said the budget includes a $289,159 surplus, the majority of which comes from savings related to the city's revised health insurance structure, which is a self-funded system and will provide a savings of about $230,000.

While Wing said there are several areas where the money could be spent, he recommended adding the funds to the city's general fund reserve and discussed how best to use it in the near future.

Council in April expressed frustration and confusion in understanding some of the accounting in the proposed budget.

Wing said the city's new financial software, new staff and new council members made the budget process more confusing.

"Although there were challenges, staff did certainly learn several lessons, and next year the budget process will be started earlier, have more meetings, and focus on each topic or area for that conversation," he said. "I will also be implementing a budget sub-committee that will include three council members, the finance director/treasurer, the assistant finance directors, other directors and myself. This new committee will start working on the city's FYE 2020 budget, what it should look like, include, etc. in July 2018. In addition to the format of the budget, this committee will be tasked with bringing forward the necessary steps, identify challenges

Senior housing project set for Rochester

By Kevin Elliott

lans and a special project request for a six-story, 137-unit senior residential building dubbed Blossom Mills, at Elizabeth and Second streets, was approved by the Rochester Planning Commissioners on Monday, May 7, The project, which was proposed by the Moceri Group, includes a 243,124-square-foot building on about 2.5 acres on the northwest corner of the intersection, adjacent to the Royal Park Hotel.

While the proposed project isn't compliant with the current zoning at the site, it does meet the requirements for a special project request, said city planning consultant Vidya Krishnan. The land is identified in the city's master land use plan as a “Potential Intensity Change Area,” which is designated for mixed uses.

Moceri met with planning commissioners in July 2017 to discuss the proposed project and receive feedback. Since then, Krishnan said several changes were made to the plans, and is now one of "the most extensive and thorough information packets submitted."

In addition to the consultant review, the project was scored by the city's new Sustainability Study tool, which aims to weigh the strengths of the project and how it may impact long-term sustainability. The project scored 15 out of a potential of 20 points, missing five points in relation to business and workforce development, water and sewer savings, and increased housing affordability.

Dominic Moceri, who spoke on behalf of Moceri Company, said advantages not scored by the study include additional shopping in the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) by residents, who won't be using parking in the DDA district.

Commissioners unanimously approved both the special project use and site plan. The project will next come before city council and a public hearing for final consideration.

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and making recommendations on how to implement a multi-year budget."

Expenditures included in the approved budget include $5,295 for a two-percent wage increase for paid, on-call firefighters; $10,000 for a five-year contract for fiber optics to city hall; $22,100 to replace police patrol vests; $22,400 to replace fire station bay doors; $25,000 for nonunion wage adjustments; $30,000 for audiovisual equipment upgrades at city hall; and $500,000 in transfers from the general fund to the streets fund for road repairs and improvements.

Overall expenditures total $37.8 million, up from $27 million in 2018 for all city funds. Expenditures from the general fund total about $13.3 million, up from $11.2 million the previous year.

Other expenditures for the upcoming fiscal year include two additional full-time staff members, as well as filling a vacant position.

Those positions include a civil engineer, a public works service coordinator and a permit coordinator.

Total revenues are expected to rise by 19.1 percent from 2018 to 2019, with general fund revenues rising from about $11.4 million to about $13.6 million. That increase includes a 4.5-percent increase in real estate taxes; 45.3 percent increase in licenses and permits; 3.3 percent increase in state returns; 20.8 percent in sales and services; 37.5 percent increase in interest income; and 232 percent from miscellaneous revenue.

Councilwoman Ann Peterson said she wasn't in favor of hiring two of the new positions, which will be paid for through development fees, which she said wasn't a sustainable revenue source. She also said she was in favor of plans to formulate a multi-year budget plan in the future. "A threeyear plan is great, and a five-year would be better," she said.

Councilman Ben Giovanelli said he was confident the budget was sound, despite a difficult budget process.

"It was painful, but these big changes are painful," he said. "I'm very confident we have done a good job, on balance, for what is in the budget and I'm happy to support it."

Councilman Stuart Bikson said he voted against last year's budget as it included increases he did not support. "In general, I think this is a good budget," he said.

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Council dissolves an obsolete board At the Rochester Hills City Council meeting on Monday, May 7, council formally dissolved an obsolete economic development board from before the city existed.

Long before the city of Rochester Hills came into existence, Avon Township established an Economic Development Corporation Board to allow for tax-exempt bond financing for industrial and non-profit developments. That board rolled over to Rochester Hills when the city was formed, but the board has remained stagnant since 1986.

The last bond approved by the board was in 1986 for Peachtree Center Associates, with no new business since then. Under state law, the board must remain in place during the duration of any bonds, the last of which expired in 2016.

Since then, the board has met once a year to elect officers, with $950 budgeted annually for attendance.

In addition to its lack of activity, Oakland County operates its own Michigan Economic Development Corporation, which provides redundant services, city staff said.

Staff noted that the board could be reestablished at a future date if needed.

As the city is in the process of obtaining its Redevelopment Ready Community certification from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the state looks for candidate communities to dissolve obsolete boards or commissions.

The state certification is a voluntary, no-cost program designed to promote effective redevelopment strategies through a set of best practices. The program measures and certifies communities that integrate transparency, predictability and efficiency into daily development practices.

Council voted unanimously to dissolve the city's Economic Development Board.

City to acquire two miles of Auburn Road The Rochester Hills City Council on Monday, May 7, unanimously approved accepting ownership of a two-mile stretch of Auburn Road between Rochester and Dequindre roads from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT).

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$6 million approved for Hamlin project ore than $6 million in purchase agreements for construction and engineering services for the reconstruction of Hamlin Road between Old Adams Road and the western border of the city was approved by Rochester Hills City Council members on Monday, May 22.

Dubbed the Hamlin Road Rehabilitation Project, the project is set to begin in June and open to traffic in late August, with a completion date in late October of 2018. The work includes drainage adjustments and reconstruction; installment of drains; placement of aggregate base for roads and drives; concrete pavement removal and replacement; restoration; and other miscellaneous work.

At their meeting, council unanimously approved a contract with Dan's Excavating of Shelby Township, for $5,452,768 for the construction work. The contract was the lowest of four bids received for the project. Council also unanimously approved a $451,792 engineering contract with Nowak and Fraus Engineers of Pontiac.

Rochester Hills Director of Public Services Allan Schneck said the contracted services are needed as the city's doesn't have adequate staff to undertake the project itself. Schneck made the comment after a question from a member of the public about advantages of contracted services versus hiring additional staff. Schneck said contracted services are typical when larger projects require the addition of multiple workers or engineers for projects which require multiple skill sets and training.

The project also includes work on Hamlin Road west of the city's border in Auburn Hills. Funding for the work will be shared among the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC), Rochester Hills and Auburn Hills. Rochester Hills also will receive funding from the Local Development Finance Authority Board, which will contribute 75 percent of the remaining 50 percent share on Rochester Hills' behalf, up to $2 million.

Following completion of the project, the city is expected to obtain ownership of the roadway where the project work is scheduled.

