The City of Royal Oak prides itself on being a walkable community and puts great efforts to provide a safe and complete sidewalk network. Our codes and ordinances are written so that we can monitor, repair and add to the network accordingly.

City Ordinance §650-5C dictates that all sidewalks within the City shall be kept and maintained in good repair by the owner of the land adjacent to and abutting upon it. If any owner shall neglect to keep and maintain the sidewalk along the front, rear, or side of the land owned by him in good repair and safe for the use of the public, the owner shall be liable to the City for any damages recovered against the City sustained by any person by reason of such sidewalk being unsafe and out of repair.

The property owner may elect to replace the problem public sidewalk by hiring a contractor to perform the work. That contractor must obtain an Engineering Permit through the city engineering division prior to beginning work. The work must be completed BEFORE the city’s contractor arrives on that street.

Additional public sidewalk replacement may be added to the scheduled work for a property. Contact the engineering division to schedule an appointment with the inspector and have the necessary paperwork executed. It should be noted that once started, the program and contractor moves quickly, and requests for additional work should be made immediately after receiving the notification letter.

The property owner may contact the city’s contractor directly to arrange for the installation of any driveway or approach work; however this work cannot be added to the city’s sidewalk contract and shall be contracted directly with the contractor.

Property owners will be billed by the City for the sidewalk work with one bill in the beginning of the following year. The bill shall be paid in full within 30 days or as noted on the invoice. Unpaid bills will be added to the tax role of properties as required.

Property owners may request a payment plan for the sidewalk work, which must be approved by the city commission. Once approved, payment plans will be billed through the treasurer’s office. They are typically spread over six years with a maximum 6% interest rate. Interest rates and time periods are established by the city commission prior to billing. Payment plans can be paid off at any time without penalty; contact the treasurer’s office for a payoff amount. Currently, this is the only payment plan offered by the city.

In addition to the criteria for replacing deficient sidewalk, the city commission also authorized the installation of new sidewalks adjacent to properties currently not providing five foot wide concrete sidewalks. This fulfills the City’s master plans and non-motorized plan of a complete walkable community, to continue to expand the sidewalk network so that pedestrians can traverse to all areas and access all properties safely.

The property owner should contact the engineering division and schedule an appointment to meet with the inspector who will explain the required criteria and note why sidewalks meet specific criteria. If the property owner further disagrees with the assessment, they may submit a written request for exemption which will be reviewed by the city engineer, who will respond in writing.

The sidewalk program typically begins in early June and continues to the end of October. In any particular location, the sidewalk will be removed and replaced within a matter of days up to one week. New concrete sidewalks placed in a driveway location cannot be driven on for 7 days. Adjacent pavement and lawn restoration will be performed as the contractor progresses through the target area and will be completed before the end of the contract. Property owners can help by watering newly planted grass seed to ensure its growth.

The city or its contractor will provide advance written notice the day beforehand to any property affected with sidewalk to be removed and replaced across the driveway. The notice, a door hanger, will be placed in the door of the affected property alerting the property owner to have all necessary vehicles moved to the street where parking is allowed. The city will not enforce special parking areas during the construction. Parking is not allowed on major roads. Barricades may be placed at drive locations until it is safe to drive on the new pavement.

The city’s contractor has been instructed to take special care when building sidewalks around sprinkler systems. As stated in the notification letter, property owners are required to mark their sprinklers so that these locations are clear to the contractor. The contractor will repair or replace any marked sprinkler that becomes damaged from the work. Private sprinklers located on city right-of-way that are not marked by the property owner prior to sidewalk construction will not be repaired if damaged.

This work is included in the construction of sidewalk. Tree roots will be removed adjacent to marked sidewalk panels where possible. In some instances, where space is available, the sidewalk may be curved around a tree. The property owner is responsible to repair the sidewalks regardless of the location or owner of the tree. City trees will not be removed unless the Parks & Forestry division deems the tree unhealthy or too large for the space where the tree is intended to grow.

Residents can hire a contractor to grind the edges of sidewalk flags to eliminate trip hazards.  This is only allowed for height differentials of 1-inch or less, and can only be done one time to avoid over-weakening the concrete slab. 

The slope of the grinding must be 8% (1-inch height over 12-inch long).  For example, if grinding a trip hazard of 0.5-inches, the grinding must extend 6 inches into the slab.

Summer property taxes are due to the City by July 31st.  Winter property taxes are due to the City by February 14th.  Please verify the due date on your current tax statement, as the City of Royal Oak does not accept postmarks as proof of payment date.

There is a 24-hour drop box located near the front entrance of Royal Oak City Hall, located at 203 S Troy Street and another drop box n front of the employee ramp next to the Farmers' Market.  Drop box payments received before 8 a.m. are processed with the previous days' work (example: payments pulled from the drop box on Monday morning are processed as received the prior Friday).  All unpaid taxes on March 1st are payable to Oakland County.

Property tax information is now available online for free. First time users will need to register by choosing “Register” option from the drop down list under “Currently not signed in” tab in the upper right hand corner of the web page. You will be able to search tax, utility billing, special assessment, miscellaneous receivable and building permit information on this website.

Visit the bsaonline.com website.

The Treasurer’s Office can provide you with a copy of your paid tax bill. There is a $1 fee per page. If you’d like to avoid this fee, simply visit the website, linked below. First time users will need to register by choosing “Register” option from the drop down list under “Currently not signed in” tab in the upper right hand corner of the web page. You will be able to search tax, utility billing, special assessment, miscellaneous receivable and building permit information on this website.

Visit the bsaonline.com website.

The United Way for Southeastern Michigan is the program administrator for Water Residential Assistance Program (WRAP) in Oakland County.  All residents seeking WRAP services in an Oakland County community should apply through United Way. 

Below is a quick snapshot of WRAP:

• Bill Credits - The recently launched WRAP Income Based Plan (IBP) provides bill credits that are unique to each household and are based on annual household income and annual water and sewer bill amount. Households are expected to pay the remaining portion of their bill.
• Arrearage Assistance - Eligible households that have a past due balance are eligible to receive up to $1,200 in arrearage assistance upon enrollment. Additionally, households may be eligible to receive an additional amount up to $1,200 in year two of WRAP.
• Conservation Measures - Enrolled households are eligible to receive up to $2,000 in conservations measures, such as a home water audit, minor plumbing repairs, and educational information regarding water usage. With an emphasis on creating a healthy home, households can receive repairs on leaking or nonfunctioning plumbing and other water fixtures to create a safe and livable home. 
• Other Benefits - Case management empowers WRAP service delivery partners (United Way) to work directly with households in reviewing their progress in making payments. Service delivery partners can also provide the household with access to additional wraparound services.

United Way for Southeastern Michigan – WRAP Services in Oakland County:

Online Application: https://uwsem.smapply.org/prog/utilities/

Phone: 248-983-5656

- $30 - If the claim you are filing is for $600 or less. - $50 - If the claim is for between $600 and $1,750. - $70 - If the claim is for between $1,750 and $6,000. NOTE: The maximum will increase to $6,500 January 1, 2021 - $10 - If you want us to mail the papers by Certified Mail. - $20.00+ - If you want our Court Officer to personally serve the papers. This fee varies depending on where the defendant lives. Note: If the Judge/Magistrate rules in your favor, then costs (including those listed above) will be added to your claim at the time of the Judgment and the Defendant will be responsible for reimbursing you for those costs.

Water and sewer charges are based on water consumption, as measured by the water meter. The rates for water and sewer are applied uniformly to all water consumers. The difference between water and sewer charges is due to the difference in cost – it is more expensive to treat wastewater than to deliver fresh water. 

Sewer charges are based solely on the quantity of water used, regardless of the purpose for which the water is used.

Check with the Water Billing Department to verify that the previous owner has requested a final water bill. We can tell you the amount billed to the prior owner for water use, as well as whether this amount has been paid. If a final bill has not been requested, we can assist you with what is required in order for a final bill to be generated.

The regular water bills are prepared quarterly. The exact billing period will depend upon the area where the property is located. Each quarterly bill is mailed approximately three weeks after the meter is read and is due 24 days later.

Requests to update or change a billing address can be emailed to Water Billing. Or, fill out Address Change Request Form and mail it to: City of Royal Oak Water Billing Department, P.O. Box 64, Royal Oak, MI 48068-0064. 

The first step is to make sure that it was read properly. Compare the current read on your bill to the first four numbers on your meter. If the read on the meter is higher than the read on the bill – your meter was read correctly.

Your next step is to check for leaks. First, rule out any obvious suspects. Do you have a faucet that has been dripping continuously for months, or did you fix a running toilet a couple weeks ago? Any kind of water leak will increase your water usage (and therefore your bill). Your meter can help you identify if you have a leak. Some of the newer meters have a leak detector that will clearly indicate if you have a leak.

