Next Live with the League is this Monday, Nov. 28, at Noon

We hope you join us for our next Live with the League discussion noon Monday, Nov. 28. On the show we will have two guests discussing ways the Michigan Municipal League is helping communities with their green sustainability and infrastructure work. In addition, we will cover the latest legislative news out of Lansing and D.C., including short-term rentals, revenue sharing, Lame Duck activity, and more.

Attending the virtual conversation is free but we do ask that you pre-register here.

Part of Monday’s conversation will be about the annual Michigan Green Communities (MGC) Challenge that is starting next month on December 7. This year, the Challenge will feature the same action items as the previous year with the addition of metrics. Communities can now track GHG emissions, waste diversion, tree canopy cover, and more as part of the MGC Challenge. The Challenge will be open until March 31, 2023.

The League is hoping to increase participation in the MGC Challenge this year to reach more communities and more Michiganders. Please help spread the word through social media and through direct outreach to communities that you know are working on sustainability efforts. All communities in the MGC Challenge that reach at least Bronze level certification are also eligible for FREE technical assistance. For details go here: www.migreencommunities.com/challenge.

We also will discuss the Supplemental Green Infrastructure Guide (click here) that our members can use as a resource in their efforts to advance sustainability and resilience through planning and zoning best practices.

Plus, we will have our Lansing legislative team on the show to talk about the latest news out of Lansing and D.C.

You won’t want to miss Monday’s conversation.

Webinar Alert! DNR Spark Grant Opportunity: A Deeper Dive

The Michigan Municipal League and the Michigan Recreation and Park Association (mParks) have partnered together to host a webinar on Nov 29 at 1:00pm to help you be ready to apply for the Michigan SPARK grant!

In October, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) launched a $65 million Michigan SPARK grant program to help local communities create, renovate, or redevelop public opportunities for residents and visitors. Offered in three rounds between now and summer 2023, these grants will “support projects that provide safe, accessible, public recreation facilities and spaces to improve people’s health, introduce new recreation experiences, build on existing park infrastructure and make it easier for people to enjoy both indoor and outdoor recreation.”

Join MML, mParks, and the DNR as they overview the program and take a deeper dive into the scoring system and data mapping within this exciting grant opportunity. For additional information, follow the Michigan Spark Grants webpage.The DNR has provided a thorough program overview, details on scoring criteria, webinar specifics, key dates (including the Dec. 19 application deadline), updated FAQs and other information to keep you on track. Below are helpful links that can provide additional assistance as you prepare for this webinar and begin to think about your application.

Webinar Recording from October 28

Webinar Slide Deck for Oct 28 Webinar

Frequently Asked Questions

Program Booklet

Sample Application

To register for the November 29 webinar, please click here. If you have a specific question that you would like to have addressed during this webinar, please email your question in advance to rmelcher@mml.org.

John LaMacchia is the League’s director of state & federal affairs. He can be reached at jlamacchia@mml.org or 517-908-0303.

MML Honors Members in Receiving 2022 Top Workplace Award by Detroit Free Press

The Michigan Municipal League was recently honored as a recipient of the 2022 Detroit Free Press Top Workplaces Award. View the full list of top workplaces here.

This recognition, which was announced in Sunday’s Detroit Free Press, was a collection of firsts for the League. It was the first time that the MML participated in the survey through which the award is based. And it is the first year the Ann Arbor-based non-profit organization was recognized as a top workplace. The League, which represents and serves more than 520 Michigan communities, was among a total of 55 new workplaces that were given the award in 2022. League staff attended an award’s dinner earlier this month honoring all the winners and the MML’s human resources manager, Mandy Reed, accepted the award on behalf of the organization.

Michigan Municipal League Human Resources Manager Mandy Reed accepts the Top Workplace Award on behalf of the MML.

“Congratulations! I know I speak for the entirety of the League Board of Trustees when I say that we are so proud that the League has been recognized,” said Barb Ziarko, the president of the League’s Board of Trustees and Sterling Heights Councilmember. “This is particularly special for the League since it is the first time they are being recognized. This is also a win for our members as well. Knowing that our employees love where they work and care about our mission and the work that we do for our members is so important to the success of the organization.”