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The transfer of ownership will allow for more flexibility in traffic control designs through the two-mile corridor that will work in tandem with the city's intent to spur redevelopment in the area.

Along with the transfer of ownership of the road, MDOT is providing the city with a $1.23million contribution intended to go toward the maintenance of the roadway, which will now be the responsibility of the city.

In December, city council approved moving forward with initial design services for the Auburn Road Corridor Improvement Project with the intent of starting construction by 2019. In order to provide traffic calming measures, the city had then expressed its desire to take ownership of a halfmile stretch of Auburn Road between Culbertson Avenue and Dequindre.

Rochester Hills Deputy Director of Engineering Paul Davis said MDOT declined the initial offer but was open to the transfer of a larger twomile stretch. That offer originally included a $300,000 contribution to

the city from MDOT, which the city declined and countered with the $1.23 million contribution.

"MDOT accepted with the condition that we can't counter our counter offer," Davis said.

The agreement requires the city to complete roadwork within five years regardless of whether the corridor improvement project is complete or not. That plan calls for lowering speed limits along Auburn from 40 mph to 25 mph in between Cuthbertson and Dequindre; the establishment of parallel parking spaces along Auburn; the closure of some side streets, new crosswalks, and lighting and pedestrian improvements.

Rochester Hills gets clean annual audit Financial auditors with Plante & Moran on Monday, May 7, gave the city of Rochester Hills an "unmodified opinion" of accounting practices for the 2017 fiscal year ending December 31, 2017, noting the city is "financially sound."

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An unmodified opinion is the highest rating of practices that may be given in an annual audit of municipal accounting, meaning that processes and accounts are properly stated and done to the highest level of assurance.

The rating is the latest in a series of accolades lauded on the city by auditors in recent years.

"It's a welcome change to be in a community where we can share good news," said Lisa Manetta, with Plante & Moran, who said the city is within the top fice percent in terms of financial soundness among cities of similar size in southeast Michigan.

"It's a testament to the city councils, present and past, as well as the administration," Manetta said.

The city's revenues for 2017 were $61.8 million, up from $55.8 million in 2016 and expenditures totaled $56.1 million, up from $55 million the previous year. While expenditures are rising annually, recurring revenues consistently outpace costs and have resulted in the structural surplus resulting in a $77.2 million fund balance at the end of 2017.

Property taxes have continued to climb since 2014, accounting for the largest share of revenue sources for the city, totaling $31.4 million in 2017. State shared revenue of $13.8 million, service charges of $8.7 million, licenses and fines of $3.9 million, interest, $1.9 million, and other revenue worth $1.7 million accounted for all revenue sources in 2017.

Public safety costs of $21 million, capital outlay at $12.3 million, public works and streets for $7.4 million, general government costs of $7 million, recreation and culture worth $4.9 million), debt service of $2.5 million and community and economic development, $825,000 accounted for the general government expenditures in 2017.

Chrystal Simpson, with Plante & Moran, noted the continual rise in property tax revenue and said many other municipalities are still trying to level out property taxes.

City council President Mark Tisdel displayed a photo of the city's annual finance awards on display at city hall and commended city staff.

"We have an expectation of excellence and there's a culture in the finance department that delivers that every year," Tisdel said.

06.18

FACES

Lia Catallo onday through Friday, Lia Catallo is a pretty average teenager. She goes to school, she plays softball, and performs with the Motor City Irish dance group. On weekends though, she’s anything but typical.

That’s when the singer/songwriter can be found in venues all across the state, performing covers and original pieces with her guitar or on the piano.

Over the last few years the high school sophomore has written and recorded over 25 songs.

She’s also played over 125 times in her – so far – short career, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, where she participated in their Tri-C Rock Off. Out of all the places she’s played so far, that one was an easy favorite.

“That was nerve-wracking. I was nervous for that,” Catallo said. “It was such a great experience and I loved doing that. I didn’t place but I had a lot of fun, and I came in fifth.”

The Rochester resident has come a long way since the first performance she remembers, which was “When Christmas Comes to Town” from “Polar Express” when she was about five.

While she was nervous, there was something about being on stage and getting to reach people through her voice that she really connected with. She might still get a little nervous but being able to connect to people though her music outweighs her nerves.

“I feel like when I songwrite I can connect more because I can get my emotions out,” she said. “But it all goes hand-in-hand. I enjoy doing all of it.”

She is currently working on putting out an EP and getting ready for her summer shows, including the Auburn Hills’ Summerfest on June 22, where she will continue her mix of covers and original pieces.

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Catallo’s originals range from “Stronger,” which is about battling cancer, to her personal favorite, “Home,” focused on God. “I got home from a mission trip last year and I was just really inspired,” Catallo said. “I was praying and I just felt like God told me He is my home.”

She said her mom, Jennifer Kincer – who is her manager and vocal coach – also influences her music. Being around songwriters at her mom’s studio actually was what inspired her to start writing her own songs.

She’s also inspired by John Mayer, whose style she really connects to.

She considers her own music more acoustic pop than anything else.

There isn’t one specific demographic she’s hoping to reach either; she thinks her music can appeal to everybody.

“I hope that they catch on to whatever they need in the moment, like whatever they need to hear,” she said. “I hope that they (with my faith-based songs) connect back to God and somehow find Him on their path.”

So far, she’s received positive feedback from the Rochester community, who have been very supportive along her journey, including her mom and dad.

Since both of her parents are musicians who work in the business, they were excited when she told them she wanted to pursue this professionally, and make a career out of it. She hopes to do this the rest of her life, and eventually tour.

“I feel like I’ve always known...I just have a passion for it, and it’s just in me,” she said.

For right now though, she’s going to continue being a pretty atypical teenager. At least on weekends.

Story: Dana Casadei

Photo: Laurie Tennent

PLACES TO EAT The Places To Eat for Downtown is a quick reference source to establishments offering a place for dining, either breakfast, lunch or dinner. The listings include nearly all dining establishments with seating in the Rochester area, and then some select restaurants outside the immediate area served by Downtown.

Rochester/Rochester Hills 112 Pizzeria Bistro: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 2528 S. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, 48309.

248.289.6164.

2941 Street Food: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & Wine. 87 W. Auburn Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.606.4583.

Alex’s of Rochester: Italian, Greek, & American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.852.2288.

Antoniou’s Pizza: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 918 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, MI 48307. 248.650.2200.

Avery’s Tavern: American. Weekend Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 2086 Crooks Road, Rochester Hills, 48309.

248.270.4030.

B Spot Burgers: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

176 N. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.218.6001.

Bangkok Cuisine: Thai. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 727 N. Main Street, Rochester, 48307. 248.652.8841.

Bar Louie: American. Weekend Brunch.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations, 10 or more. Liquor. 1488 N. Rochester Road, Rochester, 48307.

248.218.5114.

Bean and Leaf Café: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

439 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.601.1411.

Bigalora Wood Fire Cucina: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations, parties of 8 or more. Liquor. 6810 N. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48306.

248.218.6230.

Big Boy: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No Reservations. 3756 S. Rochester Road., Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.852.5540. Also 90 E. Tienken Road, Rochester Hills, 48306.