With any type of meter you can do a three hour water test. At the beginning of a 3 - 4 hour stretch, write down all of the numbers on your meter even the ones after the decimal point. For the next 3 - 4 hours, refrain from using any water at the property, then look at your meter again and compare the numbers. If any of the numbers have changed, there is a leak somewhere on the property.

Water is a closed system. If everything is off the way it should be, nothing can move in the pipes. The meter can only register usage when water passes through it. If water is passing through the meter, it has to be going somewhere. Toilets are our biggest suspects.

If you’ve heard anything suspicious from a toilet – even if you think it’s nothing, there is a good chance that toilet is leaking. You can test your toilets by coloring the water in the tank (back) of the toilet. To color the water, use dye tabs (available from the Treasurer's Office at City Hall) or food coloring. After adding the color, leave that toilet alone for at least three hours. If after that time any of the color from the tank has leached into the bowl – that toilet is leaking.

If you have performed these tests and still can’t identify the problem, give us a call at 248-246-3160.

Please visit Invoice Cloud to set up AutoPay. If you need help, you can follow these instructions.

Generally the answer is no. Bills are sent to "Water Customer" not to a specifically named person, and water service is not turned off unless specifically requested. However, if you find that you do not have water service after occupying the home, please contact the Water Billing Department to schedule an appointment to have the water service turned on.

Water is billed by the unit. Each unit is 100 cubic feet. 100 cubic feet is approximately 750 gallons. 

One unit is indicated by the 4th digit on your water meter.

You may email the Water Billing Department or call us at 248-246-3160 with any questions. Please have your current meter reading when calling.

Homeowners are responsible for any issues related to the sewer up to the connection to the city main line and water line running from their house to the curb stop (typically located between the sidewalk and street). Repairs on these lines can be costly.

The city recognizes Service Line Warranties of America as a preferred company for water and sewer line insurance. Insurance for the water line and the sewer line can be purchased through them. For any questions related to this insurance, please contact Service Line Warranties of America directly at 1-866-425-6223. 

You may be able to purchase service line insurance coverage through your existing homeowner's insurance policy. Contact your insurance provider for more information.

If you experience discolored water, it is usually due to sediment being stirred up when there is a large draw of water, either from a water main break or a fire hydrant being used. After work is completed, the sediment will settle down.  To speed the process, we ask that you DO NOT use the water (this keeps the sediment stirred up).  To check the condition of your water, use the cold water faucet closest to the water meter (usually in the basement) and let it run for 15-20 seconds. If the water is still discolored, wait 30 - 45 minutes and try again.  Do not use hot water, although there is no harm to the hot water tank it does take longer to empty out. Once the cold water is clear, you may return to normal use.

The Water Residential Assistance Program provides funding to eligible, low income households. Funding is provided by the Great Lakes Water Authority and is administered in partnership with local community action agencies.

The United Way for Southeastern Michigan is the program administrator for Water Residential Assistance Program (WRAP) in Oakland County.  All residents seeking WRAP services in an Oakland County community should apply through United Way.  For more information, call WRAP 248-983-5656 or apply online.

When one of the major Federal holidays falls on a weekday, collection for the remaining days of the week will be delayed one day.  Trash pickup is not impacted when a holiday falls on a weekend. 

Collection is delayed for these National holidays ONLY:

• New Years Day 

• Memorial Day

 • Independence Day 

• Labor Day 

• Thanksgiving (delayed Thursday and Friday only*) 

• Christmas Day 

*Thursday waste is picked up on Friday, and Friday waste is picked up on Saturday. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are picked up on the scheduled day.

A request regarding the issue can be submitted to the engineering division. Significant parking modifications require an in-house review and the findings will be sent to the traffic committee for discussion and recommendation. More information can be found on the

City sewers can only handle a certain amount of flow, and when sewers are overloaded, they can back-up into residents’ basements. To avoid this problem, the city uses catch basin covers that limit how fast water can enter the sewer system. These restricted catch basin covers cause temporary ponding on residential streets during rain storms. The ponded water is typically less than 12 inches deep at the edge of the road. This allows vehicles to drive through the center of the road (with caution) where the water is less deep. Because the restricted catch basin covers have only two or four openings (slots), it is easy for leaves, grass clippings, debris, etc. to clog the openings and cause excess street flooding. If you see a clogged cover, you can help your entire street by clearing the debris! The DPS and Engineering Division also work their way through the city to help clear off clogged catch basins covers.

City code §650-5C dictates that all sidewalks within the City shall be kept and maintained in good repair by the owner of the land adjacent to and abutting upon it. If any owner shall neglect to keep and maintain the sidewalk along the front, rear, or side of the land owned by him in good repair and safe for the use of the public, the owner shall be liable to the City for any damages recovered against the City sustained by any person by reason of such sidewalk being unsafe and out of repair.

There are several ways you can reduce or eliminate standing water. The engineering division has compiled a list of solutions here.

Additionally, the Oakland County Water Resource Commission (OCWRC) is launching a rebate program to help fund storm water management for private residential properties. Learn more here.

Public trees- These are trees managed by the City’s Department of Public Works. These trees are located on public property, include trees in parks and “street trees” in the right-of-way (the lawn area between the sidewalk and the curb). All work on public trees must be done by the City or with a permit from the Engineering Department.

For the purposes of tree trimming, the City of Royal Oak is divided into 8 sections with the goal of completing one section every year. This systematic approach to trimming & elevating will be more efficient than responding to individual tree trimming requests. Trimming will consist of elevation and crown thinning (removing 1.5” diameter deadwood and larger). Please refer to the block trimming map. 

While general trimming of street trees will be handled through the city’s block trimming program, requests for inspections will be taken if there is a case for removal. If you feel a city tree is dangerous and needs to be removed, please contact the Department of Public Works at (248) 246-3300 M-F 7:30am to 4:00pm. An ISA Certified Arborist will examine the public tree and will assess where it falls on our risk factor scale. There are 3 levels of risk: low, moderate, and high which will determine the urgency of the tree’s removal. 

If you see a broken/cracked branch or a branch that is hanging from a public tree and could cause injury, please call DPS during office hours (248) 246-3300 M-F 7:30am to 4:00pm or the Police Department after hours (248) 246-3500. 

In the event of a storm the city will send a crew out to chip branches that have fallen from public trees. Branches that have fallen from trees on private property are the responsibility of the homeowner. While yard waste collection is in season (April-mid December) private property branches that are less than 4ft long and between 2-5 inches in diameter can be bundled and set out for collection on your trash day. For larger branches on private property the homeowner may need the services of a chipping company. The City of Royal Oak contracts with JH Hart Urban Forestry which provides chipping services. They can be contacted at (586) 795-5581 for rates. 

If a tree or large branch has fallen and is blocking the road or sidewalk, please call DPW during office hours (248) 246-3300 M-F 7:30am to 4:00pm or the Police Department after hours (248) 246-3500.

In most cases it would be considered a private matter and would need to be resolved between neighbors but if the tree overgrowth presents a risk to public spaces, then the city can intervene. 

• Ordinance 710-8. Every owner of any tree, shrub or plant overhanging the streets or highways within the City of Royal Oak shall turn the branches so that such branches shall not obstruct the light from any street lamp or obstruct the view of any street intersection and so that there shall be a clear space of eight feet above the surface of the street or highway. Said owner or owners shall remove all dead, diseased or dangerous trees or broken or decayed limbs which constitute a menace to the safety of the public. 
  1. To report a concern about a tree on private property with overhanging limbs you may call and leave a message on the 24-hour Code Enforcement hotline (248) 246-3238.
• Ordinance 710-20. Trees of all species and varieties of elm infected with a fungus Ceratostomella ulmi (Dutch elm disease) are hereby declared to be a public nuisance and must be eradicated and burned within a thirty-day period following the discovery of such infection.
  1. The Department of Public Service annually inspects all elm trees on private property and will require the property owner to remove the tree if it infected with the (Dutch Elm Disease) Fungus. 

All work on public trees must be done or approved by the city. To prune a tree on public property, the property owner must obtain a right-of-way permit from the Engineering Department. Only an insured tree company is qualified to perform work. 

If a tree was removed from your right-of-way, or if you have an open space in the right-of-way adjacent to your property, you may request a FREE street tree to be planted in the right-of-way near your home. Visit romi.gov/tree-program for more information. Please note that the city’s arborist will choose the type of trees best suited for each space.

Homeowners may hire a private company to plant a tree in the right-of-way provided they obtain a right-of-way permit from the city in advance.  The city’s arborist will work with the property owner to confirm the type of tree desired is compatible with our desired urban forestry plan.  

You may have up to 100 items checked out at any time.

You may have up to 25 unfilled holds on your account. Any holds that are waiting for you on the shelf do not count towards your limit of 25. Also, your holds will stay on the shelf for seven (7) days, so make sure you get them before they're gone!