Top Workplaces is the leading employer recognition program in the nation. They believe that while great benefits and time off policies are components of creating a great workplace, the main focus of the recognition program is on putting employees first.

The Top Workplace Award is based solely through feedback by employees. The League staff participated in a survey in the spring of 2022 to provide feedback about the organization. Top Workplaces gathers this confidential information through their third-party employee engagement technology partner, Energage, LLC.

Top Workplace 2022 Award

“Earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies, especially because it comes authentically from their employees,” said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. “That’s something to be proud of. In today’s market, leaders must ensure they’re allowing employees to have a voice and be heard. That’s paramount. Top Workplaces do this, and it pays dividends.”

The survey included 24 questions and measured 15 cultural drivers that are shown to be vital to the success of a workplace. Some of these drivers include execution, alignment, and connection.

Over 300 workplaces throughout the state took the Energage survey in 2022, but only 200 had results that ranked them as a top workplace. In comparison, there were 175 workplaces recognized in 2021. To view current and past winners, you can visit https://topworkplaces.com/award/freep/.

Every workplace that scores higher than the benchmark is awarded. The League was included in the small workplaces category, that covers organizations that have between 50 and 149 Michigan employees. There also are categories for workplaces with 150 to 499 employees and for over 500 workers. In 2022, the small workplace category made up 90 of the 200 workplaces that were awarded.

While the recognition is based around employee feedback, the honor also reflects the value and importance of our members. Without the support of the League’s member communities, there would be no MML to receive such as award, said Dan Gilmartin, CEO and Executive Director of the League.

“We are very honored to be named a winner of the Michigan Top Workplaces 2022 Award,” Gilmartin said. “If it was not for our members, MML staff would not have the opportunity to work somewhere we love. It’s an honor to serve our members and our communities. Our members are the reason that this top workplace exists.”

Gilmartin added the award means a lot to the staff because it is directly connected to their feedback.

“We know that loving where we work has a vital role in how we serve our members,” Gilmartin said. “Without our members, our organization wouldn’t exist, and we wouldn’t have a workplace that we enjoy so much.”

Thriving Communities Program: Letter of Interest Due December 6

Thriving Communities Program: Building Community Capacity to Take Transformative Projects from Concept to Completion

Program Overview

Funded with $25 million through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) new Thriving Communities Program (TCP) aims to ensure that disadvantaged communities adversely or disproportionately affected by environmental, climate, and human health policy outcomes have the technical tools and organizational capacity to compete for federal aid and deliver quality infrastructure projects that enable their communities and neighborhoods to thrive.

TCP facilitates the planning and development of transportation and community revitalization activities and provides tools to ensure that under-resourced communities can access the historic funding provided in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).

The Thriving Communities Program will be administered by the Build America Bureau as part of its broader efforts to provide technical assistance to communities.

Beginning in 2023, the Thriving Communities Program will provide technical assistance, planning, and capacity building support to teams of community partners that may lack the staffing or technical expertise to scope, fund, and develop infrastructure projects that advance broader community goals.

TCP will provide two years of deep-dive assistance to selected communities to help them plan and develop a pipeline of comprehensive transportation, housing, and community revitalization activities.

There is no cost to receive this support but interested applicants must identify community partners and together submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) by December 6, 2022, to be considered for selection.

Learn More About the Call for Letters of Interest from the Links:

John LaMacchia is the League’s director of state & federal affairs. He can be reached at jlamacchia@mml.org or 517-908-0303.

2024 Federal Aid Buyout Program Call

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is issuing a Call for Exchanges as part of the Federal Aid Buyout Program based on Public Act (PA) 49 of 2022.

The Federal Aid Buyout Program is a voluntary program which allows local agencies eligible to receive federal aid transportation funds under the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBG) to exchange those federal funds with MDOT for state transportation dollars. The purpose of the Federal Aid Buyout Program is to allow flexibility and enable the most efficient use of federal highway aid and other transportation dollars.

Exchange requests must be e-mailed to MDOT-FederalAidBuyout@michigan.gov. The form #2926-24 must be completed, signed, and attached to the exchange request e-mail. A separate form and e-mail must be submitted for each project that a local agency wishes to exchange. The call for exchanges will start on November29, 2022, at 10:00 am Eastern Time.