248.601.7777.

Bologna Via Cucina: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

334 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.651.3300.

Buffalo Wild Wings: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

1234 Walton Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.651.3999.

Chadd’s Bistro: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No Reservations. 1838 E. Auburn Road, Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.293.0665.

Chapman House: French-American.

Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations recommended. Liquor. 311 Walnut Blvd., Rochester. 48307.

248.759.4406.

Cheng’s Restaurant: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 2666 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.299.9450.

Chicken Shack: BBQ. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 213 W. University Drive, Rochester, 48307.

248.656.1100.

Chili’s: Tex-Mex. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No

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reservations. Liquor. 2735 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.299.5281.

Chipotle Mexican Grille: Mexican. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2611 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.402.0047. Also The Village of Rochester Hills, 84 N. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, 48309.

248.402.0047.

Chomp Deli & Grille: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

200 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

888.342.2497.

CJ Mahoney’s Sports Grille: American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 3260 S. Rochester Road, Rochester, 48307. 248.293.2800.

CK Diggs: American & Italian. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 2010 W. Auburn Road, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.853.6600.

Clubhouse BFD (Beer-Food-Drink): American. Lunch, Saturday & Sunday.

Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations, 10 or more. Liquor. 2265 Crooks Road, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.289.6093.

Culver's: American. Lunch and Dinner, daily No reservations. 92 E. Auburn Rd., Rochester Hills, MI, 48307.

248.293.2200.

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit: Barbecue. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 1418 N. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.266.6226.

Downtown Café: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 606 N. Main, Rochester, 48307.

248.652.6680.

Einstein Bros. Bagels: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 2972 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, MI 48307. 248.606.4519.

Five Guys Burgers & Fries: American, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

2544 S. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.299.3483.

Georgio’s Pizza & Pasta: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Italian.

117 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.601.2882.

Gold Star Family Restaurant: American & Greek. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 650 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.652.2478.

Golden Eagle: American. Lunch, Sunday.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1447 N. Rochester Road, Rochester, 48307.

248.651.6606.

Grand Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 12 Marketplace Circle, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.289.1350.

Half Day Café: American. Breakfast & Lunch, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

3134 Walton Boulevard, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.375.1330.

Hamlin Pub: American. Breakfast, Sundays. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 1988 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.656.7700.

Hibachi House Bar & Grill: Japanese Steakhouse. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 335 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.266.6055.

Honey Tree Grille: Mediterranean.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2949 Crooks Road, Rochester, 48309. 248.237.0200.

Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1186 W. University Drive, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.651.3527.

Johnny Black Public House: American.

Weekend Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 1711 E. Auburn Road, Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.606.4479.

Kabin Kruser’s Oyster Bar: Seafood. No reservations. Lunch, Monday-Saturday.

Dinner, daily. 306 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307. 248.651.2266.

Kerby’s Koney Island: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. 2552 S. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, 48309.

248.844.8900.

King Garden: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1433 N. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.656.3333.

Krazy Greek Restaurant: Greek. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 111 E. University Drive, Rochester, 48307.

248.652.0089.

Kruse & Muer In the Village: American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 134 N. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.375.2503.

Kruse & Muer on Main: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

327 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.652.9400.

Lebanese Grill: Lebanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2783 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.606.4651.

Lino’s Restaurant: Italian. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 50 W. Tienken Road, Rochester Hills, 48306.

248.656.9002.

Lipuma’s Coney Island: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 621 N. Main Steet, Rochester, 48307.

248.652.9862.

Lucky’s Prime Time: American. Weekend Breakfast. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations, weekdays. Liquor. 1330 Walton Boulevard, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.656.8707.

Main Street Billiards: American. Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 215 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.652.8441.

Main Street Deli: Deli. Lunch, MondaySaturday. Dinner, Thursday, Friday. No reservations. 709 N. Main Street, Rochester, MI 48307. 248.656.5066.

Mamma Mia Tuscan Grille: Italian. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday, Sunday. Reservations.

Liquor. 543 N. Main Street, Suite 311, Rochester, 48307. 248.402.0234.

Mezza Mediterranean Grille: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor at The Village location only. 1413 N. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.609.2121.

Also The Village of Rochester Hills, 188 N. Adams Road, Rochester Hills.

248.375.5999.

Miguel’s Cantina: Mexican. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 870 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.453.5371.

Mitchell’s Fish Market: Seafood. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 370 N. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.340.5900.

Mr. B’s Food and Spirits: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

423 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.651.6534.

Noodles & Company: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 184 N. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, 48309.

248.375.5000.

North Shack: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 990 E. Auburn

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Road, Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.853.3366.

O’Connor’s Public House: Irish Pub. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 324 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307. 248.608.2537.

Oceania Inn: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. The Village of Rochester Hills, 3176 Walton Boulevard, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.375.9200.

Olive Garden: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 2615 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.853.6960.

Paint Creek Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday, Sunday.

Reservations. Liquor. 613 N. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.759.4205.

Panda Express: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 3105 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.853.9880.

Panera Bread: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 37 S. Livernois Road, Rochester Hills, 48309.

248.601.2050. Also 2921 Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.853.5722. Also 2508 S. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, 48309.

248.853.7430.

Park 600 Bar & Kitchen: American.

Weekend Brunch. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

Royal Park Hotel, 600 E. University Drive, Rochester, 48307.

248.652.2600.

Paul’s on Main: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 630 N. Main Sreet., Rochester, 48307. 248.656.0066.

Pei Wei: Asian Fusion. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1206 E. Walton Boulevard, Rochester, 48307.

248.601.1380.

Penn Station East Coast Subs: American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

146. S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.601.4663.

Penny Black Grill & Tap: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

124 W. 4th Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.841.1522.

P.F. Chang's China Bistro: Asian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. The Village of Rochester Hills, 122 N. Adams Rd., Rochester Hills, 48309.

248.923.7030.

Pudthai & Sushi: Thai & Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 2964 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.299.6890.

Qdoba Mexican Grill: Mexican. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1198 Walton Boulevard, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.608.2603. Also 3014 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.844.3668.

Ram’s Horn: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1990 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.651.7900.

Recipes: American/Brunch. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 134 W. University Drive, Rochester, 48037.

248.659.8267.

Red Knapp’s Dairy Bar: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 304 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.651.4545.

Red Lobster: Seafood. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2825 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.299.8090.

Red Olive: Mediterranean & American.

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Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1194 Walton Boulevard, Rochester, 48307. 248.656.0300.

Rochester Bistro: American-Continental.

Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday, Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 227 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.923.2724.

Rochester Brunch House: American.

Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 301 Walnut Boulevard, Rochester, 48307. 248.656.1600.

Rochester Chop House: Steakhouse & Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 306 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.651.2266.

Rochester Diner & Grill: American, Greek & Italian. Breakfast & Lunch, daily.

Dinner, Monday-Saturday. 1416 E. Walton Blvd., Rochester Hill, 48309.

248.652.6737.

Rochester Mills Beer Co.: American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 400 Water Street, Rochester, 48307. 248.650.5080.

