Trainings Set and New Schedule for Live with the League in 2023

There are several upcoming trainings and an update to our Live with the League schedule for 2023 that we want our members to know about.

Starting in January 2023, our regular Live with the League conversation with the Michigan Municipal League’s Lansing legislative team will take place at noon on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. This is a slight change from the previous schedule of every other Monday. This change is expected to help our members better plan to attend the show on a regular basis knowing the dates are set for the calendar year. The next several Live with the League discussions are on our events calendar here. The conversation is free to attend, but we do ask that you preregister here.

Also, for the first half of the New Year, the League has several webinars and events planned to assist our members. Here’s the schedule of key events for the first half of 2023:

Also, for your planning purposes our annual Convention is taking place in 2023 in Traverse City from Oct. 18-20. Mark your calendars!

We’re looking forward to seeing returning members and new members at our many events in the New Year!

Grant Funding Available to Add Fitness Courts to Your Communities

The Michigan Municipal League wanted to let our members know about an exciting grant opportunity that could enhance the existing recreation areas in your communities by adding a fitness court. More than two dozen Michigan communities have already added these fitness courts to areas in their communities and your community could be next.

Priority Health has continued their statewide partnership with National Fitness Campaign (NFC) to launch $500,000 in grant funding for future-ready cities and schools across Michigan. The goal of this partnership is to support the funding of healthy communities throughout the state of Michigan.

Visit www.nationalfitnesscampaign.com/michigan to learn more and qualify for funding and partnership opportunities.

This grant funding will be allocated to support municipalities across the state in joining the growing NFC wellness campaign building healthy infrastructure to smart cities and schools of the future. NFC’s award-winning initiative is now planning its 500th Healthy Community in America and is poised to deliver vital outdoor wellness programs helping to fight the obesity epidemic across the country.

If you are not yet familiar with the campaign, the program is designed to bring world-class healthy infrastructure to public spaces, along with consulting, funding, and community programming support, and was formed in response to the growing health crisis in America caused by sedentary lifestyles. Please watch the National Fitness Campaign 3-minute video describing the program: Campaign Video.

A number of Michigan communities already have these fitness courts, including Big Rapids, Saginaw, Roseville, Kalamazoo, Canton, and Grand Blanc.

Through the continued partnership, Priority Health and NFC will work with municipalities who believe wellness is a priority, to bring the campaign to cities and schools across Michigan in 2023, with the goal of making free, world-class fitness accessible to all. Click here to get started.

National Civility Summit for Local Government is Dec. 7 – Free for All Attendees

Sharing this from our partners at the National League of Cities. This is a free webinar about civility in local government. We thought our members may be interested in attending virtually. While it’s geared toward NLC members, your community does not have to be an NLC member to attend for free.

National Civility Summit for Local Government

 

In partnership with the National League of Cities and the Iowa League of Cities, the Center for Public Democracy at Drake University will host the first annual National Civility Summit for Local Government on Wednesday December 7, 2022.

 

Join online Wednesday, December 7 from 11:00am – 3:00pm EST for a discussion on the civility and leadership challenges impacting communities.

 

Municipal government is closest to the people, literally and figuratively. Local government officials are connectors and leaders in their community and often the most accessible to the constituents they serve. Local leaders are the best conduit to carry the message of civility forward. The National Civility Summit for Local Government will provide local government officials, elected and appointed, with the tools and best practices needed to lead an engaged and participatory government.

 

Register Here: Webinar Registration – Zoom.

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.

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.”

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.

One Week Left to Nominate Municipal Leaders for Guido and Sinclair Awards

Nominations for the Guido and Sinclair awards are due Nov. 1.

Time is running out to nominate local government leaders for one of two Michigan Municipal League awards. Nominations are open from now until Nov. 1 for the Guido and Sinclair Awards.

The Guido and Sinclair Awards are the top honors given to individuals by the Michigan Municipal League.

The Michael A. Guido Leadership and Public Service Award acknowledges an outstanding municipal chief elected official dedicated to their community and to the advocacy efforts on their community’s behalf in Lansing and Washington, D.C. Nominate your outstanding leader here.

The Jim Sinclair Exceptional Service Award honors an outstanding individual who has provided exemplary service to the League and its mission. Submit your nomination here.

View past recipients of these awards and all MML awards here.

Michigan Public Service Commission Seeks Communities to Fill Out Survey by Nov. 14

There is an important survey that our friends at the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) have asked us to share with our members.

