Ann Arbor District Library Board will hold three community forums to allow Library staff to provide information about the challenge and opportunities presented by the Downtown Library, offer tours of the current facilities, and provide the opportunity for community input. Forums will be offered on Saturday, June 9 (10:00 am to noon); Tuesday, June 12 (7:00 pm to 9:00 pm); and on Wednesday, June 20 (7:00 pm to 9:00 pm).The Library Board is considering placing a bond proposal on the November ballot to address the challenges of the Downtown Library.

This final in a series of four monthly discussions co-sponsored by the City of Ann Arbor focuses on Community and includes discussion on housing, economic development, public safety, recreation, outreach, civic engagement, and stewardship of community resources. The presentation will examine past successes and challenges, and feature a think tank of local stakeholders. The ensuing discussions will help guide the city's sustainability planning efforts.Panelists for this event include, from the City: Jennifer Hall, Executive Director, Ann Arbor Housing Commission; Wendy Rampson, Planning Manager; John Seto, Deputy Police Chief; and Cheryl Saam, Recreation Facilities Supervisor. The panel will also include Richard Norton, Chair of the Urban and Regional Planning Program; Cheryl Elliott, Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation; and Julie Grand, Chair of the Park Advisory Commission.Details of this series are posted online at www.a2gov.org/sustainability. For Ann Arbor's current environmental goals, check out the State of Our Environment Report at www.a2gov.org/soe.

This third in a series of four monthly discussions co-sponsored by the City of Ann Arbor focuses on a community Climate Action Plan to address greenhouse gas emissions. The forum is an opportunity to learn and contribute towards the developing Climate Action Plan, and discuss solutions that can reduce emissions in the community. The presentations will look at past successes and challenges, discuss possible future priorities and feature a think tank of local stakeholders. The ensuing discussions will help guide the city's sustainability planning efforts.The City has long been recognized for forward reaching energy initiatives like LED lighting, solar power, and energy efficiency improvements at its facilities, and Mayor John Hieftje's Energy Challenge sets ambitious goals for green energy and reduced emissions. See how the community at large plays a role in Ann Arbor's response to a warming climate, and help articulate a vision for a prosperous, cleaner energy future.Panelists for this event include, from the City: John Hieftje, Mayor; Matt Naud, Environmental Coordinator; and Nathan Geisler, Energy Programs Associate, Energy Office. The panel also includes Larissa Larsen, UM Associate Professor of Urban and Regional Planning; Monica Patel of the Ecology Center; Jenny Oorbeck, Communities Division Manager, Clean Energy Coalition; Wayne Appleyard, Chair of the Ann Arbor Energy Commission and Terry Alexander, Executive Director of the Office of Campus Sustainability at University of Michigan. Please note that on March 29th from 6pm to 8pm in the 4th floor meeting room of the Downtown Library, the City of Ann Arbor will hold a public meeting to discuss a set of draft overarching sustainability goals developed from existing plans and goals by commissioners from each of the key sustainability commissions and a team of city staff. The public meeting will build on the Sustainable Ann Arbor Forums sponsored by the Ann Arbor District Library and the City of Ann Arbor and provide an opportunity for attendees to share comments on the draft set of sustainability goals.Details of this series are posted online at www.a2gov.org/sustainability. For Ann Arbor's current environmental goals, check out the State of Our Environment Report at www.a2gov.org/soe.

This second in a series of four monthly discussions co-sponsored by the City of Ann Arbor, centers on Land Use And Access and includes discussion on infrastructure, transportation, built environment, public spaces, and land use. Panelists include Wendy Rampson, Planning Manager; Joe Grengs, Associate Professor of Urban and Regional Planning; Susan Pollay, Downtown Development Authority Executive Director; Eli Cooper, Transportation Programs Manager; Jeff Kahan, City Planner; Ginny Trocchio, Ann Arbor Greenbelt Program; and Evan Pratt, Ann Arbor Planning Commission.Each of the four monthly sessions will examine past successes and challenges, discuss possible future priorities and feature a think tank of local stakeholders (UM faculty, representatives from community organizations, city commissioners, City of Ann Arbor staff and the public). The ensuing discussions will help guide the city's sustainability planning efforts. Details of this series are posted online at www.a2gov.org/sustainability. For Ann Arbor's current environmental goals, check out the State of Our Environment Report at www.a2gov.org/soe.

