(Once link above clicked, go to "I Want To..." at top of page, then "Report..."
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* Fall Hydrant Flushing
Begins Tuesday Sept. 22 Morning flushing will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and evening flushing from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Flushing does not affect the safety of the water supply. However, tap water may appear cloudy or discolored immediately after flushing. The City Public Services Department recommends residents run cold water in a utility sink or tub until it runs clear again. 
* September Bulk Trash Pickup
Click HERE to find your pickup day Place items intended for collection at or near the curb lawn no earlier than 6:00 a.m. on the day before the scheduled pick up, and no later than 7:00 a.m. the day of the scheduled pick up. Please note: All items not picked up, for any reason, must be removed from the curb lawn within two days following the completion of the regularly scheduled pick up for the area. If items are placed at the curb lawn too soon, or left out on the curb lawn on days other than those allowed for bulk trash collection, the City may take immediate enforcement action, without notice, and bill the associated costs to the property owner. To report a missed bulk trash collection, please call (269) 337-8215 within two business days of the scheduled collection. A clause in the bulk trash contract requires the contractor to collect all reported misses of eligible materials within 48 hours of notice by the City. *Neighborhood Site Plans
The city regularly posts to their website active site plans for review and comment by the public. There are currently two site plans up for review in the ODWN; you can find all site plans HERE You can send any comments regarding a site plan to: siteplan@kalamazoocity.org *Land Preservation Initiative by Stewards of Kleinstuck
Purchase Agreement Signed! The Stewards of Kleinstuck are thrilled to announce that after 9 months of dedicated effort, and through generous pledges from private donors and foundations, they have signed a purchase agreement for the 12 acres of woodland adjacent to Kleinstuck Preserve. In 2019, 12 acres of forest area adjacent to the Kleinstuck Preserve was put up for sale for commercial development. The Stewards of Kleinstuck are leading a Kalamazoo community effort to pool resources to purchase and preserve this land. Developing this property (rather than preserving it) presents a threat to the entire ecosystem of the Kleinstuck Preserve. They have raised enough money to make the down payment and secure the property, but are still working to raise funds to paid off the negotiated price on the parcel (the negotiated price is confidential until after they close). If you would like more information about this project, and/or donate to their cause, you can visit their "Keep Kalamazoo Wild" website HERE The Stewards of Kleinstuck is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization *Proposed* Glen Park Youth BMX Bicycle Trail
7/8 UPDATE: Results of PRAB Meeting and Next Steps The Parks & Rec Advisory Board (PRAB) met on Zoom last night for their July meeting; the proposed youth BMX bike trail in Glen Park was on their agenda. It was suggested by Sean Fletcher (Parks & Rec Director) that PRAB table any decision they might make until their board can first:
The PRAB agreed to pursue Sean’s suggestion, and to form an ad hoc committee of 3 PRAB members (and Sean) to put together those responses and then meet with us and the neighborhood. No timeline on accomplishing those objectives was discussed by the PRAB board. The ODWNA board will continue to communicate with Parks & Rec to gather additional proposal information (there has still not been much put forth) and ensure that this (or any) proposal aligns with our Neighborhood Plan, and that two-way communication with our neighborhood takes place. *K College Student-Based Kalamazoo City Deer Population Study – You Can Help!
Two K College students (working in conjunction with the Kalamazoo Nature Center) created a deer monitoring project within the smartphone app called iNaturalist, a free platform that allows for photo documentation of living creatures by community members. These students are particularly interested in the population and distribution of deer in the City of Kalamazoo after hearing that residents are concerned about a possible rise in their population and the impacts of that rise. For anyone that would like to participate you simply need to create a free account in iNaturalist through the phone app. Once you have an account use the Search function by entering: "Deer populations in the residential areas of Kalamazoo", then click on the project. There should then be another button to join the project. When you are out and about and spot some deer you can open the app on your phone, click the “observe” button and snap a photo using the camera on their phone. Once you have a clear photo click the “next” button and there will be a screen to enter information about what you took a photo of. This where you will type in “White-tailed deer” and make sure the project it is going into the Kalamazoo project and that's it. You can do this over and over for all the deer that you see anytime. It will then populate a map so they know where all of the deer observations are coming from. There is also an area to type in comments for each photo, like if the deer are browsing on particular plants or what their behavior is, etc. *Want to use your computer instead of your smartphone? You can submit camera-taken photos here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/deer-populations-in-the-residential-areas-of-kalamazoo The students will be working on this project for the summer but if it is proves successful they might continue it so folks can be made more aware of the population/distribution of deer in the city. Any questions can be directed to Jennifer Meilinger, Community Science Director, Kalamazoo Nature Center: jmeilinger@naturecenter.org * Neighborhood Water Discoloration
Water Remains Safe Per the City, ongoing enhancements to the municipal water system combined with the high demand for water for firefighting activity may cause some Kalamazoo water customers to have cloudy or discolored water. These non-typical conditions have stirred up iron that settles in the water mains, which can cause aesthetic issues. Currently large-scale water main construction projects are underway:
You can call 3-1-1 to reach the city if you have further questions. * Oakland Dr. Construction Project
5/26/20 UPDATE PHASE 2 BEGINS WEDNESDAY MAY 27 
(Click HERE to access links to larger detour maps)
Northbound Oakland Drive between Howard Street and Whites Road will be closed beginning May 27, 2020 through October 2, 2020 for roadway construction, water main and hydrant work.