More details are included in the Call for Exchanges letter and the Federal Buyout Program Guidelines.

All of the materials are also posted to the MDOT Federal Aid Buyout Program website.

If you have any questions about the program after reading the materials please send them via e-mail to MDOT-FederalAidBuyout@michigan.gov , or call Don Mayle at 517-243-8589.

John LaMacchia is the League’s director of state & federal affairs. He can be reached at jlamacchia@mml.org or 517-908-0303.

House Passes Housing Bills!

Last week the House passed four bills to assist municipalities, developers and builders to address the state’s housing crisis. The legislation is aimed at creating partnerships between stakeholders to build and rehabilitate affordable and attainable housing.

SB 362: Attainable Housing Facilities Act – Senator Winnie Brinks
Local governments may create an “attainable housing district” where property owners can apply for partial tax exemptions, reducing real property taxes to 50% of the average statewide commercial, industrial, utility for up to 12 years if they meet certain affordability criteria determined by the local unit of government. That criteria would include providing units at a price point that does not exceed 120% of the county-wide median income threshold for at least 30% of units in a multi-unit development. Local governments will have the flexibility to negotiate more than the listed thresholds to align with their housing needs and goals. This tool can only be used for 4 or less rental units and requires a minimum of $5,000 investment.

SB 364: Neighborhood Enterprise Zone Expansion – Senator Jeremy Moss
Establishing a Neighborhood Enterprise Zones (NEZ) has supported investment for infill revitalization for owner-occupied housing and mixed-use buildings in eligible communities for decades. With so many communities across Michigan facing an urgent shortage of housing, this bill extends the opportunity to utilize this tool in all Michigan cities, villages and townships. Local units of government subject to the expansion may designate an NEZ if the project encourages compact development, is adjacent to existing development and utilizes existing infrastructure. This tool can be used for households up to 120% AMI.

SB 422: Residential Facilities Exemption Act – Senator Ken Horn
The creation of a Residential Facilities Exemption would allow a temporary tax abatement on qualified new housing development in districts established by local units of government similar to the attainable housing district legislation. The abatement would enable renovation and expansion of aging residential units and assist in the building of new residential units to support workforce housing supply. The tool is similar to SB 362 with 30% of units required to be income-restricted to no more than 120% AMI. Qualified new housing developments may include multifamily or units in a multi-use structure with assurances that the units are occupied as a principal residence (year-round) to eligible households. This tool shall be used for projects with more than four units and requires a minimum investment of $50,000.

SB 432: PILOTS for Housing – Senator Wayne Schmidt
This expansion allows local units of government the discretion to allow a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOTs) agreement for residential development or rehabilitation. The local unit of government would set a policy to establish what conditions it would consider to offer a PILOT. The owner of an approved project would then pay an annual service charge that is the greater of tax for the property for the previous year or 10% of annual shelter rents obtained for new construction. For rehabilitation projects, the charge would be the lesser of the tax on the property the previous year or 10% of annual shelter rents. Currently (without this change), local units of government can only offer PILOTs in conjunction with approved state or federal programs/subsidies in a project.

Housing Michigan, a coalition led by the Michigan Municipal League, Home Builders Assoc. of Michigan, Grand Rapids Chamber and Housing North, have worked for two years to get these bills through the process. The legislation now heads back to the senate for a concurrence vote and then to the Governor’s desk for signature.

 

Jennifer Rigterink is the League’s assistant director of state and federal affairs handling economic development, land use and municipal services issues. She can be reached at jrigterink@mml.org or 517-908-0305.

Next Live with the League is Noon Monday – Much to Discuss

We have a lot to cover on our next Live with the League this Monday. We will discuss the Nov. 8 election results and the potential impact on local governments, what could happen with the short-term rental issue during the upcoming Lame Duck legislative session, and we have numerous proposed bills we’re following that could see action in the Legislature. In addition, we will recap our 2022 Convention that took place in Muskegon recently.

We also will have a special guest on the show to talk about the Michigan Municipal League’s ServeMICity program and how it can help your community. Definitely won’t want to miss this one.

The Live with the League conversation with our Lansing advocacy team and a guest is taking place noon Monday, Nov. 14. It’s free to attend and go here to register.