Rochester Tap Room: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 6870 N. Rochester Road, Rochester, 48306.

248.650.2500.

Seasons of India: Indian. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor.

6866 N. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48306. 248.413.5742.

Shish Palace: Mediterranean. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. 165 S. Livernois Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.453.5464.

Shogun: Japanese. Lunch, MondaySaturday. Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 173 S. Livernois Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.453.5386.

Silver Spoon Ristorante: Italian. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

6830 N. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48306. 248.652.4500.

Soho: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 2943 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.289.1179.

Sumo Sushi & Seafood: Japanese & Korean. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations, 24 hours in advance.

Liquor. 418 N. Main Street, Rochester, 48307. 248.601.0104.

Tapper’s Pub: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 877 E. Auburn Road, Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.852.1983.

Tim Hortons: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 940 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.656.8292.

The Jagged Fork: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 188 N. Adams, Rochester Hills, 48306.

The Meeting House: American. Weekend Brunch. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday.

Reservations. Liquor. 301 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.759.4825.

Too Ra Loo: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 139 S. Main St., Rochester, 48307.

248.453.5291.

Tropical Smoothie Café: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2913 Crooks Road, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.852.4800.

Val's Polish Kitchen: Polish. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday, Sunday. Reservations. 224 E. Auburn Rd., Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.293.2660.

Wayback Burgers: American. Lunch &

downtownpublications.com

Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1256 Walton Boulevard, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.453.5746. Also 2595 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.844.2717.

Willoughby’s Beyond Juice: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 120 E. 4th Street, Rochester, 48307. 248.841.1670.

Troy Capital Grille: Steak & Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Saturday. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 2800 West Big Beaver Rd., Somerset Collection, Troy, 48084. 248.649.5300.

Cafe Sushi: Pan-Asian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1933 W. Maple Rd, Troy, 48084. 248.280.1831.

Kona Grille: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 30 E. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 48083.

248.619.9060.

Lakes: Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 5500 Crooks Rd., Troy, 48098.

248.646.7900.

McCormick & Schmick’s: Steak & Seafood. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. Somerset Collection, 2850 Coolidge Hwy, Troy, 48084. 248.637.6400.

Mon Jin Lau: Asian. Lunch, MondayFriday. Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 1515 E. Maple Rd, Troy, 48083.

248.689.2332.

Morton’s, The Steakhouse: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 888 W. Big Beaver Rd, Troy, 48084. 248.404.9845.

NM Café: American. Lunch, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 2705 W. Big Beaver Rd, Troy, 48084.

248.816.3424.

Ocean Prime: Steak & Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 2915 Coolidge Hwy., Troy, 48084. 248.458.0500.

Orchid Café: Thai. Lunch, Monday-Friday.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. 3303 Rochester Rd., Troy, 48085.

248.524.1944.

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

Somerset Collection, 2801 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 48084.

248.816.8000.

Recipes: American/Brunch. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

2919 Crooks Road, Troy, 48084.

248.614.5390.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 755 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 48084. 248.269.8424.

Steelhouse Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1129 E. Long Lake Rd., Troy, 48085.

248.817.2980.

Birmingham/Bloomfield 220: American. Lunch & Dinner, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 220 E. Merrill Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.646.2220.

Andiamo: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 6676 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48301.

248.865.9300.

Bagger Dave's Legendary Burger Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No

reservations. Liquor. 6608 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48301.

248.792.3579.

Beau's: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 4108 W. Maple, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.626.2630.

Bella Piatti: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

167 Townsend Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.494.7110.

Beverly Hills Grill: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Liquor. No reservations. 31471 Southfield Road, Beverly Hills, 48025. 248.642.2355.

Big Rock Chophouse: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 245 South Eton Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.7774.

Bill's: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, Daily. Reservations, lunch only.

Liquor. 39556 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304.

248.646.9000.

Bistro Joe’s Kitchen: Global. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Sunday brunch. Liquor.

Reservations. 34244 Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.0984.

Café ML: New American. Dinner, daily.

Liquor. Call ahead. 3607 W. Maple Road, Bloomfield Township.

248.642.4000.

Cameron’s Steakhouse: American.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 115 Willits Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.723.1700.

Churchill's Bistro & Cigar Bar: Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

116 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.4555.

Eddie Merlot's: Steak & seafood. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 37000 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.712.4095.

Elie’s Mediterranean Cuisine: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations.

Liquor. 263 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.2420.

Flemings Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: American. Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 323 N. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.723.0134.

Forest: European. Dinner, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 735 Forest Avenue, Birmingham 48009.

248.258.9400.

Griffin Claw Brewing Company: American.

Dinner, Tuesday-Friday, Lunch & Dinner, Saturday and Sunday. No Reservations.

Liquor. 575 S. Eton Street, Birmingham.

248.712.4050.

Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse: American.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 201 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009.

248.594.4369.

Joe Muer Seafood: Seafood. Lunch & Dinner daily; Sunday brunch.

Reservations. Liquor. 39475 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304.

248.792.9609.

Luxe Bar & Grill: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily; Late Night, 9 p.m.-closing.

No reservations. Liquor. 525 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 48009.

248.792.6051.

Mandaloun Bistro: Lebanese. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, Daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 30100 Telegraph Rd., Suite 130, Bingham Farms, 48025.

248.723.7960.

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MEX Mexican Bistro & Tequila Bar: Mexican. Lunch, Monday-Friday, Dinner, daily. Liquor. 6675 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48301.

248.723.0800.

Phoenicia: Middle Eastern. Lunch, Monday-Friday; Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 588 South Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.644.3122.

Roadside B & G: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

1727 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.858.7270.

Salvatore Scallopini: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & Wine. 505 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.644.8977.

Social Kitchen & Bar: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations, parties of 5 or more. Liquor. 225 E. Maple Road, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.4200.

Streetside Seafood: Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday; Dinner, daily.

Reservations, Lunch only. Liquor. 273 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.645.9123.

Tallulah Wine Bar and Bistro: American.

Dinner. Monday-Saturday. Sunday brunch. Reservations. Liquor. 55 S. Bates Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.731.7066.

The Franklin Grill: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 32760 Franklin Rd, Franklin, 48025. 248.865.6600.

The Rugby Grille: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 100 Townsend Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.642.5999.

Toast: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily; Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 203 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.258.6278.

Townhouse: American. Brunch, Saturday, Sunday. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 180 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.792.5241.

Triple Nickel Restaurant and Bar: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Liquor.

Reservations. 555 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham 48009. 248.480.4951.

Vinotecca: European. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 210 S. Old Woodard, Birmingham, 48009.

248.203.6600.

North Oakland Clarkston Union: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 54 S. Main St., Clarkston, 48346.

248.620.6100.

Holly Hotel: American. Afternoon Tea, Monday – Saturday, Brunch, Sunday, Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 110 Battle Alley, Holly, 48442.

248.634.5208.

Kruse's Deer Lake Inn: Seafood. Lunch & dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 7504 Dixie Highway, Clarkston, 48346.

248.795.2077.

Via Bologna: Italian. Dinner daily. No reservations. Liquor. 7071 Dixie Highway, Clarkston. 48346. 248.620.8500.