• For drop-offs after library hours, please use the book drops on the north or south sides of the library.
• Please note, due to the high volume of returned items, materials may show on your account for up to a week. If your returned items are still on your account past one week, please contact the library.

Library visitors can park in city-operated garages, where the first two hours are free and then $0.75 per hour afterward. The garage closest to the library is the 11 Mile Parking Deck just west of the library. You can enter it via E. Eleven Mile Road. View the Downtown Royal Oak Parking Guide: www.romi.gov/1316/Parking

You may use your card at any of the 50 libraries in the TLN network: TLN Visitors Page. There are also some "standalone" libraries where you can use your card: Baldwin, Bloomfield Township, Canton, Clarkston, Dearborn, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Grosse Pointe, Howell Carnegie, Northfield Township, Orion Township, Pinckney, Plymouth, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak Township, St. Clair County Library, Saline, Southfield, West Bloomfield Township, Westland, and Ypsilanti. We have a reciprocal borrowing agreement with Troy Public Library as well. But wait, there's more! If you ask for a MI Library Card sticker for your card, you have access to even more libraries in Michigan: http://milibrarycard.org/partcipating.html. Please call or visit any of these libraries if you are interested in utilizing these great resources.

In September 2022, ROPL joined the MeLCat Visiting Patron program, adding more than 150 libraries you can visit with your library card. Check out the list at Participating MeLCat Libraries.

The library has several resources for eBooks. With Libby, you can borrow and enjoy eBooks, audiobooks, and more. MeL.org offers an eBook Collection with over 20,000 eBooks available on a variety of topics. hoopla is an online streaming service offering feature films, documentaries, music albums and audiobooks.

From Albanian to Vietnamese we have a foreign language book section for adults as well as for children plus an ESL collection in both print and non-print formats.

We offer programs for people of all ages. This Program Calendar link takes you to our calendar which lists all upcoming library events. Most programs are free, but may require registration. Be sure to subscribe to our monthly newsletters that feature our programs and services!

The 2026 Royal Oak/Ferndale Area Preschool and Childcare Directory provides information on over 40 area facilities. The information in this directory was supplied by the individual agencies. This list does not contain every preschool and childcare facility in the area. Inclusion in this directory does not imply endorsement or recommendation.

2026 Royal Oak/Ferndale Area Preschool and Child Care Directory (PDF) 

The Michigan Activity Pass program is designed to enhance the learning experience for people of all ages by providing reduced cost or complimentary access to arts and cultural organizations across the state of Michigan. Get Passes.

The Library is pleased to announce the completion of a digitization project that offers thousands of pages of newspapers available to search, view, print and clip with a click of a mouse. Past issues of The Royal Oak Daily Tribune are now available through the Royal Oak Public Library Digital Archive. The digital archive spans over 138 years from 1877 to 2015 and can be accessed HERE.

Our Local History Room contains city documents, yearbooks and city directories. In addition we have old phone books and Bresser’s directories as well as the Ancestry Library Edition database (In library Only), and MyHeritage Library Edition. Please call (248) 246-3727 for more information.

The latest information on what can go in the green recycling roll-carts may be found on the Green Team's recycling page.

It depends. Coffee cups made of paper or cardboard can be put in the paper roll-carts, and plastic drinking cups may be placed in the commingled roll-carts. SOCRRA does not currently accept Styrofoam through its roll-cart recycling, so cups and containers made with Styrofoam will need to be placed in the trash. As with all food and beverage containers, we ask that you please empty them of liquid/food before placing them in the bins.

Currently, SOCRRA does not accept Styrofoam in its green roll-cart recycling program.

SOCRRA stands for Southeastern Oakland County Resource Recovery Authority, and is a municipal corporation in which Royal Oak is a member. All of our recycling contracts are coordinated through SOCRRA and our recyclable materials go to their facility on Coolidge, just north of 14 Mile.

A cross-connection is a connection of a potable water system to a non-potable system or a system of questionable water quality.

Backflow, within the context of the drinking water industry, means the reversal of water flow from its normal or intended direction of flow. Whenever a water utility connects a customer to its water distribution system, the intention is for the water to flow from the distribution system to the customer. However, it is possible, and quite common, for the flow to be reversed and the flow from the customer’s plumbing system can back up into the public water distribution system. If cross-connections exist within the user’s plumbing system when backflow occurs, then it is possible to contaminate the public water system.

Backflow may occur simply because the public water system lost pressure. Backflow, reversal of flow from its normal direction, is usually caused by a back pressure or backsiphonage. It is a condition that manifests itself when the water pressure within an establishment’s plumbing system exceeds that of the water distribution system supplying it. This back pressure might be caused by a difference in elevation, a pump, a steam boiler or other means.

Back pressure or Backsiphonage may occur when the water pressure within the distribution system falls below that of the plumbing system it is supplying. This may happen due to a fire department pumper truck as it needs to pump water out of the distribution system faster than the water treatment plant equipment can replace it. Also, the water rushing downhill due to a broken water main might create a partial vacuum on some plumbing systems connected in the vicinity of the break and cause a backsiphonage or, perhaps, simply flushing the water pipes to clean them may cause this phenomenon.

Yes, in the old days many disease epidemics were caused by cross-connections between potable water systems and raw river water or lake water piping systems. Epidemics of typhoid and cholera were often caused by backflow occurrences from these sources. People died or became very ill as a result of these outbreaks. A few of the contaminants caused by cross-connections are:

Untreated river, sea or lake water, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, propane gas, worm treatment for poultry, boiler water with chemicals, anti-freeze, blood and body fluids from funeral homes, chemicals, water from car washes, dyes, sewage, Freon, worms, heavy metals such as arsenic, petrochemicals, water from flush toilets, bacteria cultures from laboratories and others.

This is only a partial list of documented cases of potable water contamination by virtue of cross-connections and backflow occurrences. They still happen, somewhere, every day.

Modern technology has provided us with new tools to prevent backflow from non-potable sources into our public water systems. They are called backflow prevention assemblies; reduced pressure (RP) or double check valve (DC)-type. Unlike the older accepted, non-testable hardware for preventing backflow such as swing check valves, dual check valves and atmospheric vacuum breakers (which still have their applications), the RP and DC-type backflow prevention assemblies are testable to assure they are in proper working order. Placed at the site of the cross-connection they can protect the plumbing system from contamination. Placed just downstream of a water meter to an establishment, they can protect the public water system from any contamination that may occur within the entire establishment’s plumbing system.

Where backflow occurs and cross-connections are present you have all of the necessary elements for contamination of the plumbing system and subsequently contamination of the public water system:

Backflow Occurrence = Link + Force

The City of Royal Oak is required under Public Act 399, Part 14, to maintain a cross connection control program to identify and eliminate any possible connections that could contaminate the public water system.

To fully comply with this state mandate, the city has contracted with HydroCorp of Troy, MI to assist with facilitating a Cross Connection Control Program.

Information on this program can be found at www.romi.gov/cccp.

As stated in Royal Oak’s municipal code, the Historic District Study Committee (HDSC) was established to “provide for the establishment of historic districts in carrying out the public purpose of historic preservation in the City of Royal Oak, consistent with the State of Michigan Local Historic Districts Act” (§ 82-3). A historic district is “an area, or group of areas not necessarily having contiguous boundaries, that contains one resource or a group of resources that are related by history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture” (§ 82-3).

There are currently 13 historic districts within the city of Royal Oak that have been designated as such by the HDSC. These districts are listed in the Royal Oak municipal code Ch. 82, Articles IV-XVI:

• Royal Oak Savings Bank Block (at the southwest corner of Fourth and Main Streets and Haberman's Fabric Store at 117 West Fourth Street-originally known as the A.G. Miller Building).
• Hilzinger Block Building (106-110 South Main Street)
• B&C Grocery Store (417, 419 and 421 South Main Street and 101 East Fifth Street”)
• Royal Oak Woman’s Club (404 South Pleasant Street)
• McDowell House (402 North Troy Street)
• Orson Starr House (3123 North Main Street)
• George and Anna Hilzinger House (211 Knowles)
• Stauch House (4620 Elmhurst Avenue)
• Hermann’s Bakery (317 South Main Street)
• Baldwin Theater (415 South Lafayette)
• Knowles House (524 East Lincoln Avenue)
• Fleming Goodrich House (319 Crane Avenue)
• L.A. Young Historic District (11 homes on North Altadena Avenue: 1016, 1021, 1036, 1107, 1110, 1111, 1114, 1115, 1118, 1122, 1123)

Properties in Royal Oak cannot be designated historic without owner permission.

“In evaluating the significance of historic resources, the Committee shall be guided by the selection criteria for evaluation issued by the United States Secretary of the Interior for inclusion of resources in the National Register of Historic Places, as set forth in 36 CFR Part 60, and criteria established or approved by the Bureau, if any” (§82-9).