Election Day Information from Michigan’s Utilities

Consumer’s Energy and DTE Energy have shared the below-attached information for municipalities within their respective service areas. If jurisdictions are experiencing outages or electrical issues during Election Day, Consumer’s Energy and DTE Energy are ready and available to offer assistance. Please see the information below:

Consumer’s Energy:

DTE Energy:

Herasanna Richards is a legislative associate handling energy, environmental, elections, and external municipal services for the League. She can be reached at hrichards@mml.org or 517-908-0309.

Webinar: Updates and Resources for Local Governments Thursday, November 3, 2022 at 2 PM

In partnership with the Michigan Municipal League, Michigan Townships Association, Michigan Association of Counties and the Michigan County Road Association, the Michigan Department of Treasury will host the 18th joint webinar, “Updates and Resources for Local Governments.”

The Updates and Resources for Local Governments webinar series is designed to provide local government leaders and officials with the information, tools, and resources necessary to make important decisions at the local level. The upcoming webinar will focus on a selection of grants that are available to local governments through various State departments.

Specific topics covered will include:

  • Outdoor Public Spaces Grant Opportunity – SPARK (MDNR) – grants to help local communities to create, renovate or redevelop public outdoor spaces
  • Blight Elimination Grant – State Land Bank Authority is administering grants to local communities to address vacant and deteriorated properties
  • Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) Grants
    • MI Hope – energy efficient home repair grants eligible to non-profits and local governments
    • Missing Middle Housing – housing production program designed to address the general lack of attainable housing and housing challenges underscored by the COVID-19 pandemic by increasing the supply of housing stock by providing cost defrayment to developers constructing or substantially rehabbing properties targeted to household incomes between 185% and 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
    • Housing and Community Development Fund – developing and coordinating resources to meet the affordable housing needs of low-income households eligible to nonprofit and for-profit developers, municipalities, land banks, and community development financial institutions

Participants can register and submit questions prior to the webinar at:  

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ziWs-lVrQja3mg8UdaiCBQ

Agenda

  • Welcome & Introductions (Rod Taylor, Administrator, Community Engagement and Finance Division, Michigan Department of Treasury)
  • Outdoor Public Spaces Grant Opportunity – SPARK (Daniel Lord, Assistant Division Chief, Finance and Operations Division, Facilities, Grants, Minerals, Michigan Department of Natural Resources)
  • Blight Elimination Grant – State Lank Bank  (Jeff Huntington, Operations Manager, State Land Bank Authority, Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity)
  • Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) Grants (Tonya Joy, Director, Neighborhood Housing Initiatives Division, Chad Benson, Director of Development, Tiffany King, Equity and Inclusion Officer)
  • Question and Answer 
  • Closing Remarks (Rod Taylor, Administrator, Community Engagement and Finance Division, Michigan Department of Treasury)

Presentations and recordings from this webinar, along with previous webinars, can be found at TREASURY – Webinars (michigan.gov). Utilize TREASURY – Contact Information (michigan.gov) for support related to Treasury’s local government services.

John LaMacchia is the League’s director of state & federal affairs. He can be reached at jlamacchia@mml.org or 517-908-0303.

Census Bureau Seeks Comments on How to Design the 2030 Census

The importance of an accurate census is immense. The distribution of $1.5 trillion dollars in federal funds are determined by figures from the decennial census results, so it is important to achieve an accurate count to make sure local governments are getting a fair and proper allocation. Additionally, census results have extreme relevance to local communities. The data from the decennial census provides a snapshot of demographic information and trend data, which serves as the basis for important local government decision-making in matters such as redistricting, community planning, and the timing and placement of future infrastructure investments.

There is an open Federal Register Notice from the Census Bureau that local units of government can offer comments on how to design the 2030 census. Comments are due by November 15. Click here for more information on how to submit those comments.

Alternatively, the National League of Cities will be submitting comments and feedback can be provided to them in the form of a survey response. NLC will then use those comments to inform their comment letter to the Bureau. They also wrote a blog which outlines what the Bureau is looking for from commenters. At the bottom of the blog, you will find a link to their survey (also linked here) that you can fill out on how the Census 2030 could be reformed.

John LaMacchia is the League’s director of state & federal affairs. He can be reached at jlamacchia@mml.org or 517-908-0303.