Union Woodshop: BBQ. Dinner, Monday – Friday, Lunch & Dinner, Saturday – Sunday. No reservations. Liquor. 18 S. Main St., Clarkston, 48346.

248.625.5660.

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK Here is the update on the recent social scene. Many more photos from each event appear online each week at downtownpublications.com where readers can sign up for an e-mail notice when the latest social scene column is posted. Past columns and photos are also archived at the website for Downtown.

Junior League of Birmingham Little Black Dress Brunch

Sally Gerak

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Junior League of Birmingham Little Black Dress Brunch The Little Black Dress Initiative, started by the Junior League of London to acknowledge the fashion item that liberated women from corseted dressing, was embraced by the Birmingham league at its second LBD Brunch chaired by April Allard. It attracted 120 to The Community House for Saturday morning networking, shopping at Dee Wright Masilotti’s boutique filled with India Hicks accessories, and several notable presentations.

President Noelle Schiffer recalled how her vintage DVF dress boosted her confidence years ago in Paris. Past president Susan Foley compellingly shared examples of the fantastic return on investment her 30 year-JLB history has had on her career.

Lighthouse PATH’s Liz McLachlan saluted JLB as a founder of the life-changing agency. And former client Shannon Smith, now a PATH staff member, got a standing ovation when she finished her personal, moving story of survival. The event raised $5,000 for JLB’s community improvement and volunteer training programs.

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1. Susan Foley (left) and Noelle Schiffer of Birmingham, Martha Johnson of Troy. 2. April Allard (left) and Kaitlin Dowler of Beverly Hills. 3. Devon Cook (left) of Bloomfield, Laura Tomlinson of Beverly Hills, Anne Necha of Ferndale, Nikki Bradford of Birmingham. 4. Melanie Esland of Northville, Karen Cresap of Bloomfield. 5. Dee Wright Masilotti (left) of Birmingham and Bonnie Nosanchuk of Royal Oak.

Bloomfield Hills Schools Foundation Magic of BHS

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1. Christine Tang (left) of Bloomfield, Cathie Badalamenti of Birmingham. 2. Mary Ellen Miller (center) of Troy, Sue Nine (left) and Jan Roncelli of Bloomfield. 3. Richard & Anna Stewart of Rochester. 4. Chris (left) & Megan Flynn Johnston of W. Bloomfield, Betsy & Jason Rubel of Bloomfield. 5. Joachim (left) & Julie Wekennemm and Tim & Michelle Sacka of Bloomfield.

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Bloomfield Hills Schools Foundation Magic of BHS The annual schools foundation benefit party attracted 180 advocates ($250, $125 tickets) to Wabeek Country Club to raise money for enrichment programs not in the regular budget. Predinner diversions included socializing in the grill room as the BHHS Chamber Orchestra made music, bidding in the silent auction, the wine pull and grub grab ($5,000) and checking out the displays of student projects. The program following the buffet dinner had highlights: a reunion performance by Jills alumnae directed by Bruce Snyder and accented with a video of charming photos from the singing bell ringers’ high school days; a terrific Where Are They Now? video featuring alums like Lawrence Bacow, who went from president of the National Honor Society to be the 29th president of Harvard and Chad Smith who went from the high school marching band to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as the Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer; and riveting remarks by Christine Tang, who not only attended BHS for 12 years and taught there but is now a BHS parent. “I had so much fun at school I forgot I was learning,” she declared enthusiastically. A live auction and directed giving ($20,000-plus) brought the event total to $80,000.

Charlotte’s Wings Gala Benefit Charlotte’s Wings endeavors to help children and their families cope with the challenges of health crises by giving them new books. It was founded in 2008 to memorialize the short life of a beloved 5-month old child named Charlotte who had a rare, incurable brain disease. Since the inception of the all-volunteer non-profit, CW has donated over 87,000 books to its hospital partners throughout Michigan. Its 11th event to raise funds brought 463 ($100 ticket) to the Royal Park Hotel. The dinner program was highlighted by presenting the 2018 Rose Award for extraordinary service to Karen Holt and by Samantha Kopacz’s recollection of reading a CW-donated book to her newborn twins in the Beaumont NICU. After dinner, the live auction ($19,300) and dedicated giving ($30,000), many guests retreated to the March Madness lounge to eat pizza and watch Michigan beat FSU in the NCAA tourney. Thanks also to the silent auction and 06.18

sponsors, the annual benefit netted $104,000.

United Way Anniversary Gala Nearly 500 party goers ($250ticket) gathered at City Airport to celebrate The Power of One – that is 100-plus1 years of combining resources to strengthen the community. Lounge seating, stages and dramatic lighting accented the terminal. Before the program, acrobats from Detroit Circus and violinists from Jordan Broder’s NUCLASSICA provided diversion while guests bought raffle tickets, bantered and imbibed. Forte Belanger staffers passed hors d’oeuvres and some guests trekked to the food stations. Remarks by board chair Mark Petroff and event co-chair Bill Ford recalled the organization’s origins as the Torch Drive and the membership growth in UW’s Alex de Tocqueville Society ($10,000 per year minimum donation) which Bill and Lisa Ford chair. Auctioneer Jason Lamoreaux then conducted a brief live auction that garnered $27,400 and a paddle raise that brought in nearly $170,000. Combined with a match by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and sponsorships, the celebration raised some $1.2 million for UW’s third grade reading initiative. A performance by British Grammy winner Corinne Bailey Rae and dancing to DJ Prevu’s music concluded the festivities.

Alternatives For Girls Role Model Dinner The Rise Up, City Rose theme with its E.E. Cummings quote – “It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are” – were splendid accents for the annual fundraiser spotlighting aspirations and accomplishments. The annual event, chaired by past role model honorees Faye Nelson and Pam Rodgers, attracted 380 to Cobo Center for networking, silent auction bidding ($15,849), dinner and a four-item, live auction ($10,450). But the highlights of the evening were in the messages of four AFG participants. Recently homeless Kaye Lynn Fields’ declared, “Alternatives For Girls saved my life.” Sierra Bentley said she wanted to get a PhD in astronomy.

Eboni Edwards mentioned she has been accepted by six colleges while working two jobs. Leah Perry that she has learned, “...if you want something, don’t be afraid to ask for help.” Together with remarks by downtownpublications.com

Charlotte’s Wings Gala Benefit

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1. Rose Awardee Karen Holt of Rochester. 2. Jennifer & Jason Buck of Rochester. 3. Jennifer Buck (left) of Rochester, Samantha Kopacz of Bloomfield, Joanne Tarling and Janelle Napolitano of Rochester. 4. Jennifer French and Sharon Bosley of Rochester. 5. Brooke French (left), Sam Tarling, Nina Kusterer, Will Buck, Katelyn Sliwinski, Brendan Holt and Nick Napolitano of Rochester. Photo by Kristen Scott Photography

United Way Anniversary Gala

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1. Mary Sellers (left) of Des Moines, IA, Dave Bing of Franklin, Mark Petroff of Northville, Darienne Driver of Milwaukee, WI. 2. Elyse & David Foltyn of Birmingham. 3. Ken (left) & Kimberly Whipple and Dr. Michale DeGregorio of Bloomfield. 4. Greg (left) & Lori Wingerter with Lynn & Shawn Davis of Rochester. 5. Monica Martinez (left) of Madison heights, Brad Simmons of Birmingham, Madhu & Jana Reddiboina of Troy.