A property may be designated historic if it is a “publicly or privately owned building, structure, site, object, feature or open space that is significant in the history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture of the City of Royal Oak, the State of Michigan, or the United States” (§82-2). More specifically, the HDSC applies criteria from the US Department of Interior,

National Park Service: “the quality of significance in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture is present in districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association, and:

A. That are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the

broad patterns of our history; or

B. That are associated with the lives of significant persons in our past; or

C. That embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of

construction, or that represent the work of a master, or that possess high artistic values, or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or

D. That have yielded or may be likely to yield, information important in history or

prehistory.”

The most important benefit is preserving Royal Oak history, both in neighborhoods as well as downtown (and perhaps spurring cultural heritage tourism). According to the Michigan Historic Preservation Network’s report published in 2016, there is also less of a possibility of demolition, as well as some economic benefit, such as higher actualized resale value. The Local Historic Districts Act of 1970, which allows cities to establish ordinances to “regulate the construction, addition, alteration, repair, moving, excavation, and demolition of resources in historic districts within the limits of the local unit,” describes the following as reasons for historic preservation:

(a) Safeguard the heritage of the local unit by preserving 1 or more historic districts in

the local unit that reflect elements of the unit's history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture.

(b) Stabilize and improve property values in each district and the surrounding areas.

(c) Foster civic beauty.

(d) Strengthen the local economy.

(e) Promote the use of historic districts for the education, pleasure, and welfare of the citizens of the local unit and of the state.” (§399.202)

The State of Michigan discontinued tax incentives for historic properties, but it is possible these incentives may be reinstated in the future.

The most important benefit is preserving Royal Oak history, both in neighborhoods as well as downtown (and perhaps spurring cultural heritage tourism). According to the Michigan Historic Preservation Network’s report published in 2016, there is also less of a possibility of demolition, as well as some economic benefit, such as higher actualized resale value. The Local Historic Districts Act of 1970, which allows cities to establish ordinances to “regulate the construction, addition, alteration, repair, moving, excavation, and demolition of resources in historic districts within the limits of the local unit,” describes the following as reasons for historic preservation:

(a) Safeguard the heritage of the local unit by preserving 1 or more historic districts in

the local unit that reflect elements of the unit's history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture.

(b) Stabilize and improve property values in each district and the surrounding areas.

(c) Foster civic beauty.

(d) Strengthen the local economy.

(e) Promote the use of historic districts for the education, pleasure, and welfare of the citizens of the local unit and of the state.” (§399.202)

The State of Michigan discontinued tax incentives for historic properties, but it is possible these incentives may be reinstated in the future.

The most important benefit is preserving Royal Oak history, both in neighborhoods as well as downtown (and perhaps spurring cultural heritage tourism). According to the Michigan Historic Preservation Network’s report published in 2016, there is also less of a possibility of demolition, as well as some economic benefit, such as higher actualized resale value. The Local Historic Districts Act of 1970, which allows cities to establish ordinances to “regulate the construction, addition, alteration, repair, moving, excavation, and demolition of resources in historic districts within the limits of the local unit,” describes the following as reasons for historic preservation:

(a) Safeguard the heritage of the local unit by preserving 1 or more historic districts in

the local unit that reflect elements of the unit's history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture.

(b) Stabilize and improve property values in each district and the surrounding areas.

(c) Foster civic beauty.

(d) Strengthen the local economy.

(e) Promote the use of historic districts for the education, pleasure, and welfare of the citizens of the local unit and of the state.” (§399.202)

The State of Michigan discontinued tax incentives for historic properties, but it is possible these incentives may be reinstated in the future.

Quite a bit of research, verification, and writing go into designating city properties as historic. The State requires a great deal of information and adherence to specific guidelines. (Consult the link to Local Historic Districts in Michigan manual for more information regarding everything that must go into the reports.) However, the HDSC cannot designate properties in Royal Oak as historic without owner permission. This is the first step. A property owner must first contact the HDSC and attend a meeting to request a study on the property, should they have a reasonable belief that their property meets a criterion/criteria for designation. The HDSC then conducts some research into the property to establish facts, and if enough is available, committee members visit the property to take measurements, photos, and observe documents or specific

features of the property. Research continues by the committee, who write a preliminary report following State guidelines. This preliminary report is sent to the State, City Planning Department, Mayor and City Commission. The State Historic Preservation Office must review the report (which could take six to eight weeks) and the HDSC must address any comments, and make additions or corrections before publishing the final report that is once again distributed to the State and City members. The Planning Department reads the report and meets with the HDSC to determine whether it recommends or disapproves of the study. If approved by the Planning Department, the report is forwarded to the City for their review at a City Commission meeting. When the City approves the historic designation, the property owner must be present at the meeting to verify their acceptance. Following this, the City Attorney prepares an ordinance regarding the property and the owner receives a copy of the final report for their records.

The HDSC charges a modest cost to cover the clerical work (primarily printing costs) involved in preparing the preliminary and final reports. If a property is designated historic, the property owner may choose to purchase approved official signage through the HDSC.

Changes to the interior, unless they affect the integrity of the exterior, do not require review, or approval by the Historic District Commission (HDC).

Changes to the exterior need to be addressed as follows:

• The request for change is taken to the Building Department at City Hall along with any contracts.

• The Building Department contacts the HDC chairperson.

• The HDC chairperson convenes its members, sets a date for review, and notifies the Building Department, who in turn, notifies the property owner of the date to attend this review. Contractors should be included.

• Following review and discussion, the HDC will vote to

1. Approve

2. Not approve

3. Partial approval

• Notification is given to the Building Department within the next business day.

• The HDC reports are the methods for noting changes in the historically designated properties for future reference.

Please contact our chairperson, Ruth Cleaveland, at 248-547-6217.

• Royal Oak municipal code “Ch. 82: Historic Preservation”: https://ecode360.com/8258731
• Michigan Historic Preservation Network’s 2016 report “Local Historic Districts and Property Values in Michigan Neighborhoods”: http://www.mhpn.org
• State of Michigan Local Historic Districts Act, Act 169 of 1970: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(wnep31dhcifmvmqid3mlxmxh))/mileg.aspx?page=GetObject&objectname=mcl-act-169-of-1970
• Local Historic Districts in Michigan manual, State Historic Preservation Office: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mshda/mshda_shpo_20150930_local_historic_district_manual_501562_7.pdf
• National Register Criteria for Evaluation, U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service: https://www.nps.gov/nr/publications/bulletins/nrb15/nrb15_2.htm

Those interested in volunteering for a position on one of the many city boards or committees can submit an application online here. 

A student can submit an online application here. 

To email a question, concern or idea to the chairperson, please use the form located here.

A list of members serving on boards/committees/commissions and their terms can be found here.

You can view the Appointments to Advisory Boards, Commissions and Committees Ordinance by following this link.

Looking for what's on the next agenda? You can view agendas and minutes for boards and committees.

The terms of Proposal 1 are as follows:

• Allow individuals 21 and older to purchase, possess and use marijuana and marijuana-infused edibles, and grow up to 12 marijuana plants for personal consumption.
• Impose a 10-ounce limit for marijuana kept at residences and require amounts over 2.5 ounces be secured in locked containers.
• Create a state licensing system for marijuana businesses and allow municipalities to ban or restrict them.
• Permit retail sales of marijuana and edibles subject to a 10% tax, dedicated to implementation costs, clinical trials, schools, roads, and municipalities where marijuana businesses are located.
• Change several current violations from crimes to civil infractions.

Under the terms passed by voters, residents 21 and up most likely won’t be able to legally purchase recreational marijuana from a retailer until early 2020.

The Michigan Municipal League has a comprehensive timeline and news stories on marijuana issues in communities throughout Michigan on its website.

This list contains a brief description of the types of marijuana-related businesses permitted under Michigan law.

For more detail, visit the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

LARA’s Bureau of Marijuana Regulation (BMR) is frequently asked why marijuana is sometimes spelled with an “h” and other times is spelled with a ”j.” Both spellings – marijuana and marihuana – are acceptable. To avoid confusion, many in the industry refer to the botanical plant — cannabis. While the spelling with a “j” is more common today, you will still see Michigan law using the “h” spelling.

The spelling of marijuana has a long history in the United States. Michigan’s history primarily starts from the spelling that was chosen for the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937. Michigan adopted its statutory definition of marijuana in the Public Health Code, utilizing the then current federal spelling, marihuana.

As governing state laws spell marihuana with an “h,” BMR legal communication and references to statutes in relation to the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act or the Michigan Medical Facilities Licensing Act or the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act – and the corresponding administrative rules will use an “h” in the spelling of Marihuana. In non-formal communication, “j” will generally be used.

An act of the Michigan Legislature would be required in order to change the spelling of marijuana in the Michigan statutes, such as the Public Health Code or the newer marijuana laws.

