Volunteers Needed

Many hands make light work! The complete count census committee needs just 20 volunteers to each put 10-20 signs up around the city.

When: February 29, 2020 10am - 2pm.*

Where: Pick up signs at the Royal Oak Public Library
If you are already attending the Storm Water Workshop, you can pick up signs after the workshop.

What: Pick up yard signs that will be placed in strategic, geographic locations throughout the city. Each volunteer will be given directions and locations to place the signs.
T
o volunteer go to Census@romi.gov or call 248-246-3203.
*If you want to volunteer but cannot pick the signs up on Feb 29, please call 248-246-3203 and a committee member will make sure you receive signs for distribution.

Royal Oak is committed to achieving a complete count for the 2020 Census. Help us reach a complete count!! Royal Oak’s future depends on it!

And Be Counted - Census Day April 1

Census Day, April 1st and the U.S. Census is about counting everyone once, only once and in the right place. Every resident in the U.S. should be counted where they live on April 1, 2020. Look for a postcard with more information about completing the 2020 Census Survey in your mailbox beginning March 2020.
For more information visit: 2020CENSUS.GOV
#2020Census #RoyalOakCounts #BeCountedMichigan

Veterans Event Committee Seeks Your Feedback
Tuesday March 3 at 7:00 pm

The Veterans Memorial will be moved approximately 40 feet as part of a downtown park plan approved by the city commission in January. Commissioners have asked landscape architects to work closely with veterans groups to ensure the new location is a place that is reflective and honors those heroes whose names are etched forever in our hearts.

Those interested in providing thoughtful and respectful feedback for the site design of the memorial are invited to attend the Royal Oak Veterans Events Committee meeting on March 3 at 7:00 pm in the police conference room located at 221 E Third Street.

Spread the Love - Collections Begin March 1

At the grocery store or placing that online order, why not just grab and extra jar of peanut butter and jelly to help Spread the Love!

The city will have a collection boxes at city hall and the public library.

Last year over 2000 jars were collected for the Lighthouse of Oakland County food bank - let's work together to beat that record!!

New Look For Absentee Ballot Envelopes

Absentee ballots for the March 10 presidential primary are arriving in mailboxes across Michigan and they have a new look.

A specially designed envelope with a blue and white look replaces the former larger-style manila envelopes. The return envelopes have a new green and white design. The colorful new envelopes were designed to make it easier for the United States Postal Service to process them.

A photo of the official ballot envelope is attached to help you identify it. Learn more at https://www.romi.gov/163/Elections-Voting.

Channel Your Inner Artist!

MURAL INPUT NEEDED: Houston-based UP Art Studio has been award a grant to create a mural for Sally's -- the Salvation Army's thrift store on Fourth St in downtown Royal Oak -- and they need our help.

The Texan art facilitator is calling the project “Growing a Brighter Tomorrow.” Last fall they created a similar mural for The Salvation Army Family Store & Donation Center in Detroit at 5600 E 8 Mile Road. (See attached video.)
GET CREATIVE!

UP Art Studio artists want your feedback to create a mural that reflects Royal Oak's unique character. Elementary school students will incorporate your ideas and will paint a portion of the mural in-class that will later be installed by professional artists.
Follow this link to share your super awesome ideas(!) for the mural : https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RoyalOakMural

Get Your Tickets Now For Two Great
Community Events Happening in April!

Royal Oak Blessings in a Backpack Hosts a Night of Trivia April 25th | 6:30pm | Royal Oak Elks Club
&
The First Annual Fur Ball
April 30th | 6pm | Fifth Avenue
Benefiting the Royal Oak Animal Shelter

Do I Have a Lead Water Service Line?
Please Continue to Test and Register Results

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If you haven't performed the test to find out what material your water service line is made of the Department of Public Services (DPS) still wants to hear from you!

DPS estimates that approximately 6 percent of water customers in Royal Oak have lead water service lines. Taking the simple test helps the city develop its inventory and lead water service line replacement plan.

Find out if you have a lead water service line and report it!
Get started now at https://royaloakmi.seamlessdocs.com/f/LeadTesting

Since 1992, the city has been testing the water of homes with known lead service lines. Tests were recently conducted on 30 of these homes and eight exceeded the new Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act action standard.

And, again, thanks!

Outdoor Warning Siren System Tests Begin in March

Please be advised that Oakland County Homeland Security Division will once again be testing the outdoor warning siren system on the first Saturdays of the month at 1:00 pm beginning in March.

PLEASE NOTE:
A special test in recognition of Severe Weather Awareness Week (SWAW) will be conducted on WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25 at 1:00 PM. To avoid confusion, please mark this special test on your calendar.

Due to the special SWAW test at the end of March, there will not be a siren test on the first Saturday in April.
FYI: Siren tests are NOT conducted during December, January, or February due to winter weather

Become a Storm Spotter in Your Own Home!

Skywarn Weather Spotters provide a valuable service to the National Weather Service by reporting storm damage, precipitation and other observed weather phenomena.
Only one instrument can detect a tornado or funnel with complete certainty--the human eye.

To learn more and to see the training schedule go to: https://www.oakgov.com/…/skywarn-spotter-training-program.a…

Have a Neighborhood Homeowners Association or Want to Start One - We Want to Hear From You!

The City of Royal Oak is updating its Homeowners Association page at:
https://www.romi.gov/632/Homeowners-Associations

If you are actively representing a Block Club, Condominium Association, Homeowners Association, Improvement Association or Neighborhood Association and are not listed but would like to be, please fill out the following form:

https://www.romi.gov/…/Submit-Your-Homeowners-Association-49

Thank you in advance!