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK Alternatives For Girls Role Model Dinner

honorees Alicia Boler Davis, Monica Martinez and Deborah Labelle, they inspired nearly $50,000 in Fund the Mission pledges. Thanks also to sponsorships, the 27th annual event raised $287,145 for AFG’s remarkably successful shelter, transition, prevention and outreach programs.

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1. Carone (left) and Sierna Dutz of Bloomfield, Rylie and Natalie Fons of Berkley. 2. Shirley Maddalena (left) of Detroit, Erica Peresman of Birmingham. 3. Deborah LaBelle (left) of Ann Arbor, Meg Van Meter of Birmingham. 4. Kaye-Lynn Fields (left) and Leah Perry of Detroit, Sierra Bentley of St. Clair Shores. 5. Sheree Calhoun (left), Kim DeGuillio and Robin Gamble of Detroit, Rhonda Walker.

Michigan Humane Society Brunch

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1. David & Peggy Meador of Bloomfield. 2. Becky Hanel of Royal Oak, Patti Sharf of Bloomfield, Anne Barnes of Rochester Hills. 3. Matt Pepper of W. Bloomfield, Connie Hogan of Bloomfield. 4. Pam Dybowski (left) of Rochester Hills and Mark Ramos of Royal Oak, Charlene Handleman of Bloomfield. 5. Cindy (left) & Joe Grove of Bloomfield, Garret Bondy of Brighton, Bart & Janet deBrow of Birmingham.

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Girl Scouts Cookie Gala Seven chefs used Girl Scout cookies as the main ingredient in recipes sampled by 350 guests ($100 tickets) who gathered in the MGM Grand ballroom for the 16th annual Cookie Gala. They also bid for goodies in a silent auction as well as a live auction conducted by Gregory Bator after top cookie-seller Kylia Welch spoke about all she has learned in scouting. The 10-year-old Detroit scout made a compelling pitch for scouting and for people to support the council’s initiative for underprivileged girls in southeast Michigan by bidding in the live auction. The $12,000 it raised, plus generous sponsors, brought the event total to nearly $130,000 to support the more than 24,000 girls and adult volunteers served by the Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan (GSSEM).

Friends of Rochester Hills Library benefit A record crowd of 300-plus people ($55, $65 tickets) gathered at the Rochester Hills Library for the Friends’ 5th annual Wine, Wit and Wisdom fundraiser chaired by Theresa Meegan. In addition to a strolling dinner and silent auction they could choose two presentations from five offered. The speakers were U-M professor / linguist Anne Curzon, Mackinac Bridge Authority chief engineer Kim Nowack, Michigan lighthouse expert John Wagner, motorsports aficionado and longtime Audi executive Marc Trahan and entomologist and beekeeper at the Michigan State University Extension Abi Saeed. Top draw in the auction was a gourmet dinner for eight prepared by library director Christine Hage. It helped the event gross more than $17,000 to augment the library’s government budget.

Michigan Humane Society Brunch The 29th annual Purrfect Bow Wow Brunch attracted almost 600 supporters to the MGM Grand ballroom. Before dining, diversions included conversation – board member Charlene Handleman was pleased to hear from MHS’s Pam 06.18

Dybowski that the wounded horned owl Pam had recently rescued from the Handleman driveway was recovering; bidding in the silent auction of more than 100 items; getting acquainted with 32 adoptable puppies and kitties (18 were adopted); making donations ($20,000) to get four animal advocates out of the doghouse. These were MHS CEO Matt Pepper, Mike Palmer, Nicolette Romans-LeBlanc and Dr. Joel Kahn.

During the program the inaugural Humane Hero award was presented to Tom Mackey for his decades of support and guests donated $85,000 to the Special Ask conducted by auctioneer Jason Lamoreaux. During the live auction of 10 items the high bids (2 of $15,000) went for breakfast with the giraffes at the zoo and a pet photo for the MHS calendar cover.

Thanks also to generous sponsors, the annual event fetched more than $450,000 for the Michigan Humane Society.

Ted Lindsay Foundation Wine Tasting More than 275 ($125 ticket) gathered at the San Marino Club for the Ted Lindsay Foundation annual charity wine event. Guests perused a silent auction, dined on the stroll (great chow), bantered and imbibed.

As per usual, celebrities poured the wine which was generously provided

by Jean Jacaques Fertal, Ted Wilson II and Sonja Magdevski. But the big story was announced after a brief live auction ($3,500) when Oakland University’s Jon MargerumLeys announced that foundation founder Ted Lindsay has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree. Director of OU Cares Kristin Rohrbeck then praised the Lindsay Foundation’s support of her program’s outreach services to 2,300 families impacted by autism.

The TLF makes two $3,000 Courage Awards at its annual Golf Outing which is Sept. 10 at the Detroit Golf club.

Impact 100 Oakland County More than 100 members of the non-profit based on the power of collective philanthropy convened at Dorothy Barak’s Specialty Showrooms to learn how many dollars they have to give away in 2018. Before the number was revealed, they chatted, sipped, supped and heard updates from the 2017 grant downtownpublications.com

Ted Lindsay Foundation Wine Tasting

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2. Sonya Maja Magdevski of Santa Barbara, CA, Jean-Jacques and Helene Fertal of Rochester Hills. 3. Jon Margerum-Leys (left) of Lake Orion, Lew Lapaugh of Rochester Hills. 4. Diane Vick (left), Terri & Steve Eick and Dave Provost of Birmingham. 5. Trevor Thompson (left) of Troy and Frank Beckmann of Rochester Hills.

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Impact 100 Oakland County

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1. Cindy Luce (left) of Bloomfield and Dorothy Barak and Lisa Schwartz of W. Bloomfield. 2. Michelle Mersereau (left) of Birmingham and Erin Flynn of Plymouth. 3. Marcie Klucznik (left) of Birmingham, Beverly Hubers of Troy. 4. Samantha Amezeua (left) of Bloomfield and Debra Wallace of Birmingham. 5. Katie Sullivan (left) of Birmingham and Heather Lorincz and Julie Oddo of Bloomfield.

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK Daffodils4Detroit Luncheon

recipients – Beyond Basics’ Pam Good and CARE House’s Tricia Schuster. Then, with appropriate drama, president Mary Pat Rosen revealed that 270 women have each donated $1,000 to fund charitable endeavors in Oakland County. This means that three grants of $90,000 each will be awarded in the fall.

Daffodils4Detroit Luncheon More than 350 garden lovers ($36 & $45 tickets) gathered at the Detroit Yacht Club for the annual Daffodil Day luncheon chaired by Robin Heller.