Source: michigan.gov

Prior to legalizing the recreational use of marijuana by individuals 21 and up, Michigan voters approved a referendum to enable patients and caregivers to legally obtain, possess, cultivate/grow, use, and distribute marijuana. The "Medical Marihuana Act" went into effect on December 4, 2008.

Police Chief O’Donohue personally does not think marijuana is safe.  However, he believes if the state regulations work as advertised, a person who purchases marijuana from a licensed provisioning center should at least have a better understanding on the strain and THC content of the marijuana they are purchasing.

At this time, there is no evidence to support the legalization of marijuana will create a significant rise in serious crimes.  Law enforcement anticipates legalized marijuana will result in lower level violations and quality of life issues.

As with the question above, Police Chief O’Donohue does not anticipate any significant increase in serious crime.  Lower level violations and quality of life issues are the police department’s main concern.

The passage of this law means we have a new normal for law enforcement and do not yet know exactly what will happen. To the degree possible, law enforcement will not allow personal biases to influence how the laws are enforced.  

The law only addresses licensed provisioning centers and limits the daily amount to 2.5 ounces per day, however, there does appear to be several loopholes that might potentially allow for higher amounts and sales outside of licensed facilities.  Also, actually enforcing illegal sales will be difficult, if not impossible.

There is no way to project who may choose to purchase marijuana for their personal use.

There is no readily available roadside test.

Police Chief O’Donohue believes that the passage of this law will make marijuana more prevalent and accessible, including for minors.  However, he believes will be the case regardless of whether Royal Oak allows provisioning centers (retail outlets.) 

The legal age of possession or use of marijuana is 21, as verified by a government-issued ID.

Monies will be collected from sales and excise taxes collected from retail stores called Provisioning Centers.  Every sale, whether for marijuana products or non-marijuana products, at a state licensed provisioning center is subject to both a six-percent sales tax and ten-percent excise tax.  The taxes are collected by the store and paid to the State of Michigan where each tax is then redistributed back to each community based on a formula whereby municipalities share in the net funds received. 

For the marijuana excise tax, the participating municipalities will get one-unit share of the fund for each licensed store in its community.  If Royal Oak has one store it would get one-unit share, if it had five stores, it would get five-unit shares.  For additional information, please see the go to the link from the Michigan Department of Treasury:

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/treasury/Notice_Regulation_and_Taxation_of_Marihuana_Act_644844_7.pdf

With respect to fees collected, Royal Oak could require up to $5,000 for each new application processed as well as an additional $5,000 annually for renewal.  The fee would have to be reasonably related to the cost of administering and enforcing the MMRTM Act. 

In addition to the application fees, as with any commercial business in the city, each facility would be subject to permitted fees, inspection fees and increase in property value assessment causing additional revenues for the city.

If Royal Oak were to opt out, it will not receive any of the funds from taxes collected by the MMRTM Act.

For additional information on the program, please visit: https://www.michigan.gov/marijuana

The reason Royal Oak is an attractive destination for any commercial enterprise is its ability to provide essential city services; including outstanding police and fire departments, efficient and professional public services, modernized infrastructure.  Geographically, Royal Oak is ideally located for commercial enterprises.

There is no evidence to support the assertion development would be diminished with the inclusion of commercial marijuana businesses.

A scientific survey is being utilized to ensure a proper representation of November 2018 Royal Oak voters are reached.  Additionally, the March 4 town hall (and any future town hall or public meetings scheduled) are advertised on the city’s social media outlets; our website and announced through the eBlast News which is delivered via email to every household in Royal Oak who has registered.  

Available statistics do not indicate a rise in criminal activity in Michigan communities that currently house medical marijuana commercial enterprises.   Business operators protect their properties and their investment with state-of-the-art security measures.

While you may not think it seems to fit, a majority of Royal Oak voters did approve the ballot initiative that, among other things, legalized the recreational / adult-use marijuana statewide. Recreational adult use marijuana is now legal and Royal Oak has no authority under state law to change that. We cannot say how it might benefit families and children, other than if the city allows commercial marijuana business there is a potential for some financial gain through a share of the excise tax, however, even if we were to be a part of this, there is no way to forecast how much money the city could gain.

Positive economic impact would include the collection of fees for business licensing procedures, which have to be reasonably related to the administering and enforcing of the MMRTM Act; property taxes and the inclusion for revenue sharing with the State of Michigan.  

Voters may have had different reasons for approving the proposal to decriminalize marijuana. Those reasons may or may not include having commercial marijuana enterprises in their community.  

The city cannot defy state law.  It is now lawful for individuals 21-years of age and older to use marijuana -- as long as those individuals are legally possessing and using marijuana.

If a resident is on their private property using marijuana legally (over the age of 21-years and have 2.5 ounces or less), the Royal Oak Police Department cannot stop them.  

This is one of the questions the city needs to address and why the city commission is seeking opinions from voters.  If Royal Oak decides this is a use they would like to permit, lease agreements for individuals having private events would need to be amended to cover provisions for allowing marijuana to be consumed legally at private events and insurance requirements for those individuals would need to be considered.  

We cannot say with any certainty how this new law will affect any of our special events, however, certain violations, like smoking marijuana in public, will be strictly enforced by the police department. 

If Royal Oak decides to allow commercial marijuana enterprise, it will be up to the city commission ultimately to determine the number of businesses; which types of business and to amend the zoning ordinance as to where the businesses would be allowed.  Restrictions regarding schools and churches that are written into the state law cannot be made more lenient only stricter.  Therefore, those limits cannot be eliminated, only made larger.

There are six types of commercial marijuana enterprises permitted under the Michigan Marijuana Facilities Licensing Act:  

1.     Provisioning – sales or what you may commonly refer to as retail

2.    Secure Transport – moving of product from one commercial enterprise to another 

3.    Safety Compliance – tests product for contaminants and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels  

4.    Processing - purchases marijuana from a grower and extracts resin from the marijuana or creates a marijuana-infused product for sale

5.    Growers - licensed to cultivate, dry, trim, or cure and package marihuana for sale

6.    Microbusiness - A licensee who can grow 150 plants, process on site and sell directly to adults 21 years or older (cannot sell to any other licensee, i.e. Provisioning | Retail

Under the MMRTM Act, a recreational / adult-use marijuana establishment many not allow the cultivation, processing, sale, or display of marijuana or marijuana accessories to be visible from a public place outside of the establishment with the use of binoculars, aircraft, or other optical aids.

Yes. The city commission has voted to opt out with a sunset date of February 1, 2020.  The State of Michigan has until December 6, 2019 to establish the rules.   If the city commission determines they would like to participate in commercial marijuana enterprises prior to the February 20, 2020 sunset date, they could vote to amend the date.  Or, they could simply allow the sunset date to expire and participate in commercial marijuana enterprises as of February 21, 2020.  Should the city commission determine the city should opt out of the commercial marijuana enterprises, then the date could be amended, or opt out without an end date.   

Under the MMRTM Act, the city commission has the authority to decided whether or not to allow recreational / adult-use marijuana establishments in the city, and if so, to limit the number of establishments, the type of establishment, and the zoning district in which the establishments would be allowed.  

At this time, the federal government has indicated that as long as a state has a “strong and effective” system in place to regulate the cultivation, distribution, sale and possession of marijuana; federal law enforcement interests are not undermined by the legalization of marijuana to some extent. 

More than 1,500 local governments across 40 states have enacted this type of utility, including the cities of Detroit, Ann Arbor and Birmingham.

Stormwater begins as rain or snowmelt that flows over land rather than seeping into the ground. It flows over hard surfaces (impervious surfaces) such as roofs, driveways, and walkways, as well as pervious surfaces such as grass, gardens, and woodlands into the city’s combined sewer system. The more hard surface (impervious surface) on your property, the more stormwater runoff is contributed to the sewer system.

This drainage flows into the same underground pipes as sewage and must be treated at the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) wastewater treatment plant before it can be released back into the environment.

The City of Royal Oak is billed by the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner for the conveyance and treatment of combined sewage at GLWA.

Pervious Surface versus Hard Surface

Lawns and vegetation have a limited ability to absorb water based on site specific conditions. Once saturated or frozen, water can no longer be absorbed into landscaped areas. Often, only a limited amount of impervious surface areas can be directed to an impervious area before its ability to absorb the additional water is diminished.

Buildings, garages, sheds, houses, etc. are hard surfaces that directly shed stormwater off their roofs. These surfaces eliminate large impervious areas where water can infiltrate.

Pavements like concrete and asphalt are designed to drain stormwater to a low point to prevent ponding on the surface.  Water does not infiltrate standard pavements.

Standard brick pavers are typically installed over compacted base material, and the joints in between the pavers are also filled in with compacted material.  These act similar to pavements, and typically do not allow any stormwater to infiltrate.

Gravel materials used for parking, roads, driveways and walkways is tightly compacted, and does not allow for infiltration.  Water will always find the path of least resistance, and will tend to run downhill over compacted gravel rather than infiltrate into the underlying soils.