There will be impacts to the motoring public. Detour routes will be posted for through traffic. Access to local businesses and private residences will be maintained. Sidewalks will remain open for pedestrians and are permitted for use by bicycles. More information, improvement details about the project, and larger detour route maps are available online at: www.imaginekalamazoo.com/projects/oakland/ Note that these improvements were at the direct request of the ODWNA (mainly through the efforts of our Neighborhood Plan) or are a requirement of NACTO/AASHTO. The ODWNA is continuing to work with the city to be proactive to address and solve potential issues we encountered last year, namely: “cut-thru” traffic and speeding. We will keep you updated with any further information we learn as this project moves forward. If YOU have any questions or comments on this project, you are encouraged to call: 269-337-8000 and express your thoughts to the city. *ODWN Neighborhood Plan
APPROVED By City Commission 6/1/20 Our Neighborhood Plan is now a part of the City's Master Plan!
COVID-19 Information
- Updated City information can be found here: https://www.kalamazoocity.org/news - Updated State of MI COVID-19 information can be found here: https://www.michigan.gov/Coronavirus -Updated KPS news can be found here: https://www.kalamazoopublicschools.com/Home.aspx * You can find a full list of COVID-19 resources HERE Stay safe, wash your hands, and take care of your family, friends, and your fellow citizens! 
*Neighborhood Crime
Here's a great new (FREE to you) initiative that partners KDPS and "Ring!" * You can also put the FREE app on your PC or Mac if you don't have a smartphone! Just go HERE ================== What should you do to report something that is of a non-emergency nature? Well, our friends at KDPS tell us you should:
KDPS is here to help us...but they need our help as well! By reporting non-emergency issues, KDPS can track and identify trends in our neighborhood, and not only respond, but understand how to best be pro-active to prevent crimes as well! *City Contacts
"Quality of Life" Issues/Who to Contact
Ordinance Enforcement As a follow-up to recent neighbor concerns regarding nuisance/quality of life ordinance adherence, we have listed on our Resource Links page the areas of concern as well as the City contact phone number you may call to report any perceived violations. Our City Rental Inspector has assured us that any complaints registered with the city will be followed up on, and the person reporting the violation will remain anonymous. You can also report violations via the City's website with their Report It! link Go HERE to read the full meeting minutes of this (or any) of our ODWNA Association meetings
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Wednesday October 21, 2020
via ZOOM - 7:00PM TOPIC - MEET YOUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SPEAKERS - Zac Bauer (District 2) & Tracy Hall (District 3) Commissioners Bauer & Hall will detail the work they do for you at the county level, as well as take your questions! ======== **With COVID-19 still an issue, our board will be holding our September, October, and November monthly Association meetings remotely via ZOOM. ======== The Zoom registration link for our October 21 meeting will be posted HERE in mid-October (*we are limited to 100 participants) ======== You will have the chance to sign up, log on, participate in the meeting, listen to our monthly speaker (see our great 2020-21 lineup HERE), and virtually raise your hand to ask questions. A week or so before each of our September, October, and November meetings, we will post the ZOOM meeting link to our website, Winchell FB page, and put it in our monthly eNews. Our plan (fingers crossed) is to be back in-person in the Winchell Elem. library for our January 2021 meeting. However, if that is not possible we will continue to hold our Association meetings via ZOOM. ======================== ** Our Board can always be reached via EMAIL HERE *Opportunity to Make YOUR Voice Heard to the City!
Natural Features Protection (NFP) Phase 2 This important zoning code update project is still underway. Please take a moment to check it out and comment!