The MPSC is the agency designated to implement Public Act 480 of 2006, the Uniform Video Services Local Franchise Act. Pursuant to Section 12(2) of the Act, the MPSC shall file an annual report to the Governor and Legislature that includes information on the status of video service competition in Michigan.

To assist MPSC staff with gathering information for the report, local communities are asked to complete an electronic survey, which is located at michigan.gov/mpsc beginning October 17, 2022. Responses to the survey are due by November 14, 2022. Please note that the survey will not be available on the website after November 14, 2022. You may find the survey by following these steps:

  1. Go to michigan.gov/mpsc and click on “Regulatory Information” at the top of the page.
  2. Next, scroll down and click on “Telecommunications” at the bottom.
  3. Lastly, click on “Video/Cable Regulatory Information” and you will find the survey under the “Provider & Franchise Entity Information” category.

The survey is quick and easy and should take only a few minutes of your time. It is important that MPSC Staff receives feedback from franchise entities. Your feedback will help to provide MPSC Staff with a better insight of the video/cable issues that may be occurring in your community. While MPSC staff cannot provide you with answers to the survey questions, please contact staff if you require clarification regarding the questions being asked.

In addition to the survey, please view two Consumer Tips documents that provide information regarding filing a video/cable complaint with the MPSC. One is relevant to customers (click here), the other to a municipality (click here). MPSC also encourages community officials to share this information with their residents.

You may also find the complaint information online at michigan.gov/mpsc by clicking the “Consumer Information” link at the top of the page. You may consider posting the MPSC contact information and/or a link of our Consumer Tips to your community’s webpage. accordance with PA 480 of 2006, the Uniform Video Services Local Franchise Act, the Michigan Public Service Commission is soliciting feedback in its annual franchise survey.

The Michigan Municipal League is encouraging our members to participate.

State Seeks Poll Workers for Nov. 8 Election – Here’s How You Can Help

We’re sharing this from our friends at the Michigan Department of State. It’s a call to action for more election workers for the upcoming Nov. 8 general election.

The Michigan Department of State is seeking help in addressing our state’s critical need for more poll workers for the November Election in Michigan. Local clerks are seeking workers with skills in organization, customer service, project management and computer software and technology, and typically hire and train workers one to two months in advance of Election Day – so now is the best time to share this opportunity.

Please help spread the word and encourage residents and supporters in your communities to sign-up through the state’s non-partisan poll worker recruitment program, Democracy MVP. Those interested can get started and sign up at Michigan.gov/DemocracyMVP.

There is also a stakeholder toolkit (also available online here) that communities can use in promoting the need for poll workers. This toolkit contains sample graphics and language available for your use in promoting this opportunity, as well as a list of Frequently Asked Questions about working elections in Michigan and the Democracy MVP program.

Get all the details at Michigan.gov/DemocracyMVP.

Here are the details to becoming an election worker and getting paid to do so:

If you are interested in serving, complete the below steps to join the Democracy MVP team! 

Please note: Democracy MVP does not recruit or hire election challengers or poll watchers. What’s the difference?

Once submitted, your information will be provided to local election clerks looking to hire workers for upcoming elections. Learn more about the interest form
Complete the election inspector interest form

Step 2: Apply with a local clerk directly.
You can increase your chance of being hired to serve as an election inspector on Election Day by contacting a local clerk directly. Learn more about applying at clerk’s offices.

Step 3: Wait to be contacted 
Applying as an election inspector is applying for a job. This means you may be contacted by a local clerk to be hired, or you may not! For updates on your application, please contact the local clerk’s office where you applied directly. Learn more about the hiring process.

Reminder: Live with the League is this Monday at Noon

Our next Live with the League is noon Monday.

As you may have previously read here on Inside 208, the Michigan Legislature had a couple session days this month after not being in session since late June. Both chambers were extremely active, and our Legislative team kept very busy tracking it all.

During the next Live with the League at noon Monday, Oct. 3, our team will break down the latest activity and discuss the topics our members most care about. We will cover the $1 billion budget supplemental approved Wednesday as well as the Senate nearly taking up the short-term rental legislation that we strongly oppose. We also will chat about a proposal for a revenue sharing trust fund that the MML’s John LaMacchia testified on. For additional details about this week’s legislative activity, read this blog post by our own John LaMacchia.

Hope you can make it to the discussion noon Monday, Oct. 3 and please be sure to ask any questions on your mind for our Legislative team! Register for the FREE event here.