While stormwater may be contained within pools during a rain storm, the pool itself does not allow water from other parts of the property to soak into the soil.  When the pool is drained, the stormwater that was collected will be sent to the sewer system.  Considering pools as impervious surfaces is consistent with many other stormwater utilities throughout the country.

For billing purposes, stormwater charges will be based on the amount of hard surface on your property. Hard surfaces within the city’s right of way (roads, boulevards and sidewalks) are not included in your property’s hard surface area.

The hard surfaces of a property will be measured using high-resolution aerial photography. This will provide the basis for the quarterly bill. Due to the possibility of error using aerial photography, each property’s hard surface area was reduced by 100 square feet before calculating the stormwater utility charge.

Newly-developed properties will have their hard surface area determined using the approved site plan. Property owners will have the opportunity to appeal the measurement. In these cases, the property owner can provide their own measurement and submit it to the city for review.

The example above shows a parcel with a house, garage, deck (with pavement below) and areas of brick, gravel and concrete pavement.	The diagram above shows impervious areas of the property above in gray and pervious areas in blue.

The hard areas (shown in gray in the example above on the right) of a property will be calculated to the square foot and are billable.

The area in yellow (the sidewalk and street right-of way) are non-billable.

A stormwater utility covers the critical service of carrying stormwater runoff away from properties, conveying it within the city’s combined sewer system to treatment facilities and ultimately discharging it to the Detroit River. Properly operated stormwater infrastructure prevents flooding and backups, expensive repairs, and pollution of natural waterways. While the city currently operates a combined sewer system, the method of funding this operation and the associated costs for treatment has been determined to be outdated by current standards. The city’s proposed stormwater utility will proportionally bill users for their use of the system and will encourage activities that promote better stormwater management and lessen the burdens of the system, making the existing infrastructure more adaptable to severe rain events.

The city used low-altitude, high-resolution aerial photography to determine the hard surface area on each property. The city will perform aerial flyovers every three years to update the hard surface database.

Using aerial photography is the best possible way to measure each property’s individual hard surface area. However, mapping of aerial photographs does have a degree of inherent error. The hard surface area on each property was therefore reduced by 100 square feet to account for error in the measurements.

The image below is an example of aerial photography. The area outlined in blue represents the hard surface area. The pop-up block indicates the Billable Hard Surface Area of this property is 91,215 sq. ft. 

To view your property go to: https://royaloak.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=88ea895ad7f34bdb885f3994d431f972

Royal Oak has a "combined" sewer system, which means that all the stormwater from rain and snow is mixed with all the sanitary sewage from private sewer leads into one pipe. Parts of the city do have separate stormwater pipes and sanitary sewer pipes, but these all ultimately drain to the same county drain and are combined. This means that the city has to pay to treat all the sewage AND stormwater that enters the system.

Roads and public rights-of-way maintained by the city are exempt from the stormwater utility fee because they function as part of the stormwater collection and conveyance system. City-owned properties such as parks and parking lots are subject to the stormwater utility fee.

While stormwater is a result of rain and snowmelt, the stormwater fee is not related to how much rain falls on your property, but rather the facilities used to manage stormwater such as sewers, manholes, catch basins and wastewater treatment. The more hard surface a property has, the more it uses the stormwater system components.

The settlement was based upon language in the Drain Code that requires the city to bill for its portion of the debt on the Kuhn RTF on an ad valorem basis. However, billing for stormwater costs based upon the amount of stormwater that a property contributes to the stormwater system is more rational and more equitable than billing for stormwater costs based upon the amount of water consumed at that property.  

Steps taken during the last two decades have reduced exposures to lead in tap water. These steps include actions taken under requirements of the 1986 and 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Actexternal icon and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Lead and Copper Ruleexternal icon. Even so, lead in water can come from homes with lead service lines that connect the home to the main water line.  Homes without lead service lines may still have brass or chrome-plated brass faucets, galvanized iron pipes or other plumbing soldered with lead. Some drinking water fountains with lead-lined tanks and other plumbing fixtures not intended for drinking water (e.g., lab faucets, hoses, spigots, hand washing sinks) may also have lead in the water.

Lead can enter drinking water when a chemical reaction occurs in plumbing materials that contain lead. This is known as corrosion – dissolving or wearing away of metal from the pipes and fixtures. This reaction is more severe when water has high acidity or low mineral content. How much lead enters the water is related to:

• the acidity or alkalinity of the water,
• the types and amounts of minerals in the water,
• the amount of lead that water comes into contact with,
• the water temperature,
• the amount of wear in the pipes,
• how long the water stays in pipes, and
• the presence of protective scales or coatings in the pipes.

Source: Center for Disease Control and Prevention

The State of Michigan recommends the following ways to protect yourself from lead water:

Flush your pipes before using your water.

If you have not used your water for several hours, flushing your pipes may reduce the amount of soluble (dissolved) lead in your drinking water. 

To flush the pipes in your home, do any of the following for at least five minutes:

• Turn a faucet on all the way.
• Take a shower.
• Run a load of laundry.
• Run your dishwasher.

After flushing your home’s water, run the water from individual faucets on cold for 1-2 minutes before using the water for drinking or cooking.

Using a filter can reduce lead in drinking water.

Both particulate and soluble lead can be safely removed from drinking water by using a water filter certified to reduce lead in drinking water. Look for filters that are tested and certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for lead reduction.  Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to install the filter and maintain it. For help choosing a filter, use the EPA guidance tool.

Use cold filtered or flushed water for:

• Drinking, cooking, or rinsing food.
• Mixing powdered infant formula.
• Brushing your teeth.

Do not use hot water for drinking or cooking.

• Do not cook with or drink water from the hot water tap. Lead dissolves more easily into hot water.

Clean your aerator.

• Aerators (the mesh screens on your sink faucet) can trap pieces of particulate lead. 
• Clean your drinking water faucet aerator at least every 6 months.
• If there is construction or repairs to the public water system or pipes near your home, clean your drinking water faucet aerator every month until the work is done.

Replace plumbing, pipes, and faucets that may add lead into your drinking water. 

Older faucets, fittings, and valves sold before 2014 may contain up to 8 percent lead, even if marked “lead-free.”  Replace faucets with products manufactured in 2014 or later and are certified to contain 0.25% lead or less.

Guidance for reducing potential lead exposure from drinking water (English & Spanish)

Source: Michigan.gov

National Public Radio (NPR) has developed a website that allows you to determine whether your drinking water is at risk in a few simple steps. 

We are asking residents to use the tool and report the results to the Royal Oak Department of Public Services.

Click here to get started.

Children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable to the effects of lead exposure. Lead exposure can cause premature birth, reduce birth weight, delay physical and mental development in babies and young children, and cause learning disabilities in children. In adults, lead exposure can cause serious damage to the brain, nervous system, kidneys, and red blood cells. Lifetime exposure to high levels of lead can potentially cause stroke or kidney disease.

Source: Oakland County Health Division

The city has multiple strategies for working on this issue, which include:

Sharing information. Through this advisory and other community engagement efforts, the city is committed to sharing information that can help residents understand sources of lead in tap water, its potential health effects, and how to reduce exposure to it.

Increasing sampling. The city will double its community sampling efforts over the next year in order to provide additional information to the state.

Locating lead. In order to build an accurate inventory of lead service lines, the Department of Public Services is encouraging homeowners to report their service line materials through an online form. The online form can be found at romi.gov/wsld

Removing lead. Starting next year, the city will begin replacing lead service lines at a rate of 7% per year.

You cannot see, smell, or taste lead in drinking water. If you suspect that your home’s plumbing or faucets could contain lead or lead-based solder, you should have your water tested. Testing your water for lead is the only way to know if it is there. If you are on a municipal water system, your water is tested for lead and other potential contaminants. A Consumer Confidence Report that includes testing results is sent annually to water users. You can obtain a copy of your report by contacting your water supplier. If the lead is above 15 parts per billion (ppb) in municipal water supply, the supplier is required to inform the public. A list of laboratories that test for lead can be found here: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/Lead__Copper_Lab_Certs_526434_7.pdf 

Contact a testing lab before having your water tested to confirm that they can test for lead, and obtain specific instructions for how you will collect, store, and transport the sample(s) you get from your home. There is a cost for having drinking water tested. 

The Oakland County Health Division Laboratory also tests water for lead and copper for county residents. (Water source must be IN OAKLAND COUNTY)

Royal Oak residents can purchase a bottle for testing from one of the County office locations during normal business hours. Their address and phone numbers are:

• North Oakland Health Center 1200 N. Telegraph Rd. Pontiac, MI 48341 (248) 858-1280
• South Oakland Center 27725 Greenfield Rd. Southfield, MI 48076 (248) 424-7000

The cost for the bottle and drinking water analysis is $24.

The results of the analysis will be mailed within 10-14 business days.

The State of Michigan has a website called Mi Lead Safe that includes many resources.