The event, which was started 10 years ago by the Bloomfield Hills branch of the Women’s National Farm & Garden Association, is now presented by the Michigan Division WNFGA. This year, more than 20 clubs were represented.

They came to hear keynote speaker Lynden Miller, America’s foremost public garden designer who spearheaded The Daffodil Project in New York City after 9/11. Miller’s presentation at the first Detroit luncheon inspired the Daffodils4Detroit project. To date, it has planted more than 500,000 daffodil bulbs on Belle Isle, another 50,000 on E. Grand Blvd. approaching Belle Isle, and 200,000 more among the streets and neighborhood parks in Detroit. State of Michigan DNR Chief of Parks and Recreation Ron Olson also gave an update on Belle Isle infrastructure and program improvements. The luncheon raised more than $15,000 for Daffodils4Detroit, which estimates a rate of five bulbs-per-dollar-raised.

1 1. Cecily O’Connor (left), Lynn Ferron, Lynn Stinson and JoAnne Brodie; Maureen D’Avanzo. 2. Lynden Miller (left) of NYC, Cecily O’Connor of Bloomfield. 3. Karen Caserio (left), Debbie Erb and Bobbi Polk of Bloomfield. (Photos by Lynn Stinson).

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Grace Centers of Hope Fashion Luncheon

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1. Shannon Lazovski (center) of Rochester, David Harmon (left) of Clarkston. Mark Somerville of Novi. 2. Kim Wehner (left) of Lake Orion, Kristin Olmedo of Rochester. 3. Francesa Moceri (left) of Birmingham, Frances Moceri of Oakland Twp. 4. Anna Scripps (left), Deborah Moceri and Maria Moceri of Oakland Twp. 5. Peggy Gamble (left) of Rochester Hills, Lynn Oates and Kathy Rewold of Rochester.

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Grace Centers of Hope Fashion Luncheon The 20th annual Women Helping Women benefit chaired by Shannon Lazovski attracted 540 ($100 ticket) to the Royal Park Hotel for silent auction bidding, ($32,425) raffle drawings ($7,890) and inspirational remarks by Pastor Kent and Dr. Pam Clark during the luncheon program emceed by WXYZ’s Ann Marie LaFlamme.

Other highlights included two videos.

One featured dramatic stories by GCH graduates; the other featured GCH residents and Luigi Bruni, who has happily done their pre-runway makeovers for 14 years. Cheryl Hall Lindsay’s trademark narration of the fashion show – made it memorable.

Thanks also to generous sponsors, the milestone anniversary event grossed $176,973 to impact the lives of 06.18

vulnerable women seeking faithbased hope and healing sans government funding.

Roeper Scholarship Dinner Nearly all of the 175 Roeper School loyalists ($75 ticket) who attended the Marian Hoag Scholarship Dinner began the evening at the Prelude gathering hosted by David and Elane Feldman in the Butterfly House at the Detroit Zoo. Diversions included learning which dinner party in a private home each would attend, sipping champagne, checking out the butterflies and bidding on the 27 artistic class projects displayed in a silent auction on the balcony. But the program provided the notable memories. Roeper alum parent Amy Good’s dramatic, personal testimony to the importance of the school’s financial assistance was followed by her daughter Amy Fink’s description of her formative Roeper memories and their influence on her life as a junior high science teacher since graduating from Harvard. They both earned a standing ovation and inspired very spirited donating (more than $35,000) during the Paddle Raise conducted by Mike Maltase. Thanks also to sponsors and one live auction donation from Olympic Gold Medalist Charlie White ’05, the evening raised more than $80,000 for financial aid at the school.

Detroit Zoological Society More than 120 guests attended DZS’s second annual Wildlife Conservation Gala. They relished cocktails and hors d’oeuvres followed by a sit-down dinner in the iconic Wildlife Interpretive Gallery at the Detroit Zoo. Themed “Standing up to Extinction,” the event included a multi-media presentation highlighting the DZS’s worldwide work to save species from extinction.

The event highlight was the presentation of the Nautilus Award to the Holtzman Wildlife Foundation, whose tenacious energy, focus, passion and generosity is helping conserve wildlife around the world.

The evening netted more than $69,000 for the Detroit Zoological Society’s wildlife conservation programs. The next DZS fundraiser is the wildly popular Sunset at the Zoo Friday, June 8.

Send ideas for this column to Sally Gerak, 28 Barbour Lane, Bloomfield Hills, 48304; email samgerak@aol.com or call 248.646.6390. downtownpublications.com

Roeper Scholarship Dinner

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1. Amy Good of Detroit, Ann Finkel of Boston, MA. 2. Orlando (left) & Veronne Bustos of Bloomfield, David Feldman of Royal Oak, Donna Silk of Birmingham. 3. Lori (left) & Ryan Talbott of Rochester, Grant Krywolt & Susheilla Mehta of Troy. 4. David & Sharon White of Rochester Hills.

5. Lance Gable (left) of Detroit, Heather & Scott Cameron of Birmingham.

Detroit Zoological Society

1 1. Lloyd Semple (left) of Grosse Pointe, Stephen Polk of Bloomfield, Mark Neithercut of Traverse City, Ryan Polk of Bloomfield. Photos by Jennie Miller.

2. Jonathan Holtzman (left) of Orchard Lake, Ron Kagan of Royal Oak. 3. Laura & Mark Zausmer of W. Bloomfield.

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ENDNOTE

Regional approach needed on water quality or decades, officials in Macomb County have pointed their fingers at Oakland County communities upstream of the Clinton River as the culprits for their poor water quality and beach closings in Lake St. Clair, despite hundreds of millions of dollars spent in recent years to address sewer system overflows.

The accusations are reminiscent of many of the disagreements between Oakland County and its neighboring counties to the east: Oakland County's affluent communities are benefitting at the cost of their neighbors. In this case, it's effluent, Macomb County officials say, that is being routed to the Clinton River and Lake St. Clair from Oakland County's sewer system.

Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller has likened the situation to Oakland County dumping sewage on the heads of Macomb County residents. While we won't lambast Miller for hyperbole, we will take the opportunity to point out the work that Oakland County, with the assistance of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), has done to address water quality in relation to overflows.

Most recently, the American Council of Engineering Companies awarded the county for its Oakland-Macomb Interceptor Drainage District Repair Project, a $170 million project that rehabilitated a failing sewer system serving 800,000 residents in Oakland and Macomb counties. Millions have also been put into retention treatment basins in Oakland County to ensure that wastewater receives some treatment before it's released into tributaries during heavy rain events. That treatment involves screening,

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filtering and disinfecting sewer and rainwater that gets flushed into the combined sewage systems in more than a dozen Oakland County communities.

The DEQ, for their part, has confirmed that all releases – which total more than a billion gallons each year – receive treatment before being released into the Red Run Drain (a tributary of the Clinton River) or the Rouge River.

That work has been further confirmed by watershed management groups which have specifically noted water quality increases directly downstream from the discharge locations.

Still, facts have a strange way of being ignored when faced with long held beliefs that someone has done you wrong. It's also worth noting that Macomb County has its own issues to address when it comes to combined sewer overflows and stormwater pollution, such as the 10 Mile Drain, a federal superfund site in St. Clair Shores where PCBs and other contaminants have entered Lake St. Clair through stormwater basins for several years.

