BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Breakout Sessions will be held in between the Delta Hotel and VanDyk Mortgage Convention Center.
During Convention, you will have the opportunity to choose from the list of topics shown below. Each session is designed to enhance your knowledge and provide you with ideas that you can take home and apply in your own community.
October 20, 2022
10:30 – 11:30 am
Cybersecurity Preparedness for Locals
In an increasingly more digital landscape, cyber security is vital for every community. Education is paramount to understanding the impacts of cyber-attacks and identifying what is necessary for local communities to improve and sustain cyber posture. Finances, utilities, and sensitive information are all at risk. The more informed on strategies and potential risks, the more likely that communities can best serve and protect themselves, as well as hopefully preventing potential cyber-security attacks.
Speakers
Jonathan Smith, City Manager, City of the Village of Clarkston
Andy Brush, Michigan Cyber Partners Program Manager, State of Michigan, DTMB/MCS
Luke Thelen, IT Specialist, Michigan State Police
Creating a Municipal Climate Action Plan & Funding Opportunities
Michigan communities will need to take strategic action to adapt to the changing climate to protect the health and safety of our residents. It can be a daunting task to create a climate action plan, so it is helpful to learn from others and break it down into something manageable. The session will also highlight IIJA/ARPA funding opportunities to help communities meet their climate goals.
Moderator
Danielle Beard, Special Projects Coordinator, Policy Research Labs, Michigan Municipal League
Speakers
Julie Lyons Bricker, LEED AP O+M, PMP, Energy & Sustainability Manager, City of Royal Oak
LeRoy Harvey, Environmental Programs Coordinator, Meridian Township
Supporting Equitable Entrepreneurial Opportunity
It shouldn’t take money to make money. Enabling all of our residents to start a business and equipping them with the tools for success will both strengthen our local economies overall as well as close the gaps within communities. Local and regional programs will share how they support would-be entrepreneurs in getting a running start, including minority, low-income, or women entrepreneurs.
Moderator
Richard Murphy, Program Manager, Policy Research Labs, Michigan Municipal League (moderator)
Speakers
Katlyn Cardoso, Director of Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development, Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP)
Chase Cantrell, Executive Director, Building Community Value
Recognizing Your Assets and Telling Their Story
Any size site, anywhere, can become ready for investment. Knowing the available real estate sites in your community and having a vision for them is important to help effectively highlight these sites and make the case for doing business in your community. Learn more about the tools available to proactively increase the inventory of project-ready sites for development and how to message the strengths of your community.
Speakers
Todd Dickerson, Economic Improvement Director, Oscoda Township
Nicole Whitehead, Site Development Director, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Aaron Dimick, Public Information Officer, City of Jackson
2:00 – 3:30 pm
Housing: A Foundation for Prosperity and Public Safety
Housing is the foundation for safe and healthy communities but millions of people with past involvement in the criminal justice system are barred from housing because of their record. Housing lays the foundation for a successful transition into the community from justice system involvement, improving individual outcomes and strengthening communities. Participants in this session will hear from a panel of national and local stakeholders about housing barriers that exist for people with justice system involvement, and how communities can come together to address challenges and create opportunity.
Speakers
Jacqueline Altamirano Marin, Program Associate, Vera Institute of Justice
Aaron Suganuma, Reentry Coordinator, Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office
Laurie Ingram, Executive Director, Jackson Housing Commission
Ashley Goldon, Executive Director, Nation Outside
Michael Polsinelli, Field Office Director, Michigan State Office, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Investing in Energy Infrastructure
With the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), communities will have the opportunity to invest in clean energy. Come and meet with Michigan Saves, the nation’s first nonprofit clean bank to break down the IRA and learn about new funding opportunities. This session will help show municipalities ways that they can enhance infrastructure and projects if they have or add in climate or energy focus.
Speakers
Eli Lieberman, Director of Clean Energy Financing, Michigan Saves
Joel Howrani Heeres, Director, Public Sector Consultants
Legislative Update: Bracing for Lame Duck Season
Depending on the November general election results, this year’s Lame Duck season happening at the end of the year could be unlike anything we’ve seen with swift action on a number of issues and bills the League has been following for months, including short-term rentals, revenue sharing, housing, marijuana, and much more. Our lobbying team will break it all down for you and offer insights on what legislation is likely to see action and more importantly, how you – our members – can help!
Speakers
John LaMacchia II, Director, State & Federal Affairs, Michigan Municipal League
Jennifer Rigterink, Assistant Director, State & Federal Affairs, Michigan Municipal League
Herasanna Richards, Legislative Associate, State & Federal Affairs, Michigan Municipal League
3:45 – 5:00 pm
Space Hacking to Support the Smallest Businesses
Small business starts are an economic development sector for even the smallest communities. Many would-be entrepreneurs find the jump from their kitchen table or garage to a full storefront is too large, and never make it off the ground. This session will display emerging examples of how communities can support these businesses by creating and managing right-sized retail spaces.