Per the Lead and Copper Rule of the Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act, the city is required to periodically sample a number of water taps throughout its system for lead concentration levels. In 2018, the sampling protocol for this routine sampling changed to require multiple samples at each sample location and to exclusively target locations served by lead service lines. The intention of this change was to better detect lead.

According to the rule, if approximately 10% of sites sampled indicate lead concentrations of 15 parts-per-billion (ppb) or greater, the city is required to:

• advise water customers of the results
• provide tips on how to reduce lead exposure
• increase community-wide sampling

Eight of the 30 locations tested during the most recent monitoring period exceeded the 15 ppb ‘Action Level’ threshold, triggering the current advisory. The city’s 90th percentile value for lead concentrations among sites tested was 23 ppb.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has detailed information to help you understand certification marks as well as terminology regarding drinking water filters.  Click here for flyer.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has this flyer that explains what an aerator does and steps you can take to help keep it clean.  

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has this flyer that explains what an aerator does and steps you can take to help keep it clean.    

The Department of Public Services already has a list of sampling locations it uses for compliance testing. To the extent possible, the sampling rules require the city to resample previous sites during each monitoring period. Therefore, the department is limited in its ability to add additional locations.

By submitting your service line inspection results on the city’s website, you’ll be added to our records. Should additional sites be needed for testing, staff will seek volunteers from this list, in needed.

To determine if your home has a lead water service line please go to: romi.gov/wsld

For more detailed information on Lead contamination please visit: 

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  
• Oakland County Health Division
• United States Environmental Protection Agency
• Michigan Department of Environmental Quality 

During the licensing process/period the planning division will only verify that a particular property is eligible -- i.e. zoned General Business or General Industrial and 1,000 feet from any K-12 schools. The planning division will not discuss specific site issues, zoning requirements or the special land use/site plan process until you have been awarded a “license slot” by the city manager.

An application for a recreational marihuana establishment license must be submitted online.  An application cannot be submitted in person.

An applicant must pay a $500 document review fee at the time of application.  Once the City has determined that the application contains all the information required under Section 435-4 of the ordinance, the applicant must pay an additional $4,500 application fee.

Neither the $500 document review fee nor the $4,500 application fee are refundable.

The application for a recreational marihuana establishment license will be available on the City’s website by mid-November.

The first person to apply for a recreational marihuana establishment license will not be guaranteed a license.  The city manager will determine when the window for submitting an application will open and how long the window will be open.  All complete applications submitted while the window is open will receive equal consideration.

The parking requirements for a recreational marihuana establishment are set forth in the City’s Zoning Ordinance.

A successful applicant will not be issued a recreational marihuana establishment license until the city is provided with a certificate of insurance that meets the requirements of the ordinance.

The spacing requirements for recreational marihuana establishments are set forth in the City’s Zoning Ordinance.

No marihuana retailer or marihuana microbusiness will be permitted within a 1,000-foot radius of any existing retailer or microbusiness within the City of Royal Oak.

The measurement of the distance from a recreational marihuana establishment is made from the outermost boundaries of the lot or parcel upon which the establishment is or would be located.

Pursuant to the City’s Zoning Ordinance, the Zoning Board of Appeals is authorized to grant a variance from the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance upon a showing of practical difficulty by the applicant.

An application for a recreational marihuana establishment license must include documentation of a valid legal interest in the property where the proposed establishment will be located.

Pursuant to State law, the information contained in an application for a recreational marihuana establishment license is exempt from disclosure under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act.

Click here for Marihuana Zoning Ordinance.

Submission requirements and checklists can be found at https://www.romi.gov/1528/Recreational-Marihuana-Establishment-App.

An application for a recreational marihuana establishment license that has been determined to contain all of the required documentation will be reviewed by the Police Department, the Fire Department, the Community Development Department and any other applicable City department.

This is a topic for the Energy & Buildings focus workgroup to tackle.  Some peer cities mandate and some incentivize energy waste reduction.  Also keep in mind that if the utility companies reach their net-zero goals, that makes our goal easier to attain.

Absolutely.  The city uses Midtown Composting company which services municipal, business, and residential customers. Also, there are other companies that offer similar services.

Great point. It's something to keep in mind going forward.  Although, there are many low-hanging fruit actions that building owners can take to reduce energy waste and save money. (including no-cost behavioral changes)  An energy efficiency education program for residential and commercial buildings seems like a great initiative to get us started!  

We are engaging in one-on-one discussions and presenting to the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce to ask the commercial sector to join the energy and buildings focus workgroup or offer feedback in a different format.

The workgroups will meet 4-5 times over the late summer/early fall.  Each group will create its own meeting schedule and location. (in-person or online remote meeting) 

The main task for the workgroups is for them to vet specific ideas and bring forward the best actions/goals for their respective focus topic, as recommendations for inclusion in the sustainability plan.  Stay tuned for the workgroup kick-off information.

This is a substantial consideration within the goals/actions development process.  Each focus workgroup will be tasked with vetting their respective topic ideas against several criteria, including affordability.

Yes!  Everyone who filled out the Interest Form (linked on www.romi.gov/sustainability) or responded to the focus topic question during the live presentation (and left contact info) will be contacted.  If neither of those apply and you would like to partici[pate in a workgroup, fill out the form at: www.romi.gov/sustainability

The workgroups will meet 4-5 times over the late summer/early fall.  Each group will create its own meeting schedule and location. (in-person or online remote meeting)  Stay tuned for the workgroup kick-off information.

The city only offers one size of recycling toters (large bin on wheels).  If you need more recycling capacity, you can also put out your old recycle bin (18 gal. green bin wi/yellow lid) or purchase an additional 65 gal. toter for $50.  To purchase an additional toter, call DPS at 248-246-3300 or email at dps@romi.gov

Yes.  We anticpiate revisting the plan every few years to make sure our goals and actions are still relevant.

Parking on Washington Ave. has transitioned to back-in parking so that the new system can read a vehicle’s license plate number. The spaces are also wider making it easier for motorists to park. Additionally, back-in parking provides motorists with a better vision of bicyclists, pedestrians, and other vehicles as drivers exit a parking space and enter the roadway.  Visitors MUST back into spaces designated as such or risk being ticketed for improper parking. 

For more information on back-in parking, including tips and instructional videos, please visit https://www.romi.gov/1553/Parking-in-Downtown-Royal-Oak. 

We also encourage you to park in one of Downtown Royal Oak's parking garages - they are clean, spacious, and well-lit. When parking in a garage, your first two hours are FREE, and then just 75 cents per hour in the City’s 4 public parking structures, which are located at Center and Second, 11 Mile Road east of Main,  Lafayette north of Fourth, and Lafayette and Sixth. 

And you can always park in a surface lot or in any number of traditional on-street parking spaces located throughout the downtown area. 

On-street parking has a 3-hour maximum limit for all motorists to regulate space turnover, and to ensure parking is easy and accessible for everyone who visits Downtown Royal Oak. 

Motorists who exceed the maximum limit will receive a parking violation in the mail. 

If you will be in Royal Oak longer than 3 hours, we recommend parking in a surface lot, where the maximum time limit is 4-hours, or in one of our four parking structures. The structures offer FREE parking for the first 2 hours and then it's just 75 cents per hour. Parking structures are located at Center and Second, 11 Mile Road east of Main,  Lafayette north of Fourth, and Lafayette and Sixth.  

The new parking system provides motorists with a 15-minute grace period. This gives motorists the time they need to pay for parking when using the pay stations or the Sentry Mobile app - the app available on both iPhone and Android devices.  

The intention of the grace period feature is not for parkers to use it for quick in and out visits.  

The new parking system has been in place since September of 2021. Information has been shared on the City’s social media pages, the City of Royal Oak’s website, in weekly emails, in Royal Oak’s Insight magazine, which is sent to every household in Royal Oak, and with local media.  

The on-street pay stations have information on how to use the new system, including what the maximum parking limit is, how to identify your space, parking rates, and how to pay. 

Additionally, the City of Royal Oak has parking ambassadors on the street helping motorists navigate the new system. Brochures and information about the new system are being distributed by the ambassadors and can also be found at City Hall and the Royal Oak Police Department.  

We are constantly evaluating the system -- trying to make it more intuitive and easier to use. Your feedback in this regard is very important to us as we work to make the system as user-friendly as possible. 

Tickets are now sent to motorists via mail, and are no longer left in yellow envelopes under a vehicle’s windshield wipers. 

A motorist can tell if their vehicle is in violation by observing the meter stick closest to the rear of their vehicle. A green light means you are paid up and a red light means you are in violation mode and could receive a parking ticket. 

If you find your meter stick is red, you can true-up -- that is, pay for any 'expired' time before you leave the parking space. Doing so ensures that you will not get a ticket, as long as you have not exceeded the maximum time limits.  