This first in a series of four monthly discussions co-sponsored by the City of Ann Arbor centers on Resource Management and will include discussion on natural areas, waste reduction, recycling, compost, local food systems, water and air quality. Panelists include: Jason Tallant from Natural Area Preservation; Chris Graham, Chair of the Environmental Commission; Kerry Gray, Urban Forestry & Natural Resources Planner; Tom McMurtrie, Solid Waste Coordinator and Matthew Naud, Environmental Coordinator. Joining the City of Ann Arbor staff will be Richard Norton, Chair of UM's Urban and Regional Planning program and Laura Rubin, Executive Director of the Huron River Watershed Council. Each of the four monthly sessions will examine past successes and challenges, discuss possible future priorities and feature a think tank of local stakeholders (UM faculty, representatives from community organizations, city commissioners, City of Ann Arbor staff and the public). The ensuing discussions will help guide the city's sustainability planning efforts. Details of this series are posted online at www.a2gov.org/sustainability. For Ann Arbor's current environmental goals, check out the State of Our Environment Report at www.a2gov.org/soe.

Following the US Census every ten years, new lines are drawn for congressional and legislative districts, county commission districts, and city council wards. Come to this panel discussion, co-sponsored by The League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area and The Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor, and find out how your city, county and state are making these decisions and how it might affect you. Panelists include Jacqueline Beaudry, Ann Arbor City Clerk; Lawrence Kestenbaum, Washtenaw County Clerk; Rep. Jeff Irwin, State Representative, 53rd District and Rep.

March 22 is World Water Day. As clean drinking water becomes increasingly hard to find in many places around the globe, it makes sense to look closely at our local water supply and to consider the issues that may affect it in the futureJoin us for this special discussion (originally scheduled for February) as Professor Mike Wiley of the UM School of Natural Resources moderates a panel of local water experts, who will discuss the challenges facing our local water systems and what their organizations are doing to plan for the future. Issues affecting the future management of storm, drinking, ground, surface, and wastewater will be discussed.Panelists include: Harry Sheehan, Senior Environmental Manager, Office of the Washtenaw County Water Resources Council (storm water); Molly Wade, Unit Manager, Water Treatment Services, City of Ann Arbor (drinking water); Matt Naud, Environmental Coordinator, City of Ann Arbor (ground water); Laura Rubin, Executive Director, Huron River Watershed Council (surface water); Earle Kenzie, Unit Manager, Waste Water Treatment Services, City of Ann Arbor (waste water).This event is co-sponsored by the University of Michigan's Winter 2011 LSA Theme Semester on Water.The City of Ann Arbor has provided this CLARIFICATION TO PANEL Q&A DISCUSSION:"The City has never detected 1,4 dioxane at the City's drinking water intake.Low levels of 1,4 Dioxane have been measured in the water leaving the wastewater plant NOT in any drinking water source.A jar test study completed several years ago indicates that the water plant may be able to remove very low levels of 1,4, dioxane."For questions about this, contact Molly Wade at 734-794-6426 or mwade@a2gov.org

People with disabilities face challenges of accessibility and transportation that many other individuals simply don't encounter. Whether it's crossing a busy street, getting to a job or a cultural or athletic event, or moving from class to class in school, quality of life issues depend on how easy these everyday acts are to accomplish. At this panel discussion, moderated by Carolyn Grawi, the Director of Advocacy and Education at the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living, four people with disabilities will discuss how they fare navigating around Ann Arbor.

The Ann Arbor Connector Feasibility Study is one step in the planning process where several local organizations are working collaboratively, thinking and planning for our future transportation systems. The Study Management Committee includes representatives from the City of Ann Arbor, the Ann Arbor Transit Authority, the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority and the University of Michigan.

What are the most pressing issues of the County Jail? Overcrowding? Transition to the outside world? Come hear from individuals involved with the jail and then offer your own comments at this community forum. The panel of speakers includes Sheriff Jerry Clayton, Prosecutor Brian Mackie, County Commissioner Barbara Bergman, and Christine Negendank, psychiatrist for the Washtenaw County jail diversion program.This community discussion is presented in conjunction with the Ann Arbor League of Women Voters.