Moderator
Richard Murphy, Program Manager, Policy Research Labs, Michigan Municipal League (moderator)
Speakers
Julie Reinhart, Director: Downtown Community Development, Downtown Lansing Inc.
Ann Meisch, City Clerk, City of Muskegon
Jamie Pesch, Planner II, City of Muskegon
Intersecting Law Enforcement and Mental Health Services Hosted by MBC-LEO
In 2016, Washtenaw County CMH faced funding cuts that reduced their budget by nearly $4 million and resulted in 350 individuals being discharged from their care. During this time, the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office also responded to several incidents involving individuals in significant mental health crisis that could have resulted in injury or death to the individuals, the responders, or the community. Because of these challenges, the leadership of CMH and the Sheriff’s Office began a collaborative effort to improve overall community response to individuals in crisis. Derrick and Lisa will report on this partnership and discuss several positive community outcomes.
Speakers
Derrick Jackson, Director of Community Engagement, Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office
Lisa Gentz, Program Administrator- Public Safety and Mental Health Millage Initiatives, Washtenaw County Community Mental Health
Accessing the ARP Funding For Your Small or Mid-Sized Community Needs
There are billions of dollars available to communities through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) but navigating the application and management process can be daunting, especially for smaller and mid-sized communities. Local leaders need tangible tools for tracking opportunities, applying for grants, and managing state and federal awards. This session will provide practical advice on how communities can prepare themselves for funding, what makes successful/competitive applications, and how to approach partnerships with other communities or the state.
Speakers
Rachael Maddock-Hughes, Principal and Founder, Sequoia consulting
Sherry DeLeon, Senior Advisor, Sequoia Consulting
Managing Historic Building in Public Ownership
Historic buildings add attractiveness to communities, as well as providing space for communities to utilize. Unfortunately, managing these spaces can be a challenge and can result in demolition. Instead of demolition, we can spend less money and get better results that can both increase communities’ taxbase and pay for itself. This session will help equip communities with strategies to present incentives for improvements and initiatives. Attendees will also be shown case studies and real-life examples of the execution of these initiatives in Saginaw as well as the Lee Commons project.
Speaker
Alex Mixter, Founder & Executive Director, Re: Saginaw Community Development
October 21, 2022
9:00 – 10:30 am
Pattern Book Homes for the 21st Century
Learn about the League’s Policy Research Labs Team project the Housing Pattern Book. This project is funded by MEDC and has growing interest with organizations across the state such as the State Land Bank as well as private and nonprofit developers. Multi-unit housing was once popular (i.e. duplexes and quads), but were phased out with zoning laws. Vacant areas now provide opportunities to bring these pattern book homes back. The project is focused on multi-unit housing solutions based on built historic precedents and primary documentary research. Our goal is to enrich the urban fabric of neighborhoods within existing downtown-adjacent Michigan neighborhoods.
Speakers
Melissa Milton-Pung, Program Manager, Policy Research Labs, Michigan Municipal League
Daniel Bollman, Executive Director, East Arbor Architecture
Working Together for the Good of Your Community
Every workplace consists of people with different personalities, differing opinions, opposing views on how to get things done…the list goes on and on. Coming together with all those differences within our municipalities is often challenging. Join Marilynn Semonick to explore strategies that create a high-functioning Council/Commission committed to behaving with the civility and respect required to achieve meaningful results.
Speakers
Marilynn Semonick, Chief Exploration Officer, The Success Studio
Data Driven Investment Decision-Making
This session will empower you to utilize data to understand and prioritize potential investments in your community. Historic federal funding is becoming available from ARP and IIJA resources, and you are likely feeling pressure to use these funds to their greatest potential. Staff from the Johnson Center at Grand Valley State University and Data Driven Detroit will share some of the key lessons they’ve learned over decades of working with data so that you can make sure you’re gathering and analyzing data as efficiently, effectively, and inclusively as possible to drive better outcomes and decisions for your communities.
Moderator
Richard Murphy, Program Manager, Policy Research Labs, Michigan Municipal League
Speakers
Noah Urban, Co-Executive Director, Data Driven Detroit
Jeff Williams, Director, Community Data and Research Lab, Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy
Police Relations: Proactive Opportunities for Policy Review and Community Engagement
Have you wondered if your current policies are best positioned for your police response and public interactions with the community? Come learn about 3 different ways in which your community can be proactive with police practices and community relations with best practices and model policies. The League’s Liability & Property Pool Law Enforcement Action Forum, the City of Monroe, and the Michigan Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials each have three different approaches which will be highlighted take-aways for attendees in this jam-packed session.
Speakers
Matt Heins, Law Enforcement Consultant, MML Liability and Property Pool
Chad Tolstedt, Director of Public Safety, City of Monroe
Derrick Jackson, Director of Community Engagement, Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office