More information can be found at https://www.romi.gov/1553/Parking-in-Downtown-Royal-Oak

• All projects must have a program component that responds to COVID-19 impacts. 
• All applicants must provide proof of nonprofit status. 
• The organization must have the capacity to comply with the program guidelines. 
• A clearly defined Scope of Work, Budget and Schedule must be included in the submitted application. Clearly defined performance standards/metrics/outputs and outcomes must be identified within the narrative. 
• The program must maximize positive impacts in the Royal Oak Community. 
• The program goals must be realistic and achievable.

Eligible program participants for the ARPA program must meet ARPA guidelines according to the Treasury Final Rule and 2 CFR 200.

Organizations must meet the following criteria to be eligible for financial assistance from the City of Royal Oak (Individuals are not eligible to apply directly for funding):

All entities applying for the NOF ARPA grant program must demonstrate:

1. The negative economic impact of COVID-19
2. How the program they are applying for funding is addressing the impacts of COVID-19
3. 501(C)3 Organization must be registered with Sam.gov

Applicants can only apply once and can only receive a single award for a MAXIMUM of $50,000.  Applicants can apply in up to two priority areas. Minimum request is $25,000 in any one priority area. All required documentation must be submitted at the time of application.

Funding through this NOFA will be provided for seven (7) eligible activities under:

I. Education Examples

Education component may provide support to improve literacy, leadership development, and/or basic job training or skill set improvement. Proposals must be focused on the three major content areas below:

1. Literacy
2. Enrichment/Readiness
3. Job Training

II. Seniors Examples

Seniors’ component includes activities targeted for the well-being of senior citizens for transportation and physical, mental, emotional, and social health services. Services in this category should be focused on:

1. Transportation Resources and Services
2. Health Care Services
3. Senior Health & Wellness programs and activities

III. Health Examples

Health component is specifically designed for the provision of other health services, which does not include transportation or medical appointments. Basic health services may include, but are not limited to:

1. Nutritious lunch and snacks
2. Socialization and recreation, community outings, personal grooming, and hygiene
3. Therapeutic activities, health monitoring, medication administration, individual, family or group counseling services, and prescription assistance programs.

IV. Public Safety Examples

Public Safety component includes neighborhood or community-based activities focused on safe keeping of citizens. Program services may include, but are not limited to:

1. Domestic and gun violence prevention
2. Crime reduction and supportive counseling and referrals
3. Cyber Security Informational Programs/Trainings
4. Representation/Human Trafficking services
5. Grief support to individuals and families 

V. Recreation (Youth) Examples

Recreation component will be focused on youth programs. Eligible service activities may include, but are not limited to:

1. Arts, crafts, music, theater
2. Youth sports and activities

VI. Mobility and Accessibility Example

Programs and services that address and improve access and quality of life through sustainable transport and mobility. 

VII. Arts & Culture Examples

Art and Culture are catalysts for expression, connection, collaboration, and community. This component will prioritize initiatives that expand access to arts and cultural programs in the community, attract visitors, and promote development. Examples include projects that:

1. Develop arts & culture-based beautification projects
2. Positively impact the perception of the City of Royal Oak
3. Coordinate and promote arts, culture, history, and heritage events and activities

The City of Royal Oak expects to receive many highly competitive applications from across the City of Royal Oak. All applications that meet the basic eligibility requirements will go through a ranking process. Applications will be selected and funded based on the applicant’s ability to demonstrate their capacity to implement a successful project/program/activity, the City’s priorities, project ranking, and available funding.

Qualifying proposals meeting the above listed criteria will be ranked and scored on a 100-point scale, with 0 being the lowest and 100 the highest score. Proposals must score at least 80 points to be recommended for funding.

Proposals will be ranked according to the score and recommended for funding in rank order. The

Scoring Criteria is as follows:

• Organizational Information:  30 points
• Funding Need:  15 points
• Project Description:  55 points
• Total Score:  100 points

Responses will be evaluated on a 5-point scale where a multiplier will be used (1, 2, and 3) to compute the total points for each area:

• 5 - Points: criterion is clearly, directly, and verifiably satisfied
• 4 - Points: criterion appears to be satisfied
• 3 - Points: criterion appears to be satisfied, but is lacking in clarity or documentation
• 2 - Points: criterion is only partially satisfied
• 1 - Point: criterion is not satisfied
• 0 - Points: question or questions are incorrectly answered or not answered completely

After grant award decisions are made, all applicants will be notified of their award status.

Beneficiaries will be monitored to assess whether the organization program/activities have achieved its objectives and determine whether the program has maximized impacts and outcomes in the community and to the people being served.

Important Notes

No person or organization will be excluded from participation in, denied the benefit of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity funded in whole or in part with the City’s funds on the basis of race, color, religion, sex including pregnancy (childbirth, and related medical conditions), sex stereotyping, transgender status and gender identity, national origin (including limited English proficiency), age, disability, or political affiliation or belief.

PLEASE NOTE: Only digital, electronically transmitted applications will be accepted.

Organizations may want to consult with a tax professional when applying. Recipients found to have expended grant funds on expenses previously covered by another federal, state, or local program or on ineligible expenses will be required to repay all grant funding awarded by this program.

For questions about the application, eligibility, or other concerns, please contact:

Jill Martin, Program Manager

Jill.Martin.@romi.gov

Stop signs are NOT used to improve speeding issues.  This is a clear directive in the Michigan Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MMUTCD) and is consistent throughout the country.

The placement of one or more stop signs to slow traffic will often have the opposite effect. Drivers will go faster between the signs to make up for “lost” time. In addition to speeding, the drivers will need to accelerate and decelerate for each sign.  Placing stop signs at unexpected locations can also create a higher likelihood of accidents.

The city will consider installation of stop signs for the following reasons:

• Sight distance issues
• Excessive traffic on one or both streets
• High pedestrian volumes (over 100 pedestrian crossings per hour)
• Proximity to a school

Submit a Traffic Request Form to the Engineering Division and staff will perform a 3-day traffic study for the block. If the criteria are met, staff will create a petition for you to circulate amongst your neighbors. At least 65% of property owners need to sign the petition in favor of the speed humps. View our informational document for complete details on the criteria and procedure.

Although on-street parking is for public use, residents can request parking changes on a street they reside on.  The requestor must circulate a petition created by the Engineering Division, and then submit it to the Traffic Committee for consideration. Some possible changes include:

• Restrict parking on one or both sides of the street
• Restrict parking during certain days and/or times
• Create a permit parking zone, where only residents with vehicles registered to their address on the block can park there.

Contact the Engineering Division for more information.

The city first needs to perform a traffic study to check the speed of vehicles on the block.  In accordance with standard practice, the city uses the 85th percentile speed to determine if a speeding issue exists.  This means that 85% of vehicles are driving at that speed or lower.  If the 85th percentile speed is 30 MPH or above, the city will consider traffic calming improvements. 

Some of the options considered in Royal Oak include:

• Speed humps
• Narrowing of travel lanes using striping
• Installation of median islands and/or bump-outs
• Mini traffic circles
• Raised intersections 

The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) has a good summary of various options on their website.

The city first needs to perform a traffic study to check the volume of vehicles on the block.  Keep in mind that while streets may be in a residential neighborhood, they are not designated solely for residents on that street.

Traffic volumes up to 600 vehicles per day (VPD) are considered "low volume", 600 to 1,200 VPD is considered “moderate volume”, and volumes over 1,200 VPD is considered “high volume”.  The city generally does not recommend changes for streets with low to moderate volumes. High volume often goes hand-in-hand with speeding issues, and those potential solutions are discussed in the other FAQ questions.

The city does not recommend installation of “No Thru Traffic” signs as they are nearly unenforceable and have not been shown to improve cut-thru traffic. Signs that prevent turns during certain times of the day could be considered, or permanently closing off the road at one end of the block.   These changes require a petition showing the majority of residents are in favor.

The city generally only installs crosswalks at intersections, and most intersections already have the crosswalk ramps constructed.  Mid-block crosswalks are sometimes approved, but generally only if they are adjacent to a park, school or high-pedestrian area.

The city only paints the crosswalk striping at major roads, schools and parks.

The city can perform a sight distance analysis to determine if any changes need to be made. Sometimes this results in eliminating parking near an intersection or removal of trees or other obstructions.

Those interested in volunteering for a position on one of the many city boards or committees can submit an application online here. 

A student can submit an online application here. 

If you have a concern or request to make to the Citizens Traffic Committee, you can submit it for review through their online Traffic Committee Request Form here. 

If you have a general question regarding traffic, road construction, signage, signals or parking issues please contact the Engineering Division at 248.246.3260 or via e-mail to engineering@romi.gov

A list of members serving on boards/committees/commissions and their terms can be found here.

You can view the Appointments to Advisory Boards, Commissions and Committees Ordinance by following this link.

Looking for what's on the next agenda? You can view agendas and minutes for boards and committees.