No doubt, there is enough blame to go around and there's evidence for pointing fingers on both sides when it comes to water quality pollution. However, there are few more realistic solutions.

One of the most obvious answers – and most expensive – that has been proposed is to force Oakland County communities operating with combined sewer systems to upgrade to separate sanitary systems, which run stormwater and sewage through separate lines. While possibly good in theory, such an upgrade would cost anywhere from $1.5 billion to over $2 billion,

according to engineers. Further, such systems may pose problems for surface waters, as runoff from stormwater is sent directly to local lakes, rivers and streams without any treatment. Such a fix is more of a pipe dream than a reality, considering the cost associated with maintaining the current system.

Other solutions suggested include implementing more green infrastructure to slow the flow of water into the system, and pushing the DEQ to increase water quality standards beyond the current requirements. While we have yet to see evidence that increased water quality standards alone would address the issue, such suggestions are reasonable. However, we believe such solutions are best if undertaken in a regional effort.

For too many decades we have witnessed officials in Oakland County spar with those in Wayne County on economic issues. While the county's relationship with Macomb County has traditionally been more cooperative, officials who talk about sewage and water pollution issues are quick to blame their neighbors for their problems, with few results.

While political games are expected, all officials would be wise to remember that water flowing downstream returns to where it came in the form of drinking water. In other words, with the majority of Oakland County receiving drinking water from the Detroit River or Lake Huron, we all have reason be concerned about contamination being sent downstream. Despite being in separate counties with different sewage systems, we all rely on the same water cycle and systems – a fact both politicians and residents shouldn't ignore.

Funding the parking decks in Rochester ochester continues to grow and develop as a thriving city, and with that comes decisions for business owners and council that they didn't have to make when they were a smaller community. Included in those decisions is how to deal with the increasing need for parking, both for those coming into downtown, as well for those working there.

A few years ago, the city wisely determined that street parking and small parking lots were not sufficient to meet their growing need, and two municipal parking decks were built, with a special assessment district (SAD) imposed on property owners without adequate on-site parking. City council wisely persuaded the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) to contribute to the cost – $50,000 helping to offset property owners contributions. This year's SAD was also offset by the DDA. The DDA's contribution makes sense, as these are the businesses that most benefit from the parking decks.

Now city council must take a hard look at funding after the final year of the SAD expires,

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and come to agreement on ways to increase revenue for operating and maintaining parking decks in the city as council approved the third and final year of the SAD. First and foremost, council should recognize the benefits to the city the parking structures offer to the city, as Main Street continues to thrive and business and residential developments are continually proposed for Rochester. The parking decks offer a safe and affordable option for parking as Rochester progresses. Maintaining them, and having money in reserves, is a smart option. Further, while city council members said they don't want to use the parking decks as a means for generating revenue, the money produced from parking decks can help with other maintenance issues without tapping the general fund or going back to the public. Although generating revenue for the city isn't the key purpose for the parking decks, turning a profit will be necessary in the future as SAD funds expire.

Council has been pitched ideas to increase revenues, and many are strong proposals,

including extending the hours of operation of the parking decks until 11 p.m. – when many of the restaurants are still open. Currently, the decks close at 9 p.m. The measure would generate about $14,000 more a year. Council, after speaking with the police chief about added enforcement, appeared to favor the option.

City council members appeared ready to reject a recommendation to increase monthly parking fees from $20 to $25 per month. The increase would generate about $36,000 in additional revenue a year. A $5-a month increase is a reasonable request, particularly when permits are currently $20 per month, a rate that is lower than that of other similar communities, such as Birmingham and Detroit.

Additional ideas being considered include charging for parking on Sundays; reducing the one-hour of free parking time; and charging for parking in the city's farmer's market lot. While we don't agree with all of these, we agree they should be open for discussion. The city must do more than look to the DDA to continue to offset parking costs.

ONLY 7 LOTS RE M AIN!

B L O O M F I E L D H U N T C L U B E S T A T E S . C O M

It’s time to seize the best in life by embracing a home, a declaration that you have arrived. Before it’s too late – make the move, take the jump and surprise yourself – don’t accept compromise.

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7 1.07 Acres $895,000

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23 1.09 Acres $995,000

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5 1.09 Acres $995,000 4 1.09 Acres $795,000

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FEATURES AND AMENITIES Only 7 lots remain Gated community Bloomfield Hills schools Customize a plan and start today

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Work directly with your own architect, designer or builder Included: Bloomfield Open Hunt Club membership

For a personal tour of available property or for more information regarding Bloomfield Hunt Club Estates, contact us at 248.644.7600 or visit our website www.bloomfieldhuntclubestates.com.

Lynn Baker

Deby Gannes

ASSOCIATE BROKER

REALTOR®

248.379.3000

248.379.3003

NO HOME TOO LARGE, NO HOME TOO SMALL

we do sell them all!

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ORION TOWNSHIP 210 Cayuga Road | $299,900

CLARKSTON 7410 Oakstone Drive | $539,900

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OAKLAND TOWNSHIP 2335 Andover Boulevard | $577,000

Remodeled ranch with open floor plan offers privileges One-of-a-kind home on wooded lot backing to private Light, bright & airy home in highly desirable Wellington on Indianwood Lake! Enjoy an incredible yard and view land in Wyngate sub. A 3-season porch opens to woods sub minutes from downtown Rochester. Granite kitchen of the lake. Finished walkout lower level with full bath. & deck. Fin. walkout LL. 3+ car garage. Great location! & breakfast room. Oversized master suite. Elevated lot.

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ROCHESTER HILLS 933 Peach Blossom Court | $539,900

ROCHESTER HILLS 1540 Mill Race | $1,299,000

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GATED 1.2 ACRES

ROCHESTER HILLS 3960 Oak Pointe Court | $999,900

Tringali-designed home on gated, private 1.2 acre Nature lovers paradise! Custom home on expansive culMagnificent estate on 3.56 acres backing to Stony de-sac lot featuring gardens & views of a private lake Creek. Recently renovated to perfection with reclaimed wooded site. 6500+ SF, including spectacular walkout LL. Kitchen opens to great room. Oversized master suite. from the deck. Master retreat and incredible walkout LL. fragments of historical estates. Unbelievable details!

BUILD SITE

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP 1450 Silverbell Road | $674,900

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STERLING HEIGHTS 3877 Corkwood Drive | $539,900

One of the last parcels (10.61 acres) on the Billion Dollar Exceptional new construction in enclave of 17 homes boasts upgrades usually found in $800k+ homes.

Mile! Enjoy stocked spring-fed pond (1.7 acres), naturally Vacant lot in sub also available for $159,900. flowing artesian well, walking trails & rolling terrain.

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RIVER FRONT

ROCHESTER HILLS 3310 Greenspring Lane | $649,900 Wonderful home with an “up north” feeling set on the Lucky Horseshoe part of the Clinton River. Unmatched panoramic river views & custom features throughout.