Visit: http://www.imaginekalamazoo.com/projects/nfp2/ to review the draft map and share your input or call (269) 226-6524 to leave a message. The draft map is also available for review and comment in the lobby of the Community Planning and Economic Development offices (245 N Rose Street, Ste 100) and at City Hall (241 W South St) during open hours. All public feedback will be reviewed by the NFP Review Board and considered for inclusion in the final map recommendation for adoption by the City Commission. Contact Jamie McCarthy at: mccarthyja@kalamazoocity.org for more information. *City Shares Preliminary Report on Proud Boys’ March and Counter-protests
Now Available for Public Review Leaders from the City of Kalamazoo and the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety today shared a preliminary report on the Proud Boys’ march through Kalamazoo on Aug. 15. The report, which was requested by City Manager Jim Ritsema and Mayor David Anderson, will be used to help guide the city’s plans for future protests, demonstrations and rallies. You can find all of the information along with the report HERE *Kalamazoo Public Safety Policies and Documents
Now Available for Public Review The City of Kalamazoo has published on their website Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS) policies, training and recruiting documents, budget information, and union contracts and other information for public review at: www.kalamazoocity.org/kdpstransparency These documents are provided along with other relevant information such as: links to submit a FOIA request, information about the Citizens Public Safety Review and Appeals board, and crime statistics. Additionally, the KDPS hiring process, the Department’s recruiting plan for 2020-2022, and a summary of the KDPS Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Program are available for download. *Brush Pick Up
Schedule Runs June - end of October Complete program details (and collection schedule map) are available at: www.kalamazoocity.org/brush *Recycle Coach
FREE App For Personalized Trash, Recycling Info. And More! The City of Kalamazoo has launched of a mobile app (iPhone & Android) and website plug-in containing all of the information residents need to know about residential trash and recycling services, tailored specifically to your neighborhood. Other features include:
The app is available for Android and iPhone users and can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play for free by searching for “Recycle Coach” *City Public Services Information
*Upcoming City Projects
Curious about a project that is happening in the City? Want to find out what street construction projects are planned this year? Wondering about upcoming parks projects? All City-planned projects can be found at: www.kalamazoocity.org/projects Projects are identified on an interactive map that includes the project scope and estimate start and completion dates (actual dates are dependent on weather and other factors and may differ). You can also sign up for email updates on road construction at that website that will be provided approximately every two weeks. *Kalamazoo County Smart911 Available
Now Available! Public Safety Officials Encourage Residents to Sign Up For the Free Service That Provides Emergency Responders with More Information in the Event of an Emergency Public safety officials in Kalamazoo County announced today that Smart911 is now available to all individuals in Kalamazoo County. Smart911 is a free service that allows individuals and families to sign up online to provide key information to 9-1-1 call takers during an emergency. Smart911 allows citizens to create a Safety Profile at www.smart911.com for their household that includes any information they want 9-1-1 and response teams to have in the event of an emergency. When a citizen makes an emergency call, their Safety Profile is automatically displayed to the 9-1-1 call taker, allowing them to send the right response teams to the right location with the right information. *Are Your Service Water Pipes Made of Lead?
Check the map and database link below Kalamazoo's municipal water system has about 4,300 known lead service lines at about 2,800 addresses out of a total of more than 46,000 service lines in the system. At about 1,600 addresses, both the yard service lines and street service lines are lead. Of those addresses with one or the other, most of the lead pipes are yard service lines, according to city records. You can go to an MLive article HERE to access the map and/or search the database to see if your address is listed. Lead and Copper Program The City offers free lead and copper testing kits to City of Kalamazoo water customers. In an effort to streamline the City’s Lead and Copper program and respond timely to customers, the City requests that all calls and inquiries be directed to (269) 337-8550. ================== Here is a guide from the EPA, supplied to us by the City, that explains: • How lead gets into the body • About health effects of lead • What you can do to protect your family • Where to go for more information Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home * Connect With City Government!
Connect with the city to receive news, updates, and alerts 1) Foundation For Excellence website 2) www.ImagineKalamazoo.com where the public can connect and collaborate with local decision makers and other residents on the future of our community. 3) www.kalamazoocity.org/connect provides information on how residents can connect with the city to receive important information and updates. 4) The city has created an online newsletter. This bi-monthly publication will contain information about what is happening around the City and include news, alerts, meeting schedules & agendas, and events. Go HERE to sign up. |
ODWNA Statement of Purpose
-Preserve and enhance the neighborhood living concept in the area.
-Protect the natural beauty of the area.
-Encourage the beautification, physical well-being and neighborhood spirit of the residential area.
-Constructively assist the Kalamazoo City and County Planning Commissions.
-Provide a forum for open and frank discussion of different points of view on neighborhood development.
-Provide for communication on matters of neighborhood interest to residents.
The Oakland Drive/Winchell Neighborhood Association was founded in 1973 in response to the City of Kalamazoo's proposal to widen Oakland Drive, which would have required the removal of many trees.
-Protect the natural beauty of the area.
-Encourage the beautification, physical well-being and neighborhood spirit of the residential area.
-Constructively assist the Kalamazoo City and County Planning Commissions.
-Provide a forum for open and frank discussion of different points of view on neighborhood development.
-Provide for communication on matters of neighborhood interest to residents.
The Oakland Drive/Winchell Neighborhood Association was founded in 1973 in response to the City of Kalamazoo's proposal to widen Oakland Drive, which would have required the removal of many trees.
2020-21 ODWNA Board Members
President - Peter Kushner
Vice President - Chris Shook
Treasurer - Kathy Shook
Secretary - Chris Bovid
Board Members at-large:
Eric Boersma
Diana Morton-Thompson
Paul Scott
President - Peter Kushner
Vice President - Chris Shook
Treasurer - Kathy Shook
Secretary - Chris Bovid
Board Members at-large:
Eric Boersma
Diana Morton-Thompson
Paul Scott
Oakland Drive / Winchell Neighborhood Map
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ODWNA ~ P.O. BOX 20061 ~ Kalamazoo, Michigan 49019
ODWNA ~ P.O. BOX 20061 ~ Kalamazoo, Michigan 49019
