Lane Closures | Eleven Mile Road Begin Monday March 25

Construction crews will begin concrete work on Monday, March 25 on the north side of the new 11 Mile Road parking deck. The construction includes curb and gutter work, sidewalks, road infill and approaches which will require lane closures. Motorists can expect this operation to take three weeks, weather permitting. Please seek an alternate route.

Five Things You Should Know About The New Police Station

The construction of Royal Oak's new police station is slated to break ground this spring. Here are five quick facts about the design of the new police department headquarters that will make it a safer and more efficient community resource for our city.

1. Designed by Royal Oak's Finest

The new police station was designed with brainstorming and visioning input from the entire police department staff. From civilian employees in the records department to the police chief, every employee was asked to offer input on the layout. The result of this collaboration is a design that focuses on operational efficiencies. Patrol officers will spend significantly less time in the station and more time patrolling our community.

2. Safety First

The new building will come with a modern lock up and booking area that is much safer for both officers and prisoners. Ensuring safety in our community is the Royal Oak Police force's number one priority and this updated area will ensure a secure environment.

3. Public Access

Unlike the current station, with its small lobby and narrow entrance, the new facility prioritizes making circulation easier for visitors, including those using wheelchairs or strollers. All service counters in the new facility will be centrally located on the first floor making it visitor-friendly and easier to navigate. Additionally, there is a flexible conference room that will be available for committee meetings and public presentations.

4. Cool Cop Technology

The world of law enforcement is very different than in 1964 when the current police station was built. Technology and slick gadgets used by James Bond in Goldfinger (1964) are no longer the stuff of cinema fantasy but real elements changing the way police officers do just about everything. The new police station will be equipped with technological advancements that were unimaginable in the 1960s when the only modern requirement was a telephone jack. The state-of-the-art facility will allow our police force to do their job efficiently for our community.

5. Police have LEEDs

The design approach for the new building targets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards that will save money and help protect the planet.

What's Next?

* During construction, 180-parking spaces will be taken offline to make room for materials and equipment. The city has put together a guide to help visitors navigate alternative parking spaces in the vicinity. The guide can be downloaded at www.rethinkro.com.
* A brand-new parking garage one block west of the construction site is scheduled to bring 581 parking spaces to the area in June.
* The Royal Oak Farmers Market will remain open during the construction. Market officials have implemented free valet parking and shopping carts to offer visitors more options until the garage is available.
* Built nearly seven decades ago, the current City Hall and police station will be torn down when construction is completed. The work required to renovate and fix numerous problems in the older buildings were deemed too extensive and expensive to repair, according to a study commissioned from Plante Moran CRESA.
* After the buildings are demolished, construction will begin on a new two-acre downtown park. Residents have played an integral role in helping direct the look and feel of the new green space.
You can review the site plans and learn more about the police station project at www.rethinkro.com.

Residential Rain Gardens Presentation

Learn how to avoid or correct landscaping practices that contribute to flooding with a rain garden.
A Residential Rain Gardens Presentation at the Royal Oak Senior Center on March 28 at 7 p.m. will cover the basics of rain gardens as a stormwater management technique. Tips on placement, sizing, plant choices, lessons learned, and success stories will be shared.
*Interested attendees will receive a copy of the Royal Oak rain garden installation manual.

The Great Marshmellow Drop 2019 at Worden Park

Where can you see 15,000 marshmellows fall from the sky?  Worden Park. 

Friday, April 19 at 10:00am a helicopter will drop the marshmellows to three different age groups:  

4 years and younger and individuals with disabilities
Children 5-7 years old 
Children 8-12 years old

Children only need to collect one marshmellow to exchange it for a prize!  
For more details email NawrockiM@oakgov.com or call 248-858-5267

Presented by Oakland County Parks, City of Royal Oak, Vibe Credit Union and Detroit Kid City

City Clerk's Office Announces New 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.

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.

Life Now Playing

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

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.