Spring Tree Planting Program Online Now!

Help the environment of Royal Oak by planting a tree (or two!). Select from a number of lovely trees for planting on public or private property at a very reasonable price.

Learn more at https://www.romi.gov/1454/Spring-2020-Tree-Planting-Program

What Going On at the Normandy Oaks Park?

While winter has shut down much of the work on the site, we wanted to take this opportunity to bring the neighborhood and community up to date on what was accomplished this past fall and what the plan is moving into the spring of this new year. The mass grading for the entire project was 90 percent completed, including pond grading, soccer field grading, and trails and parking. The new pavilion building was erected and roofed. Final plumbing and fixture installation will be complete in early spring. Installation of the bridge across the new pond is underway and will be completed this winter.

The parking area was installed except asphalt pavement, which will be completed in the late spring. Paved trails will also be installed beginning in late spring and be complete by early summer.

The “core” of the park, which is the splash pad, playground and pavilion space, will be complete and ready for use by July 4th. The soccer field will require time for grass turf to mature and will not be ready for use until 2021.

Travel Plans That Include Flying in Your Future? Better Plan to Visit Secretary of State For REAL ID

Starting Oct. 1, 2020, you’ll need a REAL ID-compliant document to fly in the U.S. and enter some federal facilities per federal law. You can obtain a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or state ID from the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office. Learn more at Michigan.gov/REALID

Police Department Update

Residents can find the most recent police reports on the city's website at http://romi.gov/963/Press-Releases

Citizens are also encouraged to sign up for crime alerts at crimemapping.com. Crime Mapping's goal is to assist police departments in reducing crime through a better-informed citizenry.

Sign up for public safety alerts from the police using Civic Ready. Click here to subscribe.

Residential Lock Boxes Available at the Fire Department

When a person living alone calls 911 and is unable to open the door, firefighters must break through a door or a window causing costly damage to the person's home and wasting valuable time.
The Royal Oak Fire Department’s residential lockbox program is designed to get quick access to adults living in their own homes during medical emergencies -- especially senior citizens.
When you suffer a fall, stroke or heart attack, every second counts. The lockbox -- which contains a key to your home -- reduces the likelihood of property damage caused by first responders forcing entry into your home in response to an emergency call.

The lockbox program is open to all Royal Oak residents who either live alone or are left alone on a regular basis and have a condition which may result in the need for immediate assistance due to being incapacitated or unconscious. This includes the elderly, physically handicapped or residents recovering from a major injury or surgery.
For more information, go to https://www.romi.gov/1271/FAQ-Residential-Lockbox

City Clerk's Office Offers Online Services
Including No Reason Absentee Voting

The city clerk's office is pleased to announce several new services available online!!!

Permanent Absentee Voting

With the passage of Proposal 3 last November, you no longer need a reason to vote by absentee. If you would like to sign up now to be on our permanent absentee list, please go to our link located at https://royaloakmi.seamlessdocs.com/f/permanentabsenteelist

Birth Certificates

Stay at home and enjoy your new bundle of joy and request your birth certificate online!

https://royaloakmi.seamlessdocs.com/f/birthcertificaterequest

Dog Licenses and Mark Twain Dog Park Passes

We have your canine companion's needs all covered, new or renew your dog licenses and interested in a play date at Mark Twain Park? Get your dog park passes online too.
https://royaloakmi.seamlessdocs.com/f/doglicense
https://royaloakmi.seamlessdocs.com/f/dogparkapplication

Death Certificates

It is a difficult time but you will need copies of the death certificate. We can make it a little easier by saving the trip to city hall.
https://royaloakmi.seamlessdocs.com/f/deathrecordrequest

Residential Street Zoned Permit Parking

You can obtain a parking permit which allows the vehicle to only park on residential streets which are designated as permit parking zones. The parking permit allows the vehicle to park only during the times posted in the permit parking zone on the street for which they were issued.

https://royaloakmi.seamlessdocs.com/f/residentialparkingapplication

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Library Events

There is always something interesting and exciting happening at the Royal Oak Public Library. Go to ropl,org to learn more.

Library hours are: Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (September through June only)

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Work for the City of Royal Oak

Thank you for your interest in employment with the City of Royal Oak.

To browse through available opportunities go to: romi.gov/jobs

'Like Us' on Facebook

Want to know what's happening in Royal Oak?
Join thousands of your neighbors on the city's official Facebook page and get daily posts about the things that matter in our hometown.
Like us today at: https://www.facebook.com/Royal-Oak-MI-City-Hall-157871554266952

Life Now Playing

For a list of meetings and community events please visit our calendar here.

Senior Times Newsletter

The City of Royal Oak offers mature adults opportunities for lifelong education, fitness, nutrition and leisure activities.

Click here for the latest news and information from the Mahany/ Meininger Community Center.

City Launches Mobile App

The City of Royal Oak has a new mobile app! Find out what's happening, get meeting agendas, discover employment opportunities within the city and more.

Download the app at these locations:

Apple Store
Google Play Store

Support Local Service Clubs & Organizations

Royal Oak service clubs support our public schools, local history, nature, senior citizens, young people, veterans and more. To learn more about Royal Oak service clubs go to www.romi.gov/interclub.

Make Convenient Online Payments

Did you know you can make online payments for property taxes and utility bills?

Go to http://romi.gov/868/Online-Payments to learn more.